By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
AUG. 7, 2020 | What is it with athletic groups during a pandemic? In all sports, the many level leagues seem to be making terrible decisions. And there may be one single factor driving it all.
The executive committee of the Georgia High School Association (GHSA), meeting Wednesday, essentially sanctioned playing a full season of high school football in Georgia beginning Sept. 4. Of course, this comes during the COVID-19 pandemic, in spite of the warning from state health expert, Dr. Kathleen Toomey, commissioner of the Dept. of Public Health.
In a month before high school football begins. Before then, the GHSA may have a change of heart and opt not to play football this season if the COVID crisis worsens. Can’t this association recognize the constant physical danger they will be putting these athletes in? Can you think of a more up-close, in-your-face situation than two football lines charging at one another with all their might, tussling, twisting and trying to turn and subdue their opponents one way or another? Think, too, of a collision between a running back and a tackler. Neither aspect involves social distancing.
Can we say simply that these players are in close contact, breathing on one another, wrestling with their opponent, intent on their objective, all without face masks or any other preventative measure against the Coronavirus.
What were these GHSA executive committee members thinking? Unhappily, we suspect the problem boils down only to money. High school football revenue helps supplement the other sports, which often bring in little or no money.
Let’s look at the make-up of the Georgia High School Association.
Who are members of its executive committee? The 74 members (including five from Gwinnett), each represent one region at every level in the state. The members are primarily former high school football coaches, sometimes augmented by other sport coaches. They are intent on maintaining control in Georgia over high school athletics. This, of course, is the way each makes their living. It’s their life.
Georgia school boards allow the GHSA to dictate most rules of the statewide athletic competition, without giving it a second thought. Unfortunately, this is even the case concerning the COVID pandemic, where even the Gwinnett School Board is letting GHSA determine local policy regarding whether to schedule games.
It’s ironic that while most school systems are wrestling with doing the best for their students concerning the pandemic, at the same time these individual boards allow the GHSA to set the current rules for their athletic teams.
Why doesn’t the GHSA recognize how serious this COVID pandemic is, and simply say “No scheduling of games until the pandemic clears?” That would certainly be best for health for the athletes, who are the ones most seriously threatened. Granted, this would mean that the athletes won’t get playing time to make a name for themselves this year, and get no attention from college or pro scouts. Better sit out a year than not survive the pandemic.
Looking wider, you wonder why the college and professional athletic leagues can’t understand that while American sports fans might want big-time competition to return, that might not be best for the game and the athletes themselves. Some athletes are choosing not to put themselves at risk, and foregoing playing this year. Some colleges (the University of Connecticut this week) have cancelled their football season. Yet the baseball, football, and basketball leagues seem to be more about getting the money, especially the heavy television revenues, than looking out for the lives of the athletes.
Sadly, the money seems to be the real reason behind all the maneuvering concerning athletics, at all levels. Suspending sport events is far more important than exposing these athletes to competition that could kill them.
The five persons representing Gwinnett on the GHSA Executive Committee include Ed Shaddix, the county athletic director (of 4-AAAAAAA); Kirk Barton, Norcross, (7-AAAAAAA); Scarlett Grantham of Collins Hill (8-AAAAAAA); Matt McDonald (8-AAAAAA); and David Colvard, representing the Georgia School Boards Association).
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
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