ELA

I did my master research in Education on the differences between small schools and large schools and I can tell you the best size for a school is less than 500 students! The real secret is teacher/pupil ratios; however, this costs lots of money, and when states have to cut budgets, the first thing that they ask is how many students can we cram into one classroom!

The school board has not made a final decision on how, when, or even if the two schools will be combined, although the county commission approved the funding of the new school with the understanding that this would happen at some point in the future. Likewise, the new school's name, colors, and mascot are also undecided, and for the time being, will continue to be called the Bulldogs. The final decision is too hot of a subject in this, an election year; so I think after November we will see some movement on the question. I have stated my humble opinion, to those who will listen, that I think it should be phased in over a four year period, adding the freshman class in 2004, and allowing the existing classes to all graduate at the old school. It will remain a K-8 school because it is located on the far Western side of the county. Since I am an outsider to this fine little community, no one really cares what I think, and I must admit, I don't always understand the fears and apprehension about discussing this subject. It seems the mistrust and natural rivalries of these two schools dates back many years and it will be a challenge to overcome these feelings quickly. Having said that, I think after going to school together for a few years, the combined efforts of these two communities (Celina and Hermitage Springs) will create a much better sports environment for all those involved. The new facility will be great; however, the funding of new athletic facilities (baseball, softball, football) has not been funded. There are many in each community that are opposed to the merger, and it wouldn't surprise me if in the end, the two schools don't merge. [Edited by ELA on 7/6/02 10:06P]

You are right that as financial pressures continue, more rural schools will be combined; however, there will always be schools like Collinwood, CLoudland, Monterey, etc. because they are so isolated and geographically remote! The school where I work will be merging with our other county high school in a few years (the building is already under construction), but we will still be a small 1A rural school (possibly 2A by 2007 but I doubt it). We may end up with only about 30 of them down the road, but geography creates the rural schools!

Bearman, I have stated on many threads that I have been in favor of a total public/private split for years, but I THINK we will have to wait and see how the BA/TSSAA lawsuit turns out. Many think the courts may force the TSSAA to reform or change our system. Who knows where this thing will go, but I'd bet my old Buick (if I were a betting man) changes are waiting in the wings for 2005!

Volunteer General, I think you make these statements just to get people to respond to you. Don't make so much out of quotes from a message board, Most people simply, read, type, and move on... not really thinking someone will write a thesis or antithesis about their postings on a football message board! Having said that I feel compelled to respond to your last post about me. Don't put extra words in my mouth or try to make them imply something they do not! My words were as follows: "My life work is coaching football and I don't do it, or talk about it, as a hobby! It is the driving passion that makes my life have value! Some people fish, I coach! It is what I do." You took that to imply that I didn't like teaching or consider it unimportant? Boy, you really missed the mark on that one. I hold a Masters Degree (+) in Education and I am qualified to teach History or Aviation at the college level. As a matter of fact, I am one semester and a Thesis (book) away from a PH.D. I have served on several curriculum committees over the past ten years and I belong to two professional education associations. I have written several essays and reports on education in America and have spent much of my professional life in the field of education. What I was simply saying was COACHING FOOTBALL IS MY DRIVING PASSION! I teach because it is a part of being a high school coach, but it is not what I do for fun! Millions of people go to work and punch a clock all over our nation, and even though they appreciate having a job, it is not necessarily their "driving passion." Guess what, there's nothing wrong with that and it doesn't make them less of a professional. My doctor is very good, but he has other things he likes to do (fish, play golf, etc.). I have an assistant coach that says fishing is his passion! My mother-in-law's passion is outdoor photography. MY PASSION IS FOOTBALL! Some people fish... I don't fish; some people play golf, I don't play golf; some people love NASCAR, I hate NASCAR... simply put, I LOVE FOOTBALL. PERIOD!

IN coaching circles, there is a saying, "Private schools don't bring very good gates." I have generally found that to be true. Most private schools don't travel well. Maybe it is simply a matter of numbers, I don't know? The only private school that I have coached against who travels well is BGA. Even when I was at Brentwood H.S., our game with BA (four blocks away) didn't sell out on the visitors side. I know you can't make a general statement about all private schools and that was not my intention, but there are some schools who "travel well" and some who don't. Fans don't look at these issues because they are only interested in winning or losing! But coaches and administrators always schedule some games they know they don't have much of a chance of winning just for the gate and concession revenue every other year! We call these gate games. I don't like this term or idea, but I promise you, if a coach can raise an extra $10,000 every two years off of a single gate, he will add that team to his schedule! The general consensus from every public school coach I have ever talked to is that small D1 private schools (in general) don't bring large gates when they are on the road!

I think a petition could be made within two weeks after the numbers are released for any school that should feel the need to lower itself by one classification. The Board of Control could review each request or deny it without review?

