On Thursday the Georgia High Schools Association executive committee will meet to consider a proposal meant appease public schools in the larger classifications, that would move Greater Atlanta Christian (currently in Class 3A), Lovett and Pace Academy (both currently in Class 2A) into Class A Private.
All three have considerately larger student populations than most Class A Private schools.
We asked several coaches to give their honest thoughts, anonymously, about the plan. Here are two that encapsulate opinions from both sides:
(In favor) “I am fine with them coming down to single [A Private]. It would be awesome! We need more teams so some of our teams can have more than just a two-, three- or four-game region schedule.”
(Opposed) “I believe it is a hopeless desire (for public schools) to save themselves without regard for the size advantage they have over the smaller Single A schools. To suggest this (proposal) is self-serving and only benefits them. How does a school with 150 or 175 benefit from having them join Class A? They do not.”
Quotes from around the classification
“Losing Kenny is a huge blow to our team. He did everything for us as a receiver, defensive back and return man, so it’s almost like we’re losing three players. We’re going to need someone to step up and make plays with Kenny out. Everyone feels for Kenny. He’s a great kid and a total team player. I know this is eating him up inside because football is such a huge part of his life, and now it’s been taken from him. But he’ll be able to come back, and he’s too good of a player for a college team not to take him. We’re going to sit down with teams that have offered him and try to work things out.” – Savannah Country Day head coach John Mohring, said to the Savannah Morning News, talking about senior WR/DB/KR Kenny Odum, who was lost for the season after Week 3 due to a shoulder injury the required surgery. Odum, who is also one of the state’s top track and field athletes, has offers from Western Kentucky, Middle Tennessee, Austin Peay and North Alabama.
“I was really proud of our players competing hard and playing the whole game. There were five to seven plays that went against us tonight and hats off to them, they’re a great team. We just have to focus on what we can control, moving forward and we will be fine, I’m very proud of my team tonight.” --- North Cobb Christian first-year head coach Matt Jones said to the Marietta Daily Journal after being shut out by No. 3 Private Calvary Day last week, 28-0.
“The kids are playing hard and that’s the great thing about it. We’re really executing well and we play all three phases. We hit a field goal tonight and had two great punts. It’s hard to complain, the kids are playing really well right now. We’ve got to get a week better and we’ve got a string with three top 10 teams out of four, so we’ve just got to take it a week at a time.” — No. 4 Private Prince Avenue Christian head coach Greg Vandagriff said to the Athens Banner Herald after the Wolverines dominated Holy Innocents’ last week, 49-0.
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