Not as much wide spread recruiting.
Playoffs (state) were nothing like they are today.
Off season workouts (legal) were nonexistent.
Camps, 7-7's, etc... were nonexistent.
Football was NOT a 12 month sport.
Teams could not "recruit" themselves to district/conference/state championship contention (talent wise) because there wasn't the aura created by the camps, recruiters, highlight tapes, state championship carrots, etc...
There were no charter schools.
Catholic league (PCL) was not in the PIAA so their road stopped at the city championships (which were HUGE back then, bigger than the small pool of schools hand picked to represent the East and West).
So.... back in the 80's when you had the opportunity to play a team outside your league or county IT WAS A BIG DEAL, "best on best", etc... so there was no bitching because no one ever even thought about it because, at least where I grew up, we didn't have to play the catholic schools.
Now there is no hiding, football is truly a state wide sport so the recruiting is rampant and football is being segregated between those who recruit and those who do not/ can not.
Thats the big difference I see from the 80's to today.