Running up the score?

Question

Tonight i went back to my hometown to watch my old HS play a football game. While i went there we won state 3 out of the fours years. We won 62 to 0. As i was leaving i heard fans from the other school saying that our team where "show boats" and that running up the score like that is wrong. I think that they just played well, but do you think that teams who are way ahead should not "run up the score" ? thanks

Answer 1

In High School & College you just plain have too. There is a ranking system in place. In High school you might have quite a few teams with the same record when the seasons over. So when you go to state they are going to look at the teams that are the most dominant. Thus the teams with the biggest point spread differential in their regular season game. With college, you have to show everybody who is number one and so on. If you are a highly ranked team, playing an unranked team, everyone expects you to dominate your opponant completely, so those games should be lopsided. In those games where according to the rating system both teams are evenly matched say Number 1 USC destroys a number 2,3 or 4th ranked team that solidifies that team in staying number one in everybody's eyes. So really there is no such thing as running up a score. You have to go out and show everybody that you are feared to be reckoned with, so in your next game that dominating team will have a psyhcological edge over their opponant. This strategy works in boxing all the time !!! That is what it takes to stay up top in the High school and college football world. Just a known fact and that will never change. Their are so many many teams out there and to stay competerive, running up the score gives you that edge in staying highly ranked !!!!!!

Answer 2

Another perspective on this subject is scholarships. Scouts are looking for players that put up big numbers and not nice fellows. In other words, you aren't just competing with that team but your quarterback and running backs are at the same time competing against other quarterbacks and running backs throughout the country. The guys with the largest numbers are more highly favored. Our coach would many times drive the ball down to the 5 yard line and take a knee until time expired. This is showing respect for your opponent and lets them know that you could have added more points but were trying to be respectful.

Answer 3

Who cares, its the opponents responsibility to prevent running up the score in the first place. If they can't prevent it then the other team has the right to take advantage of that situation and seal the win. Plus that team has to take a loss as a loss even if its 75-0 don't whine about it.

Answer 4

Yes, in the sports world, 'running up the score' is very disrespectful. You are there to win the game, not to embarrass the other team. If a team is up by more than 3 touchdowns they really should stop trying to score, that's just plain mean. To understand you really have to put yourself in the underdog's shoes. Imagine if you were playing a game and were so far behind you had no shot at winning, but the other team just keeps scoring and scoring to make you look even worse.

Answer 5

If it's a team that's not in your class or really at your level, you should call off the dogs when a lead is comfortable enough.

If it's a conference opponent, then there's no such thing as running up the score.

Answer 6

Once a team has an insurmountable margin, the 2nd string should be in the game. However, you cannot fault the 2nd string for playing hard and trying to score.

Answer 7

nothing wrong with running up the score. no coach is going to put in his second or third string guys and tell them to not score. these guys want some of the spotlight too. it's the offense's job to score. in the same sense, it would be like telling your defense to let them get in the endzone a few times to avoid a blowout.

Answer 8

There was a famous college coach who, when was asked about running up the score, responded "I was just running my offense". It's a man's game, no whining. It does increase the chances of cheap shots, and thus injuries, though.

Answer 9

Running up the score is a touchy subject in sports. I believe that if you're running your normal offense, and the other team can't stop you, then it's fine. If you're up 50-0, and you're throwing Hail Mary's, then that's questionable.