The MHSAA needs to be disbanded

[615dawg]

Prepare to be angry at your state high school athletic officials

MHSAA Bans Track Star for Being a Track Star

Andrew Brown may be one of the leading track stars in Mississippi but the MHSAA banned him from participating in the 2024 track & field seas...

kingfish1935.blogspot.com

Andrew Brown may be one of the leading track stars in Mississippi but the MHSAA banned him from participating in the 2024 track & field season. His crime? Brown dared to compete in the New Balance National Indoor Track & Field Championships in March.

Brown is a freshman at Tupelo High School who competes in cross-country and track. How good is Brown? The speedster leads the nation in the 1600m for high school athletes after he ran it in 4:18 minutes earlier this year. It was the eighth-fastest time among all freshmen who have ever competed in the event.

Someone filed a complaint against Brown with MHSAA. Jim Brown, Andrew's father, said the Tupelo High School Athletic Director notified him of the complaint the night before his son was leaving for Boston. MHSAA did not reveal who filed the complaint. It was the first time such a complaint was ever filed with MHSAA.

Brown traveled to Boston and competed, placing 87 among 114 athletes.

It turned out there is an obscure MHSAA rule that states an athlete can't compete unattached in an event not sanctioned by MHSAA. The complainant argued young Brown violated the rule by running the race without MHSAA approval after MHSAA's outdoor track and field season had already commenced on March 1. The Nationals took place March 7-10.

Brown has been banned from participating on the Tupelo High track team.

 

[Maroon Eagle]

Ignorance of regulations is no excuse.

OR

It just speeds up his transfer to IMG Academy.

 

[ETK99]

The loser that filed the complaint is just as sorry as MHSAA.

 

[dawgstudent]

What does unattached mean? How does baseball get around this?

Edit to add - nevermind. I see what you are saying. Stupid rule regardless.

 

[graphicBYdesign]

This could get interesting, the rule seems to say that you can't compete in any sporting event outside of your MHSAA team. Basketball, Soccer, Baseball/Softball, Swim, Volleyball, Golf, Tennis, etc. all have athletes that participate in club versions of their sport and compete out of state.

 

[Shmuley]

Who wanted this kid out of the way? There’s your complainer.

 

[aTotal360]

Good call by MHSAA. Who in their right mind would want a great athlete beating lil Bubba in the 1600? It’s great to see Mississippi leading the charge in these important issues.

 

[Shmuley]

Good call by MHSAA. Who in their right mind would want a great athlete beating lil Bubba in the 1600? It’s great to see Mississippi leading the charge in these important issues.

Could be worse. I thought for sure, when I first saw the report, that this was some kind of 17n tranny bullsh!+ again.

 

[aTotal360]

Could be worse. I thought for sure, when I first saw the report, that this was some kind of 17n tranny bullsh!+ again.

Let’s be honest, that would be an upgrade from this Busch league shlt.

 

[kired]

Who wanted this kid out of the way? There’s your complainer.

I believe there's only one school in the state that has a kid that can compete with him in the 1600

 

[615dawg]

This could get interesting, the rule seems to say that you can't compete in any sporting event outside of your MHSAA team. Basketball, Soccer, Baseball/Softball, Swim, Volleyball, Golf, Tennis, etc. all have athletes that participate in club versions of their sport and compete out of state.

Thats the point that everyone is bringing up. All those volleyball players that went to Atlanta and played on Easter? They are disqualified from playing on their high school teams.

 

[patdog]

This could get interesting, the rule seems to say that you can't compete in any sporting event outside of your MHSAA team. Basketball, Soccer, Baseball/Softball, Swim, Volleyball, Golf, Tennis, etc. all have athletes that participate in club versions of their sport and compete out of state.

Not really. The rule he violated is that you can't compete unattached outside MHSAA during the MHSAA season. All those others are out of MHSAA season, so they're OK. Completely arbitrary and bullsh*t rule. And the opposing coach who filed the complaint should not be coaching children. Terrible example to set for them.

 

[mstateglfr]

This could get interesting, the rule seems to say that you can't compete in any sporting event outside of your MHSAA team. Basketball, Soccer, Baseball/Softball, Swim, Volleyball, Golf, Tennis, etc. all have athletes that participate in club versions of their sport and compete out of state.

