Volume 11, Number 9 AHSAA Executive Director Update Newsletter November 2018 Let the State Football Playoffs Begin!!! Inside this Month’s Update Savarese Commentary — Pages 2-3 AHSAA Instant Replay Gets National Exposure — Pages 5-6 AHSAA News Digest — Page 8 Volleyball State Tourney Gallery — Page 11 Paf- we Media Coverage of AHSAA Makes a Positive Difference As we move into the Our state is blessed still to have championship portion of our Fall dedicated sports writers, TV sports- Sports programs, we pause to thank casters and radio announcers who so many who work behind the scenes to make the AHSAA’s edu- showcase our schools, teams and cational-based athletics so success- contests to the rest of the world in ful. such a colorful and positive way. We thank the coaches, the admin- istrators, the faculties, the support personnel such as ticket takers, pass gate workers, clock operators, pub- lic address announcers, chain crews, parking lot attendants, security, place integrity, character and truth trainers, emergency personnel, ahead of expediency. Journalists like and many others who volunteer Steve Savarese Al.com’s Josh Bean, Ben Thomas, their time to make the events Executive Director Paul Beaudry and Daniel Boyette; run smoothly. the Montgomery Advertiser’s Stacy While we appreciate all those Long; the Florence Times Daily’s ville at Milton Frank Stadium in mentioned above, I must also recog- Gregg Dewalt; the Anniston Star’s Huntsville. I make mention of these nize and show appreciation to a Mark Edwards and Joe Medley; men because all four are now mem- group we do not recognize often Tommy Deas and Joey Chandler of bers of the Alabama Sportswriters enough – our news media. the Tuscaloosa News; David Mundee Hall of Fame, and Ronald is in the I recently thumbed through some of the Dothan Eagle; Ross Wood of Alabama High School Sports Hall old news clippings of the AHSAA’s the Clarke County Democrat; Shannon of Fame. They went on to write nu- first football state championships Allen of the Cherokee Herald repre- merous other stories about many that included all our schools follow- sent this type of media. Across the other subjects, but when they cov- ing the merger of the AIAA and state, so many others work diligently ered high school sports, we got their AHSAA in 1968. I couldn’t help but at our daily and weekly newspapers very best. notice The Birmingham News staff of to help cover high school sports. Our state is blessed still to have writers who covered those first four These writers strive to tell the read- dedicated sports writers, TV sports- championship games. Ronald ers of the life lessons learned casters and radio announcers who Weathers wrote the 1A game be- through high school athletics, in- showcase our schools, teams and tween Lowndes Academy and cluding the triumphs and defeats, contests to the rest of the world in Woodland played at Cramton Bowl. and go the extra mile to tell us such a colorful and positive way. Clyde Bolton penned the 2A game about that special student-athlete While we don’t always agree with at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tusca- who rises above the turmoil of a what the writer has written, they loosa featuring St. Jude and Gordo. troubled life to accomplish so much don’t always agree with every deci- Jimmy Bryan wrote the 3A story when so little was expected. sion we must make. However, we of the Russellville-Saks 3A finals at do agree to respect each other and CONTINUED, PAGE 3 Anniston, and Wayne Martin cov- the jobs each of us has to do. ered the 4A championship game We are very fortunate to have featuring Sidney Lanier and Hunts- such outstanding journalists who Savarese Commentary — Continued from Page 2 As we appreciate our journalists, we are Their commitment and passion for what also grateful for our television and radio they do are evident when we attend our broadcasters. TV sportscasters like Rick championship events and witness the large Karle of WBRC TV 6 and Mike Raita of TV contingent of media covering those con- 33/40, who brought to the state the Friday tests. The post-game interviews are filled Night highlight shows that are now so prev- with insightful questions about much more alent across Alabama and the Southeast each than just who won the game. Student- Friday night, and WSFA’s Stephen Gunter athletes and coaches have a chance to tell and Maria Martin, Carl Prather of WAFF in why they play the game and just how much Huntsville, and Gary Harris in Tuscaloosa their teammates, coaches and student body all go the extra mile in covering the heart of mean