There is no perfect answer to what's happening in the Tennessee high school football playoffs. Somebody somewhere is going to feel like his team is getting the shaft.
The computer-generated rankings, which are scheduled to come to an end following this season, obviously weren't the answer.
Before TSSAA Board of Control members render a final approval of the new/old playoff plan and region alignments, though, they need to revisit the multiplier levied on private schools that do not offer financial aid.
Is it time to eliminate the 1.8 multiplier? Don't know about eliminating it, but maybe it should be reduced to a more realistic 1.5 or 1.3. And, yes, we've been told that it is the highest multiplier in the nation.
I do believe it is time to begin policing and penalizing schools that are bending, openly flaunting or flat-out breaking the rules, because there are those schools out there that are abiding by the rules but then getting penalized for others' infractions.
Most complaints I'm hearing are coming from Knoxville and Nashville among the smaller schools.
Ask the TSSAA to put an end to it, and I'm not talking about putting all private schools into Division II. Yet if that should eventually happen, there should be considerations for classification and for schools that do not want or cannot afford to extend financial aid.
• Maybe it's time to eliminate work-study programs, where parents work for the school in lieu of paying tuition they can't otherwise afford. Sounds harsh, huh? It could be construed as a type of scholarship, especially for athletes, yet it isn't fair for those folks to be singled out. However, those who abide by the rules, who don't even use work study, are being penalized and forced to play up at least one classification from where they actually belong.
Of course, much of the problem lies with the coaches, and I'm talking about those who know cheating is being done but don't want to be the one who points the finger.
Is that really a problem, though? A couple of years ago when Signal Mountain was forced by the TSSAA to forfeit a half-dozen games, the administration and coaching staff never were told officially who their accusers were. (And a word here: What goes around eventually comes around.)
Maybe it's time for the TSSAA to follow in the NCAA's footsteps and establish an investigative arm.
• In just three weeks there have been 50-plus 100-yard rushing games for area players, and seven of those have been for 200 or more yards. On the other hand, there has been just one 300-yard passing game (from Soddy-Daisy's Hunter Maynor) and only 11 100-yard receiving performances.
Is there a developing trend here?
McCallie sophomore Alex Trotter probably zoomed to the top of the TFP stats rushing charts with a 374-yard, seven-TD performance against previously unbeaten Pope John Paul II on Friday in Nashville.
Closest to him is Chattooga's Isaac Foster, who had a 217-yard game last Friday.
Most consistent of the group are Marion County's Blake Zeman and McMinn County's D.J. Kimpson, who have three straight 100-yard efforts to start the season. Zeman is up to 493 yards, Kimpson to 519.
While Trotter's 15-yard average against PJP2 was impressive, it's nowhere near the best single-game average to date. That honor goes to South Pittsburg's Joseph Lilly, who averaged 36.5 yards on four runs as the Pirates finally put one on the win side of the column.
Lilly is followed by Sequatchie County's Adam Pickett (28.3), Marion's Deion Riley (24.6), Ooltewah's Frunsez Kendricks and Grundy County's James McDaniel (23.7), Whitwell's Tyler Tate (23.6), Signal Mountain's Skye Wilson (21.9) and Grundy's Logan Meeks (20.2).
The top receiving outing of games covered by or reported to the Times Free Press belongs to Heritage's Christian King (4-159). It is the only one of 150 or better yards.
The only receiver with two or more 100-yard games is Soddy-Daisy's Tre Carter (6-138 and 4-146).
Boyd-Buchanan's Demaris Macon has the season's single-game high for receptions with nine (115 yards).
• Would you believe they're charging $5 per car to park at Red Bank football games?
In a time of shrinking dollars and school support, first glance would cause one to wonder if schools shouldn't cut prices from parking to game tickets and maybe even at the concession stands. Know what I mean? Like $2 for a bottle of water that probably was donated?
(And along those lines, I had a neighbor who wanted to buy season tickets for UTC football games. He got a letter telling him he needed to cough up an additional $75 for each seat. What's up with that with UTC begging for better attendance and stronger support?)
Red Bank's band boosters handle the parking chores, but it's one of their primary fundraisers and, yes, it appears selfish at first glance and it looks like they're taking kill shots at their golden goose, but what are they to do? They're part of a school system that provides very little, if any, financial support for extracurricular activities.
It isn't just Red Bank that's scrambling for any extra dollars, but every school in the county system. Did you ever wonder who maintains the numerous athletic facilities at each school? The school. Red Bank has nice athletic facilities, but the field maintenance falls to the coaches in each sport. It's pretty much the same everywhere within the county. Ever check the cost of seed, fertilizer or field dirt? And that doesn't mention the necessary equipment from mowers to spreaders.
• In the pet peeves department, I find it a complete lack of respect when a visiting team's fans storm onto the field at the end of a game. It's happening even before the opposing teams have a chance to shake hands.
It's classless and it could be dangerous. For those who've forgotten, the Signal Mountain mascot got laid out a few years ago immediately following the end of a playoff game at Trousdale County. And where was he? In the middle of the field.
Beyond that, though, is an old-school rule of football etiquette. Beat your opponent, yes, but do so with class and dignity.
Yeah, I'm old school -- proud of it and freely admit it -- but if there's no room for sportsmanship, then maybe educators and parents both need to take a second and perhaps third look at what they're teaching. It certainly needs to be more than ABCs and the three R's.
Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him at Twitter.com/wardgossett.