Matt Surrency, CFP®️, SE-AWMA®️

We’ve been quiet about the SSAA situation until now, but we’re done staying silent. The SSAA royally messed up this season—and the damage may have consequences for 2027 and beyond. First: the SSAA reassigned Gage Brown from football administration to oversee basketball, and Zack Shank became the football administrator. For five years, Gage worked his tail off building the 11-man, 8-man and Atlantic leagues into respected programs across the state. He worked hard, communicated with schools and the media, and used @SSAAFootball to keep people informed. Gage was a major reason SSAA football was growing. Since the reassignment, communication has been practically nonexistent. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Second: communication from Zack Shank has been horrid. @ByCoreyDavis at the Palatka Daily News wrote about these communication concerns a few weeks ago. Coaches also contacted us during the season asking about the playoff format and which rankings would be used. We had no answers because nothing had been clearly released to the public—not even to the teams and coaches who needed the information. That is a red flag. Third: the rankings and playoff format. For years, the SSAA used the CCI, combining MaxPreps rankings, win percentage and strength of schedule. It was simple, and Gage explained it to schools each year. Then the SSAA switched to GoBound—a system that had never been adequately tested or explained to the schools and, in our view, has serious fundamental flaws. Test a new system if you want, but why throw out the CCI without showing schools why the change was needed? The failures of the past 48 hours are what happens when a major change is made without clear communication or a process people can trust. SSAA teams have every right to be furious. Coaches, fans and communities have made their frustration loud and clear. You don’t grow an organization by making major changes to a system that was working without clearly explaining why or communicating what comes next. The damage is done. It’s a shame to see something that was working handled this way—and to see what appears to be one explanation at 9:30 a.m. and another at 5:30 p.m. Would it surprise anyone if SSAA football teams decide to return to the FHSAA in 2027? It shouldn’t. #flhsfb @FHS7v7A @FHS7v7ACollLink @HSFBamerica @MikeReno65 @chrislyke @Dwight_XOS @PatB5153 @PrepRedzoneFL @RealNews102 @LawrenceBl83397 @CenFLAPreps @HSSportsFL @offsidepreps @H2_Recruiting @polk_way @football305407 @bighitslive @MISTER_F00TBALL @Prep_Gridiron @Top25PublicHSFB @Andy_Villamarzo @Benjamin_Report @countypolk @792FlSportspod

I love my Gator Nation so much, but when we lose or face adversity, I really dislike how some of our fans treat the university, our players, and our coaches. It’s honestly sad and unacceptable to see. I’m not happy about us losing today, but I’m even more disappointed in the way some of our fans have reacted. We’re better than this. We have to support our Gators through the good, the bad, and the adversity. We gotta do better, Gator Nation! 🐊🤦🏾‍♂️