Frequently Asked Questions

So just what is this site, anyway?

Computer ratings of all AHSAA-affiliated (Alabama) football-playing schools, with results based only on games played and who won or lost those games. No margin of victory, location, weather, or anything else counts--just wins and losses.

General disclaimer about rating systems

Most of you have heard this before.  Computer rating systems are completely objective; that is, they consider no human factors.  The ASWA "polls" are built on tradition, regional biases, and opinion. I can safely say that these two computer ratings, and probably all others too, have none of that--I enter the scores, I run a program, I get the results.

As such, some folks will consider computer systems "flawless;" others will consider them hopelessly flawed.  I could argue the point from both sides.  I prefer to examine a rating system from the perspective of why it is rating a particular team at a given level.  Are teams being rewarded for tough victories?  Does a team's schedule reflect in its ranking?  Is a team's schedule so abnormal that there is no way that team can be ranked fairly?  These are all questions to bear in mind when looking at the results of a particular system.

We will never know the true ordered ranking of the Division I-A college teams, let alone all 300-plus high school teams in this state.  However, I think this system is an improvement.

"You are north Alabama based, and north Alabama biased."

Half true. However, thank's to the site owner's line of business, the ratings have been run from north Alabama, from the Gulf Coast, from New York, from Oklahoma, even from England once. No matter what computer is used, the results are the same. Wins and losses count, not my team or your team (actually, I don't have a team anymore!). There is no "north Alabama bias" here anymore than that is where the computer rates the higher teams.

On the subject of north Alabama bias, keep in mind that 60 percent of football playing schools are in Shelby County or points northward. Population figures are biased toward the north. News coverage is, also. Is the bias you see here actually a part of the ratings, or is something bigger going on? Remember, high school football isn't always the answer.

"The ratings are a joke.  I would say more, but they speak for themselves." or "What a pathetic rating system."

I would appreciate constructive criticism or specific questions, not generalized blubber about the ratings.  If this is your sentiment, please learn how computer rating systems work before you come back--this page is obviously not for you.

I get lots of messages like this. Please don't send me more of them.

Legal Disclaimers

Due to liability and copyright issues, I must say again that:  this page is in no way affiliated with, sponsored by, or sanctioned by the Alabama High School Athletic Association.  You may visit the AHSAA's web site by clicking here.

The caretaker of these pages gains no commercial benefit from producing these ratings--these pages are solely for your personal amusement.  If you use the data that are available here, all I ask is that you provide a link to the page and let me know. The advertisements that I have added in 2006 allow me only to recoup a meager few dollars toward the hosting of these pages.

What rating systems are used for your rankings?

1. I use a carbon copy of the rating system developed by David Wilson.  His site, including an example, can be found here.  His system works very good in a case like this, where all teams are rated and have varying strength levels.  The ratings will begin to sort themselves out by the fourth or fifth week.

2. I also use my personal recreation of the system by John Wobus.  I have recreated the code the best I can, and I am probably as close as I'm going to get.  This system is similar to the one by Colley.  It is best suited for a group of teams in one division (not six, as we have in Alabama)--so I add a fudge factor that makes 6A teams stronger, 1A teams weaker, etc.

My team's record is wrong!  The score is wrong!  The score is missing!  What can I do?

You can e-mail me at ratings@talismanred.com with your team's scores.  If there is one error, there could be others, and I would appreciate your help in sorting them out.  Inevitably, schools fail to report game results to the AP or even to the AHSAA (they fine schools each week for failing to report scores!!)...so if you know one that I don't, please send it to me. I will pass on any corrections I receive.

My team is better than what your rating suggests.  What can I do?

This is a rating made by computer.  It is NOT my opinion, it is NOT important, it is NOT relevant to the playoff process.  The AHSAA office knows I compile this rating, and it has no impact on any work they do.   This is an educational experience for all of us.  If you email me complaining about where your team is rated or telling me that 'my rating system' is bad, I will forward your email address to a spam clearinghouse.

Using the ratings early in the season

Just like a team's record, their early-season computer rating doesn't mean much.  The ratings should begin to take shape around the end of September.  Weekly review of the Colley method showed that his ranking for college teams became representative after about five games--so by Week 5, I think the results here will begin to have meaning.

Why am I doing this?

A few reasons.  First, there is no place where we can get complete information about ALL high school sports in this state. It's just not feasible yet. The AHSAA doesn't have the resources to do it, the Birmingham News can't do it, nor can I. But what I will try to do is provide all scores of all football games as quickly as possible, with no bias. Large schools and small schools alike. Plus, this site provides INSTANT results. As soon as I type in a score, it goes into the system and the ratings and rankings are updated. No waiting around. This, to me, is the most major benefit of this site.

Ranting aside, I'm a nerd that loves sports.  This kind of stuff is fun to me.  Also, I believe in fairness and equality and want to see a rating system that will treat all teams fair regardless of location, history, or any other reason.  The writers polls DO NOT meet this criteria. Finally, one day I envision a "true" state championship tournament where the top 32 teams overall, regardless of class and of geography, compete for the ultimate prize.  This system may be a start to that (check out the way Illinois does their football tournament, for example). (Further note: for that matter, Ohio, Louisiana, Wyoming, and others already use a computer ranking to determine playoff teams, using a system much like the two here.)

Who the heck are you?

My name is not David Wilson or John Wobus; they created these two ratings systems, I just run the computer code. I'll be happy to share my story if you email me.  Until then, I'll tell you I am a graduate of a Class 1A school in northwest Alabama. I was at the University of Oklahoma during the 2000 championship season, and I'm now a Ph.D. student at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.

I like what you're doing.  Can I help?

Sure.  Email me and we can talk about it.  The most help I need is in getting those scores that are hard to find.  You can reproduce the ratings (Wilson's code is freely available on his web page).  If someone is willing to share scores with me (and they are accurate and reliable!), I'll be glad to mention you as a contributor on the front page.  If you want to learn more about sports ratings, or computer programming, or atmospheric science and meteorology (my profession), I'll also share my limited knowledge.

Again, email questions or comments to (click to send mail).