A friendly letter to our prospective new DII brethren

[WesVLT]

The tea leaves suggest that when the next reclassification period occurs, Division II is going to include every private school in the State of Tennessee. The vote isn't until tomorrow, but I will be out of the country, so I figured I would write a pre-emptive note to our likely new members.

 

Dear new DII member institution,

 

Welcome to our classification! Unlike your previous league opponents, we look forward to competing against you. I thought I would take a couple minutes to tell you how you can expect to be treated in your new league.

 

We will:

• Respect and congratulate you if you beat us in an athletic competition 
• Work hard to provide you with a stiff challenge every time you take the field or court instead of challenging your legitimacy through legislative avenues
• Give you the benefit of the doubt that you did not recruit your players
• Graciously welcome you to our campuses, just as we welcome the DI schools that are still willing to play us, and
• Battle you on the fields of friendly strife instead of waging a war of words in the media.

We will not:

• Refuse to play you because of a perceived competitive advantage you may hold
• Levy recruiting allegations against you when you win championships
• Exclude you from league-wide decisions that impact you
• Complain about "playing for second place" when one of your teams builds a dynasty, or
• Water down our league by adding new classifications each time a perceived inequity comes to light.

Best of luck as you finish your DI tenure and prepare for your public-school-imposed switch to Division II. We look forward to competing against you for championships, even in contests where you'll be favored to win.

 

Sincerely,

A DII supporter

Edited July 15, 2015 by WesVLT

[BigDave1967]

[RonMexico3]

The tea leaves suggest that when the next reclassification period occurs, Division II is going to include every private school in the State of Tennessee. The vote isn't until tomorrow, but I will be out of the country, so I figured I would write a pre-emptive note to our likely new members.

 

Dear new DII member institution,

 

Welcome to our classification! Unlike your previous league opponents, we look forward to competing against you. I thought I would take a couple minutes to tell you how you can expect to be treated in your new league.

 

We will:

• Respect and congratulate you if you beat us in an athletic competition 
• Work hard to provide you with a stiff challenge every time you take the field or court instead of challenging your legitimacy through legislative avenues
• Give you the benefit of the doubt that you did not recruit your players
• Graciously welcome you to our campuses, just as we welcome the DI schools that are still willing to play us, and
• Battle you on the fields of friendly strife instead of waging a war of words in the media.

We will not:

• Refuse to play you because of a perceived competitive advantage you may hold
• Levy recruiting violations against you when you win championships
• Exclude you from league-wide decisions that impact you
• Complain about "playing for second place" when one of your teams builds a dynasty, or
• Water down our league by adding new classifications each time a perceived inequity comes to light.

Best of luck you finish your DI tenure and prepare for your public-school-imposed switch to Division II. We look forward to competing against you for championships, even in contests where you'll be favored to win.

 

Sincerely,

A DII supporter

Well said

[BigDave1967]

Bump

[bluedevilpride2012]

The tea leaves suggest that when the next reclassification period occurs, Division II is going to include every private school in the State of Tennessee. The vote isn't until tomorrow, but I will be out of the country, so I figured I would write a pre-emptive note to our likely new members.

 

Dear new DII member institution,

 

Welcome to our classification! Unlike your previous league opponents, we look forward to competing against you. I thought I would take a couple minutes to tell you how you can expect to be treated in your new league.

 

We will:

• Respect and congratulate you if you beat us in an athletic competition
• Work hard to provide you with a stiff challenge every time you take the field or court instead of challenging your legitimacy through legislative avenues
• Give you the benefit of the doubt that you did not recruit your players
• Graciously welcome you to our campuses, just as we welcome the DI schools that are still willing to play us, and
• Battle you on the fields of friendly strife instead of waging a war of words in the media.

We will not:

• Refuse to play you because of a perceived competitive advantage you may hold
• Levy recruiting allegations against you when you win championships
• Exclude you from league-wide decisions that impact you
• Complain about "playing for second place" when one of your teams builds a dynasty, or
• Water down our league by adding new classifications each time a perceived inequity comes to light.

Best of luck as you finish your DI tenure and prepare for your public-school-imposed switch to Division II. We look forward to competing against you for championships, even in contests where you'll be favored to win.

 

Sincerely,

A DII supporter

What an arrogant post. Get a clue!

[BigDave1967]

What an arrogant post. Get a clue!

 

+1

[RonMexico3]

What an arrogant post. Get a clue!

I though it was spot on.....how is it wrong?

[WesVLT]

I'm pleased that the board voted not only to keep the league together, but also to give representation to private schools. Yesterday was a good day for Tennessee prep athletics.

[Indian]

a "perceived" competitive advantage? 20 years of results, and it's not clear?

[RonMexico3]

a "perceived" competitive advantage? 20 years of results, and it's not clear?

Tell the opponets of Maryville and Alcoa (open zones) how big of an advantage they've had over the past 20 years.

[Indian]

How many postseason games has Maryville had against private schools?

[RonMexico3]

Since Maryville is open zoned, they have the exact same advantage as privates. They can recruit from the same territory.

 

It's people like you that whine about privates yet ignore the same advantage open zones do that loose credibility. Can't have it both ways.