VHSL Response On Title Game and Other Issues

Some may of read the Title Game Response. But here is a few answers on it and some other questions ask. With the forum being down this is a little late. But this is what i got per my email.

You and a few others asked why JMU is a site for VHSL State Football
Championships as opposed to rotating the games among the regions or
playing
the games at UVa Wise, and I appreciate this opportunity to explain the
rationale for that arrangement.

Six years ago the League spent a full year conducting a very
comprehensive
study of its 24 sports and four academic competitions. More than 100
people
from all 12 regions were involved in the study, and one of the major
conclusions was that state playoffs seemed to be successful at
semi-permanent facilities and such facilities should be used as much as
possible. One of the primary reasons for that finding was the desire
to
stage the events at the best venues for players and spectators as
opposed to
rotating among home sites that were often substandard for a state-level
event.

Neutral sites in football, and other sports for that matter, are
considered
to be those where participating schools have not played during the
season.
JMU, Liberty University and the Group AAA sites all meet that criteria.
The
mere fact that those sites are closer to some participating schools
than
others does not mean they are not neutral sites.

You may be surprised to know that more VHSL state events of a
semi-permanent
nature for Group A schools are played at western sites than any other
area
of the state. A total of eight state championships (baseball,
softball,
boys soccer, girls soccer, boys tennis, girls tennis, outdoor track and
wrestling) for Group A schools are played at Radford and Salem. The
next
highest number of sites is only four (boys basketball, girls
basketball,
cheer and girls volleyball) in Richmond.

Based on the above information, if any VHSL region should complain
about
having great travel disadvantages, it would be Region A. Region D
schools
actually have far more state events at sites closer to them than other
regions.

Having given all of that background, I should add that it is still up
to the
VHSL Executive Committee to decide where state playoffs will be held
and to
decide how playoff venues are selected. Furthermore, we are in the
midst of
a new long-range strategic planning project that will examine what is
best
for all schools and how to make the best possible playoff experiences
for
participants and fans. I am sure that the more than 100 people from
all
regions of the state who are taking part in strategic planning will
look at
all aspects of what should be considered before making recommendations.

You also asked how officials are assigned to state playoffs. This is
done
by VHSL Assistant Directors, working with all officials associations
and
often with coaches and veteran neutral observers of officials, to
select the
best crews and in virtually all cases -- including football -- to
provide
officials from an association that has not worked games for either of
the
competing teams. It is also VHSL policy that officials are not to have
any
connection with schools whose games they work.

Finally, regarding the controversial penalty in the J. I. Burton game,
here
is the League's statement on that situation:

VIRGINIA HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE
1642 State Farm Boulevard Charlottesville, Virginia 22911
phone: 434-977-8475 fax: 434-977-5943



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Ken Tilley
December 18, 2006


Charlottesville--In light of a controversial officiating call in the
final
minute of the Virginia High School League (VHSL) Division 1 State
Football
Championship Game between J. I. Burton and Riverheads High Schools,
VHSL
staff conducted a review of the events in question. School and game
officials were contacted for input, and game tapes were reviewed by
VHSL
Assistant Director and State Football Rules Interpreter Tom Zimorski as
well
as several independent individuals with extensive officiating
experience.

Following this thorough review, it is the opinion of VHSL staff -- as
well
as the officials association that was assigned the game and the
official who
made the call -- that the penalty for non-contact unsportsmanlike
conduct
for excessive celebration against J. I. Burton High School was
incorrect in
that the player's conduct did not rise to the level of an
unsportsmanlike
act for excessive celebration as defined in the National Federation of
State
High School Associations (NFHS) Football Rules Book.

While the outcome of any contest cannot be altered in cases involving
the
real or alleged failure of contest officials to interpret or apply game
rules properly or to render correct decisions in matters of judgment,
the
VHSL acknowledges that sometimes errors do occur. The League staff,
the
officials association and the official himself deeply regret that an
incorrect call was made in this particular case and, coming at such a
crucial time in the contest, that it might have had a bearing on the
outcome
of the game.

