Dr. Robin Hines, executive director of the Georgia High School Association, is in his sixth year leading the GHSA, and he has had a busy 2022 overseeing member schools’ reclassification and successful state championships in football and flag football.
Q: Dr. Hines, thank you for joining us. As GHSA executive director, you are coming off an important meeting between the GHSA and the Atlanta Falcons regarding moving the football state championships back to Mercedes Benz Stadium. Can you tell us when the talks first began with the Falcons about possibly returning the title games to MBS?
A: They began the day the decision was made to leave MBS. I have a great relationship with [Falcons president and CEO] Rich McKay; there’s not a better guy anywhere. He is passionate about kids and high school football and really wants his organization to be a part of it. Our partnership with the Falcons and girls flag football has been wildly successful, and we always felt the same could be true with 11-man football. As a result, we’re heading back that way.
Q: We remember that the state championships were held there before, and presumably costs were a factor that initiated a change to Center Parc Stadium. What changed to make the return to MBS possible?
A: MBS has been in business for a while now, and they understand better how we can cut costs while maintaining the great experience for the students and spectators. We are in great shape financially, and the Falcons have been generous in the way the settlement will be reconciled that will ensure beneficial payouts for participating schools, which is of utmost importance for the GHSA.
Q: You’ve been busy in your role as GHSA executive director. In addition to your daily duties of overseeing hundreds of thousands student-athletes and their eligibility, plus ongoing transfers, another exciting football state finals, and the meeting with the Falcons, you have also had to address the seemingly always-present subject of instant replay. I realize the current bylaws of the GHSA do not allow instant replay, but has there been, or will there be, any consideration for the use of instant replay at the state championship level or at team’s home stadiums?
A: Yes, while I don’t make the rules, I can with great confidence believe that instant replay will be a part of the football championships next year. This is a complicated issue operationally and otherwise. Questions are what can be reviewed, will it be coaches’ challenges, scoring plays. etc. We can’t slow the game down, but clearly we want to get it right. If the technology exists, we should always consider it.
Q: While these are the most talked-about issues and topics making headlines, there is always a lot of work that folks are not aware of. What are some of the more pressing issues that you and the association are working on that you can share with us?
A: There are many, but I would want to mention that sportsmanship is always in the forefront of my mind. It should be at the front of the line of things taught and coached in all of our schools.
