"Dumb parents ruining it for the rest of the players, students and community."

Your comment makes an assumption that is no longer true - that football supplies a mutal benefit to a given player, the other players, students and the community.

Football has become a very, very valuable brass ring at the hiigh schoool level.

Worth between $80,000 and $300,000.  The value of a 4 year ride at a University, including tuition, room and board.  

If you accept the value numbers as true, can you ask ANY family or kid to give up a chance at $80,000 - $300,000 in value in sacrifice for another kid?  Other students?  Or the community?  

What if they do, and then forfeit a legitimate shot at $80,000-$300,000?  Will those other interests or entities cover?

The problem is a system that makes it a $80,000-$300,000 proposition.

That's what has to change.  Until then, you really can't blame people (especially those ill-equipped or not trained to think differently) from reaching for the brass ring.

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