Hannan Classic an early look at new Catholic League?

   
    The rebirth of the Archbishop Hannan Football Classic has served a two-fold objective: It enabled prep football followers to get a sneak preview at the Catholic League in 2013 while allowing the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) to raise  funds for the competing high schools.
    Over the seven days of Classic competition, Jesuit, Brother Martin, Holy Cross, St. Augustine, De La Salle, Archbishop Rummel and Archbishop Shaw joined John Ehret to pay tribute to the late New Orleans Archbishop Philip M. Hannan in a friendly, competitive manner.
    It also gave us a first look at three local schools, whose principals have announced their intentions to compete in Class 5A in an effort to re-assemble the fabled “Catholic League” of New Orleans.
    Whether that comes to pass is in the hands of Louisiana High School Athletic Association Executive Director Kenny Henderson.
    The schools in question – Holy Cross, St. Augustine and Archbishop Shaw – hope to reunite with Jesuit, Archbishop Rummel and Brother Martin, all of whom had been in a common district from 1967-2006 before the LHSAA  voted to disallow schools to compete above their enrollment classifications.
    That rule has finally been rescinded.
    The state’s principals have sent their projected enrollment numbers to Henderson, who is in the process of placing them in order – from the largest (Class 5A) to the smallest (Class C) schools.
    Schools below the Class 1A level that want to field football teams will then declare their intentions, and Henderson will place them in Class 1A.
    Then Henderson will divide the member schools into five classes, based on their numbers. Those figures will be made available at the first reclassification meeting on Nov. 7 at the LHSAA office in Baton Rouge.
    Schools that declare their intention to play up one class will be added to the higher class and divided by one-fifth again.
    Subsequent meetings, in which principals will have direct input, will then determine the districts for the 2013-14 and 2014-15 school years.
Many happy returns
    During his life, Archbishop Hannan was a fan of football and delighted to host the prep football games played in his honor from 1996-2004.
    But as it did with life in New Orleans, Hurricane Katrina brought a temporary end to many traditions as area citizens and businesses worked hard to bring the city and the lifestyles of its people back to normal.
    The Hannan Classic was put on hold until FCA Director Benny Jones brought it back to life this year.
    He had two willing partners in New Orleans Archbishop Gregory Aymond and New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson.
    Archbishop Aymond encouraged the larger local Catholic schools to participate in the endeavor. And the schools’ athletic directors came to the forefront to support the mission.
    “I especially want to thank all the ADs for making this possible,” Jones said. “Shaw and Holy Cross had to move their game from Memtsas Stadium to Tad Gormley. Shaw was the home team, which usually arranges for an ambulance to be present.
    “But (Holy Cross AD) Mike Bujol stepped up to arrange for the ambulance, since it was in the city and a different service.”
    Jones contacted the archbishop and Benson. “I asked them if they would serve as honorary chairmen,” he said.
    “I asked Mr. Benson if there was a game he could attend and be part of the coin toss. Being a St. Aloysius graduate, he wanted to attend the Brother Martin game.”
    But the game conflicted with another commitment, so Benson chose the Jesuit vs. De La Salle game on Sept. 21.
    “He left the Saints’ Hall of Fame induction ceremony to be at the game for the coin toss,” Jones said.
Crowd pleasers
    If the crowds were pleased with the outcomes of the games, the FCA was even more pleased with the attendance at all four games.
    Catholic schools historically attract the largest crowds at games played in the three-parish area. It is that outstanding parental and student support of the schools that allows the FCA to  support the participating schools’ athletic programs and the FCA.
    “We were able to pay for the stadiums, traffic enforcement and officials. The gates went to the schools,” Jones said.
    The Hannan Classic may involve more games in the future.
    Jones said De La Salle and Archbishop Hannan High are scheduled to play next year. By then, Hannan will likely have moved from Class 1A to 2A, as its enrollment continues to grow.
    Jones said the Classic is a long-term project for the FCA that will be beneficial to everyone.
    But he is keeping a wary eye, as are most of us, on the impending reclassification.
    If the Catholic League reunites, it would be easy to schedule district games as part of the Hannan Classic.  But Jones is keeping his fingers crossed as reclass nears.
    “Henderson and I are good  friends, so I know there are always caveats in district alignments,” Jones said.
    But unless unforeseen circumstances arise, it appears that the Catholic League will be a go.
Notebook
    Although some schools have played as few as three football games, this weekend marks the halfway point of the 2012 season.
    Rummel is not only the No. 1 team in Class 5A in the Top 10 poll, but it is also the power points leader. Jesuit is at No. 4, West Jefferson at No. 29 and Brother Martin on the bubble at No. 32. St. Paul’s needs to rally in district play to improve its No. 34 ranking.
    In 4A, Holy Cross sits at No. 4, St. Augustine is at No. 17 and Shaw is No. 31.
    Defending Class 3A champion St. Charles Catholic will have opportunities to improve its precarious No. 30 position. De La Salle was No. 43 in the Sept. 21 ranking.
    Pope John Paul II has a No. 9 power ranking in Class 2A, and Archbishop Hannan is No. 11 in Class 1A.  
    ➤ Pope John Paul II and Northlake Christian’s football game on Oct. 12 is not only important to the District 8-2A standings; it will benefit the Wounded Warriors Project.
    The WWP serves military service members who incurred service-connected wounds, injuries or illnesses on or after Sept. 11, 2001, as well as their families. On that date, America watched in horror as about 3,000 people died, including hundreds of firefighters and rescue workers. Many warriors noted a sense of duty to volunteer for the military following these tragic events.
    The administration of Pope John Paul II will make a donation to the project with funds derived from gate receipts.
    ➤ De La Salle has invited members of its Sports Hall of Fame to attend the celebration of its homecoming football game against McMain on Oct. 5 at Pan American Field. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
    The school will also honor its 1961 state runner-up squad before the game. A tailgate party will be held outside the stadium’s main entrance.
    Ron Brocato can be reached at [email protected].