ANYONE ELSE HEARING THIS?

[redandblack63]

I don't think free admission to middle school events is covered by the TSSAA....Also given the recent success of both Central and Halls I think the private schools are a great alternative. I'm pretty sure the rosters of Catholic, Grace, CAK and Webb have several of those kids. Doesn't take any recruiting (just common sense) to seriously look at the privates given the number of state titles or at least competing for them in recent history. Do Maryville, Alcoa, Fulton recruit? I'm sure some of it goes on but I would say more people consider them because of their reputation for excellence. The schools and coaches sometimes sell themselves.

 

As far as opposition, you need to look no further than costs. It's not a big burden for football considering you only travel 5ish games prior to playoffs. The first year Catholic played after the split we took a forfeit rather than have to travel to Memphis for a district game. Our district in basketball and the other sports consisted of one other Knoxville team and several from Chattanooga. That meant the non-revenue sports had to make multiple trips to Chattanooga which, needless to say, is very cost-prohibitive. It also meant when there was a vote of where to hold the tournaments Chattanooga always won which led to multiple trips during the week for both the boys and girls teams. Take the cost factor out and it still meant getting home from the games around midnight, having very few fans other than parents coming to support the team, choosing to play the away games on a Friday during regular season to minimize being out so late on a school night. That also killed our basketball gate since Fridays are normally your biggest crowds and the visitors wouldn't travel well during the week.

[redandblack63]

I appreciate your honesty Irish b ball. It is about economics. Just like the voucher system so on and so on. If all privates would play in a different division solely for private schools problem would be solved. With kings academy, berean, catholic, grace, Webb, Cak making up a district travel and cost wouldn't be a problem. By mission statement most privates provide financial aide. That isn't an issue until it is used to attract athletes. This issue goes away when all privates go to division 2 and it is only a matter of time before it happens. Just saying.

[IrishBBall]

I appreciate your honesty Irish b ball. It is about economics. Just like the voucher system so on and so on. If all privates would play in a different division solely for private schools problem would be solved. With kings academy, berean, catholic, grace, Webb, Cak making up a district travel and cost wouldn't be a problem. By mission statement most privates provide financial aide. That isn't an issue until it is used to attract athletes. This issue goes away when all privates go to division 2 and it is only a matter of time before it happens. Just saying.

This debate normally surfaces on the Public-Private forum but just thought I would try to give our viewpoint. I grew up in Ftn City and never thought that there would be a day when Central and Halls struggled to put competitive teams on the field. Rezoning hasn't helped either of those with Powell and Fulton being the beneficiary. The division you proposed has been suggested before but 2 of the 6 wouldn't compete and it would be tough to schedule out of district games.

 

I know the financial aid package isn't the primary (or secondary) factor in attracting athletes. The state champion team we had a few years ago featured two kids that would have gone to Central. One of the kids dad still helps with the Jr. Bobcat program. The athletics are better not to mention first-class facilities, coaches, and yes....academics. The state of affairs on your end of town have led to both schools struggling to even find/hire a coach. I'm obviously not trying to be a smart aleck but if you compare the options, and you can make it happen, why would you not send your kid to Catholic, Grace, CAK or Webb?

Edited January 27, 2014 by IrishBBall

[reaction]

Everybody recruits.  That is not the issue.  Financial Aide is the issue.

 

Here is the link to their "Tuition Support Application". 

http://www.knoxvillecatholic.com/site/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2013/10/2014-2015-Tuition-Support-Application-Knoxville.pdf

Here is the link to their "Standard Parish Contribution Form"

http://www.knoxvillecatholic.com/site/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2013/11/Standard-Parish-Form-2014-2015.pdf

 

The church subsidizes the tuition of all Catholic students and offers need-based financial aide to families that can't afford the tuition.  Notre Dame does the same thing.

 

The T$$AA By-Laws say, "Section 16.  If tuition is charged, it must be paid by parent, bona fide guardian or other family member . . . Any loan program, grant program, educational foundation or similar program that is established and/or administered, in whole or in part, by a school or official of a school is considered financial aid."

