BVC will now explore expansion

[Hank_Hill]

http://www.thecourier.com/Issues/2012/Feb/17/ar_sports_021712_story1.asp?d=021712_story1,2012,F eb,17&c=s

So let me throw this out there - What happens if Riverdale and let's say Carey spurn the N10 and go to the BVC instead. Neither would be out of the relm of possibility in my opinion, especially Riverdale. Would a situation like that then spark Mohawk and Seneca East to stay in the MAL?

Or, say Riverdale does not join the N10. Elgin (who's always been with Ridgedale) decides to stay in the MOAC and not replace Riverdale in the N10 scenerio. Does that open a spot in the N10 for a school like Tiffin Calvert or Hopewell-Loudon in the N10?

[strykerblue]

Going to get real interesting now...most think Riverdale and Carey will get invites from BVC and Hopewell Loudon has already gone on record as being interested in BVC...Mohawk and SE too far East for BVC to look at so they may have to stay with Northern 10 or come crawling back to MAL. BVC smart to plan ahead as days of Vanlue and HN football are numbered....plus LB may look elsewhere if they keep growing.

[Hank_Hill]

L-B isn't going anywhere.

My guess is that if they decide to expand at all, the two top targets are Carey and Riverdale. After that it probably gets dicey on doing anything.

[strykerblue]

That makes sense and would make the Northern 10 the Northern 8....actually with Riverdale and Carey the two most western schools in N10 it would make travel better for the other 8 schools in that league. MAL schools are still left out unless HL and Calvert would entertain joining Northern 10.

[Hank_Hill]

I think Calvert's going to struggle to find much of anything since they are "Calvert Catholic Schools." If they were "Tiffin Calvert City Schools," things might be different.

I listed a scenerio in the opening post in which maybe they could be considered, but I'd think they'd be behind Elgin and H-L.

[strykerblue]

Anyone hear a timetable on possible BVC expansion

[Hank_Hill]

I'd think this has to get done before the end of this school year in order to start in 2014. The MAL is still techincally a conference and those schools would need to give notice, just like Carey, Mohawk and SE.

[strykerblue]

Hank, how do you think this plays out with BVC and MAL and Northern 10 schools

[Hank_Hill]

I really don't know.

A school like Carey could change what's already murkey waters. They don't decide to join the N10 and go BVC, Riverdale goes too. But remember, there's a lot of history between probable N10 schools and Carey. Assuming Bucyrus agrees to the N10 (or N8), that league ends up ok with eight schools. Unless... Carey not joining spurs Seneca East and Mohawk, who had close board votes anyway, to reconsider. Those two schools maybe back in the MAL fold certainly makes it more attractive to a school like SMCC. And if North Baltimore got into the BVC, maybe the MAL becomes attractive to Margaretta as well. You'd then have a strong eight team league again.

There are so many scenerios that maybe used to sound like longshots that maybe aren't long shots anymore.

It could well come about that Hopewell-Loudon and North Baltimore go BVC and it leaves Calvert, SJCC and Lakota homeless. If I had to guess I'd say Carey and Riverdale are the BVC's top two targets and I think they'd prefer to expand by just two schools. I'd think 14 teams would make scheduling for football a little stickier, but what do I know.

To me the BVC somewhat holds all the cards right now with the N-whatever right behind. What's left of the MAL may unfortunatly have to sit and watch and see what falls to them. If they can keep H-L in the fold, they have a chance to try and make something work. If they can't, they are finished.

[strykerblue]

Hank, I pretty much agree with you in that the MAL is forced to sit and see what happens. HL may be the key to keeping the MAL together as the other schools are not really involved in talks with other leagues due to geography or other factors and the MAL needs HL in order to stay together. I really could see BVC expanding by two as that would replace Vanlue and HN if/when something happens with them. MAL probably hoping that is as far as BVC goes too. I think it would be funny if Carey and Riverdale go to BVC then Mohawk and SE stay in MAL with SMCC replacing Carey and MAL survives while N10 is down to 6 teams and has to go begging to Elgin and someone else to get to 8 teams....it is possible I guess.

[nknight92]

I tend to think If an N10 school, Bucy, Riverdale or Carey Do not join, Elgin will certainly grab a spot.

[BG Warthog]

It could well come about that Hopewell-Loudon and North Baltimore go BVC and it leaves Calvert, SJCC and Lakota homeless. If I had to guess I'd say Carey and Riverdale are the BVC's top two targets and I think they'd prefer to expand by just two schools. I'd think 14 teams would make scheduling for football a little stickier, but what do I know.

