BushLeague

Welcome to the TSSAA where only $$$$ matters

So, everybody says that ... and has for a long, long time.  But ... what are softball folks going to do about it? 

The main reason for so many schools moving to Division 2 was: A and AA schools complained loud enough ... for long enough ... and the TSSAA changed the financial aid component to essentially drive those private schools into Division 2.  But ... did those A and AA schools ever have to compete against a school that was more than twice their size?  Was there ever a Single A school with an enrollment of say, 300 ... play against an enrollment of 1800?  That's exactly what is going on in AAA!  There are large schools with 1000 students and then there are MEGA-SCHOOLS with 2000 plus!

There is no reason - other than $ - that TSSAA can justify allowing schools to compete against schools with more than double their enrollment!

Agree completely. This was needed as much or more than the changes they did make.

What are baseball folks going to do about it?

The bottom line is basketball does not make money. Adding a 4th class would only raise expenses. They are not going to lose money. Sad but true.

 

We have 9 classes in football next year because playoff gates make A LOT of money.

Explain how a 4th class loses money?  More gates at Region, Sectional, State, etc.  Right?  What am I missing here?

It makes perfect sense. The only sport t$$aa cares about is football. There are more basketball teams, but half as many classifications. That is really all you need to know to realize they don't care. Their argument that they could not make the state tourney work with more than 3 classes is a joke. Much has changed in the last 40 years, but apparently Tennessee High School basketball is the same as it was in the late 70's-shortly after girls' basketball became a full court game. Makes sense to me.

I'm assuming that you strongly disagree with only 3 classes for Basketball ... and it sounds like others see it the same way.  What are the basketball coaches going to do about it?

Earlier this year, TSSAA voted against going to 4 classes in Boys & Girls Basketball, Baseball, Softball.  They released the classification for 2017-2021 today.  TSSAA classification plan makes no sense whatsoever and is completely unfair.  There are a number of schools that the TSSAA slotted to compete in 4A Football (1102-827 enrollment), but AAA (largest class) in Basketball, Baseball, Softball (2513-1033 enrollment).  So, their Football team will compete for state titles against schools with as few as 827 enrolled students; while their Basketball, Baseball, and Softball squads will have to compete with schools as large as 2513 enrollment!!! 

It gets worse ... these same schools that are AAA in Basketball/Baseball/Softball and 4A in Football - are 2A in Volleyball and Soccer!!!  The AA Soccer enrollment numbers are as low as 668 and the AA Volleyball numbers are as low as 583!  To recap, these schools play schools with an enrollment as large as 2513 in Basketball/Baseball/Softball, but as low as 827 in Football; 668 in Soccer; and 583 in Volleyball!!! 

How does that make sense?  Whatever happened to playing in a league against other schools of similar size and geographical proximity in all sports?  Why does the TSSAA have 6 classes in Football, but only 3 classes in Softball, etc? 

The following schools should be LIVID: Seymour (1102), Portland (1089), Liberty Tech (1083), Lawrence County (1082), Springfield (1081), Montgomery Central (1077), Kirby (1067), Stone Memorial (1061), Anderson County (1060), Spring Hill (1053), Tullahoma (1042), East Hamilton (1038) and Sequoyah (1033). 

If any of these schools advances in the AAA Region, Sectional, State Tournament rounds in Basketball, they will potentially do so by playing opponents that are MORE THAN TWICE THEIR SIZE!!!!!!!!!!!!  In many cases, they have to do this to get out of their own District!!!  For example: Stone Memorial's 1061 has to defeat Cookeville's 2203 to advance from their own District!!! 

TSSAA spent a lot of time considering the Division II changes and made sure Football kept their 6 classifications.  Class A schools pushed for the changes that made the majority of private schools to depart Division 1 for Division II.  Now, the large schools are stuck to play the MEGA-SCHOOLS.  But, I'm scratching my head why Softball couldn't have 4 classes to make for competitive balance? 

TSSAA - you can fix this for Softball - add a 4th class and keep the MEGA-SCHOOLS separate from schools that are LESS THAN HALF their size!

