Todd's Tales, Nov. 19

There are a million ways to read an article.

In fact, two people can read the same article and come up with two totally different theories as to what the story actually said.

And, with that being said, I would like to explain the Oak Ridge-Lufkin football article that set off the War Eagles’ nation.

As always, enjoy or destroy. But don’t hurt anybody. I never, ever aim to hurt anybody with my prose.

OK, here is what I really said...

When Oak Ridge lost to Lufkin 51-7 and still qualified for the Class 5A state football playoffs, a lot of folks thought I was taking a few cheap shots at the War Eagles.

Some even went as far as to call the article unprofessional. Now, my work might be a lot of things, but it is not unprofessional. I have a bachelor’s degree and 26 years of pounding away at the computer to back that up.

Yes, it was a harsh. But it wasn’t meant to be harsh about the War Eagles. It was meant to be harsh against the rules the University Interscholastic League has laid down.

A few years ago, the UIL decided to allow four teams from each district to qualify for the state playoffs. I remember when only the district champion advanced to the playoffs. But now I am showing my age.

Anyway, I was fine with that, as long as the UIL combined all the Texas high schools into separate eight-team districts. No seven-team districts. And surely no six-team districts.

The UIL all-but-promised it would oblige. But it didn’t. District 14-5A, for the fourth consecutive year, is a six-team district.

Now, I am not very good in math, but if a team finishes fourth in a six-team district, that means it only had to win two district games, which is exactly what the War Eagles have done the past two years.

Two wins in an eight-team district would leave a team no better than sixth. Players on sixth-place football teams get to start basketball practice one week earlier than most other teams. They don’t go to the playoffs.

A solution, you ask?

If the UIL must have a few six- or seven-team districts, those districts should only be allowed to have three playoff teams.

It makes perfect sense. Eight-team districts are allowed four playoff teams, or exactly half the district. Six-team districts should get three -- half the district.

If that were the case, the third-place team, most of the time, would have to win three district games. A team should at least have to be above .500 in conference play to qualify for the playoffs.

If you look back at the beginning of the year, I picked Oak Ridge to finish third in District 14-5A, as it should have. I sang the praises of Ryan Cyr, Fredie Dotson, Torrian Oakley, Michael Handy, Trent Langley and Martin Gonzalez. I still do. They are all very talented.

But, after finishing fourth in a six-team district, I would bet they all are disappointed in the 2009 campaign.

I am a parent of three boys, too. I know words can hurt. But they also can have more than one meaning. I never meant to hurt anybody. I just think there needs to be a change in the system.

Funny how things change...

College Park has 13 juniors and one sophomore on its junior varsity basketball team this season.

Last year, the Cavaliers had nine sophomores and three juniors on the JV.

Why the change?

The Cavs have four sophomores and a freshman on the varsity team.

Evan Cooper is rated as one of the top sophomore point guards in the country, though he had his hands full with Cy Woods senior point guard Andre Adams in the season opener.

And sophomore Todd Eaglin, who will battle Tyler Chaumet for the starting quarterback job next year, is extremely quick and can knock down the three.

College Park has won two straight district basketball titles. They could be positioned to battle for two or three more.

The Woodlands impressive in opener...

The Highlanders opened the hoop season with an easy 70-51 victory over Westfield.

Wesley Cole, who is one of the top guards in the Houston area, led the way with 22 points. He is one of the best 3-point shooters in the city.

Westfield, however, is still playing without a number of football players. These two teams could meet again in the playoffs. It might be a different story then.

Kovar a Star...

Oak Ridge shooting star Sean Kovar opened the season right where he left off at the end of the 2009 campaign.

The 6-foot-5 wing, who is a deadly shooter, poured in 21 points in the War Eagles’ easy 62-50 victory over Klein Oak.

Kovar, Wesley Cole, James Allen, Evan Cooper and Adam Rowe should battle for Player of the Year honors in District 14-5A.

Will The Woodlands survive?

I have heard a lot of folks jumping off the bandwagon after the Highlanders’ 32-31 overtime victory over Klein Forest in the first round of the Region II-5A Division I playoffs.

I am not one of them.

Yes, I did pick Klein Forest to upset The Woodlands. But only because I cover that district and know what kind of athletes they have. Heck, they took three out of the four games from 14-5A and were a missed extra-point away from a possible sweep.

But I think that game will serve The Woodlands well on Saturday. Round Rock Stony Point is good. But The Woodlands will be ready for this one. I think the Highlanders will roll into the third round.

Upset special?

This is getting to be somewhat of a joke since I have now lost six straight. But, hey, the joke is on me, so who cares.

This week, I like Michigan over Ohio State in the Big House. If that happens, who would go to the Rose Bowl for the Big 10?

Iowa. Go Hawkeyes.