The run to the Class A private and public school state championships begins Friday and we’ll have previews posted on Thursday.
Today we spend a few minutes on the administrative side of the game. We’ll start by picking the brain of the Georgia High School Association’s Associate Director Tommy Whittle, whose areas of jurisdiction include soccer, one-act play (policy interpretations) and, of course, football. Whittle took time to address a number of issues:
-- Parents, fans and even some coaches have asked me "Why does Class A get the worse officials for our games?" Is there any truth to this? Also, do better or more experienced officials get assigned to Class 6A and 5A games?
Whittle: "No truth. I assume you are talking about the playoffs, but I will answer for both [playoffs and regular season]. For the playoffs, this week we have 24 [officiating] associations assigned to work 56 games, (eight) 8 per classification. Of the 13 associations assigned to work 6A and 5A, 10 of those will work A Public and A Private. Five of these associations working Class A were selected to officiate in the state finals in the Dome last season."
-- How are officiating crews assigned?
Whittle: "No school gets their home association throughout the playoffs, or a neutral association they had in the last three rounds. Although travel pay is not increased for playoffs per official, geography is not a major consideration. Top 14 crews are selected from submitted game films to work 14 semifinal games and (seven) 7 finals by evaluation committee. During the regular season, all associations rotate their officials through their GHSA assigned schools by their assigner. All games are important and all assignments are made in an attempt to best serve all the schools. Game fees are the same no matter the classification. Officials love to work good games no matter what the class."
-- How are officials or officiating crews "graded" or "evaluated"?
Whittle: "GHSA sends out evaluators randomly. These evaluators are primarily officials no longer working games, but who are highly respected for their on-the-field and training ability. GHSA also uses game films and the GHSA staff travels throughout the state on a weekly basis. I've been to as many Class A games as I have games in other classifications, if not more."
-- State championship games can be huge financially for small towns. Is there any chance that the state semifinals will ever return to the Georgia Dome while the finals are played back on high school campuses?
Whittle: "Returning the semi-finals to the Dome would be decided by GHSA Executive Committee, and the practicality of 14 games in the Dome [in one weekend]."
-- What is the possibility that the power rating formula will be tweaked again?
Whittle: "There again, it would be determined by the GHSA Executive Committee. I would think minor if any, and that is always a possibility."
-- And finally, do you see a scenario where private schools and public schools in Class A compete again for the same state championships, or is the split most likely permanent?
Whittle: "Doing away with the A Public/Private split, again, would be determined by the GHSA Executive Committee, and could only happen with the first year of any new reclassification cycle."
NOTE: This is the first year of the current reclassification cycle. The next Executive Committee meeting is scheduled for April 12-13, 2015.
Listed below are the Class A representatives on the GHSA Executive Committee. As you can see from Whittle's comments above, this is the group that sets the agenda for the Association. (Contact information may be found on their respective schools' websites.)
Region 1: John Pinson, Baconton Charter
Region 2: Jesse Crews, Charlton County
Region 3: Britt Ingle, Treutlen
Region 4: Glenn Tidwell, Marion County
Region 5: Scott Queen, Eagle's Landing Christian School
Region 6: Lynn Dupree, Whitefield Academy
Region 7: Steve Simpson, Georgia Military
Region 8: Donnie Drew, Commerce
Additionally, any changes, additions or enhancements to GHSA policy approved by the Executive Committee are initiated at the sub-committee level. As such, here are the members for the eligibility, football, and officiating sub-committees (Contact information may be found on the website of their respective schools or organizations.):
Eligibility
Donnie Griggers, (4AAAAAA) Harrison
Michelle Masters, (2AAAAA) Houston County
Jim Finch, (2AAAA) Mary Persons
Topher Byrnes, (5AAA) East Hall
Todd Mobley, (1AA) Thomasville
Tony Arasi, Georgia School Boards Association representative
Pat Blenke, Georgia Department of Education representative
Maria Bradley, (At Large) North Murray
Lisa Fine, (At Large) McIntosh
Jay Floyd, Georgia Association of Secondary School Principals representative
Wes Taylor, Georgia School Superintendents Association representative
Football
Kevin Giddens, (1AAAAAA) Colquitt County
Earl Etheridge, (3AAAAA) Paulson Softball Complex
Wayne Tootle, (1AAAA) Cairo
Chad Campbell, (2AAA) Peach County
Bradley Warren,(7AA) Dade County
Lynn Dupree, (6A) Whitefield Academy
Officiating
Steve Jones, (5AAAAAA) Hillgrove
Earl Etheridge, (3AAAAA) Paulson Softball Complex
Dexter Wood, (8AAAA) Buford
Jasper Jewell (4AAA) Atlanta City Schools
Benjy Rogers, (4AA) Bleckley County
Glenn Tidwell, (4A) Marion County
Terry Rogers, Georgia Athletic Coaches Association representative
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