Gsl, Big Nine Football Playoffs To Expand Principals From Rival League Vote , But Several Coaches Raise Concerns
Don’t look now, but the Greater Spokane League high school football playoffs are beginning to look a lot like pro hockey and basketball.
GSL principals approved a plan Wednesday night doubling the number of teams advancing to this fall’s football playoffs.
“The principals voted 9-0 to work on it with the Big Nine and work out the particulars,” said Central Valley coach Rick Giampietri, who presented the proposal to the principals.
Big Nine principals approved the move Tuesday.
Since coaches and athletic directors from both leagues voted for the plan - the vote was 6-3 in the GSL, 8-1 in the Big Nine - it appears as if four teams from each league will meet in first-round playoff games in November.
“We don’t have to get like hockey and everybody else and have too many teams in,” Gonzaga Prep coach Don Anderson said. “I’m totally against it. There are so many things not answered in that equation to get two more teams in the playoffs. I think it’s just unworkable.”
Giampietri said, “The good part about it is the fact your kids have more of a chance, the student body has more of a chance.
“Our league has been looking at ways to try to generate more revenue. This will keep more interest alive right up to the last week. I would think a by-product would be more interest, more revenue, in weeks seven, eight and nine.”
Anderson said, “They also say it will be a money maker. (For example), I can’t imagine a team like Eisenhower coming up here and bringing too many people on a Tuesday.”
Mead coach Mike McLaughlin is opposed to the plan, and the argument of sustained interest.
“There were at least five or six teams in (the playoff picture) until the last two weeks the last few years,” he said. “That’s all you can ask for. Teams that aren’t in it now, that won’t change. I’d like to see our league get more teams in the playoffs but I’m not sure this is the best way.”
The games will probably be played on Tuesday between the end of the regular season and the traditional first playoff game on Saturday. The season probably cannot be moved up a week because of current non-league commitments.
Among the questions and concerns Anderson and McLaughlin have are the possibility of Sunday practices prior to the Tuesday playoff game, how ties for fourth place would be broken, night doubleheaders on artificial turf stadiums at Albi and Kennewick and increased travel.
“The negative, I would say, is you start with the weather,” Anderson said. “It wasn’t too long ago they decided to play the Big Nine on Saturday instead of Friday (in first-round games). The reason was weather, the safety of fans traveling. Now we’re going to turn around and play on Tuesday night?”
McLaughlin added, “And on a school night.”
Giampietri’s response was, “One of the big points of traveling down there on a Tuesday night those teams would have been putting their equipment away. Instead they’re experiencing the playoffs.”
The South Puget Sound League, the Narrows League and Olympic League have already adopted similar plans for next year.
The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association does not have to approve the increased playoffs because proponents are calling the new first round of the playoffs 10th games, which already have WIAA approval.
Big Nine and GSL officials will meet next weekend at the state athletic directors convention in Wenatchee to iron out details, said Ferris activities director Ray Hare, the GSL football coordinator.
, DataTimes