Just1NP... I know you know this, but under the present system, any school can move up by petitioning the TSSAA (by a certain date) to do so; however, no one can move down. Two years ago, Lighthouse tried to make a move to Division II, but it was after the TSSAA placed them in DI-Region 5A and their request was after the required date, so they were denied. Since we are on a four year plan, they will have to wait until the next cycle to make the request again. I hope that by that time, we will have a new system in place like the one I have suggested here! P.S. Don't worry about Panfan... just like many of us, he gets carried away some time!

I love playing Trousdale... bring them back any day! They always brought a good gate, treated you fairly, provided great competition, and they are a PUBLIC SCHOOL! We would never play Collinwood in the regular season because they are in the Western Bracket, but I would love to play them again (I coached against them on four Spring scrimmages when I worked at another school). I would have no problems seeing Cloudland in the semi-finals, it would be an honor to play just make it to that round of the playoffs! We play Gordonsville every year! I scrimmage Oneida every summer! My school lost to South Pittsburg (long before I came to Tennessee) in the quarter or semi-finals many years ago! As you see... I have no problem playing against public schools and welcome the chance to do so again! This is not about my current school, but about making the TSSAA playoff system better! [Edited by ELA on 7/4/02 1:28P]

Once again... you can't read! I said the Combination Plan (see the other thread) is THE COMPROMISE to avoid the total split!

Volunteer General... can't you read? This is called the combination plan because everyone WILL compete in the playoffs in their respective classifications (A-AA-AAA-AAAA-AAAAA- AAAAAA), hence the reason for the six classes (instead of 8 class we presently have). You schedule whomever you want in the regular season as long as half of them are from your own class! You select which 8 games will count in the final score, so that two games may be used only for the gate or local rivalries! The purpose of the multiplier (as used in several other states) is to place private schools in a higher division to create a more fair and equitable system! I'm sorry you don't like it, but I think many private school supporters will love this system because it keeps (or puts) us all back together and ends the debate! You have six State Champions and it will only involve the best teams across the state! Public and private schools WILL play together in the playoffs under this system! As I see it, the Multiplier is the only way to go without a split! You are one of only two people on this website that I have heard that doesn't like the multiplier! Why all this headache... because this is what I do for a living, it is not a passing "fancy" in my life. My life work is coaching football and I don't do it, or talk about it, as a hobby! It is the driving passion that makes my life have value! Some people fish, I coach! It is what I do.

I have never tried to hide the fact that I want a more fair system for small 1A rural public schools... dear God... that is what this debate has been about for the past two or three years! Volunteer General you have only been a part of this debate for a few months, otherwise you would have already figured that out! Ask Panfan about last summer's discussions. I offered this plan as a COMPROMISE to private schools. This plan is based on the assumption that changes are coming because almost NO one is happy with the system we currently have in place. The private school division is a joke because there aren't enough teams in DII to create a single class of schools (much less three classes). The public schools are in total control of the TSSAA and because of the recent lawsuit(s), changes are going to be forced by the courts. We (public school coaches) want change, therefore, change will come about, so we had better have some good plans ready for consideration. Finally, Volunteer General, this is not about the school where I am currently employed, before coming here I had only had one year with a losing record, this effects all schools and all classes! I have been on record in favor of a total split for five years, this is a compromise! Am I biased yes, you are too! Everyone has their opinions and the freedom to express them; the difference is I am willing to work toward a more comprehensive system and that is what this plan is all about! If it was up to me and I had the power, I would split in 2003!

Celina, Monterey, Watertown, Jackson County, Mt. Juliet Christian, Oakdale, Lighthouse, maybe Clarksville Academy, maybe Eagleville? They have also scheduled games in Kentucky!

VOLUNTEER... my plan is more flexible simply because it doesn't require anyone to play anyone in the regular season they don't want to! NO REGIONS, NO REQUIRED GAMES! Only the top 32 teams go to the playoffs each year (no weak teams)! Fewer championships and less travel with the exception of the championship game! YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE MULTIPLIER OR A TOTAL SPLIT! These are the two accepted methods used throughout the United States and the Multiplier is the only way you will ever put the whole system back together! Under my plan, teams might move up or down but without regions, WHY? If a team feels they are playing at a level too high, they could petition for a change based on their previous five year record!