I think they want to add 4 schools if the add any. Riverdale, H-L, and NB are almost locks if they apply. NB gets accepted to appease some of the smaller schools in the BVC. Now that fourth spot is up for grabs. I think somewhere there might be a surprise school that would find this advantageous, like Bluffton, CG or Ada. But I also think two of those schools might team up and say take us both or neither will join.

[falconfan84]

It's not a matter of "applying". The BVC is NOT inviting anyone to join at this time. They have only sent letter to gauge the interest of outlying districts. Obviously, the BVC is THINKING about possible expansion, but nothing definite yet.

IF the BVC does send invites, I'd think Riverdale and Carey would be top 2 targets. Carey has already sent back a "no". I'd think Riverdale would join the BVC if invited...until then they are still in a good position waiting to be reunited with a large majority of the ORIGINAL NCC.

[fossywriter8]

I posted the following a month ago on one of those "websites which shall not be named" here. ;)
Consider this:

Perhaps the remaining MAL teams should merge with the BVC to form a new two-division conference.

Call it the Black Swamp Conference.

Base the divisions on student numbers as counted every two years by the OHSAA.

Here are the current numbers:
MAL (boys, girls, total)
Bettsville (18, 21, 39)
Calvert (69, 58, 127)
Hopewell-Loudon (120, 96, 343)
Lakota (126, 120, 343)
New Riegel (48, 50, 98)
North Baltimore (82, 83, 165)
Old Fort (49, 58, 107)
St. Joseph (67, 67, 134)
St. Wendelin (55, 48, 103)
BVC (boys, girls, total)
Arcadia (65, 78, 143)
Arlington (89, 75, 164)
Cory-Rawson (83, 94, 177)
Hardin Northern (66, 57, 123)
Leipsic (85, 85, 170)
Liberty-Benton (160, 163, 323)
McComb (101, 102, 203)
Pandora-Gilboa (53, 69, 122)
Van Buren (128, 120, 248)
Vanlue (30, 30, 60)

Going by size, one football division would have Liberty-Benton, Van Buren, Lakota, Hopewell-Loudon, McComb, Arlington, Leipsic and Cory-Rawson.

The other division would have North Baltimore, Calvert, St. Joseph, Hardin Northern, Arcadia, St. Wendelin, Pandora-Gilboa and Vanlue.

Bettsville, New Riegel and Old Fort do not field football teams.

Perhaps this could be a football-only conference.

Throwing Bettsville, New Riegel and Old Fort into the mix for the other team sports in which every school fields a team (baseball, softball, boys basketball, boys track, girls track, volleyball) would give you nine- and 10-team divisions, which could complicate scheduling.

Girls basketball would have two nine-team divisions since Bettsville hasn't fielded a team for two years.

The conference track meet might last two days, and the cross country meet would look like good-sized invitational.

[fossywriter8]

By the way, I don't know why my post above is listed as my first. Even when access was limited in the past, I had way more than that.

[Hank_Hill]

Calvert, H-L, NB and Lakota have all responded the BVC with letters of interest.

[strykerblue]

That would gut the MAL if all 4 or 3 of them jump to BVC. Do you know timetable on BVC to respond?

[greenshoes]

confirmed with Lakota Supt today, they DID NOT send one to the BVC...

[Hank_Hill]

Sounds like the board wanted the letter to go back to the BVC with interest, the Super did not. Looks like the Super won out. Regardless, I don't think the BVC would have been interested.

[14Red]

I think the BVC just wants to have it ducks in a row in case there is some quick exits by other schools. The year in year out questions of weather Vanlue will have football or not has to be nerve wracking for the member schools. Hardin Northern is falling into that category also. You could potentially have a couple of holes in your scheudule at a moments notice.

[strykerblue]

It will be really interesting to see how aggressive the BVC is with this expansion plan? With the MAL teams and others in flux now seems like the right time to move. One can assume Hopewell, NB and Calvert would readily accept if the BVC wants them and Riverdale is already openly hopeful they get a call. I think the BVC should grab the 4 schools they want and that would enable them to withstand anything happening with Vanlue/HN or any other schools that may leave for any other reasons.

[Hank_Hill]

Don't get your hopes up Stryker.

[BG Warthog]

I think Ada has expressed an interest as well. Makes sense to add Riverdale, North Baltimore, Hopewell and Ada if all are interested. Calvert would probably get left out.

[greenshoes]

from a quality source...to verify what some are saying...

Hopewell Loudon is a lock. North Baltimore and Calvert are questionable. He also thinks Riverdale will be in

[greenshoes]

from today's BVC meeting...

