CarrollJamieson

Coach, I appreciate your opinion and there is definitely some truth in what you say.

If you were given immediate control of the CPA athletic department, what immediate changes would you make? How would you fix the problems that you see with the basketball program?

1. Which is not to be used as an excuse to not repent of actions when these actions do not line up with the standards of the Word of God which is the calling of the school. Too many times this is used to justify, defend or excuse (e.g. nobody is perfect).

 

2. Which is exactly why "how a program operates" must line up with the mission. If not about winning, why continue to operate in a manner that only infuriates those you say CPA is trying to interact with? This only demonstrates a lack of understanding of what testimony really means. The Bible teaches we are to avoid even those things that have the appearance of wrong doing for the sake of testimony.

 

These are 2 key reasons why CPA is viewed in the fashion with which they currently are - lack of humble repentance and lack of understanding of testimony. It has become about the business of school (image and keeping our customers happy - parents of students) than the mission of the school. Yes, it is a fine balance, but a balance that must be maintained if the mission is to be upheld. Nobody likes when someone says they are something when the actions do not support it, this only creates hypocrisy. And no, this is not saying one must apologize for being successful.

CPA ought to reconsider its mission. It's arrogant to say your teams are better because you have better coaches. It hypocritical to claim your school doesn't recruit even though your best players year-in and year-out are transfers. It's cowardly to refuse to play in a division with other schools that recruit openly so you can dominate a division that doesn't. And it's irrelevant what happens at other schools anyway...claiming "everybody does it" doesn't cut it for a school that's supposed to be Christ-centered. CPA speaks with a forked-tongue. So go on praying before tip-off. Cover your walls with sanctimonious epitaphs. Have your little chapel services and stand on your street corners thanking God every day you aren't like all those public school heathens. Just know this: We heathens know you are talking the talk because you don't walk the walk. In my reading of the New Testament, the only people Jesus had little tolerance for were a certain group of holier-than-thou Pharisees. Seems winning was all they cared about too.

 

Barry, I'm sorry that this is the impression you've gotten of CPA. I assure you, it's an institution that is made up of sinners and imperfect people, just like the rest of the world (public and private). No one at CPA is any better than anyone at a public school or anywhere else, and if they've made you feel that way, that's just evidence of that fact.

Part of the mission of the school is to live and interact in the world at large (public and private) and not just in a small enclave of wealthy private schools. That's why, as I understand it (I am not officially affiliated with the school, just an alum), CPA is not interested in moving to Division II. I don't think it's because they want to dominate the public schools. Shoot, they'd be dominating if they were in D-II too, right (at least in hoops)?

As far as I know, CPA complies with all TSSAA rules and regulations. I would be very disappointed to find out that they weren't. I understand that they've got kids on the basketball team from out of town and out of state. I'd like to think that parents of a kid who's talented at basketball seek out a great basketball program for their kid and that having that kind of program has attracted these kids to CPA, just like, for instance, the Shelbyville girls program attracted kids there back in the day.

Having said all of this, I do understand the frustration of public schools that compete with the privates. It's hard to argue that it's a level playing field, in terms of resources. If TSSAA does decide to segregate public and private (and I think they ultimately will), I'll understand.

Finally, thanks to Creek Wood for doing a great job hosting the tourney. Friday night was the best atmosphere for a high school basketball game that I've ever seen. Maybe we will see a rematch in Murfreesboro - I'm sure it would be a great game!