Earlier this year, TSSAA voted against going to 4 classes in Boys & Girls Basketball, Baseball, Softball.  They released the classification for 2017-2021 today.  TSSAA classification plan makes no sense whatsoever and is completely unfair.  There are a number of schools that the TSSAA slotted to compete in 4A Football (1102-827 enrollment), but AAA (largest class) in Basketball, Baseball, Softball (2513-1033 enrollment).  So, their Football team will compete for state titles against schools with as few as 827 enrolled students; while their Basketball, Baseball, and Softball squads will have to compete with schools as large as 2513 enrollment!!! 

It gets worse ... these same schools that are AAA in Basketball/Baseball/Softball and 4A in Football - are 2A in Volleyball and Soccer!!!  The AA Soccer enrollment numbers are as low as 668 and the AA Volleyball numbers are as low as 583!  To recap, these schools play schools with an enrollment as large as 2513 in Basketball/Baseball/Softball, but as low as 827 in Football; 668 in Soccer; and 583 in Volleyball!!! 

How does that make sense?  Whatever happened to playing in a league against other schools of similar size and geographical proximity in all sports?  Why does the TSSAA have 6 classes in Football, but only 3 classes in Basketball, Baseball, Softball? 

The following schools should be LIVID: Seymour (1102), Portland (1089), Liberty Tech (1083), Lawrence County (1082), Springfield (1081), Montgomery Central (1077), Kirby (1067), Stone Memorial (1061), Anderson County (1060), Spring Hill (1053), Tullahoma (1042), East Hamilton (1038) and Sequoyah (1033). 

If any of these schools advances in the AAA Region, Sectional, State Tournament rounds in Basketball, they will potentially do so by playing opponents that are MORE THAN TWICE THEIR SIZE!!!!!!!!!!!!  In many cases, they have to do this to get out of their own District!!!  For example: Stone Memorial's 1061 has to defeat Cookeville's 2203 to advance from their own District!!! 

TSSAA spent a lot of time considering the Division II changes and made sure Football kept their 6 classifications.  Class A schools pushed for the changes that made the majority of private schools to depart Division 1 for Division II.  Now, the large schools are stuck to play the MEGA-SCHOOLS.  But, I'm scratching my head why Baseball couldn't have 4 classes to make for competitive balance? 

TSSAA - you can fix this for Baseball - add a 4th class and keep the MEGA-SCHOOLS separate from schools that are LESS THAN HALF their size!

Earlier this year, TSSAA voted against going to 4 classes in Boys & Girls Basketball, Baseball, Softball.  They released the classification for 2017-2021 today.  TSSAA classification plan makes no sense whatsoever and is completely unfair.  There are a number of schools that the TSSAA slotted to compete in 4A Football (1102-827 enrollment), but AAA (largest class) in Basketball, Baseball, Softball (2513-1033 enrollment).  So, their Football team will compete for state titles against schools with as few as 827 enrolled students; while their Basketball, Baseball, and Softball squads will have to compete with schools as large as 2513 enrollment!!! 

It gets worse ... these same schools that are AAA in Basketball/Baseball/Softball and 4A in Football - are 2A in Volleyball and Soccer!!!  The AA Soccer enrollment numbers are as low as 668 and the AA Volleyball numbers are as low as 583!  To recap, these schools play schools with an enrollment as large as 2513 in Basketball/Baseball/Softball, but as low as 827 in Football; 668 in Soccer; and 583 in Volleyball!!! 

How does that make sense?  Whatever happened to playing in a league against other schools of similar size and geographical proximity in all sports?  Why does the TSSAA have 6 classes in Football, but only 3 classes in Basketball, etc? 

The following schools should be LIVID: Seymour (1102), Portland (1089), Liberty Tech (1083), Lawrence County (1082), Springfield (1081), Montgomery Central (1077), Kirby (1067), Stone Memorial (1061), Anderson County (1060), Spring Hill (1053), Tullahoma (1042), East Hamilton (1038) and Sequoyah (1033). 

If any of these schools advances in the AAA Region, Sectional, State Tournament rounds in Basketball, they will potentially do so by playing opponents that are MORE THAN TWICE THEIR SIZE!!!!!!!!!!!!  In many cases, they have to do this to get out of their own District!!!  For example: Stone Memorial's 1061 has to defeat Cookeville's 2203 to advance from their own District!!! 

