Maroon Beech

According to 615 Preps, these teams are NOT leaving the TSSAA. They are choosing to play an independent schedule and not participate in the Division 2 playoffs in football only. I suppose they will still be covered under the TSSAA's catastrophic insurance.

There's a good discussion on 615 Preps LIVE with Chris Brooks and Scott Burton discussing the state of D2-AAA in Tennessee. Their Wednesday evening program is on YouTube. Their discussion of D2 starts at about the 12:15 mark. For what it's worth, the TSSAA is meeting Thursday concerning these recent movement of schools choosing to go independent.

Rocks. Spoke with a Public school athletic director this morning. Middle schools that feed the high school are members of the TMSAA (TN Middle School Athletic Association) a division of the TSSAA. Their kids have catastrophic insurance just like high school's Public annd Private) under the TSSAA umbrella. Also spoke to a friend that coached at a local Private middle school. He said his and most other private middle schools are NOT members of the TMSAA and have to carry their own insurance.

Unknown answer. Excellent point. Members have their catastrophic insurance thru the TSSAA. Possibly have to seek coverage independently after leaving?

Per the Tennessean newspaper, Father Ryan will be joined by other D2-AAA schools that have opted out of the TSSAA and will play an independent schedule for the next two-year cycle. Memphis University School and Christian Brothers (Memphis) released a joint statement announcing their move to an independent schedule. Current D2-AAA school Briarcrest (Memphis) is remaining in the TSSAA. Interesting to see if Montgomery Bell Academy or Ensworth will make the move to independent? Chattanooga Christian is opting for an independent schedule for the next two seasons. They were scheduled to move up from D2-AA to D2-AAA. A couple of smaller Private schools are also making the move to independent status, Clarksville Academy and Mt. Juliet Christian are currently in D2-A.

As long as the Private schools are separated from the Public schools for playoffs, I'm not sure the majority of folks down here in Tennessee care that much. IMO, these Private schools that are leaving the TSSAA are trying to get away from the Big 3 in D2-AAA. I really thought it would be the reverse, the Big 3 leaving the TSSAA and going independent, leaving the remaining D2-AAA schools in the TSSAA. Interesting times!

In college, there are no school zones to restrict enrollment. In high school, public schools are limited by physical school zones and private schools are not.

Exactly! Maybe 8 to 10 Public high school teams in TN could even compete with those 12 in D2-AAA. The reason there's only 12 of the 59 D2 teams in the biggest class is simply the vast difference between those 12 and the other 47 in D2. When the TSSAA went to three classes in D2 there were only nine in AAA. Christ Pres. Academy, Lipscomb Academy & Knoxville Catholic have been added in last four years or so. We're a consistent top 10 team in D1-Class 5A and we would have trouble competing with those teams.

Interesting progression for the 59 Private schools playing football in Tennessee. First, Division 2 created for Private Schools. Private schools wishing to remain in Division 1 (Public) had a multiplier applied to their enrollment number (1.4, I think). Next, all Private schools were moved to Division 2 into three Classes. Now, nine of the 12 members of D2-Class AAA (plus others from the smaller classes), discussing leaving the TSSAA due to the "Big 3" of Baylor, Brentwood Academy & McCallie. IMO, those three will be the big losers if this move happens as they will have to go out of TN to find games. The other nine or 12 discussing forming their own league would have enough members to play a full schedule. Ironically, a few years ago the "Big 3" in D2-AAA were Ensworth, Montgomery Bell & Brentwood Academy. With a few exceptions, Division 1 Public schools in TN don't play the Private schools. For example, in our county there are seven public high schools and one D2 school. None of the public schools play that private school in any sport. Our school is only three miles from their campus.

Appears to be more than just the other six teams in Division 2, Class AAA as the word down here is 12 or more D2 schools considering the move.

We played Munford in the 2nd round of the Division 1 Class 5A playoffs last season. The single-wing with the Starks kid (only a Jr.) as the halfback was a nightmare to defend. We hung on for the win late in the 4th quarter.

Agreed. In college football, players having a mouthpiece hanging from their faceguard and never using it. What's the point of the rule?

Two classes in the private division? Five of the teams (out of a total of 12) playing in the state championship games and four champions out of six classes private schools.

Agreed. Separate Divisions.

I agree. As a radio announcer it is hard for me to pick out gold numbers on a white jersey. We played a team last week who's colors were black and gold. They should have had black numbers on their white jerseys instead of pale gold.

It will take Coach Burns some time but Harrodsburg/Mercer County has players and tradition. New facilities coming soon. Good days on the horizon.

Station Camp is in our Region. QB is very good. Should be a great game.

Atherton was huge up front and some really good skill players. They will be a factor in 5A.

51 Private schools (Division 2) playing football in Tennessee. Division 2 has three Classes: 19 teams in A, 20 teams in AA, 12 in AAA. The difference in the number of teams in each Class is due to the wide range of enrollments in the Private schools. The 12 teams in AAA are much larger than the other two classes or they elect to play up to AAA for the competition level. Just glad they are separated from the public schools in Division 1.

Since Coach Dilfer's first tenure at Lipscomb Academy the Mustangs have moved up from Division 2 (Private) Class AA to D2 Class AAA. While in D2 Class AA they won the State Championship in 2021 & 2022. Class AAA (12 teams total) has Baylor, McCallie, Montgomery Bell & Ensworth in the East Region while Lipscomb (3-7 overall record in 2025 & 3-2 in Region) will be in the West Region with Brentwood Academy. Will be a much steeper climb to the top of Class AAA.

Complete game is on NFHS Network. Division 2 Class 3A State Championship.

Great numbers for a Class A program!

A high school football coach once told me that he lost players between sophomore and junior years due to three factors: Jobs, girlfriends & cars. Sophomore year is tough. Kids get to play a lot on the freshman team but if there is no JV team, playing time is tough to get at the varsity level.

Coach: Beech High School (Hendersonville TN) enrollment 1,450 Division 1 (public) Class 5A Sophomore thru Seniors. 85-90 Freshmen. 40-45 Varsity, JV and Freshman teams. numbers are similar to 2019 & 2025

Where do we find a schedule for Greenwood 7 on 7. We (Beech) are participating.