Fox Sports Southwest to televise 10 opening games
Two of the Houston area’s best high school football openers — Katy vs. Austln Westlake to open the new Legacy Stadium and Crosby vs. Manvel — will be part of a special night of television coverage.
Those matchups will be part of 10 live look-in games during a Fox Sports Southwest doubleheader Sept. 1.
The network will air Shallowater at Idalou at 6 p.m. and Lake Travis at Converse Judson at 8:30 p.m. as part of a special broadcast made possible when the University Interscholastic League eased its restrictions on televising games live on Fridays.
The decision this year by the UIL’s legislative council allows for a one-time live televised showcase.
“I can envision it growing to other first Fridays in the future,” UIL deputy director Jamey Harrison said. “I don’t think we’re getting to the point of opening up every Friday night just yet. So far, our constituency is opposed to that. Really want to protect that Friday night experience. That’s a long-standing rule.
“I can certainly see it being very successful and potentially moving to do the same kind of thing in future years, but not necessarily opening up the full season. I think that will happen at some point. I just don’t think we’re there just yet.”
UIL could adopt instant replay
The University Interscholastic League patterns many of its rules and procedures after the NCAA.
One more could be in its future — instant replay.
UIL director of athletics Susan Elza said the topic is being kicked around among officials and instant replay in Texas high school football could become reality.
“We’re in a day and a time where technology is in place and we need to have this video capture of certain plays like they have in the NCAA,” Elza said. “We’re going to continue to talk about that topic and consider maybe adding that to a 6A game at some point in the future. That’s something that we do think is important just given the day and time. We are in the 21st century.”
Alabama became the first state to use instant replay in a high school football game in 2016, albeit during two spring football games. The Alabama High School Athletic Association experimented with instant replay using technology from Hudl and iPads.
Herman touts community ideal
Texas coach Tom Herman said schools such as IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., don’t raise a player’s stock when it comes to college recruiting and take away some of the community fabric that high school football brings in Texas.
IMG has drawn the ire of Texas high school football coaches because the school recruits players from across the country.
“I don’t understand it,” Herman said when asked to speak on players leaving the state to join other programs in an effort to gain an advantage. “I get nervous that one of those things is going to take off here in the state of Texas. I’d be happy if you’ve got any kids out there that are thinking about moving. If you want to put me in touch with them, and me telling them it’s not going to matter in terms of their recruitment because it doesn’t.
“It doesn’t matter whether you go to IMG or you go to Carthage High School, we’re going to find you. I believe high school football is more than just getting recruited. It’s more than X’s and O’s.
“It’s about community, especially in this state. That community starts to get torn apart a little bit because people want to come in and recruit other players. I’ve got a problem with that.”
Herman also spoke on the other side of the situation — players’ rights.
“Now, it’s also a free country too,” Herman said. “So, I don’t know any answer to solve it other than to continue putting pressure on people that make the laws in UIL.”