‘Select’ schools should form a league of their own

    It amazes me how “select” schools in the Louisiana High School Athletic Association continue to live in denial.
    The latest dose of reality occurred when the LHSAA released its schedule for December’s Superdome Classic. There will be nine championship games (lol!) over three days. And, somehow, the select schools got all three Thursday games.
    The only select championship to be played on Friday or Saturday will be the Division IV championship at noon Saturday.
    The Division III select school championship game has a chance to be one of the best games of the championships. Lumped in that class are defending national champion John Curtis, 2A runner-up Evangel, 3A state champion Parkview Baptist and 3A runner-up Notre Dame of Crowley. Yet, they get brunch Thursday in the Superdome.
    I keep wondering when the so-called select schools will get their heads out of the sand and wake up to this new football reality.
    In January, when LHSAA public school principals voted overwhelmingly for a football playoff “split,” I heard this from the select side: In the spring, the Legislature will pressure the LHSAA to change course … Perhaps the executive committee will toss it out in June … A lawsuit from select schools will stop it. Doors 1 and 2 are closed, and the LHSAA is convinced that Door 3 is a rouse.
    The proponents of the new format say a recent court decision confirmed that the LHSAA is a private organization and that principals make the rules. Those principals have spoken.
    They have said they don’t like John Curtis and Evangel incessantly winning state titles. They don’t like the fact that a traditional public school didn’t win a state football championship in 2012.
    For many public schools throughout the state, their take is simple: Recruiting and cheating are rampant among private schools. They don’t have to prove it. They won the election in January.
    Some select schools complain of lack of leadership from LHSAA executive director Kenny Henderson. They say former commissioner Tommy Henry would have halted January’s proceedings long before it came to a vote.
    I have some advice for the select schools. Show some leadership among yourselves. Understand the true meaning of the phrase, “It is what it is.”
    Teurlings Catholic principal Mike Boyer said it best. “I have friends on this (school relations) committee from the public schools,” said Boyer. “But I am afraid that Proposition 8 (that splits all schools in every sport) will come to the floor again in January.”
    Maybe the association can be put back together in January. Maybe … maybe … maybe.
    My take: If it happens, it will only be with more rules aimed at select schools.
    In January the public schools won, you lost. If you are keeping score at home, it is Public Schools 1, Selects 0. But through adversity comes opportunity. Form your own league. Invite any school to join.
    Quit crying, whining and moaning and, compete.
    Ed Daniels is sports director of ABC26 WGNO. He can be reached at edaniels@clarionherald.org.