EGO... the numbers don't matter in the regular season because there would be no forced region games! You pick who you want to play... period. Forget the numbers for now and look at the plan! By the way, the numbers listed are as follows: A. Public schools = student body population from Jan 2002. B. Non-Financial Aid Private schools = student population X 1.5 C. Financial Aid Private Schools = student body population X 2

Many states are going to the multiplier system, so I think it is the shape of things to come! I told you guys some of the school numbers would be off, I typed the second post in about ten minutes and simply ran a quick spread sheet for the privates. For those who think some of the private schools who offer financial aid would be treated unfair, I remind you they will pick all ten of their games without real regard for their overall classification. The multiplier numbers could be raised or lowered, but at least it provides a basis for preventing a total split. This would take most all of the better private schools up one to three classes and create a really great super class (AAAAAA) for real school competition! For whomever said there were two many classes in this plan, may I remind you this is two less than we currently have and it is a fair division of talent. I also think any school who thinks they are placed too high could petition to be dropped one class. It would be up to the TSSAA to honor their request or not! Volunteer.... the reference to the B class is from the older plan! Overall, I think you guys like the plan, but everyone understands the numbers of any final plan will be tweaked! Thanks for your responses, maybe I can work on the numbers again later!

Here are the classifications under the Combination plan. There are probably some errors (I may have left a school out or added one that doesn't have football). REMEMBER, since we have done away with regions... these classes will only effect who you play in the playoffs! The numbers are based on the most recent numbers posted on the TSSAA website and there are three or four new schools that we had to guess on! BA always moves up on their own so we put them in class 6A. CLASS A Tennessee School for the Deaf 77 69 8 0.12 77 Elliston Baptist Academy 72 74 (2) (0.03) 108 Tennessee Preparatory School 117 176 (59) (0.34)117 Oakdale High School 138 159 (21) (0.13) 138 Heritage White House 150 Nashville Christian School 100 170 (70) (0.41) 150 Lighthouse Christian Academy 105 137 (32) (0.23 158 Zion Christian Academy 161 Mt. Juliet Christian Academy 108 76 32 0.42 162 Copper Basin High School 182 179 3 0.02 182 Gleason High School 190 207 (17) (0.08) 190 Coalfield High School 191 194 (3) (0.02) 191 King's Academy 97 85 12 0.14 194 Sunbright High School 197 181 16 0.09 197 Red Boiling Springs High School 205 199 6 0.03 205 Trinity Christian Academy 137 131 6 0.05 206 Lake Co. High School 220 224 (4) (0.02) 220 Hollow Rock - Bruceton Central 230 233 (3) (0.01230 Greenback High School 237 255 (18) (0.07) 237 Eagleville High School 240 335 (95) (0.28) 240 Cornersville High School 241 264 (23) (0.09) 241 South Pittsburg High School 244 274 (30) (0.11) 244 Cloudland High School 253 219 34 0.15 253 Clarksville Academy 170 180 (10) (0.06) 255 Lookout Valley High School 256 255 1 0.00 256 Scotts Hill High School 256 327 (71) (0.22) 256 McEwen High School 260 270 (10) (0.04) 260 Jo Byrns School 262 248 14 0.06 262 Midway High School 267 245 22 0.09 267 Moore Co. High School 268 261 7 0.03 268 South Fulton High School 270 288 (19) (0.06) 270 Huntland High School 274 253 21 0.08 274 Watertown High School 290 277 13 0.05 290 Celina High School 295 266 29 0.11 295 Gordonsville High School 310 302 8 0.03 310 Jackson Christian School 207 223 (16) (0.07) 311 Cascade High School 313 302 11 0.04 313 West Carroll High School 328 304 24 0.08 328 Friendship Christian School 222 249 (27) (0.11) 333 Lausanne Collegiate School 167 156 11 0.07 334 Jellico High School 334 348 (14) (0.04) 334 Wayne Co. High School 335 349 (14) (0.04) 335 Collinwood High School 336 324 12 0.04 336 Columbia Academy 225 217 8 0.04 338 Middleton High School 343 339 4 0.01 343 Perry Co. High School 345 332 13 0.04 345 Monterey High School 345 349 (4) (0.01) 345 Halls High School 347 361 (14) (0.04) 347 Whitwell High School 353 338 15 0.05 353 Forrest High School 354 347 7 0.02 354 Bishop Byrne High School 178 138 40 0.29 356 Mt. Pleasant High School 358 349 9 0.03 358 Oneida High School 359 359 (0) (0.00) 359 CLASS AA McKenzie High School 360 433 (73) (0.17) 360 North Greene High School 360 346 14 0.04 360 Adamsville High School 368 387 (19) (0.05) 368 Unaka High School 371 343 28 0.08 371 Trousdale Co. High School 372 390 (18) (0.05) 372 Cosby High School 374 354 20 0.06 374 Rockwood High School 385 364 21 0.06 385 Station Camp H.S. 388 Houston Co. High School 388 394 (6) (0.02) 388 Dresden High School 390 384 6 0.01 390 Manassas High School 392 386 6 0.02 392 Hampton High School 397 429 (32) (0.07) 397 Alcoa High School 397 386 11 0.03 397 Memphis Catholic High School 202 180 22 0.12 404 East Robertson High School 405 403 2 0.01 405 Wartburg Central High School 409 415 (6) (0.01) 409 Christian Academy of Knoxville 274 249 25 0.10 411 Harriman High School 412 398 14 0.03 412 Peabody High School 416 428 (12) (0.03) 416 Ezell-Harding Christian Academy 278 289 (11) 417 St. Andrew's - Sewanee School 211 196 15 0.08 422 Christ Presbyterian Academy 282 269 13 0.05 423 Huntingdon High School 424 396 28 0.07 424 Union City High School 427 