College football fans have long been frustrated by the lack of a playoff system to determine a true champion. That movement can now add a disenchanted high school chapter in New Jersey.
That's because member schools of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association voted down a proposal Monday that would have allowed discussion to establish group division championships in football.
Currently, New Jersey allows competition for state championships in all sports except football. Football builds up to group or sectional titles, but that's as far as it goes. The proposal merely sought to open debate on a plan for those group winners to decide matters on the field. No formal playoff plan was offered at the association's annual business meeting.
East Brunswick (N.J.) football coach Marcus Borden initiated the proposal with Brick Township Public Schools athletic director Bill Bruno.
"I am stunned," Borden told
NJ.com. "It wasn't even a proposal on how to do it. It was just a proposal allowing us to present a plan."
For a plan to be presented, the NJSIAA constitution would have to be changed, and any constitutional amendment requires support from two-thirds of the membership. The proposal needed 190 votes to pass and received only 167, with 102 votes against.
It will be at least two years now before the issue can be revisited.
"I just thought that it didn't show that we were progressive," East Brunswick athletic director Frank Noppenberger told the website. "Pass it, and let's discuss what we think would be good for football."
