Earlier this week, the Texas Senate passed a vote (22-7 in favor) that would allow schools in the University Interscholastic League and Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools to participate on the same field as soon as next season. The plan would be a “5-year phase-in”, which will start with Class 1A and will expand towards the larger classifications later on. Senators felt that the UIL and TAPPS should be allowed to compete against one another in soccer, baseball/softball, lacrosse, volleyball and track as well as in academics, such as One-Act play and debate. This would go beyond single game meetings (which currently exist), rather TAPPS schools would be figured into district realignments.
However, there is a huge catch: UIL and TAPPS schools will not be able to be in the same district when it comes to football or basketball.
Senators and the Texas High School Coaches Association worry that TAPPS would recruit students out of UIL districts to play for private schools, a ‘selection’ process if you will, that would take away talent that could be going to a public school.
But is that really a good enough excuse for the UIL and the State Senate to use?
Especially after the UIL finished doling out a huge punishment to a big-name football program before the start of the 2010 football season.
According to WFAA.com, Southlake Carroll was under fire after QB Daxx Garman transferred from Oklahoma and was able to practice with the team during the summer workout season. Rumors swirled that Garman only moved into Carroll ISD in order to avoid his ineligibility in Oklahoma so he could play sports in Texas. That violates UIL rules, which disallows players to move solely for athletic purposes. After the UIL’s investigation, they found that the family was not fully moved into the Southlake area (which was also a rules violation) and that the family had a clause in their rental agreement that would allow the tenants to terminate the lease if the student was not able to play football. Afterwards, the UIL’s Executive Committee for District 7-5A ruled 4-3 that Garman would not be allowed to play for Southlake.
To the UIL’s credit, they upheld Garman’s ineligibility and he was banned from participating in any high school sport in Texas.
But think about it: Southlake Carroll was this close to recruting a player to illegally play on their team. Not only that, but the player had an option to move out of the district and potentially be recruited by another public school had the UIL not stepped in beforehand. It will never be known if Garman would have made a difference had he done so, but it certainly puts cracks into the armor of the UIL’s argument: That private schools would use their wealth and success to sway players to play for their programs. Remember, Southlake is not only in one of the more wealthier school districts, but also the most successful, winning 7 state titles in the last 20 years.
It’s quite hypocritical for the UIL to raise a gripe about recruiting issues, when one of their most successful programs nearly got away with violating their own rules about the subject.
When it comes down to it, the UIL and TAPPS are going to have to find a way to trust one another before sharing championships. Especially in such competitive and passionate sports such as football and basketball. The best way for this to occur will be the “5-year phase-in” plan that will test the waters in other sports first.
Until then, the State of Texas will have separate titles for football and basketball for the foreseeable future.
