WASHINGTON —
As the nation attempts to crawl out of a recession, and state governments are forced to re-evaluate every funding option, changes in education seem to be drawing the most attention.
However, with truly important issues preparing to be debated, in the best tradition of political grandstanding, Sen. Mike Delph, R-Carmel, has introduced a bill tying the IHSAA’s multi-class basketball tourney to education reform.
It has been roughly 15 years since the switch to the multi-class system, meaning one full generation now knows nothing except class sports, and a second is not far behind.
So why Delph decided this was worthy of legislative action is beyond comprehension. The debate long ago faded into the woodwork, as many communities all over the state truly got a taste of Hoosier Hysteria. The class system didn’t kill an interest in high school basketball — it has enhanced it.
Since March 2002, Washington has made four trips to the state finals, Barr-Reeve has made three, Loogootee’s boys and Washington Catholic’s girls made one each and North Daviess has knocked on the door twice at semistate. Each appearance has been special and each community has had an opportunity to take a swing at the pinata. Class basketball has been very good to the Daviess-Martin area.
I imagine, as Sen. Delph panders for votes in coffee shops and diners, there is no “old chestnut” that quite gets the back slapped quite as quickly as a call for a return to “the good ol’ days.”
But were they really that good?
Would the North Daviess players of the last few seasons say they would trade their Class A semistate appearances for the one regional appearance Plainville had well over 50 years ago in a non class system?
If you truly want to kill off Hoosier Hysteria, ask the people of Madison, Salem, Bunker Hill, Alfordsville, Garrett or Gas City if they were planning on attending a state final game between Hamilton Southeastern and North Central every year.
Did the rest of the state beat a path to the Carmel/North Central single class tennis final? How many people do you know who traveled to Carmel’s 54-0 5A football win over Penn? Judging by the Sagrin computer rankings, nine of the top 10 football schools were all 5A, meaning that if that model transferred to basketball, what do you think the state finals would look like?
Has anyone asked Sen. Delph which small school he thinks will compete with the 4,800-student Carmel Greyhounds?
If bigger means better, then the largest schools would probably out-draw our Class A schools — which they don’t.
People have a ton of entertainment options available to them today, changing the priority level of high school sports in most people’s lives. When smaller communities have teams that they can support all the way to Indianapolis, everyone is a winner — the schools and communities, the IHSAA and those who provide goods and services along the way.
About 15 years ago the IHSAA made a change that was not popular with everyone. Was it perfect? No, but in hindsight it seemed to work pretty well for us.
Columns
Class basketball good for region
- Columns
-
-
Stop acting like sports are life and death
I’ve followed sports for much of my 27 years on earth, but one inescapable fact has caught my attention lately - sports make people crazy. You can't get around the fact that rooting for your favorite team can enrage you and turn you into a ravenous sports junkie. Passion isn’t always a bad thing, but combined with hatred for the rival of your favorite team can turn into something ugly and disgusting.
-
A confession directly from Genoa City, Wis.
I am a confessed hopeless addict. And, after a conversation this week, even my co-workers know the ugly truth. I rarely go an entire week without catching up on my soap opera - The Young and the Restless.
-
Quite simply less is more
Money can’t buy happiness, or at least that’s what you have been told. In Major League Baseball there has been a hot debate on when and how much should a team spend to improve the team on the field.
-
Daviess County talent runs deep
Oakland City University head men’s basketball coach Dr. Mike Sandifar has a long and successful career.
He has a combined high school and college mark of 631-383 and is 427-234 at Oakland City in a career that covers 1987-1999 and 2003-2013. -
The thrill of the grass
In the spring, they say a young man’s fancy turns to — baseball.
-
Jackie still a hero after all these years
Too often in our society we put elite athletes on a pedestal so high that they are referred to as heroes and we talk about the so-called adversity they face. This, of course, is laughable on every level.
-
A lifelong love of golf
It was an unusually cold, snowy day in April as I looked out the window at the clubhouse nearly 20 years ago.
Winter was hanging on, and golf on that particular Monday was not going to happen. -
All she needs is GPS, notebook
Lately some residents may have seen an out-of-county car driving aimlessly around town in search of some destination that even the youngest kiddo could find in a matter of seconds. That car would be mine, and the driver, who on occasion has nearly turned the wrong way down one way streets would be me, Lindsay Owens. Fear not though. I have GPS and a collection of maps Columbus would have envied.
-
At home - at Last
Today, on the Korean peninsula, missiles are pointed, troops are being amassed and political temperatures are reaching the boiling point.
-
IU still working towards sixth banner
Monday night in Atlanta, Louisville won the school’s first National Championship since the year I was born - 1986. This accomplishment is significant to Indiana basketball fans, because the last two times the Cardinals cut down the nets (1980, 1986), the Hoosiers did it the following year. The stat, of course means nothing, other than both schools had strong programs in the 1980s.
- More Columns Headlines
-
Stop acting like sports are life and death
Looking for Love? Take the Prague Metro
Crews Race to Find Survivors of Okla. Twister
First Person: Baby Falcons on a New York Bridge
Oklahoma: Images of Devastation, Reunion
Reunited Dad, Son: 'We Just Praise God'
Slow Pokes: Acupuncture Helps Sick Turtles
Moore, Okla. City of Reunions, Tears After Storm
Former IRS Chief: Can't Say How List Happened
Gov. Fallin: Okla. Facing Horrific Disaster
Tim Cook Defends Apple's Tax Accounting
AP Photograher: 'It Was a Miracle' They Got Out
Raw: Crews Search for Survivors of Okla. Tornado
Raw: Tearful Reunion After Okla. Tornado
OKC Hospital Describes Treating Tornado Wounded
Obama Pledges Urgent Aid for Tornado Victims
Raw: Massive Funnel Clouds in Oklahoma
