GHSA REALIGNMENT
The phrase “spun out and half turned over” is generally used when it comes to emotions within stock car racing, but it could easily apply to how some schools may have felt following last week’s proposed GHSA region alignment for the next two seasons.
During Thursday’s meeting in Thomaston of the reclassification committee, in which appeals for teams wishing to challenge their classification assignment for the next two years were heard, proposed regions were also heard. And the proposal placed the Greyhounds in one of the state’s largest regions.
While other schools of thought lent credence to the chance of JCHS being slotted to compete against teams near Columbus or in southeast Georgia, Jones County was instead cast in a region of nine other schools from Henry County, one of two 10-team regions in classifications above Class A. The proposed region set up would fracture Jones County away from others in central Georgia.
Warner Robins, which had an appeal to play down in AAAA granted, along with Perry placed in a region of southeast Georgia teams – Ware County, Wayne County, Benedictine and New Hampstead.
“We got kind of shocked that we were placed in there with the Henry County schools,” JCHS athletic director Chad Alligood said.
According to information posted by the GHSA on Nov. 14, Jones County has filed an appeal to be heard on Thursday for a lateral transfer from Region 2-AAAA to Region 8-AAAA. If approved, Jones County would compete against a region made up of Cedar Shoals, East Forsyth, Flowery Branch, Madison County, North Oconee, and Walnut Grove.
Alligood said multiple options and points of view would be weighed. Part of that process was seeking input for each sport’s other administrators.
“You can appeal. I’m meeting with all of our coaches, Mr. Lundy and Mr. Woolfolk. There are options. You can appeal to move to a different region and give them a case and see what happens,” Alligood said. “We’ll explore our options because you want to make sure you do what is best for all of your sports and athletes.”
If the proposed region assignment is upheld, Jones County’s region opponents would include Eagles Landing, Eagles Landing Christian, Hampton, Locust Grove, McDonough, Ola, Stockbridge, Union Grove and Woodland. Union Grove won an appeal last week to drop down from AAAAA to AAAA.
Compared to other possible regions, a Henry County setup does offer shorter travel times.
But other factors also hold credence, such as revenue that can be generated from gate admission across multiple sports.
“To go to the Henry County region, travel-wise, it makes perfectly good sense. But there’s other factors that go into it,” Alligood said. “Gates and revenue, it’s no hidden secret that we don’t make any money when we play Henry County schools.”
In football, for example, a nine-team region would only allow for one non-region game. That could mean only one game outside of teams from Henry County. This year, three of the Greyhounds’ non-region opponents were from either Houston or Peach County, with home games the last two years against Peach, Perry and Warner Robins being some of the biggest turnouts for opposing fans. Those rivalries would be next to slim and none in a Henry County region.
“Us and Warner Robins have almost gotten one and Jones and Northside have played a lot lately. You want to have room to continue to play those established rivalries,” Alligood said. “Jones is just on an island by itself.”
In basketball, 18 region games would greatly reduce room for non-region games against rivals and opponents that would draw more opposing fans.
“It’s a 10-team region, so let’s use football. You’ve got nine regular-season games, and you have one game that’s a ‘money game.’ In basketball, you’ve got a minimum of 18 region game, so that cuts down on your middle Georgia rivalries. Are you going to be able to play teams like Northside, Warner Robins and Houston County?” Alligood said. “From an academic side, you’ve got to think about transportation. (If we are) playing Houston County teams, we are good, but for a south Georgia region or Columbus, you are cutting into academic time. A lot goes into it.”
There are off-the-field concerns to consider, too. With a region of teams comprised fully of Henry County, any bargaining power on any decisions within the region would be zeroed out for Jones County. “You have to give and take. In the Henry County region, we’re the lone soldier, so we give up any control. We’ll have no say on anything, and that’s one thing as an athletic director that you don’t like. You’ll get outvoted 9-1. So, us hosting basketball or softball region tournaments, all of that is out the window.”
In the end, JCHS will make a decision on appealing or not based on what’s best not just for one sport, but every one that competes.
“We’ll make a decision that’s not a football or baseball decision, but an athletic department one,” Alligood said. “We’ll do what’s best for everyone.”
