Goodpasture to replace FCS in 8-A?

TSSAA Board of Control to vote on proposal Thursday

By ANDY REED

Sports Editor

Schools in District 8-A which thought Friendship Christian's departure for Division II would make life easier on the playing fields and courts had another think coming when the TSSAA released its proposed district alignments last Friday.

Friendship is being replaced by Goodpasture in the district, according to the TSSAA website.

A Class AA powerhouse in multiple sports in recent years, the Madison-based Church of Christ school has dropped down because the 1.8 multiplier would have caused it to jump two classes for the six-tier football playoffs. TSSAA rules only force a private school to make a one-class jump via the multiplier.

Goodpasture, Watertown and Trousdale County will be 2A for the football playoffs.

The proposed alignment will be voted on Thursday by the TSSAA Board of Control at the DoubleTree Hotel in Murfreesboro, and can be tweaked at members' request until then. When approved, it will take effect next academic year and remain in place for four years.

Joining Watertown, Trousdale County and Goodpasture in 8-A would be holdovers Gordonsville and Red Boiling Springs and newcomer Merrol Hyde, a Hendersonville magnet school which does not play football. Merrol Hyde was in 8-A until the most recent realignment four years ago.

What is not known is if the football schools will retain the Region 4A format for the regular season in which 8-A and District 7-A schools - Clay County, Jackson County, Monterey and Pickett County [Clarkrange does not play football] - combine for a football league.

Elsewhere, no changes are planned for Wilson County's Class AAA schools as Lebanon, Wilson Central and Mt. Juliet are to remain in District 9-AAA with Sumner County schools Beech, Gallatin, Hendersonville, Portland and Station Camp.

The only changes involve Hendersonville and Station Camp, which would move up  a notch to 6A for the football playoffs.

There will be a change in region play as Dickson County is being moved from 10-AAA to 11-AAA.

Sports Editor Andy Reed can be reached at 444-3952, ext. 17; or by email at andy.reed@lebanondemocrat.com