442 (15) (0.03) 427 Bledsoe Co. High School 434 429 5 0.01 434 Richland High School 436 425 11 0.03 436 Jackson Co. High School 439 438 1 0.00 439 Fayette Academy 220 225 (5) (0.02) 440 Decatur Co. Riverside High School 448 501 (53) 448 Franklin Road Academy 299 283 16 0.06 449 Westmoreland High School 451 423 28 0.07 451 Cumberland Gap 453 Tellico Plains High School 460 467 (7) (0.01) 460 Davidson Academy 309 324 (15) (0.05) 464 Upperman High School 470 476 (6) (0.01) 470 Polk Co. High School 484 449 35 0.08 484 Oliver Springs High School 489 507 (18) (0.03) 489 Donelson Christian Academy 326 335 (9) (0.03) 489 Westside High School 490 430 60 0.14 490 University School of Jackson 328 316 12 0.04 492 Humboldt High School 493 534 (41) (0.08) 493 Boyd Buchanan High School 329 305 24 0.08 494 Treadwell High School 499 575 (76) (0.13) 499 Southern Baptist Educational Center 252 238 14 504 Westwood High School 513 725 (212) (0.29) 513 Tyner Academy 514 384 130 0.34 514 Oakhaven High School 515 547 (32) (0.06) 515 B. T. Washington High School 530 463 67 0.15 530 Sequatchie Co. High School 530 511 19 0.04 530 Camden Central High School 533 586 (53) (0.09) 533 Chuckey-Doak High School 543 588 (45) (0.08) 543 Goodpasture Christian School 368 377 (9) (0.02) 552 West Greene High School 552 578 (26) (0.04) 552 Sweetwater High School 555 489 66 0.14 555 CLASS AAA Alvin C. York Institute 559 604 (45) (0.07) 559 Martin Luther King High School 563 503 60 0.12 563 Memphis South Side High School 565 743 (179)565 Happy Valley High School 565 584 (19) (0.03) 565 Notre Dame High School 566 582 (16) (0.03) 566 South Greene High School 573 556 17 0.03 573 Meigs Co. High School 576 527 49 0.09 576 Harpeth High School 576 587 (11) (0.02) 576 Westview High School 581 624 (43) (0.07) 581 Loretto High School 581 562 19 0.03 581 Lewis Co. High School 582 555 27 0.05 582 Stewart Co. High School 601 582 19 0.03 582 Mitchell High School 587 369 218 0.59 587 Gatlinburg-Pittman High School 588 732 (144)588 Fairview High School 593 592 1 0.00 593 Waverly Central High School 599 623 (24) (0.04) 599 George Washington Carver High School 599 621 (22)599 Cannon Co. High School 622 597 25 0.04 622 Marion Co. High School 625 568 57 0.10 625 Cheatham Co. Central High School 626 780 (154) 626 Smith Co. High School 630 613 17 0.03 630 Milan High School 617 644 (27) (0.04) 644 Chester Co. High School 657 673 (16) (0.02) 657 Gibson Co. High School 662 691 (29) (0.04) 662 Frayser High School 666 678 (12) (0.02) 666 McNairy Central High School 670 756 (86) (0.11) 670 Pigeon Forge High School 692 592 100 0.17 692 Grundy Co. High School 696 736 (40) (0.05) 696 Kingston High School 708 716 (8) (0.01) 708 Marshall Co. High School 711 738 (27) (0.04) 711 McMinn Central High School 713 675 38 0.06 713 Hillcrest High School 724 697 27 0.04 724 Johnson Co. High School 725 676 49 0.07 725 DeKalb Co. High School 729 767 (39) (0.05) 729 Loudon High School 732 690 42 0.06 732 Unicoi Co. High School 734 755 (21) (0.03) 734 Scott High School 736 759 (23) (0.03) 736 Claiborne Co. High School 737 738 (1) (0.00) 737 Harding Academy 369 424 (55) (0.13) 738 Siegel High School** 750 Rutledge High School 752 735 17 0.02 752 Crockett Co. High School 763 747 16 0.02 763 Macon Co. High School 767 743 24 0.03 767 Greenbrier High School 768 737 31 0.04 768 Walker Valley High School 771 950 (179) (0.19) 771 Battle Ground Academy 387 393 (6) (0.02) 774 David Lipscomb High School 517 513 4 0.01 775 Sequoyah High School 783 774 9 0.01 783 Sullivan North High School 786 781 5 0.01 786 Sycamore High School 792 856 (64) (0.07) 792 Austin-East High School 797 783 14 0.02 797 CLASS AAAA Pearl Cohn High School 803 963 (160) (0.17) 803 Greeneville High School 811 769 42 0.05 811 Sheffield High School 819 784 35 0.04 819 Webb School of Knoxville 413 417 (4) (0.01) 826 Fulton High School 827 856 (29) (0.03) 827 Covington High School 828 807 21 0.03 828 Obion Co. Central High School 831 875 (44) 831 Giles Co. High School 838 933 (95) (0.10) 838 Livingston Academy 850 830 20 0.02 850 Whites Creek High School 853 1125 (272) (0.24) 853 Montgomery Central High School 857 838 19 0.02 857 Dyer Co. High School 859 870 (11) (0.01) 859 St. Benedict at Auburndale 430 413 17 0.04 860 Elizabethton High School 864 818 46 0.06 864 East Ridge High School 870 961 (91) (0.09) 870 Bolivar Central High School 876 859 17 0.02 876 Maplewood Comprehensive High School 877 1122 (245) 877 Union Co. High School 877 879 (2) (0.00) 877 Lexington High School 879 916 (37) (0.04) 879 Brighton High School 879 841 38 0.05 879 Seymour High School 893 849 44 0.05 893 Spring Hill High School 895 1028 (133) (0.13) 895 Fayette Ware High School 899 890 9 0.01 899 Creekwood 910 Ripley High School 836 910 (74) (0.08) 910 Haywood High School 911 990 (79) (0.08) 911 Portland High School 911 838 73 0.09 911 Jackson South Side High School 913 948 (35) (0.04)913 Gibbs High School 917 942 (25) (0.03) 917 Hixson High School 922 990 (68) (0.07) 922 White House High School 939 993 (54) (0.05) 939 Raleigh Egypt High School 942 922 20 0.02 942 Carter High School 947 961 (14) (0.01) 947 Trezevant High School 948 937 11 0.01 948 Page High School 1127 956 171 0.18 956 Sullivan East High School 958 1062 (104) (0.10) 958 Springfield High School 960 961 (1) (0.00) 960 Rossview High School 961 1100 (139) (0.13) 961 Memphis East High School 969 1092 (123) (0.11) 969 Montgomery Bell Academy 918 870 48 0.06 978 Anderson Co. High School 980 943 37 0.04 980 Memphis Northside High School 983 871 112 