Controversial football pod format saved on first-round travel

BY J. MIKE BLAKE, mblake@newsobserver.com

Since their inception last year in the N.C. High School Athletic Association football playoffs, the "pods" used to form a bracket to cut down on travel has been a hot-button topic.

Previously the NCHSAA seeded teams 1-16 in the east and west. But pods divided each side into smaller groups based on location from east-to-west. These pods were created to save schools mileage and money through the first three rounds.

Some fans and almost all coaches have become somewhat disgruntled with increased regular-season re-matches in the playoffs, as well as some teams losing home games due to the new format.

However, the question above all else remains - do the pods save travel, and if so, how much?

Research shows that the pod system saved 5,364.7 miles in first-round travel, or 48.8 miles per team affected.

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Controversial football pod format saved on first-round travel