The
correct answer is "a", and it's been that way since the
first Shrine Bowl game in 1937.
Shrine
Bowl coaches, a head coach and seven assistants for each state, have
total authority in player selection. It's a big job, given that
only 88 Shrine Bowl all-stars can be picked from the thousands of
Carolinas high school seniors who are eligible each year.
The
formal player selection process begins in September when the Shrine Bowl
mails player recommendation form to head football coaches at every
high school belonging to the North Carolina High School Athletic
Association (NCHSAA) and the South Carolina high School League
(SCHSL)-more than 500 of them.
The
coaches are asked to recommend a maximum of four of their players, two
backs and two linemen, but coaches are not obligated to recommend
any. This is important to remember because most coaches won't
recommend players they know are not Shrine Bowl caliber.
The
Shrine Bowl collects the recommendation forms, which must be signed by
the recommended player's principal and the head football coach,
vouching that the player is a senior eligible for participation under
his school's academic standards. The forms are then turned over
to the Shrine Bowl coaching staff.
Final
selection takes place in late October, when the Shrine Bowl coaches
gather for a weekend in Charlotte to examine statistics, charts and
scouting reports.
Following
final selection, the Shrine Bowl verifies that selected players are
eligible under standards set by the NCHSAA and the SCHSL. The
selected players are then notified by mail. They must accept by
a letter of confirmation.
Once
the paperwork is done, usually within 48 hours of final selection, the
squads are publicly announced by the Shrine Bowl.
It's
fair to ask how Shrine Bowl coaches make decisions about athletes they
might have not seen in person. This is were the Shrine Bowl's
total support by the Carolinas' high school coaching community comes
into play.
Coaches
in both states want their state to have the best Shrine Bowl
squad possible and work throughout the season to channel honest and
accurate player evaluations to the Shrine Bowl coaches. This is
done informally via telephone calls, game films, and correspondence.
Recently,
this information flow has become more formalized. The
newly-founded North Carolina Football Coaches Association has
appointed members in each of the state's six districts to coordinate
Shrine Bowl scouting with coaches in their districts. South
Carolina coaches have used a similar system for several years.
Although
never a determining factor, Shrine Bowl coaches also receive player
information from college coaches and recruiters. The colleges,
however, do not exert pressure on the Shrine Bowl staffs, knowing that
the game is a showcase for the Carolina's top high school seniors and
not for players who may develop two or three years later as collegiate
players.
Being
a Shrine Bowl coach is an honor. But the title carries a lot of
responsibility. The task of selecting the men for this vital
position falls to the Shrine Bowl athletic director. Throughout
the years, the Shrine Bowl has had some good ones too, like its
current athletic director, Ron Long.
Every
October, the Shrine Bowl athletic director receives a list of
recommended coaching candidates from the NCHSAA and the SCHSL.
The Shrine Bowl is not bound by the recommendations, but more often
than not they include names that are eventually chosen.
When
making coaching selections, the Shrine Bowl athletic director examines
a coaches longevity, won-loss record and numerous intangibles such as
character, reputation, concern for academics, and coaching strengths
which will allow him to work effectively with other Shrine Bowl
coaches. Final coaching selections are publicly announced in
December, during the current Shrine Bowl game (usually third quarter).
A
Shrine Bowl Coach must have previously served as a Shrine Bowl
assistant coach. Usually, a Shrine Bowl assistant must wait five
to seven years before being considered as a head coach.
Shrine
Bowl Trainers are selected by the game's trainer coordinator, Elton
Hawley of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Candidates are
full-time trainers at NC and SC high schools. Shrine Bowl
trainers must be certified in their profession and be in good standing
with either the NCHSAA or the SCHSL.
The
Shrine Bowl selection process, a product of five decades, is as fair
and as thorough as possible. We're proud to present the
Carolinas' best.
(Editor's
note: Shrine Bowl game officials are selected by the NCHSAA and the
SCHSL. The referee of the seven-man crew alternates between
states each year.)