The fun is in the guessing game
A couple of weeks ago we mentioned the guessing game that goes on every two years when the UIL does a realignment process with the schools within their jurisdiction. First, each school turns in their enrollments. Then the UIL will announce the schools that fall into each classification, usually in December. Finally around February 10, the UIL will announce the district assignments.
The guessing begins when the enrollments are sent in. Mostly active among the coaches and other interested sports people. Former DSHS head coach Howard Ballard and myself are among those curious about the guessing game. The American-Statesman published the enrollments of the schools in the Austin area and that gave us our first hints. Coach Ballard looked up the state numbers as well just to get some more information for our figuring.
It looks like Dripping Springs' total of 2335 should nestle us comfortably in the lower third of 6A, a move up in classification. We are 16th largest in the Austin area. Next, is to look for reasons to be in a specific district. The conjecture is Dripping Springs will be in the Austin district with Lake Travis and Westlake which makes sense under the circumstances. Others can see us being in a district heading toward San Antonio. Anyway, what puts a rift toward San Antonio has to do with two school districts. The Hays district added another school which dropped Hays High back to 5A to join Lehman. Comal ISD also added a new school and that dropped Smithson Valley back to 5A to probably join Canyon and possibly New Braunfels. So instead of 6A schools sprinkled liberally between Austin and San Antonio one has mostly 5A close to us. No 6A west.
The Austin district includes Lake Travis (3681), Del Valle (3579), Westlake (2888), Bowie (2830), Akins (2643), San Marcos (2467), Austin High (2450) and Hays High. With Hays Johnson (2475) moving up to 6A, it makes sense to put DS in there with them and take out San Marcos ormake it a nine-team district. There are some decided advantages for us. The most glaring is the travel. Those schools are all within a 30-mile area and the time it takes to get to each is minimal. As a fan, we like the idea we will get to see more good games. In the past we have been in some pretty weak districts and saw a lot of stinker games that are no fun, really for anyone involved. As former AD's, we see the added dollar signs from bigger gates in all sports. The full capacity we experienced at the Johnson game will be common instead of a rarity. Today, the UIL allows the home team to keep the gate receipts instead of splitting as in the past. In the districts we have been in lately we only got our money at our home games because the visitors seldom brought fans. Likewise, they take our money at home and that is all they get because they have no better attendance there. It is our money only that supports both schools.
There should not be any fear about success in going to 6A. We have spent many years as a small 5A school and competed very well because we have good programs. Even during theyears we were in the tough Leander district, no one pushed us around. After all, there are four teams that make the playoffs. Yes, we are having fun guessing what district Dripping Springs will be in for the next two years and see how close we come. It is like predicting Texas weather or picking football games. What we have found out from our many years in sports, common sense rationale many times is lost on the UIL. The fun will go on until early February and then reality will set in.