By JIM STEELE
mckenzierebels.com

Last Wednesday, the Tennessee Secondary Schools Athletics Association Board of Control voted 5-4 to implement what they call the "Z Plan" regarding football alignment.

This new plan will align football into three classes for the regular season, but split the three classes into six classes for the playoffs, which will take effect at the start of the 2009 season. Essentially, the TSSAA will award six championship trophies in Division 1. Additionally, private schools who choose to play in D-1 will be assessed a 1.8 multiplier, where the TSSAA multiplies a private schools enrollment by 1.8.

In Class A, there will be a series of teams aligned by districts, much like the football landscape was prior to 1992, except with this new plan each district will be split into a Class 1A and 2A category for the playoffs. This Z Plan will only affect football. Baseball, basketball, softball and volleyball will remain with a 16-district, three-classification format.

So all this sounds confusing, right? TSSAA media relations director Matthew Gillespie thought so, too, until he took a look at it. He said there much remains to be addressed, especially the enrollment reapportionment that will take place next year. It's unclear exactly what McKenzie's enrollment will be, but it's a good bet McKenzie will land in Class A for the regular season, but compete for a 2A state championship.

How does this work? Gillespie said all the confusion over the Z Plan may be a result of people overthinking it. For example, if the Z Plan was put into place today, McKenzie would be in a district with Huntingdon, Riverside, Bruceton and West Carroll. McKenzie, Huntingdon and Riverside would compete in the playoffs as 2A teams while Bruceton and West Carroll would compete as Class A. How?

"Let's say McKenzie beat everybody and West Carroll lost to everybody but Bruceton," Gillespie said. "McKenzie would go to the playoffs because it was the best 2A team in that district and West Carroll would be the top Class 1A team. So if it was McKenzie, Huntingdon, Decatur County and West Carroll going 1-2-3-4, then McKenzie would qualify and so would West Carroll. There will be one guaranteed spot in 1A and 2A."

Then wild card teams would be chosen to fill in the remaining playoff spots. Teams with the best records that did not qualify as district winners will be assigned a wild card berth and there will be tiebreakers associated with selections, but there is much to be worked out, Gillespie said.

"I think it's going to be all right," said McKenzie coach Wade Comer.

However, Comer said trying to find a schedule may be the sticking point. It's likely that teams out of McKenzie's district that were once in its region, e.g. South Fulton, Gleason, Greenfield, Lake County, may drop the Rebels.

"We may have to play teams like Milan or Westview or Lexington," Comer said. "But they have a big district, too, and won't have many open dates, so some of these smaller schools may have to play.

"I don't think it's going to be too bad," Comer said. "Finding a schedule is the only thing I can see."

There is much to be determined between now the start of the 2009 season when this plan is set to fly. MHS principal Terry Howell probably summed it all up best: "The devil is in the details."

In other McKenzie football news:

TAYLOR RETURNS TO MHS - Former McKenzie football standout Jay Taylor, perhaps best known for catching the game-winning touchdown pass against Lewis County in the Class 2A second-round playoff game. His grab in the back right corner of the end zone was a 12-yard scoring pitch from then-freshman Drew Hayes with :24 to play in the game. The score capped an 87-yard drive with 3:33 to play in the game.

Taylor also had eight tackles in that game.

After a year teaching and coaching football and baseball at Dyer County High School last year, Taylor will return to his alma mater to teach math and take the place of Bert Snow, who rejoins his old high school coach, James Counce, at Dyersburg. Taylor will take over special teams and junior varsity.

"We're excited to have him come back," said Comer. "He's been through here as a player and he knows what is expected."

Comer said Taylor had a lot of heart and determination as a player and he believes that will trickle down to the current team.

"He knows what it is to play with heart and he knows what the workouts are all about," Comer said. "I think he'll relate well with the kids and he was one of the ones who helped build the foundation."