High School Split Playoffs..No More

[CajunRebel]

This is the only route back to there.

To be clear, I don't blame these schools AT ALL for breaking away. But I'm far from convinced that this will lead to unification. Once the private schools leave, the pro-split people will get exactly what they wanted all along - a public-only association. And at that point what's their incentive to try and reunify?

I'm also really curious to know why the new organization is limiting membership to 60 teams. A rule like that doesn't signal a will to unify.

[MelRock]

I'm also really curious to know why the new organization is limiting membership to 60 teams. A rule like that doesn't signal a will to unify.

It is not limiting its self to 60 members, they are not going to form unless they can get to 60 members.

[wcd35]

I agree with Boyer's (TCHS) statements today, they can't try to make this happen for 2016-17. It's too fast. They need to work towards 17-18 as a goal and sell it to as many as possible over the course of the year and a half. Get a solid structure in place. Although, I am definitely not in favor of having all state championships in BR

[CharlieK]

To be clear, I don't blame these schools AT ALL for breaking away. But I'm far from convinced that this will lead to unification. Once the private schools leave, the pro-split people will get exactly what they wanted all along - a public-only association. And at that point what's their incentive to try and reunify?

I'm also really curious to know why the new organization is limiting membership to 60 teams. A rule like that doesn't signal a will to unify.

The pro split faction made a statement with the last meeting by failing to compromise and upping the ante by splitting more sports. They have made it clear in no uncertain terms we they are not going to reunify. The only path back to that is to start another association, then over time make that one more attractive to continually draw schools away from the lhsaa until it is no longer viable. The last meeting the pro split group went nuclear. Only thing left is to rebuild the thing.

[Bankruptcyman]

It might end up being a north / south split in associations. LHSAA appears to favor the north Louisiana schools.

[VObserver]

First of all, the public schools aren't going to lose out on all kinds of money. They might lose a few thousand dollars in lost ticket sales, but that's it. It's not a big deal. LHSAA schools won't sweat that.

Second, it sounds like you're saying you want the privates to join a new league so they can freely recruit kids. If so, I couldn't disagree more. In fact, I hope the new organization finds a way to strengthen the LHSAA's recruiting rules and spend more money investigating problem schools.

I did not say the public schools would lose money; I said LHSAA would lose money. Their revenue is largely from playoff games. It is absolutely incontrovertible that privates draw better than publics as a group. In many years of attending VC playoff games, I can only remember 1 road game against a public school in football that the home team had more fans than VC traveled with.

VC is not exceptional among privates in this regard.

[CajunFan3406]

50 miles? You're being generous? How much time have you spent more than 50 miles north of I 10? I promise there are many cajuns living more than 50 miles north of I 10. I know you're just trying to make a point but that generalization is a bad one.

If you're looking at a map of Louisiana, 50 miles north of I-10 is roughly the straight line from where the toe of the boot starts and goes west all the way to the TX/LA border. The only parish north of that imaginary line that I would imagine having any significant population that are actually "Cajun" would be the folks in Avoyelles Parish. And still roughly 1/3 of that parish is south of the imaginary line.

[RiverRanchMan]

My wife teaches at STM--there are NO athletic scholarships!! The school offers an ACADEMIC scholarship and a BAND scholarship. There are MANY students, both athletes and NON-ATHLETES who are on the work- study program. Some of them, the students work, and some of them, their PARENTS work.
From the STM website:
"Describe the Work/Study Program.
STM does not grant full tuition waivers. However, those in financial need may apply for partial tuition reduction through the school's Work Study Program. Applications for these reductions are available at registration and are reviewed in mid-April. Work Study reductions are based solely on financial need and reductions apply to tuition only. All fees must be paid in full.


8.Does STM award scholarships?
The Yvonne B. Jumonville Scholarship is awarded to one incoming ninth grader based on scholastic achievement as well as school and community service. The Harry and Jessie Greig Memorial Music Scholarship is awarded to one incoming ninth grade band student.


9.Are athletic scholarships offered?
St. Thomas More Catholic High School supports the policies of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association. In doing so, St. Thomas More may not promise or offer athletic scholarships of any kind. Violations may result in loss of eligibility for the student, coach and/or school."

You and your wife may be naïve has to how this works. There are a couple ways private schools provide “scholarships” under the table to “students” who happen to be great athletes.

1. A booster pays the tuition for the student
2. Employment is provided to a parent by the school or a booster to assist with tuition.

Option 1 is more common around here. Option 2 has been a method in the New Orleans area more many years and is how so many minority kids end up at John Curtis & Rummel.

[CharlieK]

You and your wife may be naïve has to how this works. There are a couple ways private schools provide “scholarships” under the table to “students” who happen to be great athletes.

1. A booster pays the tuition for the student
2. Employment is provided to a parent by the school or a booster to assist with tuition.

Option 1 is more common around here. Option 2 has been a method in the New Orleans area more many years and is how so many minority kids end up at John Curtis & Rummel.

And public schools recruit kids for free! You think only the privates do this? Who's naïve?

[RiverRanchMan]

And public schools recruit kids for free! You think only the privates do this? Who's naïve?

They may be naïve in regards to how private schools get around "athletic scholarship" rules. My kids attend private school, FYI. Public schools in metro areas can "recruit" kids from other school zones because of "minority-majority" programs. How do you think Acadiana & Neville has become such football powers? Because they have several kids from the Northside and Wossman/Carroll school zones. But thanks for your comment, even though you addressed an issue (recruiting) that had little to do with my post.

[CharlieK]

They may be naïve in regards to how private schools get around "athletic scholarship" rules. My kids attend private school, FYI. Public schools in metro areas can "recruit" kids from other school zones because of "minority-majority" programs. How do you think Acadiana & Neville has become such football powers? Because they have several kids from the Northside and Wossman/Carroll school zones. But thanks for your comment, even though you addressed an issue (recruiting) that had little to do with my post.

Whatever you say.

"Students". I wonder the purpose of the "".