Schools to be considered and interviewed will be contacted by the end of this week by BVC AD's.

April 19th the BVC (including each school's administration) will hear from schools who accept the opportunity to discuss this option

No school has officially been contacted at this time

[greenshoes]

a lot of talk of Ada being included...but nothing official, anyone know why they would even consider moving from NWC? Is it even true or just folks throwing it out there

[scutch]

Was told this weekend the N10 will stay as is no one leaving Riverdale will make it offical at the next board meeting.

[strykerblue]

So, with Riverdale being out...are the top 4 candidates now Hopewell, NB, Ada and Calvert...if just two are added HL and NB make the most sense maybe? If those 4 are added it will strengthen the BVC in a lot of sports in terms of depth (NB will struggle) but it would basically be the deathblow to the MAL.

[Hank_Hill]

Was also told Riverdale is staying in the N10....those three mentioned MAL schools responded to the BVC with interest and as far as I know Ada did as well. To me Ada and HL have best shot.

[greenshoes]

Riverdale To Join N10...it's official!

Riverdale voted unamimously to join the Northern 10 Athlectic Conference
last night at its March 26, 2012 boe meeting

[strykerblue]

Good info greenshoes....Ada and HL would be the best two football programs to add but will the weaker football schools in BVC want to add those two without bringing in someone else for them to compete with like a NB and Calvert. I know Calvert was good last year but they are not nearly the program they were in the 80's and 90's as their class sizes are half what they used to be and still falling. Just saying to get HL and Ada in they may have to bring in all 4 to get the needed votes.

[falconfan84]

Here's a question for everybody...
If Riverdale DOES NOT vote to join the N10, and the BVC decides to leave things as is, then where does that put Riverdale?

Riverdale would be stupid to NOT vote to join the N10. The N10 is something that is definitely going forward. The BVC expansion is all speculative at this point.

Why Riverdale either did not send in a response, or sent back a response of "not interested" is somewhat of a mystery to me. I would have thought this to be a no-brainer. Either way, it is too much to risk being without a conference affiliation.

My hope is that if the BVC decides to expand, that they will still send invites to Riverdale and Carey. IMO, these 2 make the most sense.

[greenshoes]

Riverdale BOE voted early this week to join the N10...done deal...story in Kenton Times and statement on Sr Reports ...

[BG Warthog]

Nothing is ever a done deal. As ff84 eluded to, I think Riverdale had to say yes to the N10, at least for now. But I still think they would have told the BVC they were interested to see how it all plays out. Even given the situation with forming the new N10, it seems like they should still tell the BVC they are interested in potentially joining. They could have always said no to an invitation instead of saying they didn't want an invite.

This really throws a wrench in the BVC plans. I think Riverdale, H-L, NB and then one other school was what they were hoping to add. That other school turns out to be Ada, which is a nice fit. But then Riverdale doesn't respond, leaving the BVC to look at Calvert or one of the other schools the showed interest (but I think have already been dismissed).

I think the BVC looks at what they have in H-L, NB and Ada and then approaches Riverdale with a proposal to get them to re-think their decision.

[greenshoes]

I think that the BVC has already informed Riverdale they will not be expanding

...with all of the junk going on, it would not be fair for Riverdale to do this to the N10 members and not pull what some of the NCC schools did...lI think the vote makes it a done deal...

[BG Warthog]

I think that the BVC has already informed Riverdale they will not be expanding.

I find this very hard to believe as I heard the BVC is scheduling interviews with some of the schools that have shown an interest in joining the league.

[Hank_Hill]

A majority of the schools in the BVC are in favor of expanding...not sure if the majority covers the 8 needed votes though.

[strykerblue]

If BVC passes on expansion they will regret it just like MAL is doing right now...they should have taken Gibsonburg and Elmwood when they had the chance a few years ago. If MAL would have done that then losing a couple schools would not have been such a crushing blow. But getting 8 of 10 BVC teams support for expansion may be difficult with the small schools worried about competing.

[scutch]

For years Riverdale wanted in the BVC they didnt want them now Riverdale makes a move an everyone wants them in the BVC.I think they like the new league Travel is about the same school sizes same.

[BG Warthog]

Travel is about the same.

Have you looked at a map? BVC would be less travel by far for Riverdale.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blanchard_Valley_Conference_%28OHSAA%29

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_10_Athletic_Conference

In the BVC, Riverdale's longest trip would probably be to Leipsic, about 40 miles. In the N10 they'd have about 6 trips of that length and longer.

