Secession In GHSA...???

405 schools currently have some kind of football program in the Georgia High School Association at present, and the champs were just named this past weekend at the Georgia Dome.

33 schools from Class A (the smallest class) and 5A (the largest class) met in the south central town of Rochelle yesterday to discuss the idea of breaking off from the GHSA because of a perceived lack of action concerning the private school occupation and dominance in the Class A events.

As a side note, all four semi-finalists from Class A this year were private institutions... Savannah Christian, Landmark Christian, Eagles Landing Christian Academy, and Prince Avenue Christian...

FOSG Robert Hydrick was in Rochelle...


And FOSG Darnay Tripp has their version...
((HT: 13WMAZ-TV Macon))


There is talk that a second tier meeting will occur next week with a final decision due by January 4th. All GHSA reclassification appeals are due in to their office a few days later...

Having, practically, one-third of the schools from the smallest classification secede can't be good financially for the GHSA. They would, at the very least, be out close to $11,000 in membership dues alone plus the cut they take from all playoff activities.

A rundown of Class A's future is like this ((courtesy, GHSA)), and the schools that attended the meeting in Rochelle are in bold-face...

REGION 1
Subregion A
Calhoun County
Quitman County
Randolph-Clay
Stewart County
Terrell County
Webster County

Subregion B

Baconton Charter
Baker County
Miller County
Mitchell County
Seminole County

Region 2
Subregion A

Irwin County
Telfair County
Turner County
Wilcox County

Subregion B

Charlton County
Clinch County
Echols County
Lanier County

Region 3
Subregion A

Calvary Day
Claxton
Jenkins County
Portal
Savannah Christian
Savannah Country Day

Subregion B

Emanuel Co. Institute
Johnson County
Montgomery County
Treutlen
Wheeler County

Region 4
Subregion A

Brookstone
Central, Talbotton
Greenville
Pacelli

Subregion B

Dooly County
Hawkinsville
Marion County
Schley County

REGION 5
Subregion A

Eagles Landing Christian
Elite Academy
Greenforest Academy
Landmark Christian
Our Lady of Mercy
Paideia
Strong Rock Christian
Tech Charter
W.D. Mohammed

Subregion B

Atlanta International
Ben Franklin
DeKalb Arts
Galloway
Holy Innocents’
KIPP
Mt. Vernon
Pace Academy
Yeshiva

Region 6

Subregion A

Darlington
Mt. Paran
Mt. Pisgah
Mt. Zion, Carroll
North Cobb Christian
SW Atlanta Christian
Walker
Whitefield Academy

Subregion B

Christian Heritage (Dalton)
Excel Christian
Fellowship Christian
Ga. School for Deaf
Gordon Lee
King’s Ridge
St. Francis
Trion

Region 7
Subregion A

Aquinas
Glascock County
Hancock Central
Lincoln County
Taliaferro County
Warren County

Subregion B

Challenge Charter
First Presbyterian
Georgia Military Prep
Georgia Academy-Blind
Twiggs County
Wilkinson County

Region 8
Subregion A

Commerce
Lakeview Academy
Pinecrest Academy
Rabun Gap
Tallulah Falls
Towns County
Woody Gap

Subregion B

Athens Academy
Athens Christian
George Walton Academy
Hebron Christian
Prince Ave. Christian
Providence Christian

So, you see what the secession would do... and what the easiest solution may be is that public schools and private schools stay in their own regions, play crossovers, and when the playoffs arrive- play public versus public and private versus private until the title game where the public champ plays the private champ.

Regions 1 and 2 would stay as is. Region 5 would stay as is. Region 8 could stay as is- minus Commerce (who could be given the option of playing up or moving to roadtripping in region 7). Brookstone and Pacelli could be absorbed into Region 5 leaving Region 4 as is. Region 6 could stay as is- the exceptions being the public schools- Mt. Zion, Carroll, Gordon-Lee, and Trion.

There are very few issues: Calvary Day, Savannah Christian, and Country Day in region 3, are the larger ones. Aquinas can move from one sub-region to the other with Twiggs and Wilkinson moving to Subregion A.

You add a region (7A and 7B), but divide the play until the championship...

And the world is saved- at least, in Single-A...
The HQ is hearing that other schools are putting out feelers as well in high classifications in addition to what Tift County did by attending the meeting...

More when we hear more...