Athens in the SEOAL v Athens in the TVC

[Heavy D]

Athens last season in the SEOAL they went 1-9. Then last year in the TVC they went 9-1. That may be the first time in school history??? Sure hard work and dedication were a part of it. But a lot of teams work hard and are dedicated but don't go 9-1. I am sure some of the Athens teams that were in the SEOAL worked hard and were dedicated, but still did not win a lot of games. Good coaching can bring success, but I know that some
SEO Athens teams had some pretty good coaches, but still had little success. So my question is, how much has the change in leagues affected the new found success?

[Howard Cosell]

The Athens way has sure been succesful.......

[JChipwood]

Your asking for it here but the answer, as you know, is obvious!!!!!

Brave person D

[Heavy D]

9-1 is 9-1 no matter how you cut it. A great season to say the least. But if the league change was a major contributor, can Belpre expect to enjoy the same success? Is a move from the TVC Ohio to the Hocking accordant to a step down from the SEOAL to the TVC Ohio? Will this be the wave of the future for struggling teams? Many many questions...

[Dundas]

Athens went 3-3 in the TVC Ohio its first season and 5-1 in its 2nd. I think your question about Belpre will be answered in the same way...I look for them to have instant success in the Hocking with around a .500 record. Then in year two, they will battle for the TVC H Championship.

[Heavy D]

Athens went 3-3 in the TVC Ohio its first season and 5-1 in its 2nd. I think your question about Belpre will be answered in the same way...I look for them to have instant success in the Hocking with around a .500 record. Then in year two, they will battle for the TVC H Championship.

I take it by your post you are saying that the switch in leagues had a huge part in Athens' recent success? I would agree with that. I also think Belpre will have a chance to improve, but not to the extent that Athens did. Not as big a step from the Ohio to the Hocking as it is from the SEOAL to the Ohio IMHO.

[hannancoach]

The Athens way has sure been succesful.......

Just like hooked on phonics, "Cut and Run" worked for us!

Interesting how this all comes down to how bad a school wants to win.

[Binary]

When Athens played in the SOEAL their nonconference foes were from the TVC so they could have kept their schedule close to the same. But instead they dropped Logan, Warren, an Zanesville and picked up Fedhocking, BLoomcarrol an Wahomma. That was the smartest thing they could ever done to get the wins is what I think.

You just said a mouthful.

[Dundas]

Athens went 3-3 in the TVC Ohio its first season and 5-1 in its 2nd. I think your question about Belpre will be answered in the same way...I look for them to have instant success in the Hocking with around a .500 record. Then in year two, they will battle for the TVC H Championship.

I take it by your post you are saying that the switch in leagues had a huge part in Athens' recent success? I would agree with that. I also think Belpre will have a chance to improve, but not to the extent that Athens did. Not as big a step from the Ohio to the Hocking as it is from the SEOAL to the Ohio IMHO.

Obviously Athens will have more success in the TVC...Just as Belpre will in the Hocking. Smaller schools do make for easier competition (most years). Sure there will be small schools that tear everyone up no matter what division...but that doesnt happen every day. IMO, the difference between the TVC Hocking/Ohio and Ohio/Seoal is about the same when you compare the entire league. The Hocking may have a team or two who can compete with the top half of the Ohio, but if you look at the rest of the two divisions, the Hocking drops off more so than the Ohio. Just the same as the Ohio and the Seoal...The TVC O may have a team that could compete against the top half of the Seoal...but the last place Seoal team would beat the last place TVC-O team 9 out of 10 years.

As for Athens being 'king' of the TVC...


IMO this is the way its going to be over the next 10 years...Athens finished near the bottom of the Seoal nearly every year for the last 10 or 15 years. Athens wouldve been in the upper half had they played in the Seoal this past season, but it was good enough for them to win the TVC. This is a trend that wont last forever. I feel that Athens will be a consistant mid pack TVC team. They were at the bottom of the Seoal and I think over the next 10 years, they will solidify themselves as a mid TVC team more years than not. Sure they will be Champions sme years...they have proven that...But they have also proven that they can get beat by mid to lower TVC teams as they did this when they were in the Seoal. Its just a cycle...they didnt see much of the ups in the Seoal than they will in the TVC, but they will still see the downs. All in all, I think its going to work out great for Athens and the TVC, especially if Athens drops to Div III...Then they will be exactly the same size as VC in each sport...and no one really gets on to VC about being big.

