Mike,
They can no longer re-class, recruit or offer scholarships to LU. However, previously re-classed, recruited and scholarship athletes are grandfathered until they graduate. They currently even have re-classed athletes playing as "sophomores" so this issue will be around for a couple more years. Their current ace pitcher is currently playing in his 5th year, committed to LSU but likely will not go there as he is projected to be a low MLB draft pick.
Their QB will also be playing next year as a 5th year senior but honestly, they don't have much and will struggle to compete in 4a.
Thanks for your clarification again regarding an LCA issue. I knew they had grandfathered re-classed athletes, I guess I just didn't factor in how long it will take for the last possible ones to eventually filter through. I'm glad you told me that some are only sophomores so I can keep that in mind when it's brought up again over the next few years.
I remembered #2 QB Johnson was going to be a 5th year Sr this coming year.
I was quite surprised with the beatdown they took at the hands of Millbrook last year in the playoffs. Millbrook was better last year than they have traditionally been, but 65-18?
LCA had 3 D1 guys this past year and at least one other that I don't think got a scholarship, but fit the mold for D1, size-wise anyway (#80 Strachan WR 6'5" 200) I think their scholarship guys were an OL, DL, and a LB. Their skill guys weren't the D1 guys so maybe I just had higher expectations than I should have last year for the playoffs.
I agree with you that I don't think they'll have much this year for 4A. They'll have a mixed schedule again this year with private and publics. They barely made the playoffs last year with only 3 publix on the schedule and only 1 of those has won many games lately and they are only 2A.
Most of the private schools they played were pretty good, but size wise most were classified as 2A or below. Just my opinion, but I don't think they'll make it this year if they are still 4A. With only 12 teams qualifying they have to win 7 or more games to qualify. They do play Amherst this year, but that will likely be a loss. Scheduling other Publix will be difficult this year because it's the 2nd year of the the 2 year scheduling cycle for publix. Amherst only had an opening because they had to replace the FL team.
I see they picked up Martinsburg, WV so that's a 2nd public. I'm not sure if they'll be able to keep the other 3 publix (Brunswick, Maury, and Franklin Co) It's possible they'll have 5 publix on the schedule, but Amherst & Martinsburg are likely 2 losses right off the top. They play Woodberry Forest again this year and if LCA is not top notch that's likely a 3rd loss.
They'll play a full SD schedule next year, so their SOS will take a major step up. They may potentially drop to 3A because they are close to the cutoff even with the *1.5 factor. Idk if that would take effect this year or next year if they qualify. I think it's based on the ADM numbers from March, but I haven't seen them. Regardless if they are 3A or 4A I think it will take time for them to adjust to the level of competition they'll face every week.
I think not having the automatic scholarship to LU will take away their biggest selling point. Really LCA never had to actively recruit, dangle free college tuition to a parent and that was about all they had to do. There is no real incentive for a Heritage or Glass parent to change schools now without that automatic scholarship. If the kid has the grades or skills to qualify for an academic or athletic scholarship they can do that just as easily at Lynchburg city schools than at LCA where the tuition for HS is at least $6,500 per year.
I was in the overwhelming minority of people that wanted to see them in the VHSL, if for nothing else to see how they would stack up against the Seminole District in football. They play area schools in most every other sport. I also thought their admission would drive up the popularity of the boards again because people will love to hate them.
I think the things they gave up to gain admission into the VHSL, (which were all fair to have the same rules for everyone and keep the field level) will severely delay the time it takes for them to be competitive in football. I believe removing the automatic scholarship for attending LCA will gradually lower their enrollment. When I graduated from there in '92 I believe the HS enrollment was around 225. They started the scholarship offer in '93 & last year the enrollment was around 750-775. I think that was the big driver for enrollment and without it they'll probably drop back to 500-600 imo.
