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David Ribbens has been an educator at the high school and college levels for 32 years, including 23 years at Trinity Christian College and the last eight years as athletic director at University of Chicago High School. So even though his school doesn't field a football team, he is qualified to discuss the controversial subject of the multiplier.
After months of research, Ribbens is convinced the Illinois High School Association's decision in 2005 to apply a 1.65 enrollment multiplier to all non-boundaried member schools simply doesn't add up. He believes it is fundamentally unfair and he is proposing a change in the IHSA by-laws to eliminate the mutiplier "because the concept of placing a higher value of one student over another student is fundamentally wrong."
Ribbens has gotten the IHSA's attention.
Ribbens' plan is based on statistics, not emotions. He argues that the multiplier isn't doing what it was supposed to do. Comparing success ratio of non-boundaried or private or Catholic schools five years before and five years after the multiplier was introduced, Ribbens found that of teams that advanced to the state championship game in 15 sports, 25.5 percent appeared prior to 2005 and 30.7 percent appeared afterward.
"The multiplier affects too many schools unjustly because the IHSA makes the assumption that because a school is unboundaried, it is more successful in athletics," Ribbens said. "That isn't the case. Remember, some schools (in the Chicago Public League) are unboundaried, too. The multiplier is about recruiting and success. This issue should be about educational philosophy."
Ribbens proposes a new system used to move teams up in class to be based on their finish in the state years in the previous year. The top eight teams would move up one class in all bracketed team sports but football. In football, the top eight would move up one class and the final four would move up two classes for one year.
"It makes more sense for teams that demonstrate the ability to compete at the next level to be given the opportunity to do so," Ribbens said. "All 146 non-boundaried schools do not have the playing proficiency to compete a class above. This new measure rewards the few teams that cann play and compete at the next class level."
Ribbens discussed his findings and his proposal at an Aug. 27 meeting with IHSA executive secretary Marty Hickman and associate executive secretary Kurt Gibson. While they continue to insist that the multiplier is leveling the playing field between public and private schools, they revealed the IHSA is conducting a study of its own on the merits of the multiplier over the last five years. Their rationale is non-boundaried schools have an advantage of recruiting over a larger area.
Ribbens' proposal will be discussed in town hall meetings in the fall and will be voted upon in December. Ribbens is optimistic. He is reminded that 82 percent of boundary schools in Illinois feel they aren't getting a fair chance. He believes his plan is a good alternative to the multiplier. He hopes they will take the time to thoroughly read his report and objectively compare the facts.
"This is a philosophical issue for me," he said. "It doesn't affect us in a particular sport in a a particular year but it affects all of the students and all of the schools regardless of how a team does in a particular year. The multiplier hasn't proven to be the answer. It is time to make a change."
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As a Catolic School alum, I like the multiplier. Upon passing the multiplier years ago, the 'non-boundary' IHSA schools finally admitted that the Catholic Schools are better. In fact, they claimed, each non-bounded student-athlete is anout 3/5 as good as the Catholic school student-athlete.
My only gripe is that the non-boundaried schools only get one trophy when they win a state title.
They should get 1.65 trophies!
The multiplier was designed to level the playing field. Private and Catholic Schools can recruit from beyond the 30 mile radius and also outside of a school district. These schools have been more successful in state play than public schools, neighborhood schools, or those recruiting kids within that 30 mile radius. (Except for basketball of course)
I believe the IHSA has tried to be fair by allowing waivers for some schools who are non competitive selective enrollment schools, or schools challenged with enrollment constraints. They have worked with some of the CPS schools to remove the multiplier status amd also allow co-ops. It still may not seem fair to all, but I commend them for working with special situations within the Chicago Public League.
Sammy,
Of course the IHSA will work on special situations FOR teh CPS schools, the fact is the IHSA is afraid of the power of the Chicago Public Schools system and other neighborhood groups in the inner city.
The IHSA brown-noses to the special interests of the CPS.
