Some coaches mixed about raising GPA standards

Coaches in Washington Parish - where Chrissy Smith wrote the story - seem mixed, though it does appear that the ones in favor of the higher standards have the students' best interest in mind.

Here's my thing: As one of the coaches said, they're called student-athletes, not athletic-students. High school, after all, is about the education. The only reason these teenagers are playing these team sports is because they go to high school.

A 2.0 is a small thing to ask of an athlete. Education is the key in all of this. Without education, at least a high school diploma, life has a greater chance of being a struggle.

What do you think?

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In a bit of catching up, Pope John Paul II has hired a new coach for football. Chris Lachney resigned a month ago, and the Jaguars went searching. They found their man.

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The LHSAA softball playoffs begin this week. But not all are happy with the way the brackets have worked out. Softball isn't a major sport in his state, as tons of high schools have decided not to field teams.

So, that begets 4-8 clubs and 2-7 teams and 5-6 schools into the playoffs. Rewarding mediocrity - and heck, rewarding a team that doesn't or won't play a full schedule - seems ludicrous.

Kevin Foote with the Gannet News Service agrees. Class C has an entire first round of byes. Class 5A, 4A and 3A have teams that, under normal circumstances wouldn't sniff a postseason berth, in the playoffs.

Here are the softball playoff brackets.