Folks back in 1920 had the right idea when they got together to form the Louisiana High School Athletic Association. Just a number of schools were involved back then, but as the organization grew in the decades that followed it made some unprecedented moves in membership.

It took anyone that was state accredited &045; black, white, public and private schools. That way, you have a true state champion in whatever sport. The group opened its doors again in the late 1980s when the private school league LISA folded, and on came more private schools.

One group, one idea, one title. Good idea, right?

Man, oh, man.

There’s got to be a middle road for everyone in this public/private dispute in the LHSAA, one that has been debated for going on 10 years now. The group appointed a committee to study the issue, receive feedback and make a presentation to the full organization this summer on what to do.

Vidalia principal Rick Brown is on that committee. Brown voted against the proposal to form a committee back in late January but finds himself in a position along with 10 others administrators to do something about it.

The panel had its first meeting late last month.

&uot;It’s a very open-type situation,&uot; Brown said. &uot;There isn’t anybody from the ‘bigger schools’ that anybody feels intimidated by. We’re going to discuss what we feel are the issues in our particular areas. Everybody seems like they want a situation that everybody can live with.&uot;

It’s the role of Brown and the committee to hear complaints from members schools in their area and bring them before the board to be addressed. Brown is the northeast Louisiana representative and accompanies Henderson, Menard’s Dale Skinner and Saline’s Anthony Hough as the North Louisiana representation.

&uot;I can see to a certain extent the other side,&uot; Brown said. &uot;You can’t tell someone who has been going to public school all their life they can’t go to a private school in high school. You can’t deprive anyone their religious freedom.&uot;

One significant area the panel wants to address, Brown said, is penalizing coaches involved in allowing ineligible players to compete. Currently no penalties are handed down to coaches during this situation, and too often the player and the school are the ones left holding the bag.

&uot;I think that will get some support from principals, but I don’t know about the coaches,&uot; Brown said. &uot;Up until now, the coach knows nothing is going to happen to him. In some instances they played kids they had to know were not eligible, and then they said, ‘I didn’t know that.’&uot;

That’s just the beginning, Brown said. The meetings are very important, and the body will play a critical role in how the 84-year-old association addresses the public/private issue in the future.

And Brown would like to see something positive.

&uot;It’s important to keep the association together,&uot; he said.

Adam Daigle

is sports editor of The Natchez Democrat. Reach him at (601) 445-3632 or by e-mail at

adam.daigle@natchezdemocrat.com.