Gulf Breeze volleyball head coach Steven Clay knew the concept of an FHSAA Open Division had been floating around for years.

He just wasn’t sure it would be happening so soon.

June 9 marked a new era in Florida High School sports as the Open Division was approved by the FHSAA Board of Directors, drawing praise in certain aspects from several area coaches but raising questions with others.

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I know in volleyball this general conversation comes up from time to time,” Clay said. “Because there’s been just a handful of schools, a lot of time the private schools, that just kill everybody in their classification.”

How will the Open Division work?

The Open Division will take the top eight teams via the MaxPreps rankings regardless of classification in 11 sports to determine a true state champion.

The eight teams will be broken up into two pods. Pod A will be the No. 1, 4, 5 and 8 seed. Pod B will be the No.  2, 3, 6 and 7 seeds. The top two seeds in each pod will get two home games, while the bottom two seeds will get one, allowing them to still make some of the money from playoff games that would under the old format.

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The round-robin games will follow the same schedule as the regional quarterfinals, semifinals and finals for other classifications. The two teams in each pod will advance to the state semifinals. There were still be a state championship bracket in the traditional classifications.

Much of the discussion has centered around football, but it wouldn’t have had a big impact on the state’s biggest sport in the Pensacola area last year.

The only area teams who likely would have qualified for it last year were Gulf Breeze girls volleyball and Pace softball. Several other teams may have had a different path through the playoffs if the Open Division was in place.

Costs and potentially diminished state championships are concerns

For Clay, the competitor in him likes putting the best teams together and seeing who can call themselves the best team in Florida. It’s similar to club volleyball, where coincidentally, the open division is the highest division.

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But he sees the logistics as challenging. Local teams are used to traveling to the playoffs, with Region 1 usually stretching out to Jacksonville and sometimes close to Orlando.

In this format, trips could go even further south down towards Miami, with potentially two overnight trips in the round robin format, then another if they advance to the state semifinals. Usually, the overnight trips only come when a team reaches the Final Four.

Clay was an assistant on the Gulf Breeze girls volleyball team that advanced to the state championship in 2024. He estimates that trip to Winter Haven cost at least $5,000.

Teams can’t budget for this at the beginning of the season, and many across Escambia and Santa Rosa County have to send out last minute fundraisers on social media to help pay for long playoff road trips.

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“As much as you would love to get to the finals every year, it’s not an expense you can necessarily budget for,” Clay said. “Because it just costs so much.”

Pace softball head coach Lexi Alexander had similar concerns. When the Patriots won the 6A state championship in Longwood last month, Santa Rosa County paid for the vans they used to travel and the booster club covered the hotel rooms. Still, food cost about $2,000 and she estimated without help it would’ve been an additional $5,000 to $6,000.

In six straight Final Four appearances, Pace has never had to travel for a regional playoff game.

“Who’s to say the county going to pay for those other two trips going down south or wherever you have to play?” Alexander said.

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Alexander is also concerned about diluting classifications. Pace has reached the 6A state championship in each of her four seasons as head coach, winning two in arguably the toughest classification in the state.

All four years, at least two teams in 6A have finished in the top 8 in Florida’s rankings. This year, three of the 6A state semifinalists were in the top eight. The other was ranked 10^th. Winning a state championship is already hard enough and Alexander wonders why it needs to get harder for the top teams.

This year, five softball state champions ended up in the top 8 of MaxPreps Final Rankings. Only one would win a title next season.

To her, it would be better to just take the top eight teams after the state tournament to decide a true champion. But the Patriots won’t be backing down if they qualify for the Open Division in 2027.

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“I don’t want them going in with a negative mindset of ‘oh, we’re going to have to play one of the top eight teams in the state,” Alexander said. “Because shoot, if we’re one of the top teams in the state, then somebody’s going to have to play us too.”

The same goal and challenge remains for Pensacola area teams

The Open Division was approved to see superpowers across the state square off. It could also serve as an example for teams who eventually want to crash the party.

This past winter, Pensacola Catholic girls soccer qualified for the state semifinals for the first time since 2013. Its opponent, Montverde Academy, was on a different level.

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The Phoenix were ranked No. 2 in the entire state and nationally, meaning they would’ve qualified for the Open Division if it were in place last year and not competed in the 3A playoffs. Montverde outclassed Catholic 5-0 before beating Cardinal Gibbons another team, who would’ve qualified for the Open Division, in the 3A final.

