Louisiana High School Coaches Voice Concerns Over LHSAA Playoff Bracket Delay Amid Lawsuit

by: Vincent Cacioppo // GeauxPreps.com Managing Editor

Before the final weekend of Louisiana high school football ended, an unexpected legal battle involving Baton Rouge’s University Lab School (U-High) cast a cloud over the postseason landscape. The Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) recently delayed the release of its playoff brackets due to ongoing litigation with U-High, which is challenging penalties levied after the LHSAA ruled the school fielded ineligible players.

While the school seeks to reinstate forfeited wins through legal channels, coaches across Louisiana are voicing their frustrations, emphasizing the toll this situation has on student-athletes, both in football and in other sports.

One Louisiana coach noted, “The whole situation is unfortunate, and the ones affected the most are the kids. This time of year is exciting for players and coaches as we prepare for the postseason. Pushing back the season because of the actions of one team affects all kids, including those who play other sports.”

For coaches who dedicate themselves to building disciplined, rule-abiding programs, this delay strikes particularly hard. “It’s detrimental to all the programs who dot the i’s and cross the t’s even when faced with many different odds,” remarked one coach, pointing out that the integrity of the postseason is at risk. He noted that if schools are allowed to challenge LHSAA rulings in court, it could discredit other programs that adhere to regulations and avoid similar conflicts.

Other coaches raised concerns about how U-High’s potential inclusion in the playoffs could affect the competition. One coach pointed out that “teams guilty of these violations should be banned from the playoffs. Otherwise, you compromise the bracket.”

The timing of the case has also raised eyebrows. “If you felt this information was accurate, it should’ve been presented by the second week of the season,” commented another coach, who felt that waiting until late in the season to bring up eligibility issues was unfair to other teams. He expressed concern that delayed reporting can lead to a compromised playoff structure, with highly ranked teams facing potential powerhouses early on, skewing the competitive balance.

Several coaches underscored the broader implications of U-High’s legal challenge, viewing it as part of a growing trend of using litigation to challenge LHSAA rulings.

One veteran coach, who served on the LHSCA executive committee, reflected on this shift, saying, “This happens every year, but it’s sad that one school can hold the LHSAA and other schools hostage through a lawsuit. Hopefully, both sides can get to court and resolve this quickly for the good of all member schools.”

The consensus among coaches in Louisiana is clear: while they respect the need for fair rulings, they believe the LHSAA handled this situation appropriately, following its policies and past precedents. As one coach put it, “If the information we were provided is correct, U-High didn’t follow the handbook. It’s pretty cut and dry.”

Another coach commented on the risks of such challenges, saying, “If U-High succeeds in court, it sends the message that if you have a good attorney, rules don’t apply.”

For Louisiana coaches and their student-athletes, the hope is that this matter will be resolved swiftly to preserve the integrity of high school sports across the state.

As the waiting game continues, the state’s football programs remain in limbo, all looking to the courts to provide clarity in a situation that has left many frustrated, concerned, and eager for a fair and timely resolution.