What's in store for the South Central Ohio League?
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
In case anyone hasn't heard the word on the street, the Madison County duo of the London Red Raiders and the Madison-Plains Golden Eagles have decided to take their ball and leave, as they will be departing the South Central Ohio League in August 2013.
I've been asked what I think about the move of both schools, starting for the fall of 2013, and I guess my answer is … if it is best for them, I don't blame them.
It seems like a decision that is best for each school district. It can save them money, and during these trying times (when some area schools are pay-to-play), it could end up being the best decision for them, if for no other reason than monetary concerns.
I'll miss covering football games at London (as I've written before, I love the pregame atmosphere right before the Red Raiders take the field) and Madison-Plains (I've always been a fan of their football field) every other year, but hey … life goes on, and best of luck to the respective schools on their decisions.
With that all being said, I absolutely love the tradition of the SCOL. Though the SCOL was disbanded when I was in high school, it's no secret I really love the league's football tradition and try to learn as much history I can about SCOL football.
As much as I enjoy the history of the league, I'm concerned on a variety of levels about the future of the league, though I know I can be a worrier.
To get some of the facts, I spoke to SCOL Commissioner Jim Winner on a variety of topics about the SCOL, and he had nothing but great things to say about both Madison County schools.
What is next for the SCOL?
"The big thing is whenever you lose schools in the league … there is always that comment 'The league is going to change’ because we went through this almost 20 years ago, almost exactly the same thing," Winner said. "We will continue as a six-team league … if that is for a lot of years, then it will be for a lot of years. I know East Clinton has really made a commitment to be in the SCOL, and the other five are solid, so we'll definitely stay around."
Winner continued to speak well of both departing schools, especially for what they did to help re-form the league in 2003 when the league at the time needed two more schools to start back up following the disbandment in 1992.
"We in the SCOL would love to keep Madison-Plains and London, and if it wasn’t for them, we wouldn't have been able to re-form the league 10 years ago," Winner said in an interview earlier this week. "We only had four schools then, and we needed those two schools to start the league back up.
"We wish them the best, and in the SCOL, we will continue with six schools."[[In-content Ad]]Nobody can say for sure what the future holds for the SCOL. Like Commissioner Winner said, it could stick around as a six-team league following next season.
For me, there is always that … what if?
You know, what if that one school (one of the founding schools of the league) could be welcomed back into the league they left once in the 1990s and later decided not to rejoin almost 10 years ago?
I've been getting mixed responses when I ask others of their opinions about if they would want Wilmington (they are that other school I was talking about) back in the SCOL. I've gotten responses ranging from "never again" to "I used to be in the 'never again' group, but now it is best for the SCOL."
A couple summers ago, the Hurricane got one of seven votes to brought back into the league, the same day that East Clinton became the eighth member of the league with a vote of 7-0.
Commissioner Winner made my day when he said the SCOL is "looking" around, so to speak.
"We will look out there … our goal has always been to have an eight-team league, but we will continue with six schools and go from there. East Clinton is a vital part of our league," Winner stated. "Next year, we'll be an eight-school league (the final year of LHS and MP), but the following year … as of right now, we'll have six."
This was my favorite part of the entire interview.
"The SCOL would be interested in adding a school or two, but right now it would be best to not name any particular school," Winner said. "We'd definitely be interested in schools because we think an eight-team league is the best."
As for two of those votes from two summers back (the league principals vote on SCOL admission), they don't matter anymore, with LHS and MP headed to their shiny new league, leaving, again, two vacant spots in the SCOL.
Now, hear me out on this. I mean no disrespect to anyone involved. I just want the SCOL to thrive, and I think adding Wilmington and Blanchester would be a great way in many ways to give a spark to the SCOL.
Why not give the Wildcats of Blanchester a ring on the ol' telephone? Might as well try (maybe the calls to Clinton County have been made, I honestly have no idea) to get four Clinton County teams in the SCOL.
It would make travel much easier for the teams in Highland, Fayette and the two members of the league already from Clinton County starting next season.
You could call it a triangle of happiness, of sorts (I'm not much of an expert on geometry). Say if BHS would want to leave the SBAAC and Wilmington would want to leave the newly created SWOC ... the schools of what I see as a "perfect SCOL" would be close together distance-wise (which isn't a given in most leagues), guaranteed games on the schedule (great for the ADs) and there would be more natural rivalries, and all of that means good gates (cash money) for the school hosting the events, which in turn means all the bills can be paid.
Commissioner Winner said one of the main reasons having an eight-team league works better than say, six or seven teams is the scheduling aspect.
"Scheduling is the big thing," Winner said. "It is good to have an even number of teams, and with eight teams, that gives you seven football games, 14 basketball games and you can be more selective on your non-league schedule."
