The background.

I want to bring up an issue regarding the Franklin High School football controversy that has not been discussed.

While it’s true that football is a team sport, it’s also true that it’s a game of individuals where ability is obviously a critical factor. Some individuals are simply better than others.

During the course of a high school football season interested scouts from colleges and universities keep a close watch on teams to determine which individual players might be worthy of invitations and scholarships. Coaches want to see how players react and respond in big games, like tournaments and playoffs.

I don’t want to overstate matters, but it’s entirely conceivable that a player’s performance in a highly important contest can make or break where he moves on to play college ball, if at all. The Saber players have been denied this opportunity, the chance to display their talents, possibly two more times in front of officials who can determine their fate post-high school. So you see, it’s not just tonight’s forfeited game or a potential second tournament game that was at stake. The ramifications of the decision made by the school district and city health director go far beyond this week.