Thought the OSSAA was bad, but the UIL takes the cake!!

Hope I can benefit

When I was at Dibble, we had an OSSAA hearing for a kid that was going to be a 5th year senior, but was under the age requirement and had extenuating circumstances where he was having to care for his dying 1 legged diabetic grandmother and so he missed too many day at a previous school when he was a Freshman to receive credit. I thought our AD handled this when he got to Dibble as a repeat Freshman, however, I argued the case for him and made what I felt was a pretty convincing argument to the point that the OSSAA board wanted to kick it back to David Jackson for re-evaluation. Jackson denied and urged the board to vote. We lost like 13-2 or something like that. During my argument, I had a superintendent ask me if what if this kid after getting an "extra" year of eligibility moves to another school district. He wondered if I would be arguing so hard if he wasn't going to be my player. I turned to Washington's superintendent and said if this kid moved to our arch rival Washington to play for Coach Beller, I might be a small part of me that a little upset as we were taking that butt kicking from Washington as that kid was our returning starting QB and our only proven offensive weapon at that point, but the vast majority of me would be proud that the kid had the opportunity to play anywhere after enduring what he had to endure those last couple of months with his grandmother. In what I thought was a "Perry Mason" moment, I said that I would be happy for him because I have what is best for that kid in mind and that is exactly what each one of you should keep in mind when you make you decision today. Turns out my powers of persuasion aren't that great, lol!

The reason I bring this up is because when the decision if left up to a group of people that have a vested interest in the outcome, it is extremely hard for that group to make an unbiased decision regardless of what is best for the kid. The process the UIL uses is extremely flawed!

I know that is the way it used to be, but I really truly believe that the American dream is allowing us to put our kids in a place to be better than ourselves. I think the parent should have the right to move their kid to a place where they have the best opportunity to succeed. I know in Frederick in the 1990's we had an amazing run of homegrown talent, but with that early success, we started to get people flocking to southwest Oklahoma in search of being a part of something special. I think that it is not the place of the UIL or the OSSAA to tell a parent that makes a bona fide move that they don't have the right to help their kid's situation. I also feel that most of the time they are looking for a reason to say "no" when they should be looking for a reason to say "yes". I think it is the same with our justice system. People are supposed to be presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, but we are constantly putting people in prison and calling it justice when there is overwhelming doubt thrown on a situation. Too many circumstantial cases are providing guilty verdicts that are ruining some people's lives. Is that justice? I feel the UIL and OSSAA are doing this same thing, but on a much smaller scale obviously.

Do you think to some extent that the NIL has a chance to create some "parity" in college football? I know it won't happen on a large scale, but here are some interesting things to think about. Kids that aren't hurting as bad for that NFL payday may stay around longer and boost their draft stock and in turn help out their university. Going to a football factory could become less important than going somewhere where you are going to get developed. I find it very interesting how bent out of shape Alabama, who has dominated the college landscape for the last 15 years, became about Texas A&M "outbidding" them for players. I know USC has some boosters that can really put their money where their mouth is and maybe that may sway recruiting? I know right now it is the wild, wild west, but I can't help but think that it has the opportunity to be a good thing? Just my humble opinion on both topics.