0.13 983 Knoxville Catholic High School 492 426 66 0.15 984 Shelbyville Central High School 994 1037 (43) (0.04)994 Pope John Paul II** 1000 Brainerd High School 1003 1008 (5) (0.00) 1003 Kingsbury High School 1003 863 140 0.16 1003 Stratford High School 1009 1101 (92) (0.08) 1009 Lawrence Co. High School 1016 1000 16 0.02 1016 Sullivan Central High School 1022 983 39 0.04 1022 Dyersburg High School 1023 1051 (28) (0.03) 1023 Hickman Co. High School 1036 1001 35 0.03 1036 Lenoir City High School 1045 933 112 0.12 1045 Volunteer High School 1050 987 63 0.06 1050 Tennessee High School 1050 1031 19 0.02 1050 White Co. High School 1054 1056 (2) (0.00) 1054 CLASS AAAAA Hardin Co. High School 1055 1087 (32) (0.03) 1055 Sullivan South High School 1064 1110 (46) (0.04)1064 David Crockett High School 1066 1061 5 0.00 1066 Chattanooga Central High School 1075 1128 (53) (0.05)1075 Fairley High School 1076 991 85 0.09 1076 Knoxville Halls High School 1078 1180 (102) (0.09)1078 Northwest High School 1081 1183 (102) (0.09) 1081 Cherokee High School 1091 1061 30 0.03 1091 Wilson Central High School 1097 1167 (70) (0.06)1097 Cleveland High School 1097 1167 (70) (0.06) 1097 Clinton High School 1114 1152 (38) (0.03) 1114 Powell High School 1120 1094 26 0.02 1120 Morristown-Hamblen High School West 1134 1126 8 0.011134 Northeast High School 1146 1347 (201) (0.15) 1146 Tullahoma High School 1153 1091 62 0.06 1153 Daniel Boone High School 1181 1131 50 0.04 1181 Craigmont High School 1181 1123 58 0.05 1181 Hillsboro High School 1183 1229 (46) (0.04) 1183 Briarcrest Christian School 593 556 37 0.07 1186 Knoxville Central High School 1195 1210 (16) (0.01)1195 Cocke Co. High School 1201 1154 47 0.04 1201 Mt. Juliet High School 1204 1969 (765) (0.39) 1204 Memphis Central High School 1214 1333 (119) (0.09)1214 Clarksville High School 1219 1393 (174) (0.13) 1219 Red Bank High School 1222 1318 (96) (0.07) 1222 Henry Co. High School 1226 1378 (152) (0.11) 1226 Kenwood High School 1228 1361 (133) (0.10) 1228 Melrose High School 1241 1023 218 0.21 1241 Ridgeway High School 1242 957 285 0.30 1242 Ravenwood*** 1250 Morristown-Hamblen High School East 1254 1347 (93) Rhea Co. High School 1272 1254 18 0.01 1272 Hillwood High School 1285 1031 254 0.25 1285 Glencliff High School 1293 1562 (269) (0.17) 1293 LaVergne High School 1295 1439 (144) (0.10) 1295 Lebanon High School 1302 1483 (181) (0.12) 1302 West High School 1302 1332 (30) (0.02) 1302 Baylor School 653 607 46 0.08 1306 Jackson North Side High School 1306 1319 (13) (0.01)1306 Maryville High School 1316 1193 123 0.10 1316 South Doyle High School 1317 1348 (31) (0.02) 1317 Wooddale High School 1339 1339 Campbell Co. High School 1351 1372 (21) (0.02) 1351 Munford High School 1357 1297 60 0.05 1357 Overton High School 1359 1332 27 0.02 1359 Columbia Central High School 1386 1346 40 0.03 1386 Coffee Co. Central High School 1390 1426 (36) (0.03)1390 Heritage High School 1391 1366 25 0.02 1391 McMinn Co. High School 1417 1381 36 0.03 1417 Oak Ridge High School 1421 1457 (36) (0.02) 1421 John Overton High School 1433 1251 182 0.15 1433 Smyrna High School 1436 1446 (10) (0.01) 1436 CLASS AAAAAA Kirby High School 1450 1695 (245) (0.14) 1450 Franklin High School 1648 1462 186 0.13 1462 Beech Senior High School 1479 1461 18 0.01 1479 Millington Central High School 1484 1486 (2) (0.00)1484 Franklin Co. High School 1496 1500 (4) (0.00) 1496 Karns High School 1502 1548 (46) (0.03) 1502 Lincoln Co. High School 1505 1525 (20) (0.01) 1505 Sevier Co. High School 1511 1524 (13) (0.01) 1511 Ooltewah High School 1525 1593 (68) (0.04) 1525 Blackman High School 1539 1465 74 0.05 1539 Centennial High School 1541 1580 (39) (0.02) 1541 Hamilton High School 1593 1568 25 0.02 1593 William Blount High School 1597 1567 30 0.02 1597 Gallatin High School 1634 1693 (59) (0.03) 1634 Central-Merry High School 1636 1691 (55) (0.03) 1636 Hendersonville High School 1642 1622 20 0.01 1642 Houston High School 1675 1760 (85) (0.05) 1675 Evangelical Christian School 482 495 (13) (0.03)1684 Soddy Daisy High School 1689 1724 (35) (0.02) 1689 Memphis University School 852 784 68 0.09 1704 Dobyns Bennett High School 1707 1671 36 0.02 1707 Bearden High School 1722 1661 61 0.04 1722 Warren Co. High School 1743 1768 (25) (0.01) 1743 Riverdale High School 1780 2313 (533) (0.23) 1780 Brentwood High School 1780 1654 126 0.08 1780 Cumberland Co. High School 1801 1746 55 0.03 1801 Jefferson Co. High School 1806 1752 54 0.03 1806 Hunters Lane High School 1807 1768 39 0.02 1807 White Station High School 1833 1910 (77) (0.04) 1833 Cookeville High School 1853 1907 (54) (0.03) 1853 Science Hill High School 1863 1885 (22) (0.01) 1863 Bradley Central High School 1877 2304 (427) (0.19)1877 Bartlett High School 1884 1952 (68) (0.03) 1884 Whitehaven High School 1899 1848 51 0.03 1899 Bolton High School 1929 1746 183 0.10 1929 Antioch High School 1988 1982 6 0.00 1988 Oakland High School 1998 2359 (361) (0.15) 1998 Father Ryan High School 1000 1000 0 0.00 2000 Collierville High School 2015 1935 80 0.04 2015 McGavock High School 2053 2071 (18) (0.01) 2053 Cordova High School 2077 2034 43 0.02 2077 Dickson Co. High School 2192 2144 48 0.02 2192 Farragut High School 2228 2136 92 0.04 2228 Germantown High School 2244 2308 (64) (0.03) 2244 McCallie School 1210 1208 2 0.00 2420 Christian Brothers High School 1738 1722 16 0.013476 Brentwood Academy 390 337 53 0.16 780**** Some schools can be moved up or down based on several factors, but it will only effect the playoffs, not during the regular season!