Ex. b-ball coaches Slaughter and Carter both got caught RED hANDED illegally contacting a high school 'superstar' regarding transferring schools. THE IHSA DID NOTHING!
Where as Frank Lenti was suspended by the IHSA for signing his name to a document sent in the mail. (He did NOT personally contact the atheletes)
Both instances were violations of IHSA rules.
Only the Catholic school coach was penalized.
Regarding the multiplier, if the IHSA was truely concerned with fairness throughout the sports, why do they allow CPS schools to recruit basketball players to 'bounded' schools who live outside the boundaries of the schools?
What is the difference between a Catholic school and a CPS school recruiting an athlete outside of Chicago?
Answer: the Catholic schools can legally do it, the CPS schools are ILLEGALLY doing it; yet the IHSA punishes the schools following the rules.
I agree with Mr. Ribbons' proposal. How in God's name is Morgan Park playing in the 3A "junior State championship"? Irvin recruits kids all year long using AAU as an excuse/magnet for kids to his basketball program. How does that not "provide for an unfair advantage"?
The only solution in my opinion is to have separate tournaments for public and private.
Phil:
CPS did punish Slaughter and Carter for the illegal contact with the Crandall Head kid. I'm told the IHSA was involved in the collaborative investigation. To your next point, remember, no one who lives outside of Chicago should be attending a CPS school. If people know things they should report it to c. davis at CPS. It is a very safe bet he will address it.
"If people know things they should report it to c. davis at CPS. It is a very safe bet he will address it."
LOL!
By "address it", do you mean Davis will 'under the table' find an address in the city or a cheap apartment for the kid?
By the way, the IHSA "DID" nothing to Slaughter except help him win a state title. The IHSA is afraid to repremand the Chicago Public Schools.
Name the last time the IHSA (not CPS) has punished a successful CPS basketball coach?
Phil
Come on now Phil, you do know davis suspended Carter and Slaughter for I believe 3 to 5 contests that season, right? You can check the archives. That means if it happens again they could be gone. It would be a big risk on their part.
Ouch! 5 games at the beginning of the season!
I'm sure slaughter fell to his knees and yelled out "Noooo!" "I'll change, I promise!"
If Davis really cares about the rules or having any integrity, he would have suspended the coach from what matters - the City or state playoff games.
But then Davis would risk what really matters to him - winning games at any cost.
Even if that cost is the reputation of the chicago public league or the best interest of the student athletes.
Calvin Davis' job is to win sporting events.
Whereas some (I do say some, not all) successful programs would take an action that probably will ruin their chances at a state title, Davis took an action to quiet the situation before it could affect Whitney Young's chances of a city title or state title. (Where winning really matters)
Okay, Okay, Phil ....I see where you're coming from. I respectfully disagree. The Public League sports program has been policed as tightly as it ever has in the last 7 years, Many suspensions have been issued across the board. You joked about it but if reports of violations come in there's a moral obligation to address them. I won't try to win this one, but I think your opinion is wrong.
Sammy,
Your last post was very respecful and classy. This was a good clean debate. I commend you on your attitude and wording throughout this discussion.
GO Catholic League! (lol)
Thank you, Phil. I'm trying harder to channel my Public League passion in a positive fashion.
I can tell you bleed true Catholic League Blue. You guys are tough in football, but be wary of Simeon and Morgan Park this year. They may have enough athletes to upset some people in the state playoffs.
Its Chicago, of course its fixed, the catholic league is an institution built over a hundred years. Public just doesn't get it. fix it all you want, nothing going to change.
It's not like they're attempting to improve the public league. Trying to trip up the Catholic schools isn't going to default you into "Success". They're still going to produce the same product.
"Leveling the playing field" is more like leveling anything of quality, anyone who is successful, leveling any source of competition. Typical politics, remove what is truly good so you can slap a sticker on it and pitch it as something good. When they finally manipulate it enough to start getting the public league some "success" they'll claim how much the public league has "turned around", "improved", "become competitive", please!