"We apologize to all parties affected by this error," said VHSL
Executive
Director Ken Tilley. "This play situation will be a point of emphasis
in
football rules clinics next year, as will be the proper steps a crew
should
take in reviewing a coach's request for an explanation of a play call.
Furthermore, the officials association is in the process of considering
measures it will take in dealing with the crew in this game and plans
to
strengthen its local training relative to these situations.

"It's extremely important to learn from mistakes and take steps to
avoid
repeating them," Tilley added. "Our constant goal is to provide a
quality
officiating program that serves well our student athletes, and our
efforts
now and in the future will focus on that objective."


Ken Tilley, Executive Director
Virginia High School League
Building better citizens through student activities
1642 State Farm Boulevard, Charlottesville, VA 22911
434-977-8475 Fax: 434-977-5943 Email: [email protected]
Web site: www.vhsl.org

Considering we dont even play soccer and very few schools participate in wrestling that makes no sense at all.

Basically that is just saying you get a shot to host a title game. Only thing is you don't have the sports programs for it. As long as the VHSL executive committe is awarding the fields then that is how it will be handled.

If a Division 3 National Title Game can be played at Salem. Why couldn't a Highschool State Title Game be played somewhere other than JMU. If this is what they are going on. I don't see JMU being that great. They have done some upgrades, but it's still not that great of a site. Or i don't think so personally.
Basically what i gather is unless some of our local region D coaches speak up. Nothing will change as far as title games being moved. It's not like were asking for them to be moved to our back yards. Just a more neutral site. That isn't 6 hrs away for most LPD and Region D schools. Where many of your fans can still attend the game.



[ QUOTE ]
One of the primary reasons for that finding was the desire
to
stage the events at the best venues for players and spectators as
opposed to
rotating among home sites that were often substandard for a state-level
event.


[/ QUOTE ]

I THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE GAVE THE TROPHY TO NORTON BECAUSE IT WAS NOT A PENALTY IN THE FIRST PLACE BUT ALSO THE VHSL LOOKED AT AND SAID IT WAS A POOR CALL THATS WHY NORTON SHOULD HAVE THE TROPHY

even if the penalty weren't called you can't say with certainty that Burton would've gotten the 2pt conversion anyway, so you can't possibly justify giving the trophy to burton

You cant give them the trophy, anything could have happened on that 2 point play. Heck if norton had got it Riverheads could have returned the kickoff for a touchdown you never know. Thats why this sucks so bad because there is nothing you can really do about it.

The call shouldn't have ever been a factor in the first place. If a team that was to be the calibre that Burton was supposed to be then they would have been up by at least 2 td's especially after getting 5-6 turnovers from Riverheads. From listening to it on the radio and watching it on tv the better team that day won, they ran all over Burton and kept shooting themselves in the foot with turnovers.

Now I will set back and wait on all the Beast Bashing to start.

You are right Riverheads was the better team that day, however, the better team does not always win. The only thing I don't get is that almost everyone says if they wouldn't have turned the ball over 5 times that day they would have killed Norton. The Riverheads players just didn't run down field and decide to drop the ball and give it to Norton, the defense caused those turnovers. Norton made enough plays to be in it at the end and that is all you can ask considering the way Riverheads was executing offensively. The only thing that chaps my a$$ like many others have said is that Norton didn't get their fair shot at going for two. If any coaches on here thinks they have a 2 point conversion play from the 18 yard line please feel free to let us all in on that secret because I doubt anyone practices going for two from the 18 yard line if they do I apologize. Norton had the momentum and I truly feel they couldn't have stopped the 2 point conversion if given the chance. Just my opinion.

Well obviously Riverheads wasn't chopped liver, I mean they were in the game as well [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Burton was a dang good team. Obviously they bent a lot, but didn't break. They were able to make plays, enough plays to keep themselves in a position to win the game.

Its sad for Burton but they got the best response for things they could really hope to get. In their minds, they know that they got a bad call and that is all they can get.