Open Thread: IE/LD/PF All State

Posted by Jeffrey Miller
October 29, 2007    

FAYETTEVILLE, GA: After this past weekend talking to some coaches, I’ve realized the desire to return to an IE All State. Georgia Forensics Daily has proposed to the GFCA Executive Committee a deal to control the IE/LD/PF All State Championships.

The current status of the IE All State Championships is that it is postponed indefinitely. We think it is a shame that IE’s, LD and PF are not represented the same as Policy with the All State Tournament. Therefore I am proposing that Georgia Forensics Daily take over the control of the Individual Events All State Championship. Possible changes to the current tournament would be the addition of Lincoln Douglas and Public Forum. LD and PF are becoming the two largest divisions in the state.

So far this year, Georgia tournaments have averaged a little over 20 teams in the Varsity Policy division, whereas PF and LD are around 18 teams a tournament. Public Forum and Lincoln Douglas debaters deserve a chance for an All State Championship. The procedure for bidding would be the same as Policy Debate.

Currently in Individual events/PF/LD there are 19 schools with students with an “All State bid”, only two of them (Warner Robins and Pace) has a Policy All State bid. Our tournament would give seventeen schools a shot at something they usually couldn’t have!

If GFD acquired the All State Championship, we would plan to hold it in March every year at a traveling location. Registration would be little to none (similar to the Policy tournament). Also, I would like to make it a one day tournament so it is conducive to all teams. We could even hold a Friday night “All State” Congress for teams who travel from far away.

This year, the goal date for our “All State Championships” would be March 21-22. The 21st would be the Friday night Congress and a Coaches’ reception. The 22nd would be the actual IE/PF/LD tournament.

Our proposition is still being considered by the GFCA Executive Committee but in the meantime, we want to know what you think of it? Would you come if you had a chance?

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Catergories: From the Staff, inside georgia forensics daily

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  • v
    Just wondering, is this totally canceled? I would hate for it to be. :(
  • Jon Shane
    this gonna happen?
  • Jonathan T-G
    sweet!
    be sure to lemme know if you are gonna hold it!
  • Yeah - both were bids :D
  • Jonathan T-G
    so technically i have an all-state bid if i placed in the top 3 at warner robins...does carollton count as well because i did it there as well and it's pretty freakin big.
  • Onica: With Northside, the LD division would probably not count as per there wasn't an actual debate held and Ms. Austin canceled the division. With the DI division, correct if I'm wrong, but didn't she collapse DI and OO? If that is correct, we would be able to work something out with the DI division.

    Jonathan: You are correct. There have been 3 All State bid tournaments so far: Warner Robins, Calhoun and Northside.
  • @Onica: Northside should not count, but I am not the definitive source.

    @Johnathan: Read Jeff's comment. Depends on the size. I won't give an answer, because I do not know.
  • Onica
    Northside count, even though there was the only one person for LD and DI?
  • Jonathan Shane
    Is the warner robbins tournament reffering to the one that has already occured or the one planned later in the year? If the former, I already have a bid! =D
  • 1. Very realistic. An IE All State used to exist in the state of Georgia - it was just cancelled indefinitely. However, our proposal addresses all the old problems.

    2. The number in the divisions is dependent on how many qualify. At certain tournaments (listed above), the top 3 in each IE division and the top 4 in PF/LD will receive a qualifying leg to the tournament.

    3. Any team that has finished top 3 in IE or top 4 in PF/LD currently have an "all state bid."

    Once the idea has been approved, we will be releasing more information. Stay tuned and get your coaches to help make this happen :-)
  • Jonathan Shane
    First of all, I KNOW my school would love to attend (Pope). I have a few questions though... 1) How realistic is this? do you believe this would actually happen if you propsed it? 2) Are you saying there would only be 3 IEers in each event and 4 in PF/LD? 3) You mentioned some teams had "all state bids" what is that and who has them?

    Don't mean to waste time with stupid questions, but I'm very interested.
  • The proposition has been sent to Mr. Bracknell- the only changes (to my knowledge) is our extension of an automatic bid to the GFCA State and NFL Qualifiers.

    The GFCA State would just be reciprocal since the top 4 teams at GHSA State get bids to All State.

    The NFL National Qualifiers would be the only "non-reciprocal rule" - which really is only there to increase numbers.
  • Jame Holt
    You need to contact Mr. Richard Bracknell at Carrollton since we currently have a system in place for the All State IE tournament.
  • I'm really not sure - the last time they had the tournament - they began an IE tournament for the first time. Who knows if they'll expand the tournament.

    A GFD All State would also extend an automatic invitation to the following:
    -Semis at GFCA State
    -2008 NFL Nationals Qualifiers
  • DerekC
    Do any of you know if West GA will have PFD this year?
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