PANFAN... look at my other thread... Combination Plan. This is the result of two years of you and I debating about this issue. I think the numbers are pretty close and the private schools would be divided between almost all classifications. Looking at where most of them would end up, I think it would make some very interesting matchups. The only small schools that would be "out of their league" might be CAK and a couple of the smallest Catholic schools! For the most part, I think it would be acceptable to most coaches!

I’m going to throw out a revision of my original plan… COMMON PLAN, we will call this the COMBINATION PLAN. Although I like my other plan better, this one may be more acceptable to you private school supporters; however, I fear it will not be enjoyed by the larger public school coaches. Nevertheless, here we go: Right now we have 8 classifications (5 DI and 3 DII). Under this plan we would combine all teams back into one Division (non-financial aid private schools have a multiplier of 1.50, and all financial aid private schools use 2.0 with a limit of total scholarships for all sports) and create 6 classes of teams as follows (numbers may vary; remember without regions, it doesn’t matter how many teams are in a class): CLASS A – 359 students or less CLASS AA – 360-599 CLASS AAA- 600-849 CLASS AAAA-850-1039 CLASS AAAAA1040-1449 CLASS AAAAAA (Super Schools Class) 1450-UP Base Plan: Each team plays 10 regular season games (Weeks 1-10) * Each team selects 8 games to count toward the playoffs * 50% of the 10 games must be within a teams classification. * Playoff Teams are selected using a mathematical formula to be approved and managed by a PLAYOFF COMMITTEE (selected from TSSAA Member Schools to include Coaches, Administrators, Mathematical Statisticians). * Formula to take into consideration: A. Teams Classification B. Opponents Classification C. Teams Win/Loss Percentage D. Opponents Win/Loss Percentage E. Common Opponents Win/Loss Percentage F. Other Factors to be determined * All teams not selected for the playoffs can participate in a single invitational bowl game during weeks 11 or 12 if they win at least 3 regular season games. Each team will receive a pre-determined amount (percentage of gate or set remuneration) for participation in any bowl game. * The Committee will select 32 teams in each class to be divided as follows: * West Bracket - TOP 16 Teams * East Bracket - TOP 16 Teams * Team Playoff (EAST/WEST BRACKETS) as follows: * WEEK 11- GAMES A. 1-16 B. 2-15 C. 3-14 D. 4-13 E. 5-12 F. 6-11 G. 7-10 E. 8-9 * WEEK 12 - GAMES Winner of Game A Plays the Winner of Game E Winner of Game B Plays the Winner of Game G Winner of Game C Plays the Winner of Game F Winner of Game D Plays the Winner of Game E * WEEK 13 - GAMES Winner of Game A/E plays the Winner of D/E Winner of Game B/G plays the Winner of C/F * WEEK 14 - GAMES EAST CHAMPIONSHIP GAME - Knoxville, or Chattanooga? WEST CHAMPIONSHIP GAME - UT Martin, or University-Memphis? Week 15 – STATE CHAMPIONSHIP BOWL at MTSU in Murfreesboro [Edited by ELA on 7/4/02 1:13P] [Edited by ELA on 7/4/02 1:15P]