Isnt it just during the HS season though? This Tupelo kid competed in an event after the start of HS Track season. Thats how I read the issue, at least.

 

[MagnificentBastard]

Its not an obscure rule and every High School Association in the country has this rule and enforces it.

 

[horshack.sixpack]

Not really. The rule he violated is that you can't compete unattached outside MHSAA during the MHSAA season. All those others are out of MHSAA season, so they're OK. Completely arbitrary and bullsh*t rule. And the opposing coach who filed the complaint should not be coaching children. Terrible example to set for them.

Pretty sure that club soccer routinely overlaps HS soccer in the state. I've actually seen some club soccer teams insist on just the opposite, that players not play on their HS team at all, if they are playing for the club.

 

[OG Goat Holder]

Not really. The rule he violated is that you can't compete unattached outside MHSAA during the MHSAA season. All those others are out of MHSAA season, so they're OK.

Correct.

And I could almost get behind a rule like that if there was some logic behind it. I think I read it was to encourage players to play multiple sports or something like that, so they don't get an advantage. Buddy, toothpaste is out of the tube on that one.

I'm OK with the concept, as long as it's out there. Apparently nobody knew about this? I can't really tell if the kid and the parents really just didn't know or what.

 

[YesIAmAPirate]

So where is the line drawn on this? Say a local country club is having their club championship and it is during high school golf. Can a kid not play in it if they play for the high school team? What if it is just a group of high school kids together playing on a weekend and not an actual tournament? My hometown has a 5k in the fall, which is when cross country competes, and I am pretty sure a lot of the cross country kids participate in the 5k

 

[ETK99]

Not really. The rule he violated is that you can't compete unattached outside MHSAA during the MHSAA season. All those others are out of MHSAA season, so they're OK. Completely arbitrary and bullsh*t rule. And the opposing coach who filed the complaint should not be coaching children. Terrible example to set for them.

Travel ball can play in tournaments during season. They're just limited to a number of kids from the same HS team playing together.

 

[615dawg]

After speaking to someone with more knowledge on the subject, the rule is that he competed unattached in this meet in Boston.

If he would have been part of a track club, it would have been fine. He and his dad just went up there and competed. It really only affects sports that have an individual component, not true team sports. The gray area is that Mississippi does not have HS indoor track.

 

[kired]

Good interview with his dad. He didn't plan to run unattached, he was going to represent Tupelo (don't think he says this in the interview but that's my understanding). Tupelo was informed the day before they left for Boston that the team would be put on probation, and Andrew suspended for 1 full year because he would be in violation of running an indoor track event after outdoor season had started. This was the original violation... even though Mississippi doesn't have indoor track.

They made the decision for him to run unattached and Tupelo removed him from the team roster. The school wouldn't get in trouble and he was no longer restricted under MSHAA rules. He's now ineligible to be added back for the remainder of the school year because he has violated the "unattached" rule.

The initial threat from MSHAA was much more serious than missing 1 season of track. Team on probation, miss spring track, and would have also missed fall cross country.


https://clayedwardsshow.podbean.com/e/brown-vs-mhsaa-interview-w-jim-brown-ep-724-clip/

 

[L4Dawg]

Isnt it just during the HS season though? This Tupelo kid competed in an event after the start of HS Track season. Thats how I read the issue, at least.

That is the rule, and it's been that way forever. It's not like this is something that was pulled out of a hat. This has happened in other sports. Every school knows about it.

 

[HuntDawg]

Common Rule and its a rule that should be in place. Keeps a kid from being over used. Its the equivlant of playing a high school baseball season then playing travel ball on Sundays/Off-Days during the season. So a kid could basically be forced to play every day.

Its a rule everyone knows about. Kid had to be aware. School/Coaches were without a doubt aware.

 

[The Peeper]

Not really. The rule he violated is that you can't compete unattached outside MHSAA during the MHSAA season. All those others are out of MHSAA season, so they're OK. Completely arbitrary and bullsh*t rule. And the opposing coach who filed the complaint should not be coaching children. Terrible example to set for them.

But there is no indoor season, at all, in MS so it can't be out of season..........

 

[HuntDawg]

But there is no indoor season, at all, in MS so it can't be out of season..........

