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From The Houston Chronicle

Jan. 26, 2006, 12:16AM

HIGH SCHOOL NOTEBOOK

Coaches anxiously await reshuffling of the deck

UIL to announce new realignment next Thursday

By EMILY DAVIS

Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

Next week, the Houston area is likely to see a collective spike in blood pressure among high school coaches.

National signing day is Wednesday, and many coaches have been working around the clock to help their players secure college scholarships in time for the big day. Those same coaches also have helped organize signing parties or ceremonies to celebrate the occasion.

But it won't be time to relax once signing day has passed. On Feb. 2, the University Interscholastic League will announce reclassifications and realignments. The long-awaited news will determine which districts and classifications schools will participate in for the next two seasons. After the announcement, coaches will begin making any necessary scheduling changes for the next two seasons.

In Class 4A, Klein Oak is expected to move back up to 5A. The school competed in 5A until the 2004-05 realignment period, when the Panthers were moved down to District 18-4A for two years.

Klein Oak started the 2005-06 school year with an attendance of 1,912, but attendance for next year is expected to be at more than 2,000. The Panthers will join Klein ISD counterparts Klein, Klein Collins and Klein Forest in its district.

"Once Wal-Mart and Chili's moved in at (FM) 2920 and Kuykendahl, things began booming, so we are expecting to move up," Klein Oak football coach David Smith said. "We're happy about that, too. Now we're comparing apples to apples because our numbers are up.

"For football, we'll have the most athletes come out than even when we were at 3,400. It's going to be a good year."

For 2005-06, nine Class 4A schools had 1,900 or more students enrolled. And in Class 5A, nine schools had 1,950 or fewer students enrolled. So movement between Class 5A and 4A should be the biggest changes for next year.

Because of the growth in the Houston area during the past two years, most independent school districts either fill one UIL district or are close neighbors with a counterpart.

The only 5A schools that will do major traveling will be those aligned with Beaumont West Brook and Port Arthur Memorial. For the past two years, Spring ISD, Humble ISD and Goose Creek ISD teams have played those schools. Although travel time from the Baytown schools isn't outrageous, Spring schools took nearly three-hour bus rides when playing PA Memorial.

"It's nothing against those schools at all," Smith said. "Coaches just would rather take a 10-minute drive to play. But the UIL looks at the bigger picture. They see the West Texas teams that have to travel long distances and they say our area doesn't have it that bad."

Three new Houston-area schools will open this season: Alvin ISD's Manvel (Class 4A), Humble ISD's Atascocita (Class 5A) and Cy-Fair ISD's Cypress Woods (Class 5A). And three more — The Woodlands College Park, Seven Lakes and Morton Ranch — opened after the 2004-05 realignment and will compete in varsity football next season.

Still, while the UIL is keeping quiet on realignment, officials already have announced a change. Football coaches will not be allowed to play their first games before Aug. 31 next season.

Beginning practice dates will stay the same for football, and teams again will be allowed to play no more than 10 regular-season games.

The 2006-07/2007-08 reclassification and realignment will be announced by the UIL at 9 a.m. on Feb. 2 at respective Regional Education Service Centers, three of which are in the area.

Schools will have until Feb. 13 to contest district assignments. Officials must obtain a unanimous vote from the district of their current assignment and the district to which they wish to move.

Assignment appeals will be heard by the UIL on Feb. 20. For more information, visit www.uil.utexas.edu.

Basketball

The Oak Ridge boys basketball team worked hard over the winter break to help less fortunate students at the school. The team raised money to help buy gifts for more than 60 students with its Free Throws for Santa campaign.

Oak Ridge has raised nearly $18,000 in the five years it has hosted the event, and now the team is being recognized for its efforts. Discount Tire and Fox Sports Houston have honored the War Eagles with the Hometown Hero Award for their work in the community.

The team will receive a $400 donation to its booster club, a trophy and will be featured on an upcoming High School Xtra program on FSNH.

"The players have taken this event and really made it an important part of their year," Oak Ridge coach Rob Stewart said before the fundraiser. "It's important to them."

[RadioGuy]

February 2nd is Ground Hogs Day. How many coaches will wake up from their hibernation?