This is a Travesty

[ClemsonTigersFan]

I find it interesting that an actual public high school (Crescent High School) put this statement out there, and not just a journalist or spectator. I am glad that they did. More and more public schools need to speak out against having to compete with private schools that can recruit. We certainly need these schools to be put in their own league, or they could possibly even stay in the SCHSL if they have to play up in a higher classification.

When Gray Collegiate played Gaffney in 2021, they played a respectable game and lost 38-35 and when they played Ridge View, they won 28-18. But then you turn around and look at when they played lowly 2A teams in the playoffs, they averaged over 40 a game, shutting out their opponents in each of the first two rounds. THEY WON THE 2A STATE TITLE 49-14 !!! THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN!!!

If Gray can compete with 4A schools and 5A schools, and they have pretty much the same facilities, why don't they play in 4A or 5A?

This is truly a travesty and schools such as Gray, Greer MC, Christ Church, Southside, and Oceanside, rob the true, authentic small town 2A & 3A schools from the chance of winning a title. It is simply just not fair.

This is a travesty. It is not fair.



(Image sourced from Crescent High School Tigers' Twitter)

[ClemsonTigersFan]

Have yall got any additional ideas or thoughts as to how or why the SCHSL needs to combat this epidemic of overly powerful private schools that play in 3A & below?

[midstateguy]

High school league needs to break up into 2 classification of schools. Schools choose where they want to fall. On one side you have a traditional classification. The schools in this one are not open to choice. All transfers in this classification must include bona fide moves. If caught breaking rules you are out of playoffs. You signed up for this you know the rules and there are consequences.Put some old retired football coaches in charge of this. Old guys that do not see any gray areas. The other classification you can sign up for is the wild west side of things. Any kid that can get into your school can play ball regardless of zoning eligibility. Once schools sign up for one or the other you break up into classifications based on size. If you look at all the state championships in all classifications you will see there are some choice schools winning state championships. Not sure how things work in Greenville area but I have been told they are a choice district and Eastside won wrestling and baseball championships. In columbia area Richland one schools are choice schools.The best athletes from Richland One end up at A.C. Flora. Dreher's best football player 2 years ago played for Flora last year and did not move he just wanted to play for Flora. There are too many coaches poking out their chest saying how great they are at coaching when truly they are the best at recruiting. All these guys really have to do after they recruit is get gas in the bus and directions to where the game is played.
The state of SC is considering making our whole state open to choice and if this happens all of what I said above is a mute point.

[Blister]

And I fear it will be a mute point. And a point that the SCHSL, not surprisingly, doesn't want to tackle. You are right, some of these charter, academy, and private schools, just openly recruit. But it goes on in public schools also. A good point was made above about AC Flora. And true. But recruiting goes on in other regions in that area. Dutch Fork gets accused of it, but because they are always so good, they don't have to recruit. People just show up. Irmo is after folks. In the upstate it doesn't seem to be quite as bad, with a couple of exceptions. Of course, Greenville High comes to mind. But I too understand that the powrs that be are looking at open enrollment across the board. I don't like it in sports, but hard to tell athletes they can't look for a better program when anybody else is free to transfer if they feel that the band, the science, or math, program is better at another school. The only folks that may be relatively safe are the one school towns too far away from other schools to make it convenient to transfer.

[Onion Rings]

am guessing no action will happen from the HSL..not enough outrage for any change to happen

so schools who live in a "choice" district, is it not the same thing that happens at Gray etc.

[Blister]

I think there is plenty of outcry. Have heard it personally from many. Since the member schools supposedly control the SCHSL one would think something would happen. But it never does. Yes, the Gray's, Oceanside's, Legions, of the world just operate like a baby IMG and recruit openly. On the public school front it is usually a little different, but done just as well.

[Fortfor5]

Wrens qb left for private school in georgia

[bringthewood]

What exactly is the travesty? Where did it come from? When did it happen? Why is the SCHSL at fault? Where are the member schools in this?

The SCHSL is a creation of the member schools. All the members schools were either part of the creation of the League or allowed to join the League. The rules are created by committees that are designed and permitted by the League. When you mention the SCHSL, in essence you are ALSO referring to the member schools and their said representation.

It isn't 2 separate/vying institutions. The very schools that you root for are the ones that created the SCHSL. The SCHSL just didn't birth it's a$$ into existence.