GHSA Restructures Class A Playoffs

ATLANTA, Ga. - The GHSA executive committee voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday to hold separate public and private school playoffs for Class A schools beginning this fall. The news comes about a month after at least 30 Class A schools threatened to secede and form their own league because of what they say is a competitive imbalance in favor of private schools.

The details of the change are still being worked out, but it does mean there will be two 16-team playoff brackets in Class A-- one for public schools and one for private schools.

Eagles Landing Christian Academy director of athletics Scott Queen told High 5 Sports that the vote will keep them from playing the best competition possible.

“We want to play the best, and that’s what was so disappointing about today’s vote is the best are not going to end up playing the best to decide who the state champions are,” said Queen. “They’re going to be split and that’s a big reason for us. We’re here to play the best.”

Speaking for the public schools, legendary Lincoln County football coach Larry Campbell said the private schools simply have an unfair advantage, not only in terms of money, but in the freedom to recruit the best student athletes to their schools.

“It isn’t just football and basketball that’s killing us,” Campbell said. “Its spring sports, where we have zero chance no matter what kind of tennis team we have—golf, soccer, baseball. As soon as we have faced a private school, we’ve been eliminated. Why come out and play when as soon as we run into a private school, we’re going to be gone.”

Tough economic times mean there are even fewer funds for public schools to work with, further emphasizing the public schools’ desire to create a competitive balance. GHSA executive director Ralph Swearngin said he’s heard from both sides, and he hopes the new plan works.

“I think the public school people are concerned because they’re getting their funding cut all the time, and it does not appear that that’s happening in the private school arena,” said Swearngin. “This is not going to cure all the difficulties that exist between public and private schools, but at least we can maybe move on and see each other as partners in education and not adversaries.”