Enough drama, let games begin.(THE PRESSBOX)

It has been the most disturbing off-season in my 27 years covering Arkansas high school football. It was an off-season dominated by one topic: public vs. private.

Should the 12 or 13 football playing private schools be allowed to compete with public schools in the playoffs? I hope so.

My game of the year for the 2008 season was a private-public matchup. Pulaski Academy met Helena-West Helena, two schools that have very little in common, met for the 5A state championship, a rematch of an early season shootout.

Two cultures collided at War Memorial Stadium in early December. What an atmosphere, and what a game! Pulaski Academy held on 35-32 in a thrilling finish.

Eliminate private schools from the post season and you will never see a matchup like this again. That would be sad.

Before I share my solution for football equality in Arkansas. I want to tell you about my educational background. I went to a public high school (Framingham North in Massachusetts) and my two daughters went to public schools in Little Rock (Parkview and Central). I also have private school ties. Over the years, I have been a big supporter of Catholic High athletics.

The "Sullivan plan" would be based on dominance. A panel of high school football experts--former coaches, Arkansas Activities Association members and the media--would be charged with the responsibility of placing each private school in the appropriate classification.

If my plan went into effect this season, Shiloh Christian would not be playing in class 4A. I watched every play of the 4A title game last season. A young Shiloh team dominated the title game against Pine Bluff Dollarway. The Saints don't belong in 4A.

If it were up to me, the serious football playing high schools--Shiloh Christian, Pulaski Academy, Little Rock Christian and Central Arkansas Christian--would be in 5A. If it turns out they can't compete at that level, they could be moved down in the next cycle of reclassification.

The current proposal being considered by the AAA membership lumps all the private schools together and would pit them against each other in their own playoffs. That isn't fair. Schools such as Subiaco Academy, Arkansas Baptist, Episcopal Collegiate and Catholic High should not be penalized for Shiloh's dominance.

The goal should be to implement a system that levels the playing the field for ALL schools public and private.

Some who support a separation of the privates from the publics on the field cite a supposed recruiting advantage among the private schools. I call it "attracting." Good football programs--public and private--will always attract good players.

Why did Landon Leach leave Conway for Russellville? He wanted to play in a more pass-friendly offense. He ended up winning the Landers Award and earning a scholarship to the University of Arkansas.

In most cases it's the athlete's parents, not the coaches, who initiate the move. If I put a List together of the biggest "attracters" over the past 20 years, the List would include both public and private schools. I do believe that the Arkansas Activities Association should be more aggressive in disciplining coaches who recruit. It could taint several state titles with ugly recruiting stories.

Any plan that is implemented should be a player-first policy: Are we doing what is best for all the kids, public and private? As I write this column, I have know idea which way the vote will go.

So, Let the games begin! I can't wait for the 2009 high school football season.

Steve Sullivan is sports director of KATV, Channel 7, voice of the UCA Bears football games, and is host of KATV's "Friday Night Touchdowns" high school coverage during the fall.

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