State-title proposal in NJ moves closer to vote

ROBBINSVILLE, N.J. - State championship games in public-school football inched closer to the goal line Wednesday.

As expected, the NJSIAA's executive committee passed a proposal to change the organization's constitutional bylaws to allow for state championship football games for public schools.

The legislation now will be presented the organization's general membership at its December meeting.

If two-thirds of the general membership approves the change in the constitution – no sure thing, given resistance by some coaches and administrators to extending the football season and marginalizing Thanksgiving Day rivalries – New Jersey's first public-school state title games could be held at the end of the 2013 season.

If the proposal is defeated in the vote by the general membership, no similar proposal may be submitted for two years.

"State finals in football is a good idea," said Cumberland athletic director Rod Sharpless, a member of the executive committee. "I just think there are certain things we need to navigate in the state of New Jersey as far as exposing our athletes to injuries with the longer season and also the Thanksgiving Day game."

The executive committee passed the proposal by a 20-3-1 vote. Kingsway athletic director Joe Galleria also voted in favor.

"I'd like to see it, but the main thing for me is making sure it goes before the full membership," Galleria said. "I didn't want to see a committee make the decision. I think it's a good thing, assuming we can work out some issues, especially the Thanksgiving games."

Galleria noted that public-school football is the only NJSIAA-sanctioned sport that doesn't include state-championship competition.

"We're always one of the only states that doesn't have it," Galleria said.

Two other pieces of legislation were passed by the executive committee and will be presented to the general membership for vote at the December meeting. Both need two-thirds majority to pass:

A proposal to allow transfer students to participate in scrimmages while sitting out 30 days before becoming eligible. Currently, transfer students may practice with their new team but may not play in scrimmages.

A proposal, coauthored by Moorestown athletic director Neil Rosa, to move the start of the spring season up to March 26 from April 1. The proposal would allow for five more schedule dates because of the frequency of rainouts in the spring.

The executive committee also approved a onetime change in the start of fall practice for 2012 because of a schedule anomaly. Fall practice usually starts on the third Monday in August, but because that date is Aug. 20 in 2012, practice will begin Aug. 15 that year.

Also, Doane Academy, a tiny school in Burlington formerly known as St. Mary's Hall, was approved for membership in the NJSIAA.

Doane received an exemption to the 70 percent rule to qualify for the state playoffs. Because Doane plays many of its games against Pennsylvania teams in the Penn-Jersey League, the school will need to play only 60 percent of its games against New Jersey opponents to be eligible for the state playoffs.