Gossett Blog: Is there validity for TSSAA's 1.8 multiplier?

Arkansas-SEMO Live Blog

I have a question. What would the near-future TSSAA classification look like without the 1.8 multiplier slapped on private schools whose desire is to remain in the public school division?

The multiplier, reportedly the largest among the nation's high school associations, is little more than a penalty for being a private school, although they profess giving no financial aid to athletes playing high school varsity sports.

If they're giving it, penalize them harshly, but don't penalize them simply for being a private school that charges annual tuition somewhere in the $5,000-$8,000 range.

That multiplier locally affects Boyd-Buchanan, Chattanooga Christian, Grace Baptist Academy, Notre Dame and Silverdale Baptist Academy. It enlarges/penalizes Boyd-Buchanan to 487.8 students, CCS to 792, Grace to 277.2, Notre Dame to 750.6 and Silverdale to 531.

With the exception of undersized Grace Academy, each is playing up a classification. Grace, with 154 students, is actually the smallest school in the state fielding a football team.

CCS and Notre Dame are currently in Class 3A and Boyd-Buchanan and Silverdale in Class 2A.

Now for actual numbers: CCS, with 440 students, would be the 41st-largest team in Class 2A, and remember please we're talking about a state with six public school divisions and two private school classifications.

Silverdale (295 students) would be tied for the 21st largest school in Class 1A and Boyd-Buchanan (271) would be 37th.

Notre Dame (417) would come in as the 45th largest Class 2A school.

So, in Boyd-Buchanan's case for example, a school with 271 total students is destined for a region that will include Brainerd, Tyner, Polk County, Bledsoe County, Marion County and Meigs County. Even with the multiplier, the Buccaneers will be the school with the smallest population.

In actuality, though, you're telling a school with 271 students that it must compete in a region where at least four schools have twice that student population - Brainerd, Tyner, Polk County and Bledsoe County.

Yes, private schools have caused their share of headaches - much more outside of Chattanooga than in - but it seems clear to me that there is a treacherous move afoot to legislate winning.

If, and yes, it's a big if, there are financial aid shenanigans among the private schools participating in the public school division, then penalize them whether invoking the death penalty on the offending programs or banning them from postseason competition for a four-year period.

• Since it was aired on the radio last week, we'll expand on the non-story that occurred last week at Sequatchie County.

The weather was threatening and coach Ken Colquette made the decision to finish practice at the Indians' new indoor facility. Only 12 of 55 players made the trip and a 90-minute discussion ensued between the coach and the players who didn't go to the indoor facility.

Grievances were aired and the next day 55 players were at practice.

There are rumors that promises were made but no one is confirming those rumors regarding the oft-fiery Colquette's future. That said, there has been talk on the coaches' grapevine for a month that Colquette had begun mulling retirement.

• Central followers probably won't be surprised by this next item involving John Allen, the Pounders' former coach.

According to the Knoxville News-Sentinel, Allen has been placed on administrative suspension pending an investigative response to allegations that he "unnecessarily" placed students at risk of injury.

Interpreted by coaches willing to offer conjecture on the situation, Allen supposedly refused access to a trainer.

Allen had a run-in with a trainer at Central last year and it raised the ire of numerous parents, most of which wanted him gone immediately.

• If you have any questions about what game to see Friday night, join what should be a huge crowd at Ooltewah when the unbeaten Owls host Cleveland with the 5-AAA championship on the line.

Who would have thought that Cleveland, which has limped along all year, would find itself in such an unlikely scenario?

They have struggled all year with injuries, and those injuries were to key personnel and it has been just in the last three weeks that coach Ron Crawford has been able to put the same lineup on the field.

"We're fighting. We have won a lot of close games. Against Soddy-Daisy we had 10 possessions and five of them ended in turnovers. You can't win like that," Crawford said.

Conversely, Ooltewah has a plus-13 in turnover ratio thanks to a ball-hawking defense and a heady quarterback. The Owls also have a great kicker in Laszlo Toler, who has put several kickoffs through the uprights.

Still, Cleveland is as healthy as it has been at any point this season.

"We had three sesamoid bone breaks, a broken foot, two knee surgeries and a third-degree shoulder separation," Crawford said. "We're getting some guys back but we're still not playing as well as I think we can."

• It's make-or-break week for Soddy-Daisy when the Trojans host Bradley Central but this game could still be going when the bell tolls the witching hour because each team likes to light it up with quarterbacks Hunter Maynor and Cole Copeland.

• Baylor-Ensworth could be worth watching but that one is in Nashville and doesn't start till 8.

• Greeneville will be at Signal Mountain. While the game doesn't have district implications, both have been ranked in the state's Class 4A top 10 all year.

• For those that haven't seen Rhea County and don't want to drive to Dayton, the unbeaten Eagles will be at East Hamilton.

• Too bad Fort Payne's game this week is at Gadsden Southside. Both teams are undefeated in region play, but those not wanting to travel south could stay close and see if Valley Head can improve on its 4-1 region standing against Woodville.

• Heritage made things interesting with a win over Ridgeland and is at home and looking to move up in its regions when it hosts Pickens County.

Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him at Twitter.com/wardgossett.

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