Now the league is in a bit of a pickle, and this is where I start to worry just a small bit. The SCOL is guaranteed to lose London and Madison-Plains to the Mid-State League. I don't know how long everyone was in discussions about it, but who is to say other leagues haven't been in contact with other schools in the SCOL?
I hope not, but who can honestly say they haven't thought of that same question?
One day it all may come to fruition, but my hope is the SCOL isn't a six-team league because I'm just worried it will cause other schools to rethink their current situation. I'm just not a fan of six teams, but what do I know?
"If we have to stay at six teams, it is more of a creative situation for the athletic directors with the schedule, especially in football to schedule six non-league games,” Winner said. “Of course, the goal is to win a league championship and also to be eligible for the tournament, so you have to schedule schools that will get you points for the football playoffs."
I'd rather it at least be a seven-team league than a six-team league. A six-team league can't be a plus when it comes to travel. Take, for example, McClain and Hillsboro, who both traveled to Greenville for a football and boys basketball game respectively this school year. That is a 200-mile round trip for a regular-season game.
Now add that with the SCOL having the possibility of more travel to who knows where once 2013 arrives.
Again, I've said it a hundred times … I just don't like a six-team league.
Another thought I had was how does the departure of LHS and MP hurt the SCOL?
"One of the things (that hurts) is the exposure," Winner said. "We had exposure up in the Columbus area with London and Madison-Plains being in the Central District. That will be reduced, and just losing the competitive quality of schools … they have excellent facilities, and they are quality people to play."
Time for me to get on my soap box on the entire Wilmington situation.
I don't really care what happened 20 years ago or even 10 years ago when all of the league disbanding and re-forming occurred.
I know 20 years ago my biggest problems were if Hulk Hogan was going to be a wrestling champion (I was 7 years old) or if I could beat level five of Super Mario World.
My point is this … things change and people change, and if Wilmington wants back into the SCOL, (again, another question I can't seem to get an answer for), they should be voted in by the powers that be. It would be the best decision for the livelihood of the league from many aforementioned aspects.
It would be smart for the SCOL to get into talks with Wilmington and do what is best for business and for the league itself.
I want anyone to give me a good reason why Wilmington wouldn't be a good fit for the league. Anyone? I'm open to suggestions on which other schools would be a good fit for the league as well.
The decision makers involved need to keep personal or hurt feelings out of the impending decisions the SCOL will or will not be making because it is about what is best for the league, which means what is best for the student-athletes.
I just want what is best for the SCOL … whatever that may be.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press. He can be reached at sforsha@gmail.com. Follow Stephen on Twitter @hcpsportseditor.
I've been asked what I think about the move of both schools, starting for the fall of 2013, and I guess my answer is … if it is best for them, I don't blame them.
It seems like a decision that is best for each school district. It can save them money, and during these trying times (when some area schools are pay-to-play), it could end up being the best decision for them, if for no other reason than monetary concerns.
I'll miss covering football games at London (as I've written before, I love the pregame atmosphere right before the Red Raiders take the field) and Madison-Plains (I've always been a fan of their football field) every other year, but hey … life goes on, and best of luck to the respective schools on their decisions.
With that all being said, I absolutely love the tradition of the SCOL. Though the SCOL was disbanded when I was in high school, it's no secret I really love the league's football tradition and try to learn as much history I can about SCOL football.
As much as I enjoy the history of the league, I'm concerned on a variety of levels about the future of the league, though I know I can be a worrier.
To get some of the facts, I spoke to SCOL Commissioner Jim Winner on a variety of topics about the SCOL, and he had nothing but great things to say about both Madison County schools.
What is next for the SCOL?
"The big thing is whenever you lose schools in the league … there is always that comment 'The league is going to change’ because we went through this almost 20 years ago, almost exactly the same thing," Winner said. "We will continue as a six-team league … if that is for a lot of years, then it will be for a lot of years. I know East Clinton has really made a commitment to be in the SCOL, and the other five are solid, so we'll definitely stay around."
Winner continued to speak well of both departing schools, especially for what they did to help re-form the league in 2003 when the league at the time needed two more schools to start back up following the disbandment in 1992.
"We in the SCOL would love to keep Madison-Plains and London, and if it wasn’t for them, we wouldn't have been able to re-form the league 10 years ago," Winner said in an interview earlier this week. "We only had four schools then, and we needed those two schools to start the league back up.
"We wish them the best, and in the SCOL, we will continue with six schools."[[In-content Ad]]Nobody can say for sure what the future holds for the SCOL. Like Commissioner Winner said, it could stick around as a six-team league following next season.
For me, there is always that … what if?
You know, what if that one school (one of the founding schools of the league) could be welcomed back into the league they left once in the 1990s and later decided not to rejoin almost 10 years ago?
