Public school principals’ split vote damages LHSAA

With the LHSAA principals voting 206-119 for a “split” football playoff, I have many questions.

How can some “select” schools (privates, magnets, charters) meet at several locations around the state and talk about forming a new association without John Curtis and Evangel?

To those selects: You complain about being kicked out of the playoffs, yet you don’t want your league to include the Patriots and the Eagles?

Interesting. Please don’t be hypocrites. Don’t complain about the public schools not wanting to play you and then duck Curtis and Evangel.

If you live in the metro area and your child wanted to play college football, would you not at least consider Curtis?

To the public school principals who complain about cheating by private schools: Why don’t you lead the charge to boost the LHSAA’s enforcement of its rules?

Why not charge each member school (almost 400 schools) a measly $2,000 per year to pay for an enforcement staff?

Meantime, can there be a state champion in 5A when West Monroe isn’t in your bracket?

In 4A, how can you name a state champion when Karr isn’t in your bracket? Or Neville?

Same in 3A without Parkview Baptist or Notre Dame?

To the folks at Winnfield High School: If you win the 2013 2A championship, do you really think you are a state champion?

To you folks in 1A: What, no Ouachita Christian in your bracket? And you are state champion? Please.

There are 27 teams in the public 1A bracket. So, in the first round, there will be five byes.

And, in those first-round matchups, winless teams that have fewer than 25 children on their club will play talented football teams.

Isn’t it about children? Right, thanks for correcting me.

To all the folks who voted for the “split”: Do you understand the potential financial hurt you have put on Orleans Parish schools – schools that often depend on games against privates to fund their budgets? Who loses if those games go away?

To those public schools who will still have five championship classes: Do you think it is “a level playing field” when a school with 3A enrollment has to compete for a championship against a school with 5A enrollment?

Don’t worry about it. You took care of yourself. And in the LHSAA – with its select and non-select schools – it is every school for itself.

You can hand out participation trophies and call it state championship trophies, but you won’t get that from me. No way.

You may be a “select” champion or a “non-select” champion, but you are not a “state” champion.

I will not utter the phrase state champion one time. If I do, every time I will fine myself $100 and give it to my wife to go shopping.

When almost 80 percent of the teams in the state make the playoffs, is this really good for Louisiana high school football?

In December, God willing, I will be at the Superdome for the watered down and far less significant games.

The self-aggrandizement championships are only 10 months away. Woohoo!

Ed Daniels is sports director of ABC26 WGNO. He can be reached at [email protected].