Then Crusaders head coach John Guidroz looked at five coaches on the Montverde sideline, while he had just one assistant coach. His team practiced a couple days a week, sharing space not just with football in the fall, but boys soccer in the winter and then boys and girls lacrosse as their postseason run continued.

Montverde, he said, has dedicated field space to practice every day and a club for their players to develop outside of the high school season. Some of Florida’s best high school programs are smaller private schools in lower classifications, with the money and resources to recruit not just statewide but internationally to prepare athletes for the next level.

Schools like Montverde will be able to build consistent Open Division contenders right away. Others will have to figure out what program level is best for them and what their goals are, especially with school choice and open enrollment in Florida, Guidroz, said.

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“I find it funny because the rules are the same across Florida,” Guidroz said. “Just because one schools does and the other school doesn’t, that doesn’t make it wrong. Everybody’s just got to make a decision.”

For the state’s best teams, winning a state championship becomes that much harder in the Open Division. The road may be easier for others who couldn’t compete with the best of the best, though there’s still not a shortcut to the top.

Area schools may see the top team or two in a class removed from traditional classifications if they don’t make the Open Division themselves. Either options still means long road trips and having to raise the level of play against better competition on increasingly bigger stages to bring a state title back to Florida’s northwest corner.

“At the end of the day, it’s not a huge, huge change for us,” Clay said. “There’s just so many strong teams in Central and South Florida that if you want to be a legitimate state champion coming from the Panhandle, you gotta work your tail off, you gotta have a really solid team, and let’s face it, you have to catch a little bit of luck.”

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola area coaches react to new FHSAA Open Division

Before he headed over to the US, Get French Football News spoke with AS Monaco and USMNT forward Folarin Balogun (24) ahead of this summer’s FIFA World Cup.

What does it mean for you to represent your country at the World Cup this summer? 

It’s a big, big opportunity. There’s a great sense of pride. I’m really looking forward to representing America on home soil and making the country proud.

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Would you say that you have a very pivotal role to play for the US this summer? Lots of people are kind of looking at you now, even maybe more so than, say, Pulisic, as almost the leader of the attack at this year’s World Cup… 

Yeah, definitely. I think it’s an opportunity, as I said, but it’s also the biggest sporting event in the world. There are going to be millions, if not billions, of eyes watching it. This is a great opportunity for me to showcase my talent. It’s what you want as a child.

I think with great pressure also comes great responsibility. But overall, I’m very excited, and it’s important to take my club form into the international stage and be a pivotal player.

What do you do to ensure that this pressure a good feeling, a good pressure, not a bad pressure? 

Yeah, I think it’s down to the work you do every day. I think if you train hard and you work hard when this opportunity comes, there’s nothing to be scared of. But if you’re not having maybe a good season and then you go into the World Cup, there’s going to be a lot of pressure. So this is why, at the beginning of the season, I said the most important thing is to focus on what I’m doing here in Monaco. And then, in the summer, when the World Cup comes, if I have a good season in Monaco (43 games, 19 goals, five assists), then it will be easier to go into the World Cup.

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The fact that you play at home, you are one of the most important players on the international team; this moment can change your life. Do you agree with that?

Yeah, I agree. If you score a lot of goals in the World Cup and you take your country far in this competition, it can change the direction of your career. So this is something to excite you. I don’t think it’s something to be nervous about. So I’m looking forward to this.

What are your biggest memories of the World Cup? 

I would say the biggest is the most recent, France v Argentina. Of course, there are more. But the last final was one of the most amazing football matches I’ve ever watched. So it just shows the magnitude of how important the World Cup is. And I think it’s not just me, but I’m sure my teammates as well are very excited.

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The USMNT is always in the top 16 in the world, more or less. So what’s your goal in this competition? 

To go as far as possible. I’m not naive; It’s not going to be easy. But the objective is to go as far as possible. The thing we’re saying within the USA is to believe. And why not? So, the objective is to go as far as possible. But I think it’s important just to set small objectives. Of course, make it out of the group, then prepare for the knockout phase.

Do you feel ‘soccer’ is becoming more and more a big deal in the USA?

