Not a peep from the private schools west of Chattanooga when Nashville and Memphis teams claimed 17 consecutive football state titles in DII-AAA, including a nine-year stretch in which the gold ball trophy stayed within a 10-mile radius between Brentwood Academy, Ensworth and MBA. Did CPA officials write any op-eds about competitive imbalance when the Lions played for 10 championships in 12 years (winning titles in 2 separate classes)? Crickets. CPA's 2024 title team had a roster that included six players ranked among the state's top 100 prospects according to 247Sports, three of which went on to sign with SEC programs. By comparison, in that same season, Baylor had four players in the state's top 100 and McCallie had three. Also, among DII-AAA teams with graduates currently playing in the SEC, the totals are: MBA 5, Lipscomb Academy 5, CPA 4, Ensworth 3, Baylor 2, McCallie 2. Such numbers do not produce a convincing argument for talent inequity. Also lost in the pearl clutching is the fact that all TSSAA member schools can now have student-athletes transfer to any team they choose, and even live with host families, a rule which essentially operates the same as boarding programs. The process of vetting prospective transfers is not as difficult as some schools have made it seem. It simply requires a commitment to ensuring talented out-of-town athletes will be a good fit academically and socially, as well as helping the football program remain an important passage to the admissions office. That would seem to be an important job for schools that are accustomed to competing for elite enrollees of all walks.

Since 2002, the @SportsChatt has highlighted the top 12 college football prospects among Chattanooga-area seniors with its preseason Dynamite Dozen. The countdown of this year's list begins today: For everyone within earshot of @MCWarriors1's beloved tractor whistle, @ZaidenH40542's remarkable prep football chapter is approaching a too-soon conclusion. For those who cringe at the blaring blast of that infamous whistle, Humphrey's time in purple and white has felt like an eternity: timesfreepress.com/news/2026…

Sounds of the fall, y’all! @GoMocsFB on the field putting in work