Military training isn’t good enough for high school football

http://rivals.yahoo.com/highschool/blog/prep_rally/post/State-deems-future-soldier-unfit-for-football-af?urn=highschool-wp4590

 

When I went to college, I would drive back and forth every few weeks along I-57 and drive past Paxton-Buckley-Loda High School … its right on the interstate.  You can’t miss it!

Eddie Nuss is a football player there, getting ready to start his senior season.  When people ask Eddie how he spent his summer vacation, the answer isn’t “on a beach in Florida”, or “hanging out with friends at Dairy Queen”.

He was doing basic training.

Eddie is a part of a program that allows him to do basic training before his senior year of high school, go back and graduate, and then get into his advanced training before he goes on duty, putting him a few months ahead of other high school graduates.

There is a problem.  The Illinois High School Association (IHSA — the downstate dominated group that governs high school athletics and some activities) has a rule requiring all potential football players to engage in a minimum of 12 days of practice prior to playing.  There is a sensible reason for that rule:  you do not want kids who are not in shape playing football … that is an easy way to get hurt.  So kids know:  if you are missing preseason practice for vacations or to do other things, you often times have to sit a game or two).

Eddie doesn’t get home until 7 days before the season starts … meaning he will be five practice sessions short for participation in his senior season’s home opener.  Remember:  especially in little towns, you may only have four home games …. missing one is a big deal!

Eddie’s family appealed to the IHSA on the grounds that “our son will obviously be in far better shape than any boy playing on any football field in the state of Illinois.”  Running five miles a day with heavy packs in hundred degree heat tends to put you into shape.   Of course medical clearance would be a part of this.

But …. bureaucrats are good at deactivating the “common sense” part of their brain.  Even though it is clear that this kid will meet the spirit of the rule, it is much, much easier to say “that’s the rule, too bad”, which is what the IHSA has decided to do.  They even came up with this to deflect criticism:

“Our sports medicine committee continues to feel that being in shape and being in football shape are two different things.”

Of course it is …. a cross country runner might be in peak physical condition, but in no way should be cleared to strap on a helmet and head out onto the field.  That said, there are many ways to get into “football shape” besides doing “football drills”.  This is the equivalent of saying “The U.S. Army does not put human beings into good enough shape to play football.  Only football coaches can do this.”  This is the IHSA in classic defense mode … they need a reason to not bend a rule for common sense (what if a girl comes back and wants to pull this next year with soccer?), and is throwing their sports medicine committee under the bus.  Instead of making a good will gesture and trying to do something common sense, they retreat for the comfort and warmth of rules.

Needless to say, a senator in the Illinois legislature is going to get involved.  He might get a phone call back, because the IHSA has a long history of reminding the legislature that they have no power over their organization, and they can all politely go to Chicago (the equivalent of hell for many downstaters).  The only other option is a court injuncton … but given the IHSA’s history, they might just cancel week one of the season to prove they won’t get bullied by something as insignificant as a “court”.

I’m hardly the most patriotic person on Earth, but I know enough to respect and support people who willing enter the military to serve the nation.  You would figure the IHSA would do something other than say “too bad”.