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District football for Class 4A football teams is now a distinct possibility, if not a likelihood.
Todd Tharp, assistant director of the Iowa High School Athletic Association, said Thursday that 4A schools voted 25-22 to “explore possible options” in changing the way playoff teams are determined.
Tom Keating
“It’s just a survey,” Tharp said. “I know a lot of people feel that (district football) is a done deal and that it’s being pushed down people’s throats. That’s not necessarily the case.”
Tharp said he was not at liberty to divulge who votes how. When Tharp met with Mississippi Valley Conference athletics directors Sept. 15, all of the ADs from the Metro and Iowa City said they would vote against district football.
The IHSAA Board of Directors took no action on the subject, but did appoint two of its members (Cedar Rapids Xavier principal Tom Keating and Johnston AD Gary Ross) to lead a sub-committee that will collect more input on schools.
“We’re going to bring in (officials from) all 47 (4A football) schools to our office to meet, discuss and share any concerns they have,” Tharp said.
Tharp said Thursday that a decision will probably be made in December.
If district football happens, Class 4A would probably consist of 43 schools (North Scott, Xavier, Davenport Assumption and Dubuque Wahlert would move to 3A) in 2012, and there would be eight districts of five or six schools each. Ankeny Centennial would join the 4A mix in 2013.
Districts would be released in January, schools would have a two-week period in which to communicate with each other, and ADs would submit a top-five list of non-district teams they want to play.
6 Responses to Survey: 4A majority favors consideration of district football
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So let me get this straight. One of the two guys they put on the subcommittee to recommend options for district play is from the one school in the MVC that benefits the most from going to a district format. (Xavier to 3A) and the one metro school who voted for districts. Does that strike anyone else as a bit transparent, or am I just overacting?
IHSAA should go to communion, they have empowered the largest private schools in the state (you know the ones that reside within the largest cities in the state and are able to I won’t say recruit but you know…) now to drop a class when they have competed very well within the largest class in the state. IHSAA needs to go to a multiplier for private schools.
If those 4 schools don’t dominate 3A it will be very surprising.
To both of these posts … We’ve been told that Cedar Rapids Xavier voted against district football.
In the very beginning if Xavier could have played 3A and been allowed to play Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and Waterloo public schools in non-conference games I’d bet they would have been 3A. This should be good for 3A Football if it happens. If Western Dubuque wants to have an annual game with Wahlert it would be good for both schools. If Xavier goes 3A it could have it’s annual battle of 42nd street with Kennedy. Or Linn-Mar Marion.
I think this will be good in the long run for 3A and 4A football.
Very glad — surprised, but very glad — to hear that Xavier voted against districts. The MVC is special, and I hope a way can be found to allow it to continue.
When districts come in, Xavier has previously said it would not petition to “play up” in 4A. This remains a disappointment. A lot of fans have enjoyed the competitiveness Xavier has shown against the big schools over the years. City High and Cedar Falls draw people to Saints Field in a way in which Anamosa and Mount Vernon won’t.
Still, there may be non-football factors that are forcing the Saints to drop to 3-A, (facilities, finances, etc.) This eventuality may not be able to be avoided, but that doesn’t stop it from being disappointing and sad.
Anybody know what the districts would look like for the Mac schools?