TSSAA spent a lot of time considering the Division II changes and made sure Football kept their 6 classifications.  Class A schools pushed for the changes that made the majority of private schools to depart Division 1 for Division II.  Now, the large schools are stuck to play the MEGA-SCHOOLS.  But, I'm scratching my head why Basketball couldn't have 4 classes to make for competitive balance? 

TSSAA - you can fix this for Basketball - add a 4th class and keep the MEGA-SCHOOLS separate from schools that are LESS THAN HALF their size!

Earlier this year, TSSAA voted against going to 4 classes in Boys & Girls Basketball, Baseball, Softball.  They released the classification for 2017-2021 today.  TSSAA classification plan makes no sense whatsoever and is completely unfair.  There are a number of schools that the TSSAA slotted to compete in 4A Football (1102-827 enrollment), but AAA (largest class) in Basketball, Baseball, Softball (2513-1033 enrollment).  So, their Football team will compete for state titles against schools with as few as 827 enrolled students; while their Basketball, Baseball, and Softball squads will have to compete with schools as large as 2513 enrollment!!! 

It gets worse ... these same schools that are AAA in Basketball/Baseball/Softball and 4A in Football - are 2A in Volleyball and Soccer!!!  The AA Soccer enrollment numbers are as low as 668 and the AA Volleyball numbers are as low as 583!  To recap, these schools play schools with an enrollment as large as 2513 in Basketball/Baseball/Softball, but as low as 827 in Football; 668 in Soccer; and 583 in Volleyball!!! 

How does that make sense?  Whatever happened to playing in a league against other schools of similar size and geographical proximity in all sports?  Why does the TSSAA have 6 classes in Football, but only 3 classes in Basketball, etc? 

The following schools should be LIVID: Seymour (1102), Portland (1089), Liberty Tech (1083), Lawrence County (1082), Springfield (1081), Montgomery Central (1077), Kirby (1067), Stone Memorial (1061), Anderson County (1060), Spring Hill (1053), Tullahoma (1042), East Hamilton (1038) and Sequoyah (1033). 

If any of these schools advances in the AAA Region, Sectional, State Tournament rounds in Basketball, they will potentially do so by playing opponents that are MORE THAN TWICE THEIR SIZE!!!!!!!!!!!!  In many cases, they have to do this to get out of their own District!!!  For example: Stone Memorial's 1061 has to defeat Cookeville's 2203 to advance from their own District!!! 

TSSAA spent a lot of time considering the Division II changes and made sure Football kept their 6 classifications.  Class A schools pushed for the changes that made the majority of private schools to depart Division 1 for Division II.  Now, the large schools are stuck to play the MEGA-SCHOOLS.  But, I'm scratching my head why Basketball couldn't have 4 classes to make for competitive balance? 

TSSAA - you can fix this for Basketball - add a 4th class and keep the MEGA-SCHOOLS separate from schools that are LESS THAN HALF their size!

How did SD do against East Hamilton?

Funny how things change in 12 months ... last year East Hamilton went 6-4 and squeaked out at least 2 or 3 of the 6 wins. That was good enough for a 2011 #1 Seed. This year is EH is currently 8-1 and favored over Howard on Friday ... winning convincingly in most (arguably all) of the 8 wins and they are a # 3 seed.

Tell us Chattacane

Indian? How sure are you that East Hamilton moves up?

Indian - East Hamilton is only a couple of spots from the cutoff. How sure are you that they move up?

Who is Sequoyah's ace? Allen? RHP or LHP? Good velocity? Breaking Ball?

Who won between Sequoyah and Polk tonight?

1 203.00 Cleveland

2 200.50 Bradley Central

3 197.00 Soddy Daisy

4 89.50 Pigeon Forge

5 87.00 Mt. Juliet

6 84.00 Clarksville

7 76.00 Science Hill

8 73.50 Franklin

9 72.00 Houston

10 71.50 Ravenwood

 

tssaa.org

6 points separate the top 3 teams? has there ever been as close a finish?

are you sure Cleveland won? shocker! pick up a lot of conso points?

