Athletic association's decisions will have impact on local schools

Two major decisions were made at the GHSA State Executive Committee meeting March 19.

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The first was the slim vote of approval to do away with the idea of co-championships in state competition. Basically, state title games that end in a tie will now go to overtime. The motion barely passed, 25-21.

I wonder what would have happened had the vote ended in a tie? Co-decisions? It sounds just as ridiculous as co-state champions.

The second major decision was the unanimously approved idea of moving the football state championship games to the Georgia Dome.

The state semifinals were previously held at the Georgia Dome and title games were held at the home of the higher seed.

Great. Just what our local football teams needed. They'll now have to win one more state playoff game to get to the Dome.

Both decisions were considered big news across Georgia, but Columbia County fans might not particularly care about either.

But there was one other decision made at the meeting that will dramatically affect local schools.

In reclassification news, a motion was passed to automatically place all schools with a full-time enrollment of 1,850 students or more into Class AAAAA.

The motion would mean a constitutional change so a second vote is still necessary, but if everything holds as it should, that would easily put Greenbrier and Evans in Class AAAAA and keep Lakeside in Class AAAA for the 2008-09 and 2009-10 school years.

Bottom line: get ready to travel. Even for region games.

Edmund Burke names AD

Edmund Burke Academy, a private school in Waynesboro, Ga., recently named Jeremy Blackstock as the new athletics director and head football coach beginning in the fall.

Blackstock, previously an assistant football coach at Edmund Burke, is a graduate of Augusta Christian School, where he played football from 1993-96.

Harlem girls move out

Harlem's girls soccer team is off to a 13-1 start this season and finally has earned a bit of state recognition because of it. The Lady Bulldogs didn't crack the Class AAA top 10 last week, but they did receive votes. Harlem's girls have scored 54 goals this season and allowed only seven.

Wolfpack jumps a spot

Greenbrier's boys soccer team jumped one spot in the state rankings to No. 2 in Class AAAA. The Wolfpack had a fantastic road trip last weekend, with a perfect 3-0 record at the Jekyll Island Tournament of Champions. Greenbrier beat Eagles Landing 8-2, knocked off Duluth 4-0 and beat Class AAAA No. 7 St. Pius X 5-1.