4 Questions with GHSA president Glenn White

2. Private schools proposed a competitive-balance model that would classify their individual sports teams in different classes based on individual team success. Why did this proposal not win favor? “At some point in time, a format of that nature may be implemented. It’s part of the evolution of high school sports. But the issue we had for now is that you might have a school in one class for football but another one for basketball and then another for baseball. I think that would lead to confusion about who you’re playing and what region schools are in. We have a little bit of that now in area sports [sports with not enough statewide participation to use the standard 64 regions], but generally speaking, all schools are in regions, and you know who you’re playing in all the sports. What they proposed is more complicated, and I know it could be done, but I don’t think we’re ready. But if you’d asked me 10 years ago if I thought we’d ever have a 3.0 multiplier one day, I would’ve said no way. So I’d probably say yes, a competitive-balance model can happen in the future.”

3. The GHSA won’t assign schools to classifications until attendance data comes in late this month, but projections with a 3.0 multiplier show some bold moves, such as St. Pius, Woodward Academy and possibly even Blessed Trinity going into the highest classification, along with Carrollton. Some schools that aren’t particularly successful in sports also could be placed in higher classifications. Do you believe those schools can compete at those levels? “I think some schools can compete in the higher classifications, yes. For some of them, it doesn’t matter about the number of students. If you put them in 7A, they could complete. Whether they could win a state championship is another issue, but they can progress in the state playoffs. With that said, the reclassification committee will hear appeals. We will use logic. If a school is moved up by a multiplier, and you have 100 [out-of-zone] students who are at the school for band or dance or drama and don’t participate in athletics, then that needs to be considered. That should not be the reason you’re moved into a higher class. We’ll look at each situation and give a school a chance to make an argument. If you come to the committee and say, ‘Look, we might’ve made the playoffs in a sport or two, but we aren’t getting by the first round,’ that’s where we might say yes. But if you won nine state championships last year and don’t want to move up, no, I’m not going to buy that one.”

4. The debate over the multiplier was contentious at times, and private schools even hinted at pulling out of the GHSA if an earlier proposal to separate them from public schools in the playoffs had been adopted. Are you concerned that some schools, the private ones in particular, will go away mad after this reclassification? “Yes, and I understand them being upset, I really do. And once again, from their perspective, they feel they’re not being treated fairly, but say this: We all live in Georgia, and we need to set an example to kids on how to work out problems. I want private schools to be with the GHSA. They have great schools, great administrators, great students and great athletes. It’s important for students from all schools, public and private, to see each other and compete against each other. Athletics offers a bridge for us to get together and make relationships. So in the next few weeks, we need to make sure we do everything we can to be fair and reasonable.”

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