to them. high school educational athletics. The media’s coverage does make a differ- The heart and soul of many of our Friday ence in the lives of the student-athletes. night football contests are our local radio Many go on to great heights in athletics and announcers who are dedicated to our high other areas, but even the most famous re- schools. Alexander City’s Randy Lee and member that first story ever written about Brett Pritchard of the AHSAA Radio Net- them, that first radio interview or TV high- work, Guntersville announcer Bill Yancy, light. These athletes will always remember Ralph Black of WTBF in Troy, Michael But- that writer or sportscaster who went out of ler of WTLS and Fred Randall Hughey of his/her way to make them feel special by WACQ in Tallassee are a few examples of telling their stories to the rest of the world. those who are appreciated for their coverage As I said earlier, we do not thank our news of high school sports. Many of our journal- media enough. ists, TV broadcasters and radio announcers I would be remiss if I did not recognize have had long and distinguished careers of our own Hall of Fame sportswriter, Ron service such as D. Mark Mitchell, who just Ingram, who has and continues to dedicate retired after more than 30 years as the voice his professional life covering interscholastic of the Opelika Bulldogs. athletics, and for the last 12 years has done Others spend a lot of time discussing so from his desk at the AHSAA. high school sports on special shows across Therefore, on behalf of the AHSAA, our the state such as Doug Amos and Charlie member schools, and our student-athletes, Trotman of Montgomery; Lee Shirvanian we emphatically thank each of you who of Mobile; Max Harbuck and Snapper Lan- work behind the scenes covering our events caster of Birmingham. Because the list for making such a difference in the lives of could go on and on, I apologize for not list- so many. Without the media, many stories ing everyone by name but please know you and events would never be heard or told, are all special to us for the jobs you do. and the outside world would never be ex- The media who cover our high posed to the impact educational-based ath- schools share their own passion for every letics have on thousands of student-athletes small and large town across this great state. across our state. IMPORTANT DATES Nov. 1-2-3: Section Cross Country meets Nov. 3: Football Coaches first-round playoff meeting, 9 a.m. Nov. 5: HS Basketball first contest allowed Nov. 7: Region Cheer Competition, Mobile Nov. 7: Track Lunch & Learn, AHSAA, 9 a.m. Nov. 8: H-of-F Committee Meeting, AHSAA office, 9:30 a.m. Nov. 9, 16, 23, 30: Football Playoffs Nov. 10: State X-C Championships, Moulton Nov. 12: AHSAA Closed, Veterans Day Nov. 15: Region Cheer Competition, Birmingham Nov. 15: HS Wrestling first contest allowed Nov. 16-17: Section Swimming & Diving Meets Nov. 28: Baseball Lunch & Learn, AHSAA, 9 a.m. Nov. 30/Dec. 1: State Swimming Championships, Auburn U. AHSAA Instant Replay Gets National Exposure at Hewitt-Thompson game on ESPN October 26 AHSAA Referee Steve Newton and back judge Ray Torillo review a challenge in the Thompson vs. Hewitt-Trussville shown on ESPN Oct. 26. (PHOTO BY MICHAEL WADE) The AHSAA’s Instant Replay protocol officials only had the school camera views got national exposure last week with two and not the ESPN camera views of the play challenges in Thompson High School’s 63- but were still able to correct the call. 49 victory over Hewitt-Trussville, a Class “It shows that instant replay can be suc- 7A, Region 3 game televised live on ESPN cessful with limited camera angles. I believe and over the NFHS Network. this national exposure will assist us in allow- For the week, 10 challenges were made ing instant replay to become a part of NFHS with three calls overturned in nine AHSAA football rules.” football games using DVSport Instant Re- On the season Instant Replay has been in play. 71 games with 73 different schools taking “We had some great national exposure of part in 136 opportunities. A total of 57 chal- our Instant Replay during the ESPN game at lenges have been made with 15 calls over- Thompson this past Friday night,” AHSAA turned – a percentage of 26.3%. Director of Officials Mark Jones said. “We With 8:21 remaining in the first quarter, had two challenges during the contest. One Hewitt-Trussville challenged a fourth-down was overturning a fourth down forward pro- spot resulting in a Thompson first down at gress spot that was originally ruled a first the Huskies’ 17-yard line. Upon review by down.