 

The "Standard Parish Subsidy" clearly violates these rules, but I don't think the T$$AA wants to take on the Catholic Church on this one.

 

Both schools award need-based financial aide, which is fine.  BUT . . . if any varsity athlete is receiving this financial aide, then the school is supposed to be in Division II.  It is hard for me to believe that not a single varsity athlete is receiving this need-based financial aide.  The only way to know is if the T$$AA investigates the tuition records.

 

I heard that Notre Dame was moving to Division II at mid-cycle for this reason.  If that is true, then Knox Catholic will have to do the same.

 

Time will tell.

Too long didn't read. 

[redandblack63]

This debate normally surfaces on the Public-Private forum but just thought I would try to give our viewpoint. I grew up in Ftn City and never thought that there would be a day when Central and Halls struggled to put competitive teams on the field. Rezoning hasn't helped either of those with Powell and Fulton being the beneficiary. The division you proposed has been suggested before but 2 of the 6 wouldn't compete and it would be tough to schedule out of district games.

 

I know the financial aid package isn't the primary (or secondary) factor in attracting athletes. The state champion team we had a few years ago featured two kids that would have gone to Central. One of the kids dad still helps with the Jr. Bobcat program. The athletics are better not to mention first-class facilities, coaches, and yes....academics. The state of affairs on your end of town have led to both schools struggling to even find/hire a coach. I'm obviously not trying to be a smart aleck but if you compare the options, and you can make it happen, why would you not send your kid to Catholic, Grace, CAK or Webb?

[redandblack63]

Agree with you 100%. Matter in fact you made my point exactly. Due to the superior coaching, teaching, facilities, and resources why would anyone want to sent their child to public school. If a family has the athletic, academic , and or financial resources go to a private school. It is because of these advantages that private schools should compete in a different division. Or maybe publics should create a new division. Who knows how it will happen. But IMO it divide within the next two years.

[QSouth89]

Agree with you 100%. Matter in fact you made my point exactly. Due to the superior coaching, teaching, facilities, and resources why would anyone want to sent their child to public school. If a family has the athletic, academic , and or financial resources go to a private school. It is because of these advantages that private schools should compete in a different division. Or maybe publics should create a new division. Who knows how it will happen. But IMO it divide within the next two years.

If Catholic, Webb, CAK and Grace were not competitive would this even be a discussion?  I'm assuming you've never been to Nashville/Franklin area?  Those public schools have facilities that some colleges would be jealous of.  You will get out of your education what you put into it.  Parents who are active and kids that are motivated will do well in the class. I've seen kids from public schools do well academically, I've seen kids at private schools fail and vice versa.  The building doesn't define who you are as an athlete or student, the person and the parent does. The debate wages lol.  I hope they do split because then the teams that struggle will have to find someone else to blame (NCLB, Magnet Schools, Open enrollment)  it will never end.  I agree that a private school division with Catholic, CAK, Webb, Grace, King's Academy, Berean Christian, Concord, and Knoxville Christian would allow for district games and less travel.

[realmenwearred]

Too long didn't read. 

Mine was real short, bottom line if you're not a public school don't play in the public school division. End of story.

 

In the Nooga, Cya Grace, Silverdale, and of course BB and ND.

Edited January 28, 2014 by realmenwearred

[UpperCumberlandMan]

Mine was real short, bottom line if you're not a public school don't play in the public school division. End of story.

 

In the Nooga, Cya Grace, Silverdale, and of course BB and ND.

+1

[AlcoasPaintedBridge]

We will still be around...

[realmenwearred]

We will still be around...

We know, all the open enrollements should be lumped in with the privates. LOL

[AlcoasPaintedBridge]

We know, all the open enrollements should be lumped in with the privates. LOL

If you had opted for our finer education (and football) you would not have needed that extra "e."

Go Alcoee.

Amen.