I hope so. When I’m in Europe, you know, I only focus on European things when I’m in Europe. You know, I play in Europe. When I go to America in the summer, then I’m hoping to see the country supporting football and everybody involved. And this would make me happy. And I’m sure it’s important for the country. And this is what they want also.

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Which country has the best squad?

I mean, in terms of on paper, I’d probably say France. There’s no denying the quality in their squad. But the World Cup doesn’t come down to who has the best team on paper. It comes down to different things.

Just in terms of Mauricio Pochettino and him coming in, I know he’s said a lot about, ‘Why not us?’ So he’s trying to give the squad lots of belief. What has he brought? He’s so experienced in the Premier League as well; he is such a big name…. Has he brought a lot of belief that the US can go far? 

Yeah, he’s brought belief. He’s brought a fighting mentality. He’s a top coach. I think he’s had a big responsibility coming in. The objective for him, as I said, is to go as far as we can in the World Cup. But he’s definitely had a positive impact, making the squad a lot more competitive. I’m looking forward to the summer, and I’m looking forward to seeing how we do and, as I said, to making the country proud.

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Tell us about Paraguay, your first opponent in the World Cup…

[They’re] very aggressive. When we played against them [last time], there was a big fight, and I think the coach ended up on the floor! So, I think this shows that it’s not going to be an easy game. But, yeah, I’m hoping, in the World Cup, for better officiating. So, it’s not going to be so crazy.

Do you think it’s going to be more than a World Cup for American citizens? Can you also help people be happy during the summer? 

Yeah, I hope so. I hope so. My dream is also that the way that the fans are in Europe, that this is going to be the same in America. So there’s a lot more potential for football to grow in America. I hope the World Cup can be something that can help that happen.

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Okay. With all the problems we have in terms of geopolitics, do you think this World Cup can be like a break, a form of escapism?

What happens around the world, in general, as a player, you have your opinions. But I think the most important thing is to remember my job. My job is obviously to play football. And through playing football and doing my job well, I can impact many lives, and I can help people across the world. I don’t get involved in the political stuff because, as I said, that’s not my job. But I’m fully focused on having a good World Cup in America, making the country proud. And I’m sure if I do this, it’s going to provide a lot of joy to a lot of people.

This interview is a repost from Get French Football News and can be found HERE

GFN | Luke Entwistle – reporting from Monaco

Paul Heyman praised the New York Knicks for writing the insane Game 4 of the finals. The Wiseman, who has been a key figure in WWE and has led the creative team on many occasions, knows what it takes to craft a compelling story.

Heyman hilariously fit that into the NBA structure and noted that the Knicks’ win over the San Antonio Spurs felt almost scripted.

“I think it’s time we all recognize the NBA has a great creative team and writers. Wow. What a story! Texas heels rout hometown heroes in the 1st half at the World’s Most Famous Arena ( @TheGarden ), only for the babyfaces to perform the greatest comeback EVER! My compliments!”

However, when a fan asked whether Paul was the one booking the comeback, he had bold things to say. The WWE Hall of Famer admitted that the NBA cannot afford him even if they want him to be included in the process.

“The @NBA cannot afford me. And yes, that’s an open challenge …… and a dare!” wrote Paul Heyman.

Heyman is now managing The Vision in WWE and is beside Brock Lesnar whenever necessary. In the faction, he’s the Oracle to Austin Theory and Bron Breakker now, as they are the active members now. Vision’s Logan Paul and Bronson Reed are out with injuries.

Gunther does not want to be a Paul Heyman guy

Anyone who aligns with Paul Heyman gets some of the best exposure and advice. The term ‘Paul Heyman guy’ is iconic, as stars like Brock Lesnar, CM Punk, and Roman Reigns were pushed to the moon during their time with him. Despite all this, Gunther, one of the top stars in WWE currently, wants none of it.

“I mean, to be fully honest, it was very useful to have him there in that position. But those interactions in that time have been enough to make me realize that I’m better off on my own. I don’t need somebody in my ear. I always trusted my gut, my whole career, and it was mostly the right decision. So, I wouldn’t change that,” Gunther said.

The Ring General claims he is better off than him, as his career so far has been great without anyone’s advice. The former World Heavyweight Champion has interacted with The Oracle and has understood that trusting his gut is best for him.

If you use quotes from this article, please credit No Contest Wrestling and give an H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the transcription.