There you have it folks. The UIL has gone ahead and answered my prayers. Or taken my advice. Or heeded my warning (not that I really gave one). However you want to see it, it appears that yet another Grant’s Tomb has yielded the results I desired and I will no longer have to drive south for playoff games (well, at least starting next fall).

In case you forgot it was just about a year ago that I penned a mini-masterpiece entitled “Don’t send me south.” In it I explained to the world how unfair it was that I had to drive south on Interstate 35 at rush hour just to get to a playoff game in Kyle or Buda or San Antonio. I listed all the things I could be doing as well as giving some great ideas for wasting time in your car when your stuck looking at the University of Texas football practice facility for an hour. Apparently the good folks at the UIL read this column, realized I was right and went ahead and moved the PISD schools to Region II. This means I will be heading east or north for the playoffs and that’s just fine with me.

Of course my tongue is firmly planted in my cheek here. While I sometimes overestimate my importance in this world I hardly think any column I wrote had any sort of effect on the UIL, especially one that was a joke. However, I am, needless to say, relieved that once I get through this year’s basketball/baseball/softball playoffs I will not have to drive south for a playoff game. (And yes, I’m well aware of the toll road and, in fact, use it all the time, but it really sends you out of your way. Doesn’t it?)

I had two other thoughts when I first saw the realignment. First, why in the world did Pflugerville change districts in the first place? And second, who at the UIL hates Bryan Rudder?

As far as the first point goes, I guess they needed a team to fill out what is now District 25-5A. I always felt it made more sense for the Panthers to be in a district with the schools from Round Rock as those are the schools they are closest geographically to. Also Pflugerville had been in their old district for quite some time which meant they had formed rivalries. I guess this means those rivalries will have a chance to spring back to life.

Hendrickson and Connally join an interesting group of schools which includes the aforementioned Bryan Rudder, Elgin, Manor, Bastrop and Hutto. As you can see, the school from my hometown is not within 100 miles of any school in its district. You’ve got to feel for their athletes who are going to become very well acquainted with their bus drivers.

I think the change will be good for Hendrickson and Connally. The Hawks escape Lake Travis. The Cougars get out of 5A. It also means I should get to take at least one trip a year back to Bryan which is a good thing because there are plenty of restaurants I miss there. You see, in the end we all win. But more importantly, in the end, I don’t ever have to worry about I-35 again (or for the next two years anyway).