Yes!

When I talk about speed, I'm not talking about an idiot or someone who is uncoachable! I'm also not talking about an Ethiopian Bean pole stereo-type! I'm saying you can't really coach speed and that type of athleticism! You can't CREATE speed when the genetics aren't already in the student! It is an impossibility! Now what you do after that fact is where good coaching comes into play, but if you don't have speed, you WILL NOT GO FAR BEYOND YOUR REGION! IT WILL NOT HAPPEN! PERIOD! Take away the three boys with speed from the 2001 EZELL team? How far would they have went? Take away the speed from any of those final four teams and how many games would they have won? I will go to my grave saying that IF YOU DON'T HAVE ATHLETES ON YOUR TEAM (1-2-3-or 4) you will not win many games and you can't win a championship! It is an improbability and maybe an impossibility! The reason I even bring this up is because it goes to the heart of this on-going debate! Give a coach the ability to "reach out" and add one or two real athletes to his team each year and I will show you a team that has a chance to go deep in the playoffs! Can a team with good athletes lose to a team with lesser athletes... sure, it happens once or twice each year, but that is the exception and not the rule! Don't give me one or two examples from the past 100 years where an underdog has defeated a much superior team, tell me about the 10,000 games where the team with the most athletic kids (speed, agility) always win! IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE ATHLETES, YOU WILL NOT GO FAR! IF YOU CAN REACH OUT AND PICK UP ATHLETES OUTSIDE OF YOUR ZONE, YOU ONLY NEED ONE OR TWO to make a difference.