Track is track. Its a known rule. The rule also states very clearly indoor or outdoor.

Also the student and school was notified and told if they went this would be the consequences. Student chose to go anyway.

It doesnt matter what the rule is or how stupid people think it might be. I think its stupid for their to be a redlight at the end of my road, but I cant just choose to run it because I dont like it being there.

Its a common rule. Everyone knows it. The kid was notified of it BEFORE he went, and chose to go anyway. Case Closed. This is part of the issues with the world. People think they are above everything.

 

[HuntDawg]

Travel ball can play in tournaments during season. They're just limited to a number of kids from the same HS team playing together.

No they cant. They can play out of season. Not in season.

 

[Leeshouldveflanked]

I didn’t know so many MHSAA officials were on Sixpack.

 

[Leeshouldveflanked]

No they cant. They can play out of season. Not in season.

16U USSSA Baseball Tournament in Brandon and Laurel this coming weekend.

 

[Walkthedawg]

Someone filed a complaint against Brown with the MSHAA.

Of course they did. “Hey BrayDen, we got the best competition disqualified!! So now you can go be the best!!”

 

[HuntDawg]

16U USSSA Baseball Tournament in Brandon and Laurel this coming weekend.

If their season is OVER they can play. Or if they arent on school team. But they cannot play in travel ball games on the side during their high school sports season.... its just like basketball players cant play AAU on the side during basketball season.

Lots of Jr High/Middle School teams end their seasons early due to this rule, so their kids can go play travel. This also coincides with playoffs/area games for high school teams.

 

[Leeshouldveflanked]

Prepare to be angry at your state high school athletic officials

MHSAA Bans Track Star for Being a Track Star

Andrew Brown may be one of the leading track stars in Mississippi but the MHSAA banned him from participating in the 2024 track & field seas...

kingfish1935.blogspot.com

Andrew Brown may be one of the leading track stars in Mississippi but the MHSAA banned him from participating in the 2024 track & field season. His crime? Brown dared to compete in the New Balance National Indoor Track & Field Championships in March.

Brown is a freshman at Tupelo High School who competes in cross-country and track. How good is Brown? The speedster leads the nation in the 1600m for high school athletes after he ran it in 4:18 minutes earlier this year. It was the eighth-fastest time among all freshmen who have ever competed in the event.

Someone filed a complaint against Brown with MHSAA. Jim Brown, Andrew's father, said the Tupelo High School Athletic Director notified him of the complaint the night before his son was leaving for Boston. MHSAA did not reveal who filed the complaint. It was the first time such a complaint was ever filed with MHSAA.

Brown traveled to Boston and competed, placing 87 among 114 athletes.

It turned out there is an obscure MHSAA rule that states an athlete can't compete unattached in an event not sanctioned by MHSAA. The complainant argued young Brown violated the rule by running the race without MHSAA approval after MHSAA's outdoor track and field season had already commenced on March 1. The Nationals took place March 7-10.

Brown has been banned from participating on the Tupelo High track team.

 

[snoopdog]

From my understandings kids run in these occassionally. MHSAA has never policed or enforced their own rule, they have looked the other way. However, this time someone reported it so they had to enforce.

 

[HuntDawg]

16U USSSA Baseball Tournament in Brandon and Laurel this coming weekend.

Also.. not one 16U team has signed up for the event. and the next 16U event isnt even available until the end of april, when most kids that age are wrapping up or have wrapped up. So again, the rule is the rule.

 

[Herbert Nenninger]

I think we have a candidate for the whistleblower…

 

[The Peeper]

Track is track. Its a known rule. The rule also states very clearly indoor or outdoor.

Also the student and school was notified and told if they went this would be the consequences. Student chose to go anyway.

It doesnt matter what the rule is or how stupid people think it might be. I think its stupid for their to be a redlight at the end of my road, but I cant just choose to run it because I dont like it being there.

Its a common rule. Everyone knows it. The kid was notified of it BEFORE he went, and chose to go anyway. Case Closed. This is part of the issues with the world. People think they are above everything.

So how would that rule apply to this statement made is a response on Kingfish website? There are sponsored races year round.

"So if I am a high school runner, I can’t compete in the Watermelon 5k? Or the MS Blues Marathon? Or Boston Marathon?"

