End of THSCA All-Star Games

By Chris Doelle
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Updated: December 12, 2014

Our friends at the Texas High School Coaches Association posted this press release on their website:

THSCA ELIMINATES ALL-STAR GAMES

San Marcos, TX – At the December meeting of the Texas High School Coaches Association’s Board of Directors, the board was informed of the decision from the NCAA Legislative Relief Waiver Committee to deny the THSCA’s request for exemption from the new NCAA Bylaw (13.1.7.9.6 – which prohibits Division I college football coaches from attending or speaking at a convention that has an all-star game affiliated with it). This decision has forced the Board to eliminate an 80-year tradition of hosting the Texas High School Coaches Association All-Star games.

While there is a sentimental attachment to the THSCA All-Star games which have had a rich history over the years, the THSCA Board of Directors felt it was in the best interest of the Texas High School Coaches Association to make sure its Convention and Coaching School remained a quality event. Eliminating attendance by the Division I college coaches would be detrimental to the success of the convention which is the main source of income for the Texas High School Coaches Association.

“This is not a decision we wanted to have to make at all. We felt our convention and all-star games were not a violation of the NCAA rule and took extra steps to separate the two events as best we could, but the Waiver Committee felt otherwise,” said THSCA Executive Director D. W. Rutledge. “When faced with the burden of either excluding the college coaches from attending our convention or hosting the all-star games, the Board felt it was in the best interest of the association and its members to eliminate the all-star games.”

The NCAA's Bylaw has forced the THSCA to choose between two traditions. 1 - they could have eliminated their tradition of bringing great coaches to speak to the membership or 2 - eliminate the All-Star game.

Although the 80 year tradition has been one of the entertaining aspects of annual convention, the meat and potatoes has always been the "school" portion Coaching School that provides the most value.

The all-star games will be missed but the convention will continue stronger than every. I feel for D.W. Rutledge and the rest of the Board for having to make this choice, but wholeheartedly support their decision.

by Chris Doelle