[Hank_Hill]

http://www.thecourier.com/Issues/201...2,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.

[BG Warthog]

Originally Posted by Hank_Hill

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.

[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.

[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.