National Signing Day was intriguing in itself, but the best part of the day at Marjele's Sports Grill last week was watching the coaches mingle.
Most of the conversations led to big laughs, breaking down of the recently completed postseason and pats on the back. But there were also a few that were of the hush-hush variety.
Coincidence or not, a few days later word came that Arizona football coaches were circulating a petition demanding changes from the Arizona Interscholastic Association.
"We have more than 50 percent of the coaches signed and I have only heard of one coach refusing to do it," Chandler Hamilton coach Steve Belles said. "We are not sure what it will lead to but hopefully it won't fall on deaf ears."
The petition was started by Peoria Cactus coach Larry Fetkenhier based on the prevailing sentiment that the coaches barely have a voice in their sport and are not consulted when changes are made. It came to a head when the new sectional format for the next two-year block came to light. Among the perceived misdeeds was the fact that regions were eliminated. It's something players and coaches play for whether it is winning one or being named all-region.
"Regions have been part of football in Arizona for as long as I can remember," said Belles, who graduated from Phoenix St. Mary's in 1984. "The way the sections are set up in Division I, it would be easy to make two regions per section. If the region champs don't automatically qualify chances are they are going to qualify anyway."
In the overall picture it might not seem like a lot, but it is the constant frustration that has led to this possible confrontation.
"We are not looking for a meeting; we want a seat at the table for people who are involved in the game making decisions about the game," Belles said. "Decisions are being made and we have no hand in it."
AIA Chief of Operations Chuck Schmidt didn't return a call after a message was left with his assistant.
Whether or not the petition leads to a sit down between the two sides, changes and/or something more drastic (schools seceding from the AIA?) is hard to predict, but it is clear the coaches are not willing to sit idly by anymore.
"People think this about my ego," Belles said. "It don't care if I am part of the process. But someone who is on the sidelines needs to be."
RECRUITING UPDATEChaparral (Scottsdale, Ariz.) junior quarterback
Connor Brewer committed to Texas on Monday.
The 6-foot-3, 190-pounder is considered a four-star recruit and his stock has jumped since leading Chaparral to its second straight Class 5A Division II state title. Brewer, whose sister Ashley is a scholarship swimmer for the Longhorns, completed 148 passes in 222 attempts for 2,677 yards and 37 touchdowns with six interceptions.
Other schools to offer him were Alabama, Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas, Nebraska, Tennessee and Texas A&M.
CHANDLER TO NAME NEW FOOTBALL COACHChandler is expected to name its new football coach at the end of this week, as early as Thursday.
The school is reportedly down to two candidates – offensive coordinator Shawn Aguano and Show Low head coach Randy Ricedorff – to replace Jim Ewan, who announced his retirement in March and endorsed Aguano.
The hiring of Aguano would make for an easier transition, while Ricedorff, whose son Rathen plans on walking on at Arizona State, would bring a wide-open approach down for the White Mountains that helped Show Low to the Class 3A state title.
FAB 5* Dobson (Mesa) wrestling: The Mustangs' senior-laden lineup won its sectional over a star-studded field as it finished with 225 points, while Tucson Sunnyside (218), Chandler (201), Gilbert Highland (191) and Tempe Corona del Sol (150.5) rounded out the top five.
* Peter Smith, Scottsdale Desert Mountain boys basketball: The senior guard scored 22 points on Saturday as Desert Mountain beat Phoenix Pinnacle 71-58 to take over the lead in the Class 5A Division II Desert Valley Region.
* Dior Ford, Tucson Sahuaro boys basketball: The senior big man has been doing it on both sides of the floor in recent games, scoring 21 points win a win against Tucson and grabbing 13 rebounds against Canyon del Oro.
* Alex Doller, Tempe Marcos de Niza boys soccer: The senior Arizona State recruit scored all three goals in the Class 5A Division II quarterfinals as Marcos beat Desert Mountain 3-2 in overtime.
* Trevin Waite, Highland (Gilbert) wrestling: The senior 119-pounder is finally healthy and wrestling to his full potential. He beat former state champion and Harvard recruit Max Mejia for the third time this season to win the Division I, Section III title.
ON DECK* The state semifinals for the four big classifications (Class 5A Division I and II, Class 4A Division I and II) in girls and boys soccer are held Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, with the titles games on Saturday expect for Class 4A Division II boys and girls as those are held Friday.
* The small classifications' (Class 1A/2A/3A) semifinals are Friday and the championship games are Saturday.
* The Division I and Division II state wrestling tournament gets underway Thursday and completes Friday with 7 p.m. finals. The Division III and Division IV tournaments start Friday and wrap up Saturday with 4 p.m. finals. All of the action is held at Tim's Toyota Center in Prescott Valley.
SKODA'S SENTIMENTThe football coaches' stand against the Arizona Interscholastic Association isn't surprising. Each sport has its gripes against the AIA — some valid, some nitpicking.
No one is going to be happy. What is good for a football powerhouse like Hamilton is not going to be the same for a Phoenix inner-city school like Carl Hayden or a White Mountain program like Blue Ridge. There is no pleasing everyone, every region of the state or sport.
It's clear the AIA has a tough job, but from my experience, other than football, the coaches have had a chance to shape their sport. Changes are made annually it seems in certain sports.
The AIA has made changes starting this season in the individual sports at the state competition level and the same happens in the team sports next school year.
The organization is tightening up what was the Wild, Wild West and it isn't sitting well with the coaches.
Jason P. Skoda has been a sports writer in the Phoenix area for the last six years of his 15-year career. He currently works at the Ahwatukee Foothills News after stints with The Arizona Republic, CoachesAid.com Arizona and a turn at freelancing for various newspapers and Web sites around the country. Before landing in Arizona, he also worked in Ohio, California and Texas. He can be contacted at jskoda1024@aol.com or 480-272-2449.
