This maybe hard for some people to do, most of all Richland Spring's folk who forgot what losing feels like, but let us compare May and Richland without remembering the history of all of it. In fact, I am almost tempted to put the name of a random DII school in the area in place of Richland, Brookesmith, Lohn, Mullin, or Cherokee, take your pick, but that might confuse some people.
May:
Enrollment - 69
Division - 1
Location - Twenty miles north of Brownwood (population around 20,000)
Richland Springs:
Enrollment - 48
Division - 2
Location - Fifteen miles west of San Saba (population around 3,000)
It seems like people do not realize how much difference division I and division II make. May's Enrollment Number dwarfs Richland's by a little over 30%. Now I am not defending Richland Springs and definitely not putting May down, but Richland could still win the state championship, playing against division II opponents, and never see May again. I am not sure of the talent level Richland possesses at this point because I did not see the game, but the run may not be over. Coach Burkhart possesses a ridiculous record and I think this year will test his coaching abilities more than any other. Would going 8-2, 7-3, or 6-4, making the playoffs, and losing in the second or third round "end the run?" With all due respect to them, I honestly do not feel like these last few DII Richland state teams could have won the DI state title. Basically, I am asking what constitutes "the run?" I know Richland downgraded in talent after 07 when TE and his group left, but going to DII sort of hid that fact. Basically, I bet anyone a milk shake that Richland makes the playoffs and I would contend that they "keep the run going" by doing that.