TSSAA approves Columbia Academy's move to Division II starting in 2019-20 school year

MURFREESBORO – Columbia Academy is officially the latest Tennessee private school to choose to go to Division II and compete in a league where need-based financial aid can be provided.

The TSSAA's Board of Control unanimously approved the school's request to move from Division I to Division II starting with the 2019-20 school year. It must compete in Division I this season to complete two-year football contracts.

More:Columbia Academy requests to join TSSAA Division II in 2019-20

Columbia Academy joins Grace Christian Academy in Franklin and Knoxville Catholic as private schools that currently compete in Division I.

Childress said there are currently nine private schools that compete in Division I, but that will be reduced to six in 2019 with the aforementioned departures.

Of the six, only Trinity Christian Academy in Jackson and Berean Christian in Knoxville have won TSSAA state team championships.

No member of Columbia Academy's administrative staff was in attendance at the meeting at the DoubleTree By Hilton Hotel in Murfreesboro. 

TSSAA executive director Bernarid Childress instructed school officials that their attendance wan't necessary given the board's previous decisions on GCA and Catholic.

The agenda item passed without any discussion.

Columbia Academy's decision to move to DII comes after the teams in District 10-A chose not to play them this season. Grace Christian officials said the school's soccer program faced similar issues in District 10-A.

Columbia Academy and GCA do not compete in the same basketball league.

"I think when they had the opportunity to go to DI or DII, I think they should have seen what was coming about," said Loretto athletic director Bryan True, a Board of Control member.

True pointed out Loretto played Columbia Academy in a non-district basketball game this season. The two schools meet Thursday in the state tournament.

40-second play clock approved 

Tennessee high school football teams will have 40 seconds between plays in 2018. The TSSAA will experiment with a 40-second clock that begins when the play is called dead.

However, it will not be necessary for schools to purchase a play clock. Time can be kept on the field, TSSAA assistant director Richard McWhirter told the board.

McWhirter said in the past officials in the past were to wait 15 seconds and start a 25-second clock. But he acknowledged that was often not exact.

McWhirter said a NFHS rule implementing the 40-second clock failed by one vote this past year. It is expected to pass this year and could be in effect for the 2020 season.

Girls soccer to stay in Boro 

The TSSAA Girls Soccer State Championships will remain in Murfreesboro through 2020. The board unanimously approved to grant a two-year extension to keep the tournament at Richard Siegel Soccer Complex.

Reach Tom Kreager at tkreager@tennessean.com or 615-259-8089 and on Twitter @Kreager.