Suspense in the air as LHSAA confab nears

CROWLEY – With the LHSAA Convention right around the corner, uncertainty still fills the air, especially when it comes to prep football.
Although there are numerous proposals on the table to be voted on when the member school principals convene at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Baton Rouge Jan. 28-30, the biggest issue at hand deals with football.
Two years ago, the principals voted for a split between select (private) and non-select (public) schools thus increasing the number of state championships from five to nine.
This year, in an effort to find some middle ground, there are two proposals on the table that would either reunite the sides completely or, in the second proposal, bring the privates and publics together in the two higher classifications.
“There is a proposal to add a sixth class and it would include the largest 32 schools by enrollment and anybody who wants to play up,” said Notre Dame coach Lewis Cook of the week ahead. “That proposal also has a 1.5 multiplier on it, so that would put us in (Class) 4A. I’m not opposed to a multiplier, but 1.5 is too much. Even for us, it wouldn’t be fair for our kids to have to play in 4A with 420 kids in the school.”
There is a possibility that the authors of the proposal would consider dropping the multiplier some if not dropping it all together.
“I did hear talk that they were going to amend the proposal to eliminate the multiplier and just go with the six classes,” said Cook. “You would vote on the proposal without the multiplier being part of it. If that happens, it puts everybody back together. And, then, by taking say 32-40 schools out off the top (for Class 6A); it brings the numbers closer together. Anytime you are going to close the numbers gap, it’s better for the schools.
“Putting all the schools back together and having six championship games instead of nine, I think, is better and that there’s less disparity between the numbers. I think that is good. I wouldn’t be opposed to that proposal without the multiplier.”
What it would likely mean for Crowley High, should the proposal pass, is that the Gents would go from being a team on the bubble, teetering on the line between Classes 4A and 3A, to being back in Class 3A along with Notre Dame.
That is an idea that CHS head football coach and athletic director Josh Fontenot is very much in favor of.
“We’re in a position right now, and it’s an unofficial position, that the consensus seems to think at Crowley High, we’re going to be a 3A school,” said Fontenot. “Really, with all the proposals out there, everything that is being said or could happen for Crowley High School, we’re going to be in a position to be able to compete no matter what happens, which is good.
“We’ve been successful in the regular season the past few years in 4A. As for the playoffs, I wouldn’t say they weren’t a success, but we haven’t been as successful as we would have liked. I mean, 4A is tough and it’s hard and you get in the playoffs and it gets very real, very quick.”
The second proposal is one by the School Relations Committee that puts Class 4A and 5A together and leaves Class 1A-3A spilt for the playoffs.
One amendment that isn’t on the agenda but could be added at the convention is a proposal by The Louisiana Football Coaches Association that would call for seven divisions, four for non-select and three for select.
On the non-select side, Class 5A would be eliminated and there would be four public school divisions. For the select schools, when the playoffs start, the largest 12 schools would be Division I and they would take the rest of the select schools and divide them by two to make up the other two divisions.
“In order for that proposal to get on the agenda, it would have to replace the one by the School Relations Committee,” said Cook.
For Fontenot, any of the three scenarios would be just fine.
“Class 3A would be a very good spot for us, but with the 6A proposal or the proposal with four publics and three privates that could make it’s way in there, those are all things that I think would put us in a position where we could compete and feel good about our chances of having some success in the postseason.”
The second biggest issue deals with a split in sports other than football.
Three proposals by Many High Principal Norman Booker III would split baseball, basketball and softball into five select and seven non-select classifications, which would mean there would be 12 state champions for each sport.
“I think that would definitely hurt in trying to keep it (the association) all together,” said Cook. “I think for one, there are some of those major corporate sponsors that have it written in their contract that if there are any further splits, they are out. Number two, the legislature stepped in last year; they can’t do anything to the LHSAA, but they can affect what the public schools do.
“It would definitely change the whole complexion of what we have now and the LHSAA as it is right now. Either the legislature is going to step in and act a certain way to try and keep it together or the private schools are going to form their own association, which is a possibility.
“I’m more afraid that the legislator is going to step in and do some stuff, start getting in our business, and then we wouldn’t’ have any control over anything.”
Fontenot has no idea what’s going to happen when the time to vote occurs.
“We’re in a spot and it’s going to be interesting,” said Fontenot. “There’s a big push to split everything from a large group of people, but I also hear that there’s a large group of people that will try to not split every sport.
“To be honest with you, I don’t think we need to do that (split) right now. I don’t think it’s the way to do things right now. If we’re going to keep it split, we need to get football to where it’s good and it’s not good right now; it’s nine classes and nine championships over a two-weekend period. Me personally, that’s not what I want to see for the future of football in Louisiana.
“We’re in a pretty critical time right now in our association.”