The TSSAA approved a new classification plan for high school football beginning with the 2009 season.

It was a narrow 5-4 vote that came down Wednesday at the annual Board of Control meetings that decided the change rather than keeping things status quo.

Teams will be grouped into three classes for the regular season based on enrollment and will then be divided into geographical districts in each class. Each team will play every other team in their district during the season.

For the postseason, teams will then be divided into six total classes as opposed to just the five that we currently have. For example, AAA will become 6A & 5A, AA will become 4A and 3A, and A will become 2A and 1A.

Based on the number of schools in each class, 32 teams will make the playoffs in 3A though 6A, while 24 will qualify for the postseason in 1A and 2A.

The top two teams in each district will receive an automatic bid to their respective class' playoffs.

A majority of the playoff spots, however, will be determined by a fair tiebreaking system for the "wild card" positions.

I realize it can be a bit confusing, but we'll get used to it in time. I think it will be great for the state, especially for our local teams.

Locally, Cascade and Community will likely be grouped in a district with more local schools like rivals Moore County and Huntland alongside Eagleville, Cornersville and Chapel Hill. Long road trips to McEwen, White House-Heritage, Jo Byrns and Clarksville Academy may just be a thing of the past for the Champions and the Vikings.

The current gas prices played a major role in these changes, therefore local games will become paramount in the re-districting.

The same goes for Shelbyville. The Golden Eagles will likely be placed in a district with all the rival schools that are in District 8-AAA in other sports. Bringing back old football district rivalries like Lincoln County, Franklin County, Coffee County to go along with Tullahoma will most certainly make for more community excitement and much bigger gates for the schools. Not to mention, the trips to and from Nashville's metro schools will be finished and the lackluster fan support of those particular schools will become a non-issue.

I'm excited about the future for our local football programs and, with the new district structure combined with the six total classes for the postseason, I think we got the best of both worlds.