Before ESPN backed away from its plan to televise high school football on the Longhorn Network because of the outcry from other Big 12 Conference schools, who cited an unfair recruiting advantage for Texas, representatives of the network approached a "handful" of high school coaches about the possibility of airing their teams' games this season.
Austin High coach L.D. Williams said Thursday he was contacted "two or three weeks ago" by Paragon Marketing, which acts as a third party to acquire high school games for broadcast by ESPN networks. The Longhorn Network, a joint venture between ESPN and the University of Texas that launches Aug. 26, was interested in the Austin High-Westwood game on Thursday, Sept. 8, at House Park.
Lake Travis coach Hank Carter said he was approached by Paragon about the Cavaliers' season-opening game against Westlake, scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 27, at Royal-Memorial Stadium. The Brenham Banner-Press also reported that Brenham High coach Glen West said he had signed a contract allowing the Longhorn Network to air his team's game against Lamar Consolidated on Thursday, Sept. 1.
The University Interscholastic League, which governs most high school sports in Texas, prohibits live regular-season telecasts of Friday night football games.
For now, though, the Longhorn Network won't be airing high school football on any night of the week.
Last week, ESPN announced that it was holding off on high school football telecasts on the Longhorn Network at the request of the Big 12. The conference's athletic directors will meet Monday to discuss the issue, and the NCAA has scheduled an Aug. 22 summit in Indianapolis regarding the broadcasting of high school sports on institutional and conference networks.
Texas will send three representatives to the meeting with NCAA officials, but an ESPN spokeswoman said the company will not attend.
"We will honor all of our obligations (regarding the Longhorn Network)," ESPN's Keri Potts wrote Thursday in an email. "I think there's a handful (of high school games that were considered for broadcast), but not a lot. I really don't want to go beyond that.
"We're waiting for the conference/school/NCAA discussions. We're not televising anything until a decision has been made from all parties."
The Austin High-Westwood game was intriguing to network representatives on at least two counts — it could be shown live on a Thursday night, and Austin High boasts Longhorn recruit Cayleb Jones, regarded as one of the most-talented wide receivers in the country.
Williams said the Longhorn Network — or any television network — was welcome to televise his team's games, but Tommy Cox, the athletics director for the Austin school district, turned down the network's request. Cox said the Austin High-Westwood game will be televised locally by KBVO, which holds exclusive rights. KBVO is the sports-oriented sister station of KXAN, the Austin NBC affiliate.
A year ago, Lake Travis' matchup against Westlake drew an estimated 30,000 fans to Royal-Memorial Stadium. Carter, the Cavaliers' coach, said Longhorn Network representatives made one call expressing interest in airing the game, but have not checked back. He said he considered the matter closed.
Perhaps the most intriguing game on Lake Travis' schedule comes Friday, Sept. 9, when the Cavaliers play at Aledo, which features running back Johnathan Gray, another prized Longhorn recruit. Lake Travis won the Class 4A, Division I state championship last season while Aledo was crowned as the 4A, Division II champion.
Under UIL rules, both schools must give their permission for the broadcast of a regular-season football game.
