Had a long meeting yesterday with some lawyers regarding a separate issue- and the topic was raised-- the football, NIL, open enrollment, UIL governing etc.
Pretty much all of you know who the UIL is and what their role consists of.
There's a rule that says that a kid can't leave one school in Texas to go to another school in Texas simply for "athletic reasons". The coach won't sign off on the kid and the UIL won't either. Now, obviously, if a parent takes a new job in another city, moves, the kid is going to get released. But if you're going to school in Cuero and decide you want your kid in Victoria- you can't send the kid to Victoria if the reason is "athletics".
That's all about to change. As I told you a while back, 11 freshmen kids that played together for years on a prep team, all decided they wanted to go play HS football for San Marcos high. Some families moved near SM, some didn't. But all 11 of those kids ended up on the SM freshman team. They're not good- they're fantastic. Smoked everyone they played.
The state UIL realized what they were doing and handed down punishment. No varsity for ANY of the kids. The coach gets suspended. No playoffs for 1 year for SM football.
The parents hire lawyers. We are going to court. The argument will be that this- "what parent wouldn't want the best for their kid? Why can't we take our kid from one school to another school to play sports with kids they grew up playing with? Don't you think every parent should do what they think is best for THEIR child?".
At this point, all 12 jurors, many will likely be parents, will say "hell yes we have to be allowed to do what's best for our kids!".
You would. I would. Any parent would.
Why should kids be suspended from play when all they wanted to do was play WITH their friends.
"But Clob! Why wouldn't all the kids families just follow the rules and MOVE to San Marcos?".
Well- because some of those parents are poor. Can't afford it. "Must be nice to be rich and be able to get around the rules...."
The second that gavel hits the bench, the power of the UIL will be gone.
Second- public schools aren't doing very well. Some are-- but many aren't. The state is talking about school vouchers. This means my kid can go to ANY school I can physically take them to. The UIL polices kids going from school to school but with vouchers, this means they won't be able to.
Now- once the UIL has been neutered, this paves the way for NIL deals for HS kids as well as recruiting by HS coaches. Yes- it happens in Texas-- daily.
Yes.....daily. Trust me on this. But after these thing ls happen, it will be out in the open.
I think there's already 15 or 17 states that allow NIL deal fir HS kids. Texas is about to be on that list.
"But Colby, this can't happen. It will ruin HS sports!"
Oh it's happening. Don't believe me? The most powerful person in Texas athletics just saw the writing on the wall. Instead of staying here to be the ruler of all things Texas sports, Susan Elza, UIL big boss, decided to quit her job and move to the tropical paradise of Lincoln, Nebraska--
Nooooo.... not the be the new athletic director at the prestigious school of Nebraska.
Nope.
She gave up all this power to work for Matt Rhule. She's going to be his "chief of staff". AKA glorified secretary.
Her responsibilities will be to-
Organize his travel schedule
His meeting schedule
Help with the budget
His recruiting schedule
Run interference with the media after Nebraska drops 4 straight games
And that's about it....
Now, I ask you-- why would a woman- the most powerful athletic big dog in the state of the most powerful HS athletics state in America-- give up ALL that power, to move to corn country, and be a glorified secretary?
Because the UIL is about to be nuked. She knows it. She bailed.
