Mack

How is being abused? PERS is paying them regardless. If they didn't work anywhere, if they decide to coach at a private school, if they coach out of state, if they work at Walmart, etc . . . they are still getting paid. They have paid into a retirement system for 25+ years so the only travesty would be if they didn't get paid by PERS.

I don't see it as a problem, but if it is a problem, it the school's decision which you have a problem with. I also don't see how they are abusing the system any more than getting a job elsewhere. It is also a money thing for these private schools. Having a proven winner coaching might bring in more tuition paying students. Too many young coaches think they are ready to be a head coach. It used to be that coaches had to work their way up.

Why would the coaches or the players in the locker room want someone that didn't want to play for/with them?

I'm not sure that is accurate. I think an admin from any school can file a formal complaint. For example, I believe teams in their district can file a complaint even if their school is not directly involved.

They better have a great amount of passion, because the coaching stipend without the teaching or admin pay would put the coach well below the poverty line.

So Seth Smith, Lance Mancuso, Jeff Stockstill, or Jay Beech wouldn't be good choices because they went to PRC? Not that any of them would be interested, but where a coach is from is hardly the "core of the problem" with the PRC football program.

I would have to check, but I think you are wrong on both counts. The coach isn't even supposed to talk to the parent about it, and moving to another district to follow your previous coach used to make you ineligible. Not sure what would have made that change.

I think you will also find in the MHSAA guidelines that an administrator has to be the one to file a complaint. People from the general public calling in to report alleged violations will not likely accomplish anything, as they have no standing.

Four district titles in five years and a 1-5 playoff record. I think the fans just want a team that is capable of making a run in the playoffs, regardless of the offense.

To an extent there is some correlation, but then why don't those extra numbers matter in basketball and baseball too? My point would be that the number of students (with schools in same classification) is not the biggest reason for success or failure. In fact, I am not sure I would list it all that high at all. Nothing against OS because it is a phenomenal school, but those numbers haven't helped out too much in basketball and other than the past few years, the larger numbers haven't had much impact on football. There is obviously a whole lot more that goes into success than numbers, and those numbers aren't the key factor. The five teams listed: Tupelo - State champs 92' Desoto Central - made playoffs four times since opening in 2003 Ocean Springs - 2-9 playoff record since 2010 Gulfport - 2-13 playoff record since 2003 Southaven - 2-8 playoff record since 2003 Now, to be fair, maybe those schools weren't all among the largest in all of those years, but they were still big schools during all those years and were still, for the most part, among the largest in their respective classifications. Those numbers haven't produced much playoff success, other than Tupelo.

I don't think it is a problem that needs to be solved. Regardless of how you split them there will be a largest school in a classification and a smallest school in a classification. On a percentage basis you will be able to find large disparities in the new 6A and 5A as well. If a coach is actually asking the question "What if I had X amount of extra kids?" then I am sure that rubs off on their players as well.

I heard that Hancock turned in lower numbers than West Harrison, but not sure how the guy that told me knew that.

PRC is struggling in 5A and I don't think 6A will be much different. I suspect that in football the 6A district will be weaker than their current 5A district. The addition to the district would be Pascagoula, but EC and possibly Gautier will be in 5A. Both are better than Pascagoula this year. I'm not sure how adding Pascagoula to the football district suddenly makes it tougher.

Looking at this again, the district breakdown could change quite a bit by not adding seniors. A couple kids moving in or withdrawing could effect several schools in the 5A/6A classifications.

The junior high enrollments are listed on the MDE site. Best way to speculate on classification is to check out those schools 8th grade numbers last year and subtract their senior numbers from last year. With a few schools that will make a major difference.

I agree if they take 9-11, but under the new system they would be towards the bottom based on the numbers from last time. Less than 30 students away from being the largest 5A. I am guessing that based on their graduation rate that typically their freshman and sophomore classes are larger than their senior classes. Which is true for many schools, but probably more so with Hattiesburg. I was saying that since they are counting 9-11 it makes it more likely they are 6A, but 9-12 they are borderline and they have been trending down enrollment. Not a huge sample size, but looking at the two schools who were tied with enrollment, it looks like Hattiesburg lost 60 students in the current senior class since their freshman year. West Jones lost 39. I guess the point is that if they were counting seniors I certainly wouldn't bet against a 5A Hattiesburg. Based on the numbers from last time I saw that they were tied at 12th in 5A with West Jones, which would make them the 20th/21st of 24 in 6A. The biggest 5A's using the old numbers had 29 less students than Hattiesburg. Either way, they would not be in the middle of 6A, but towards the bottom.

Hattiesburg trending down the past few years. As strange as it sounds, I wouldn't be surprised to see Hattiesburg in 5A. If that happens I would say that Hattiesburg is the biggest beneficiary. Counting grades 9-11 rather than 9-12 actually makes their enrollment look higher though, so the new method of counting may solidify them in 6A.

To be fair, Neaves is not quoted in that article that new system would go in place next year. If I am remembering correctly, Neaves isn't quoted until the end of the article and he just talks about this being a better, more fair system.

They typically come out with numbers in October and then by November come out with the classification breakdown for the following school year. I don't see anything accelerated. If they were going to do the same thing (numbers in October and breakdown in November) they would need to have the vote before then. I'm calling a count based on October 22' for the following year (23'-24'). Too many logistical problems to put this in place for next season. The football schedules would have to be completely scrapped. An April vote would probably mean a May breakdown, so schedules couldn't even be done until after that. No, the count will be on next year's numbers for the 23'-24' season.

No coach says they are only going to stick it out a couple years and then move on. Also, anyone that had a clue understood completely why he moved on and it was not a surprise. As far as ex-players . . . . yep, probably. Just like there are ex-players who don't like Dodd Lee, who is a great coach. I know there are some ex-players that don't like Coach Beech either, but I would still say he is a damn good coach. Again, it is the profession they are in. There is a zero percent chance that coaches are going to make everyone happy regardless of how well they do.

His nephew was the only player from Louisiana to move in and the fans liked him a great deal. They had a run of good talent for a few years, and he had a great staff, this is true. But he didn't leave because of anything political, he left because he saw what was coming. You are going to find parents and ex-players who don't like any coach (mainly because of playing time), but it doesn't make it a majority.