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Published Wednesday, November 25, 2009 in Sports

Vacancies, region realignments remain topics

By Stuart Crosby

The Times-Herald

Remember when we were kids and could not wait to become adults because we had all the answers and could do a better job with some of the problems of the world?

Maybe we should rethink that position in light of all of the fun going on in a variety of places from our nation's capitol to the world of high school athletics in Georgia and why the latter remains stuck in my head and gets addressed this week.

Last week I mentioned that 10 coaching positions had become available in our fine state including at Valdosta which became a finality last Monday when the school board did not discuss the dismissal of Rick Tomberlin.

Since that column, the number has not only doubled but has passed the 20 mark and threatens to make a run at the 80-plus school that made changes prior to the 2008 campaign.

Those who announced their departure were primarily from teams that had losing records with the exception of Savannah's Windsor Forest who saw their coach Mike Martin resign after the realignment for 2010 was announced.

I am sure there will be more changes and if gambling was legal in Georgia we could have a big board taking bets on the number of vacancies, when they will be filled and who will be hired.

All I can say is stay tuned because coaches could decide to depart in March or April if something comes up or schools could close their doors.

Unlike other members of the coaching fraternity, Martin is leaving the Knights after several trips to the state AAAAA playoffs after the realignment dance was called once again by the Georgia High School Association.

Like most schools in Savannah, the enrollment figures were below the 1900 mandated by the GHSA and all but Jenkins had AAA numbers.

Over the course of the past few years, the region has been thought to be one of the weakest in Georgia which put Camden County behind the eight ball until they would start the season in the Georgia Dome in the Corky Kell Classic and end their season in the same place.

There is a possibility that Camden County will be moved to Region 1-AAAAA which is not a perfect solution despite less travel for football as the other sports would have to become very familiar with trips through Jesup and Waycross.

While Region 3 looks like it remain intact. one of the other regions in AAAAA that has been obliterated where realignment is concerned is our own Region 4-AAAAA.

One theory among my colleagues that might have some legs is East Coweta, Newnan, Westlake and Pebblebrook remaining while Langston Hughes of Fairburn replaces Creekside with Marietta, South Cobb and Campbell on the region roster.

I can see Pebblebrook remaining in the region but I am afraid Campbell does not belong in this mix while Marietta is doubtful as is South Cobb.

In other words, this doesn't make any sense but then again, the AAAA membership is in the same boat as it is unknown who will go where in that classification.

Should it come to fruition, the subregion that featured the Fayette County schools and Northgate will remain intact with the exception of Sandy Creek being replaced by Creekside while the other subregion could come from anywhere.

Next Tuesday will settle the issue when the GHSA announces where everybody will play in 2010 and the business of playing the games can be left to the kids.

By the way, happy Thanksgiving and may the Newnan Cougars dispatch the Grayson Rams from the playoffs.