Here's the rule in the same Kingfish thread:
"A student who is a member of a MHSAA school team shall not participate in any manner in any event in a meet or a contest as an unattached contestant against a high school team, a junior high school team, a collegiate team, a club team or other unattached individuals in that same sport. One individual shall constitute a team in indoor and outdoor track and field."

 

[OldVideoGuy]

Not really. The rule he violated is that you can't compete unattached outside MHSAA during the MHSAA season. All those others are out of MHSAA season, so they're OK. Completely arbitrary and bullsh*t rule. And the opposing coach who filed the complaint should not be coaching children. Terrible example to set for them.

The big sticking point here in Tupelo is that the event he ran was Indoor Track and Field which technically is a different sport than Track and Field and is not offered by Tupelo High School.

 

[johnson86-1]

After speaking to someone with more knowledge on the subject, the rule is that he competed unattached in this meet in Boston.

If he would have been part of a track club, it would have been fine. He and his dad just went up there and competed. It really only affects sports that have an individual component, not true team sports. The gray area is that Mississippi does not have HS indoor track.

I'm guessing they don't enforce this for golf, tennis, or cross country. Pretty sure those youth tennis tournaments aren't filled with nothing but private school players. Not sure how many sanctioned jr. golf tournaments happen during high school season, but I know that pretty much every 5k or 10k has some local high school runners in them, even if they are during the cross country or track season.

 

[HuntDawg]

So how would that rule apply to this statement made is a response on Kingfish website? There are sponsored races year round.

"So if I am a high school runner, I can’t compete in the Watermelon 5k? Or the MS Blues Marathon? Or Boston Marathon?"

Here's the rule in the same Kingfish thread:
"A student who is a member of a MHSAA school team shall not participate in any manner in any event in a meet or a contest as an unattached contestant against a high school team, a junior high school team, a collegiate team, a club team or other unattached individuals in that same sport. One individual shall constitute a team in indoor and outdoor track and field."

Its very simple. If you show up to run a race or compete and there are school/club teams competing as school/club teams in said event. You cant participate. If its just an open run like the boston marathon, have at it... the 5K run for cancer, go right ahead.

What is even dumber is... the MHSAA contacted the school, and let both the school and the family know that the kid would be deemed ineligible if he went... he CHOSE to go anyway.

So did they think they were going to get away with it?????

Goes back to... i think this rule is stupid, i'm going to do it away. I'm above these rules. Which is a huge problem in the world today. Either way you cut it, the family is wrong to even complain about this. They knew what would happen if they went... they went anyway

 

[kired]

So how would that rule apply to this statement made is a response on Kingfish website? There are sponsored races year round.

"So if I am a high school runner, I can’t compete in the Watermelon 5k? Or the MS Blues Marathon? Or Boston Marathon?"

Here's the rule in the same Kingfish thread:
"A student who is a member of a MHSAA school team shall not participate in any manner in any event in a meet or a contest as an unattached contestant against a high school team, a junior high school team, a collegiate team, a club team or other unattached individuals in that same sport. One individual shall constitute a team in indoor and outdoor track and field."

There's an exception in the rule book for road races. Can't represent the school but can run as an individual.

 

[HuntDawg]

The big sticking point here in Tupelo is that the event he ran was Indoor Track and Field which technically is a different sport than Track and Field and is not offered by Tupelo High School.

The school self reported what happened as soon as he competed. The school realized he was in the wrong too. They might not like the rule or ruling, but the self reporting says-- we have an athlete that screwed up and we dont want our entire athletic program to be punished for this.

 

[kired]

Goes back to... i think this rule is stupid, i'm going to do it away. I'm above these rules. Which is a huge problem in the world today. Either way you cut it, the family is wrong to even complain about this. They knew what would happen if they went... they went anyway

If you listen to the interview, he does think it's a stupid rule that has always been ignored in the past, and they are appealing the decision. But they really don't expect it to be overturned. What they want is for the rule book to be changed so this can't happen again - to his kid or others. Even MHSAA has basically said it's a bad rule but not up to them to be proactive and change it. Schools have to officially ask for changes, and that's what he's pushing for.

I guess he could just roll over and say oh well, dumb rule but nothing he can do...