Final Team Scores?

Is the game Thursday or Friday? I heard it was Thursday, but heard tonight that it got moved back to Friday. Which one is it?

Help me out with these new TSSAA rules ... CAN SOMEONE UNDER .500 (4-6 or 3-7 record) make the Playoffs?

I thought they were fixing the rules to prevent this? Is it just the top 32 in 4A and top 32 in 3A period?

Howard & Tyner are 'head and shoulders' better than anyone else in this league. Someone in 4A is going to UNDESERVEDLY make the Playoffs. None of these 6 teams are playoff-worthy this year.

Is there a rule that says a team must be .500 to make the playoffs? Could a 4-6 team make it?

Sarge,

Are you going to be at Ringgold's pep rally to give Moore his Player of the Week award?

What game do you and Nick Bonsanto have on the radio Friday night?

Sarge,

Who is this week's Player of the Week?

Broadbat, You ever taught Economics? When I was in high school, we called it "Sleepenomics." If Bumper makes the topic interesting, what is wrong with that?

Back to Baseball, who is the best coach in the history of Red Bank High? All due respect to the late Joel Brewster and to the former coaches Bobby Milam, Bill Price, and Jack Coppinger, but ... It's a 'no brainer' in the last 25-30 years ... Bumper Reese is the best RB Coach in that time span (I'm not old enough to go prior to the late '70's/early '80's). He is also one of the best in the area in that same time span.

="broadbat"]Now that Bumper's officially been named baseball coach at Signal, it is, like the Chatta. paper said, a "win win."

Bumper is going, and taking his sons to an all-white school, and will coach against smaller, less powerful schools than he had to at RB. So he gets everything he wants. And the kids at Signal will get an easy economics "teacher" who will talk sports in class. They will love that. Signal has some tough teachers, so those students will need an easy class once a day.

And Red Bank will have a chance to hire a coach who will clean up its baseball program, and maybe finally go to the state. Congrats to all !

Best Post I've EVER read on Coacht.com!

Man, I get on here every once in a while and read some of the stupid comments made by parents. I read their ignorant comments, laugh about it, and go on. However, I felt compelled to make my first post on coacht in about four years. Let me fill you guys in on a little secret: high school coaches want to WIN! This ol mess about "politics, connections, who's kin to who" is sickening to read. I have coached baseball for several years in this state and have been accused of the same mess, and I can promise you it never had any merit. I have been accused of playing certain kids because they go to church with me when I have actually CUT more kids that I go to church with than have made the team - let alone started. Think it is easy walking into church on sunday morning knowing that "Billy Bob's" mom and dad aren't even going to look at you because you "cheated" their kid. It's not easy, but doing the right thing is better than keeping a kid on the team because you go to church with them. I have also been accused of only starting players who parents worked with me at the high school while I have actually (once again) cut fellow co-workers kids. Think that is easy? It's not....it stinks because you are face to face with that person quite a bit. Once again, you cut the kid because it is the right thing to do.

 

Here is something for some of you critical parents or fans to think about. If you are one of these that is complaining that your kid SHOULD be playing, he is not very good to start with! If he was a legit ball player, he would be on the field. Now, there are some elite programs in this state where they have an extremely deep talent pool, but the majority of schools don't have more than nine guys who can legitimately play - I promise. Most have 2-4 guys who can play, 3-4 who are very average, and most are even playing a couple below average kids because they have to. I understand that everything is relative and your actual knowledge of the game and/or your ability to evaluate a kid is not very good. Having played four years of quality college baseball gives someone like me and many of my fellow coaches quite a bit of an advantage as to who can "PLAY". My advice is to trust the coach's decision because 999 out of 1000, he has a much better idea of what's best for his team than you do.

 

Last point....if I am a parent of a kid that wants to be on the field, I tell him that the only way to consistently be on the field is to be a "no doubter". Leave no doubt in everyone's mind (coaches, teammates, opposing coaches, college coaches, parents, etc.) as to the fact that he should always be on the field every day! I realize that not every kid can be that guy, so if he is not, then you as a parent should be supportive and tell him to keep working hard. Face it -- not everyone can be the best!