I've been getting mixed responses when I ask others of their opinions about if they would want Wilmington (they are that other school I was talking about) back in the SCOL. I've gotten responses ranging from "never again" to "I used to be in the 'never again' group, but now it is best for the SCOL."
A couple summers ago, the Hurricane got one of seven votes to brought back into the league, the same day that East Clinton became the eighth member of the league with a vote of 7-0.
Commissioner Winner made my day when he said the SCOL is "looking" around, so to speak.
"We will look out there … our goal has always been to have an eight-team league, but we will continue with six schools and go from there. East Clinton is a vital part of our league," Winner stated. "Next year, we'll be an eight-school league (the final year of LHS and MP), but the following year … as of right now, we'll have six."
This was my favorite part of the entire interview.
"The SCOL would be interested in adding a school or two, but right now it would be best to not name any particular school," Winner said. "We'd definitely be interested in schools because we think an eight-team league is the best."
As for two of those votes from two summers back (the league principals vote on SCOL admission), they don't matter anymore, with LHS and MP headed to their shiny new league, leaving, again, two vacant spots in the SCOL.
Now, hear me out on this. I mean no disrespect to anyone involved. I just want the SCOL to thrive, and I think adding Wilmington and Blanchester would be a great way in many ways to give a spark to the SCOL.
Why not give the Wildcats of Blanchester a ring on the ol' telephone? Might as well try (maybe the calls to Clinton County have been made, I honestly have no idea) to get four Clinton County teams in the SCOL.
It would make travel much easier for the teams in Highland, Fayette and the two members of the league already from Clinton County starting next season.
You could call it a triangle of happiness, of sorts (I'm not much of an expert on geometry). Say if BHS would want to leave the SBAAC and Wilmington would want to leave the newly created SWOC ... the schools of what I see as a "perfect SCOL" would be close together distance-wise (which isn't a given in most leagues), guaranteed games on the schedule (great for the ADs) and there would be more natural rivalries, and all of that means good gates (cash money) for the school hosting the events, which in turn means all the bills can be paid.
Commissioner Winner said one of the main reasons having an eight-team league works better than say, six or seven teams is the scheduling aspect.
"Scheduling is the big thing," Winner said. "It is good to have an even number of teams, and with eight teams, that gives you seven football games, 14 basketball games and you can be more selective on your non-league schedule."
Now the league is in a bit of a pickle, and this is where I start to worry just a small bit. The SCOL is guaranteed to lose London and Madison-Plains to the Mid-State League. I don't know how long everyone was in discussions about it, but who is to say other leagues haven't been in contact with other schools in the SCOL?
I hope not, but who can honestly say they haven't thought of that same question?
One day it all may come to fruition, but my hope is the SCOL isn't a six-team league because I'm just worried it will cause other schools to rethink their current situation. I'm just not a fan of six teams, but what do I know?
"If we have to stay at six teams, it is more of a creative situation for the athletic directors with the schedule, especially in football to schedule six non-league games,” Winner said. “Of course, the goal is to win a league championship and also to be eligible for the tournament, so you have to schedule schools that will get you points for the football playoffs."
I'd rather it at least be a seven-team league than a six-team league. A six-team league can't be a plus when it comes to travel. Take, for example, McClain and Hillsboro, who both traveled to Greenville for a football and boys basketball game respectively this school year. That is a 200-mile round trip for a regular-season game.
Now add that with the SCOL having the possibility of more travel to who knows where once 2013 arrives.
Again, I've said it a hundred times … I just don't like a six-team league.
Another thought I had was how does the departure of LHS and MP hurt the SCOL?
"One of the things (that hurts) is the exposure," Winner said. "We had exposure up in the Columbus area with London and Madison-Plains being in the Central District. That will be reduced, and just losing the competitive quality of schools … they have excellent facilities, and they are quality people to play."
Time for me to get on my soap box on the entire Wilmington situation.
I don't really care what happened 20 years ago or even 10 years ago when all of the league disbanding and re-forming occurred.
I know 20 years ago my biggest problems were if Hulk Hogan was going to be a wrestling champion (I was 7 years old) or if I could beat level five of Super Mario World.
My point is this … things change and people change, and if Wilmington wants back into the SCOL, (again, another question I can't seem to get an answer for), they should be voted in by the powers that be. It would be the best decision for the livelihood of the league from many aforementioned aspects.
It would be smart for the SCOL to get into talks with Wilmington and do what is best for business and for the league itself.
I want anyone to give me a good reason why Wilmington wouldn't be a good fit for the league. Anyone? I'm open to suggestions on which other schools would be a good fit for the league as well.
The decision makers involved need to keep personal or hurt feelings out of the impending decisions the SCOL will or will not be making because it is about what is best for the league, which means what is best for the student-athletes.
I just want what is best for the SCOL … whatever that may be.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press. He can be reached at sforsha@gmail.com. Follow Stephen on Twitter @hcpsportseditor.