Association needs to re-visit playoff model

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on November 8, 2013 1:48 PM

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In the early 1980s, the N.C. High School Athletic Association created a Division I and II playoff format that drew criticism, but gave more teams the opportunity to play for a state title.

For a four-year period, the conference champion and runner-up advanced to Division I with a state crown at stake. The Division II qualifier could go no further than either the eastern or western regional final.

Playoff expansion occurred in 1985 and there appeared to be nothing wrong with the new system. However, sub-division emerged a hot topic once the smaller 1-A schools started losing to larger 1-A schools on a regular basis. Coaches and school administrators argued that the playing field needed to be even.

The Association agreed to have two 1-A champions.

Once that happened, the 2-A, 3-A and 4-A schools felt they were owed the same opportunity. The Association couldn't say "no," which has led to where we are today -- the postseason has become watered down.

Eight state champions are three too many.

When preseason practice officially begins each August, at least 256 teams know they're in the playoffs as long as they win four regular-season games -- the minimum required for postseason qualification set by the NCHSAA.

Maybe the Association could consider reclassification.

Re-examine what was done 10 years when the sub-division playoff format was adopted. Leave the four classifications we have now, but use a 20-percent rule based on average daily membership (ADM) numbers to determine the schools that fall into the 2-A, 3-A and 4-A range.

Split the 1-A schools into small and large.

The NCHSAA just might listen to the proposal. Then again, the almighty dollar would undoubtedly influence its final decision if three sub-division playoff brackets were eliminated in football -- the cash cow that drives every high school's athletic budget in the state.

The News-Argus sports staff printed and filled out a football playoff expense form provided by the Association on its website. One buck is automatically taken off the top for the Endowment fund at every game. The Association also gets a 15-percent share of the total gate receipts before the school is allowed to pay expenses for hosting the game, which also includes giving the opposing team its total payout and travel reimbursement.

We estimated that you'd have to have approximately 550 paid ticket holders attend a playoff game if you hoped just to break even financially. And if you're that fortunate, the extra cash could be ear-marked for a number of things in your athletic program.

But some schools, based on travel and quality of opponent, won't break even when they host a first-round game next Friday.

So, that begs the questions are five state champions better than eight and is reclassification possible in the future?

We will probably never know.