As the high school football playoffs get started, we are reminded that once it comes to the football postseason, the OHSAA figured it out.

Three months ago, 717 high school football teams began the season hoping for a spot in the playoffs. Now, 32 teams in each of the six divisions will continue to play. Meanwhile, the season ended for 525 teams last weekend.

Excitement for a select few. Shocking for some. Disappointment for most. Football is the only sport recognized by the OHSAA where not every team gets to play in at least one postseason game.

There is where the OHSAA does not have it figured out.

Not every baseball, basketball, softball, soccer or volleyball team deserves to qualify for postseason play.

A few weeks back, ThisWeek sportswriters asked area football coaches if they would change football's postseason system. Overwhelmingly the coaches sided in favor of the current system, perhaps none more vigorously than Hartley's Brad Burchfield.

"I love it as is," he said. "I wouldn't mess with a thing. I've been on all ends of the spectrum and it really gives you so much to play for. I've been at public and private schools and it just adds so much excitement. If everybody got in, it would diminish the accomplishment."

Opponents would argue the other sports allow every team at least an opportunity to experience the postseason. Thankfully, it won't happen in football.

"If we were to do it fairly, it would mean seeding the tournament and you would have some tremendous physical mismatches like a 0-10 team playing a 10-0 team," Olentangy coach Ed Terwilliger said. "It'd be decimating for everyone to get in it."

As for those sports where everyone gets in, those physical mismatches remain. Here are some actual results from early-round district tournaments in 2009.

A boys soccer team lost 12-0.

A girls basketball team was held without a point in the first-half and eventually lost 66-15.

A baseball team won 16-0 in a run-ruled five innings as the losing team did not have a hit.

What kind of experience does a soccer team gain from a 12-0 loss? What lesson does a girls basketball team learn after being held without a first-half point?

Still, there are proponents of opening football playoffs to all teams.

"It would be a good thing to have a playoff system where everyone is included," Johnstown football coach Mike Carter said. "There have been times when really good teams didn't make the playoffs because of the computer system and they really were as much of a quality team as those who made it."

A valid point by Carter, but the 9-1 football team that does not qualify as one of the eight teams in a division is the exception.

It is time the OHSAA seriously considers how they approach the postseason in the other sports. Last summer, ThisWeek staff writer Anders Larson produced a five-part series on the best upsets in the last 20 years.

Among the 10 upsets he presented only two boys basketball games and one softball upset occurred in the first round of a district tournament.

Considering the amount of aforementioned blowouts, it seems like a natural move for the OHSAA to put the clamps down on the number of teams in the postseason.

By limiting the number of the postseason teams, the regular season takes on more meaning and a conference title is that much more rewarding, as is the privilege of just playing in a district tournament.

"What's the point of the regular season if you can just sandbag it and make it into the playoffs," St. Charles football coach Jeff Pharion said. "Sure you would have some Cinderella teams make runs if everyone made the postseason, but I don't think it'd be worth it."