[strykerblue]

From another site BVP people saying 5 schools are going to present to BVC administrators on April 19....Hopewell Loudon, Calvert, NB, Ada and Riverdale....yes that same Riverdale that supposedly did not send a letter back?? I know they said they would join N10 but if they are accepted into BVC maybe that changes all that. What the BVC does after 19th could be very interesting. Most thought Riverdale and Carey were BVC's top choices so if they choose to expand at all Riverdale could be one of top choices. My guess is BVC takes two it will be Riverdale and HL. Any other guesses on 2 or 4 teams or will they stand still.

[greenshoes]

email statement from BVC President Pandora-Gilboa Principal, Jeff Wise to the Senior Reports

The Blanchard Valley Conference is continuing to explore possible expansion. We have set a meeting date for April 19th to meet with possible candidate schools, and we anticipate making a final decision on conference expansion by the end of May.

also we had some other questions answered, but will not be posting that information at this time

[BG Warthog]

Any other guesses on 2 or 4 teams or will they stand still.

Absolutely looking to add 4 schools. Riverdale, H-L were two targets for sure. NB is a serious consideration to appease the lower level schools in the BVC. Needed one other school for the plan to work and Ada looks to be that school.

[greenshoes]

just saw on Sr Reports...

BVC Expansion: Four schools set to make pitch to BVC

Potential expansion of the Blanchard Valley Conference will be on the agenda Thursday as the league's administrators meet with prospective schools.

Ada, North Baltimore, Hopewell-Loudon and Tiffin Calvert will be the attending the meeting at the Hancock County Educational Service Center.

[strykerblue]

Riverdale rumors not true I guess...some of their folks may be mad if BVC expands and they passed on the chance....they seem to be all in to the N10 at this point....MAL teams have to be nervous as that league is done if 2 or 3 of their members are accepted into BVC

[greenshoes]

radiodavel has a statement on his site from BVC ...moving forward

[strykerblue]

What is the statement?

[BD6372]

I think that Carey made a mistake joining the N10 even though the MAL grows weaker each season (was very strong until 6-8 years ago) the BVC would be a much better choice with good potential rivalries with Arlington, McComb, VB, and LB. (in addition to Riverdale if they would join)Unless Carey can keep Upper Sandusky (big revenue game) as a nonleague opponent the N10 move makes no sense. Only Wynford is a consistantly strong football program in that group,(and let's face it Carey's move is to make them more playoff ready and I think with the declining numbers in the Catholic schools they thought the MAL was becoming less stable). I know Buckeye Central did well this year but just like the original NCC they only every few years have a real good team. There would be only 2 big rivalry games (Wynford and Mohawk unless Riverdale can get back to where they used to be) and the rest ho-hum games. Upper Sandusky should have been in the new League and Carey and Mohawk should have insisted on that just like Wynford (the driving force behind the N10) did for Bucyrus. The only real negative for Carey joining the BVC would be the loss of 2 huge revenue games (Mohawk and Upper Sandusky) Carey it appears will not be considering the BVC and for me personally that is both a mistake and a disappointment.

[scutch]

Wynford BC and Carey were behind this new league so they were not going to go any place else.

[BD6372]

[QUOTE=scutch;5301569]Wynford BC and Carey were behind this new league so they were not going to go any place else.[/QUOTE) If that is true then why didn't Mohawk and Carey push to get Upper Sandusky in the N10 instead of for instance Ridgedale? Both play Upper in most sports and US would not dominate the N10 even though they are a larger school. I heard that Mohawk voted no on Upper (which is a mystery if true) and that Bucyrus blackmailed Wynford into helping them be accepted. I just hope that US doesn't stop playing Carey in non-League games.

[Hank_Hill]

Upper was one of the reasons the NCC blew up in the first place...

[BD6372]

Upper was one of the reasons the NCC blew up in the first place... Why?

[greenshoes]

Why Riverdale Selected the N10 Over the BVC - from radiodavel's site..

Looks like they went for the "sure thing", hard to blame them in this world of constant conference changes...

[strykerblue]

From another site...most feel BVC does not have the votes for expansion as they need 8 of 10...now rumors that Liberty Benton will lead the charge to bolt with 3 other biggest schools in league and form a new league with some other area schools if expansion fails in BVC...vote is later this month, not sure when exactly. Sounds like another NCC story may be brewing here.

[scutch]

Look for LB to switch with ADA was told if LB was 2 divisons bigger than the other teams in BVC they have to go.

[Ericles]

^^^^^^^
You were told incorrectly. There is no such stipulation in the BVC bylaws.