Panfan... how many players did your team (notice I didn't say which team) have last year that ran better than a 4.85-40 last season? If you look at the top eight 1A teams from last season, see how many had speed! Now look at the bottom 8 teams and compare. Take any 1A team in the bottom half (50%) and give them one or two athletes with speed and see what happens! I'll do you one better, give me two kids with speed (4.6 or better) and even my team will finish in the top 20 (1A) teams in the state! Speed isn't everything, but it makes up for a lot of other things!

EGO, I have talked to about four private school head coaches and at least a dozen assistant coaches about this issue. At least one head coach told me I was correct in most of my assumptions, but he assured me that his school was not one those schools that had the ability to reload quickly with new talent, and his record sort of backs up his statements. Others would tend to agree with Panfan and Vol Gen in their support of private schools. EGO, it is great that your school and students can raise so much money but I would be fired if I ask students to try to raise that much money. We have to have fund raisers approved and our school board doesn't want us constantly begging for money from a population that has been under constant economic hardship since NAFTA took away thousands of jobs in the late 80's. This just points out how little we understand of each others situations. QueenBee I respect you opinions and you are right, sometimes it may come off to some players as an excuse for losing, but I get so tired of hearing people say, "If you just worked harder you could win championships," because this is not always the case. Life is never that simplistic, and teenagers have changed so much in the last twenty years. Many coaches struggle with local politics, students on drugs, students with "huge" academic problems, and a variety of other issues that distract everyone or groups of people from football. We are not saying that my team, RBS, or Watertown should get an easy ride into the playoffs, but we are saying that the current system is not supported on an equal base. If it were, why would so many states have a multiplier system or separate publics and privates all together. Almost every state recognizes there is a difference, why can't we? I have put forward at least two different ideas that I can live with... we need to find a consensus on this issue and look for a real solution. If we can stop the name calling long enough to find a middle ground, we might be able to persuade the TSSAA to look at our ideas!

To add support to PUJO's statement (good mark PUJO), you can't teach speed! I have talked to the best speed and strength coaches in the business (Titans/Oilers, Cowboys, UT, Vandy) and they tell me you can improve speed over the course of four years by .020-.04 seconds (40) with well trained coaches and a dedicated athlete, but you will never take a 5.5-40 Freshman and turn him into a 4.3-40 all star TB or WR in four years! Speed is a natural portion of genetics and you either have speed or you don't! IT CAN'T BE COACHED! You can say the same thing about power lifting! I have a kid who is one of the most dedicated students I have ever seen... he is always the first in the weight room and the last to leave every time the doors are open, and he has improved greatly but he will never be the strongest person on the team no matter how hard he works! I have another kid who seldom comes to the weight room, but he is one of the strongest on the team! It is more about genetics and less about coaching! A good coach must take what talent walks through the doors and try to win ball games by teaching technique, skills, and motivating his team to do their best. However, if he plays against teams in his region who have players with natural gifts (speed, strength, size) he will always be fighting an up-hill battle! "SPEED KILLS" is a very true saying, and if you don't have it, you can't win too many games! [Edited by ELA on 7/1/02 7:41P]

V.G. this is what I have been trying to tell you for several weeks if not months! MOST small 1A and some 2A schools are just like this one! Annual budgets of less than $7500, low, if any support from the community, almost no coaching supplements... what this guy is telling you is the NORM, not the exception! IF... and I repeat... IF we have a new budget approved in Nashville, I will start the season with one paid assistant coach and there is a possibility that he may have to also coach another fall sport at another school while also trying to help me! If there is little or no support for athletics in a school, you can't make it happen by "preaching to the choir." Another thing is the local economy. Most small rural schools don't have any industry base to speak of in their counties. Without industry support, it is difficult to raise large sums of money. You and I know there are huge social and economic differences between the "haves and the have-nots" in public education. These small, very isolated schools barely keep their heads above water! It all adds up and effects the performance of the team. A coach that is a good motivator can raise some new interest, but if there isn't any money in the community, you "can't get blood out of a turnip." We may disagree on how much of an advantage MOST private schools have, but at least we can acknowledge that MOST rural schools have lots of problems that MOST privates don't face! It is all a matter of perspective! My team uses a sled that was purchase in 1957! Every year we try to weld, patch, and paint it enough to get through the year! Anyone with $3500 who wants to donate to a small public school, we would accept your generosity and purchase a new one! We also find our selves from time to time giving football money to baseball! In small school districts most sports are not self-supporting! V.G. I invite you to attend a baseball or football game at our school and you will see what we are talking about. Great kids, very little speed, no money, and a handful of good, honest, hard working parents who love their kids but simply can't pay anymore to support athletics. [Edited by ELA on 7/1/02 7:30P]