Gap in title game results reflects divide between LHSAA member schools

“Come together, right now, over me.”

Well, it is not about me but the “me” reference in the Beatles’ song could refer to a host of individuals throughout Louisiana.

After witnessing (seven in person, two others via television) the LHSAA prep football state championship games, getting the band back together has never screamed louder.

The average margin of victory for the nine state championship football games staged over the last two weekends was 27.7 points per contest.

If you take out the 14-10 Archbishop Rummel victory over Catholic of Baton Rouge in Division I, the 35-34 Karr win over Warren Easton in Class 4A and the 8-3 win for Acadiana over Destrehan in 5A, that margin swelled to an average of 39.8 points per game in the other mismatches.

As it stands, the 27.7 average is the second most in modern state championship game history (since 1970) with the largest margin being in 1990 when the average margin of victory was 29.75 for just four title games.

Without indicting teams that played for state championships, we have seen this every year, to a degree, since the split of so-called non-select and select schools occurred beginning for the 2013 season.

It is truly nice to see programs which have traditionally not been powers have their day (or night) in the bright lights of state championship games.

It simply isn’t nice to see bad football games.

While fans of their respective teams will support them regardless, the general public eventually figures out what is the genuine article and many of these championship games are anything but genuine championship games.

After watching what transpired, wouldn’t you have preferred seeing true championship games?

While Ouachita Christian defeated Oak Grove 40-21 in the regular season, that would have been a good rematch to see in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in 1A.

A really good matchup would have been powerful Lafayette Christian and talented Ferriday for a real state title in 2A.

Then, there is the matter of possibly seeing St. James face De La Salle in 3A.

A blockbuster matchup would have left me salivating if St. Thomas More had faced Karr in 4A.

In 5A, Archbishop Rummel, Catholic of Baton Rouge and John Curtis Christian were all elite but it would have been great to see unbeatens Rummel and Acadiana square off.

That, of course, will not happen.

As LHSAA Executive Director stated Saturday on The 3 Tailgaters Show on 106.1 FM NASH ICON, Louisiana athletic directors, in an internal poll, voted to reunite the organization as one. Student-athletes voted overwhelmingly to put the organization back together. Many coaches of schools which voted for the split state privately that they would like to play their select brethren.

Will adults get the memo?

Is it about the greater good?

Is it all about the kids, as many say?

Is it about determining true champions?

Is it about reducing the number of classifications clearly befitting a small state in terms of school participation in all sports?

If it is about the greater good, the LHSAA and LSA will put differences aside to find solutions.

If it is about the greater good, public and private schools will put their differences aside to find solutions.

If it is about the greater good, regardless of what happens in the annual convention next month in Baton Rouge, the LHSAA members will vote to reduce the ridiculous number of classifications in the state.

Proposals and measures being taken regarding attendance zones and enforcement of rules will certainly help. Will it be enough?

As for the LSA membership electing to play three of its four games outside of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, that was their prerogative after years of bad brackets, dates and start times for semifinal and final games in all four sports that are currently split in the state.

The Division I game at Yulman Stadium was, by all measures, a success. Can you say the same about the Division II and Division III games? The Division II game was at a campus facility, a good one, but certainly not the experience others experienced in title games. The Division III game was at a very good facility but was lost in the shuffle on a Saturday night as a stand-alone event for smaller schools at a big stadium.

“Come on people now, smile on your brother, everybody get together, try to love one another. Right now.”

That lyric was from the Youngbloods.

It is high time for principals in Louisiana to send a message to the young blooded student-athletes they are educating that they are determined to work together, put aside differences, find common ground and to respect all, regardless of public or private, charter or traditional, urban or suburban.

Otherwise, the gap which currently exists in championship games will mirror the consummate blowout in game and operational aspects of high school competition in Louisiana for years to come.