Consideration of digital realignment

[Guest ECBucFan]

Through the decades the arrival of biannual UIL realignment has brought much apprehension and outright dread to some HS football fans and programs across the state. Despite all the gushings of "what a great job" from TV reporters in the obligatory on-air interviews of UIL officials afterwards, inevitably, "we were messed over" refrains are heard in the streets (and message boards) across the state for months afterwards. 

So, why not consider digital UIL realignment? Anyone familiar with popular websites like MapQuest or Google Maps understands their capability to instantly draw driving routes between any two geographical points. These sites can tailor the results to "avoid tolls" or show "fastest route" or "shortest distance", etc.

Using a mapping tool like those as a base, software could be easily developed to accept location and enrollments of all high schools in Texas, and have districts and classes drawn to reflect the most technically efficient groupings. This could still allow for sliding points to see how districts map out if cutoff numbers increase or decrease a digit at a time.

There would still be a bit of the human element in the decision making as the inputted cutoff numbers slide up & down, but the software would insulate the decision makers from claims of bias to a large degree. Its hard to argue with a computer. 
     
This concept should be given fair consideration by UIL officials. It could be developed, then ran alongside manual realignment initially for the sake of comparison. The UIL should consider bringing realignment into the 21st century, and replacing their old fold out maps, push pins and rubber bands with an efficient digital solution. Anyone agree? Thoughts welcome.

 

[24 over par]

i very much agree

[mytwocents-28]

I agree.

[WOSgrad]

I guess my question would be do we know that they do not do that in some form already?

[Guest ECBucFan]

I saw the current process at work on TV a few years ago. Unless its recently changed, they literally have standard fold out maps for each classification pinned up on the walls, with colored pushpins representing districts, and rubber bands stretched around each prospective district. When in doubt on a certain school, they place it and look at it, then replace the pushpin with a different color, then restreach the rubber band to see how it looks both ways.


             

[How do ya say]

Hey UIL officials, the 80's called they want their rubber bands and pushpins back.  ;D  ;D  ;D

[SteelerCzy]

That would certainly be an improvement over what's been occuring the last few years.