Football Reigns Again

School Administrator, Nov, 1996

Despite the opposition of the state's athletic commissioner, the governing board of the Ohio High School Athletic Association has approved doubling the number of schools that qualify for the post-season football tournament.

Beginning in the 1999 season, the state will allow 192 of the state's 703 high schools that field football teams to participate in the statewide event. Twenty years ago, only 12 schools qualified.

The expansion will not lengthen the season but will reduce pre-season practices from three weeks to two.

The Ohio High School Football Coaches Association sought the change despite the opposition of Clair Muscaro, the state athletic commissioner. Principals voted in favor of expansion, 244-241. Superintendents were not consulted, said Rod Rice, executive director of the Buckeye Association of School Administrators.