This is an opinion piece.

Speaking at the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s 51st convention last weekend, AHSAA executive director Alvin Briggs said moving state semifinal football games to regional locations is still a “possibility” down the road.

“Semifinals are still on the table,” Briggs said. “We would have to figure out how to do a regional format.”

Briggs said stadiums at Alabama A&M, Jacksonville State, Troy and South Alabama among others would be ideal sites for semifinal games. He said one issue at this point is having a satisfactory location on the west side of the state to host semifinal games.

Currently, all AHSAA state semifinal games are played on campuses with the Super 7 state championship games played on a rotating basis at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn and Protective Stadium in Birmingham.

Briggs also was asked if the expanded college football playoff, which begins in 2024, would affect the Super 7 in the future at Auburn and Alabama.

“Right now, we have contracts with those schools,” he said. “We don’t know how that will play out. They don’t know how it will play out.”

The Super 7 is scheduled to be in Tuscaloosa this fall and in Birmingham in 2024.

Adding 2 sports

Briggs also announced that the AHSAA is preparing to add two new sanctioned girls sports during the next classification period.

Those are flag football and wrestling.

Alabama has piloted girls flag football for the last two seasons. Briggs said the state started with 76 teams a year ago and finished with 67 and now has approximately 96 that have declared to play this fall.

He said 65 schools have declared for girls wrestling.

“It’s exciting,” he said.

The new basketball foul rules

Briggs said he likes the new NFHS rules regarding foul shots in high school basketball.

The National Federation of State High School Associations announced last month that, beginning next year, teams will shoot two free throws for all common fouls when in the bonus. No more 1-and-1s.

“I think it’s going to be great for the game,” Briggs said. “I think it will speed it up and make it more exciting. As a coach, you have to rethink things. Basically, you get 10 fouls a half. It definitely eliminates the argument that it was a shooting foul.”

In addition to awarding two foul shots for all common fouls, teams will reach the bonus when their opponent commits five fouls in a quarter. Team fouls will then reset every quarter. Previously, teams were awarded the one-and-one bonus at seven fouls in a half and two shots at 10 fouls.

UMS-Wright boys basketball coach Michael Napp calls it the most significant change in the game since the 3-point line was added in the 1980s.

Veteran official Douglas Baxter dies

Veteran wrestling official Douglas Baxter died earlier this week at age 62.

Baxter died following a seven-year battle with cancer.

He served the AHSAA for 30 years in a number of sports, including football, wrestling, and baseball. He officiated in the 2008 football championships. He also officiated in six state wrestling tournaments before becoming the state coordinator and rules interpreter the last two years. In baseball, his passion, he served 30 years, working 12 state championship finals.

“His commitment to our state and member schools as a teacher and coach for 31 years is well documented,” Briggs said. “His dedication and sacrifice in his additional career as a contest official has set an example that all our officials should strive to follow. Our state’s student-athletes, coaches and schools will continue to feel his impact for many years to come.”

Baxter was a Mobile native who graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in Montgomery and Auburn University.

Praying for Mr. Baxter’s family during this time of grief.

Coaching changes

Mary G. Montgomery High in Semmes has added three new coaches.

Principal Chip Menton announced the hiring of Tori Johnson as girls basketball coach, Notalsia Whiting as girls soccer coach and John Baxter as an assistant in both the girls and boys soccer programs.

Johnson coached at Baker a year ago after a lengthy run at Fairhope. Whiting and Baxter are both coming over from Theodore.

“With adding those three, I think that will put us in good shape athletically with the coaches we have in all our sports,” Menton said. “It should really give our kids a good chance athletically.”

Other changes:

Belgreen has hired Jonathan Raper to start its football program. Raper has spent the last 11 years as the head baseball coach at Phil Campbell.

Former Prattville High star Justin Albert has joined Rush Propst’s football staff at Pell City.

Brett Patterson is the new head baseball coach at Excel.

Veteran coach Marty Smith has left Thompson to become assistant athletic director and head boys basketball coach at Sylacauga.

Weaver has hired Ken Cofer as head football coach.

Pike Road added five assistants for new head coach Granger Shook this week. The hires include offensive coordinator Josh Thacker and defensive coordinator Cory Lee. Other new assistants include Clinton Adams, Graylin Hodge and Quentavious Whitlow.

Former Alabama baseball player Chandler Avant is the new baseball coach at Montgomery Catholic.

Nick Anderson has joined David Faulkner’s football staff at McGill-Toolen.

Thought for the Week

“Let’s not become discouraged in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not become weary.” – Galatians 6:9

Ben Thomas is the high school sportswriter at AL.com. He has been named one of the 50 legends of the Alabama Sports Writers Association. Follow him on twitter at @BenThomasPreps or email him at [email protected]. He can be heard weekly on “Inside High School Sports” on SportsTalk 99.5 FM in Mobile or on the free IHeart Radio App at 2 p.m. Wednesdays.