TSSAA delays vote on football, soccer contingency schedules while it works with governor's office

In a stunning move, the TSSAA announced Wednesday it would not be voting on contingency schedules for high school football and girls soccer during its Board of Control meeting.

The rationale on delaying the decision was based on the TSSAA's continued work with Gov. Bill Lee's office in hopes of getting high school sports grouped with college and pro sports under Lee's extended state of emergency order. Under that order, which runs through Aug. 29, high school athletes are not allowed to have contact. That meant those sports could not start their seasons as scheduled.  

"Based on conversations we’re having (with Gov. Bill Lee's office), right now it’s best to delay any vote on contingency plans," TSSAA executive director Bernard Childress said during the brief meeting.

Could that be a good sign?

"The governor's council stated they needed time to look and watch data and work with our staff," Childress said during the meeting. "There will come a time when we will have to make a decision on contingency plans. We need to give their legal team an opportunity to see if it’s even needed in girls soccer and football. Their legal council is very well aware of our sports calendar and when we would start."

Reaction:High school football, soccer coaches left in limbo on schedules by TSSAA but see hope ahead

The decision leaves a lot of players, coaches and fans in limbo until the next decision.

“I just kind of feel like we’re in the same boat we’ve been in," Fulton football coach Rob Black said. "We have a whole lot of questions but not a whole lot of answers. I’d like to at least know if we are going to do this and have a plan.”

After the meeting, Childress said there was no time frame for a decision – whether it be contingency plans or an agreement with Lee's office.

"We are hoping for the best and planning for the worse," Childress said.

Meanwhile COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Tennessee.

"You need to help us out," Childress pleaded during the meeting. "People need to wear masks, social distance and wash hands. We need to get numbers down. That will be key. The return on that investment is we do get to have fall sports on time this year."

Originally a vote was supposed to occur Wednesday on options for both girls soccer and football.

Here were the three football options originally discussed:

Option 1, which was the one preferred by a majority of coaches who responded to a survey by the USA TODAY Network prior to the vote, would guarantee at least nine games for every team. It would include a seven-game regular season with the regular 32-team Division I playoff brackets and normal brackets for Division II. TSSAA would set the region schedules, and the playoffs would start Nov. 6. Teams that did not make the playoffs could play two more games. 

Option 2, which was preferred by a good percentage of coaches who responded to a survey prior to the vote, would feature an eight-game regular season with a 16-team Division I playoff bracket and normal brackets for Division II. Only the region champion and runner-up would make the playoffs rather than the top four teams in each Division I region. The TSSAA would set the region schedules, and the playoffs would start Nov. 13.

Option 3, which was preferred by a low percentage of coaches who responded to the survey prior to the vote, would feature a nine-game regular season with an eight-team playoff bracket for Division I and Division II. Only the region champion would make the playoffs in Division I. The schools would keep their current schedule starting with Week 5 on Sept. 18, and then go back to play Week 3 games on Nov. 6 and Week 4 games on Nov. 13. The playoffs would start Nov. 20.

The girls soccer options were to start the season in September and extend it a couple of weeks to get the full regular season and complete postseason in or to start the season in September and eliminate a few games and hold the postseason at the regular time.