[ji81grad]

Actually Athens was very successful in the SEOAL in 2002 & 2003. They had outstanding talent (Grant Gregory & Co) and competed very well in the league. I saw last year's team against Meigs and was not impressed. I think they would have struggled mightily in the SEOAL.

[noreply66]

Athens would have lost to everyone in the SEOAL but Marietta and if Marietta hadn't had the injuries they would have beaten Athens

[BytheNumbers]

I agree with what some of you are saying about a 9-1 season being a great season. It is no doubt a great record. They are D II. Why shouldn't they beat everyone in the TVC? They lost to Nelsonville who is 3 divisions smaller. I don't think that they played one team that was equal size to them all season. If you are 9-1 and don't make the playoffs in an 8 team field, there is something wrong. To me, a good or great team can compete or beat a lot of teams that are in their same division. Athens will probably have continued success in the TVC, but until they start playing some schools comparable to them in size, I won't consider them great.

[Daniel Larusso]

SEOAL Football 2009 (if Athens were still a member)
Logan
Ironton
Jackson
Portmouth
Warren
Athens
Gallia Academy
Chillicothe
Marietta


SEOAL Basketball 2009-2010 (if Athens were still a member)
Ironton
Chillicothe
Warren
Portsmouth
Jackson
Athens
Logan
Gallia Academy
Marietta

[boilermaker]

SEOAL is where they belong , but I think they like being the big fish in a small pond . This something they are not used to ,I hope it gets old for them and they go mix it up with schools their own size.

[NYBuckeye96]

I don't think Athens will ever leave the TVC for the SEOAL. The move was exactly what they needed. Now fans come out to the games at Athens. As long as Athens plays a somewhat decent non-league schedule, they will be fine to make the playoffs, and next season that non-league schedule is improved greatly over the past 2 years.

[1987chieftains]

answering these questions. this should tell you how sucessful athens was last year
who all did athens play last year?
what was the biggest school athens play last year?
what was the avg size(div) of the schools they played?
what was there opponents record?
who was it that beat them and what div where they?
what was there strength of schedule?
answer those questions and you'll find out how sucessful they where.
dropping Logan, Warren, and Zanesville (all D2) to picked up Fed hocking, Carrol and Wahomma is not the way to beef up your schedule so you can get points for the playoffs. going 9-1 and NOT making the playoffs is not a sucessful season.

[Dundas]

Who did they play?

Gallia
Fed Hock
Bloom Carrol
Meigs
VC
Alexander
Wellston
NY
Belpre
Wahama

Biggest School?

DIII Gallia and VC

Avg size played?

Div 4.3

Opponents record?

39-60

Who beat them?

DV Nelsonville York (8-2) 14-13

Strength of schedule?

Thats an opinion..a few of the teams they played had down years (Gallia 2-8, VC 1-9, Belpre 0-10). A few had good years (NY 8-2, Alexander 8-2, Wahama 7-2)

[Dundas]

In the defense of Athens...all you have to do is look at Zanesville who were in the Seoal, went 9-1, and finished 1 spot BEHIND Athens in the points.

Who did they play?

Newark
Licking Valley
Wheeling Park (WV)
Chillicothe
Beaver Local
Logan
St Charles
Marietta
Gallia
Jackson

Biggest school?

DI Newark and Wheeling Park (WV)

Avg. size played?

Div 2.3

Opponents record?

33-67

Who beat them?

DII Logan (10-0) 26-0

Srength of schedule?

Again, this is opinion. If you look at it based on agv div. then they played a tough schedule..If you look at opp. record, then it wasnt so tough. Only two teams on their schedule were above .500. (Logan and Jackson) 6 teams with two wins or less.

[1987chieftains]

Athens 2009 D2 R7
D3 Gallia Academy (2-8)
D5 Federal Hocking (3-7)
D4 Bloom-Carroll (2-8)
D4 Meigs (5-5)
D3 Vinton County (1-9)
D4 Alexander (8-2)
D4 Wellston (3-7)
D5 Nelsonville-York (8-2)
D5 Belpre (0-10)
D6 Wahama (WV) (7-2)
Athens beat 2 of 3 teams with winning records and both of them are smaller schools. they played nobody as big or bigger then them to offset the smaller schools. they played 2 D3, 4 D4, 3 D5 AND 1 D6 TEAMS.

Zanesville 2009 D2 R7
D1 Newark (0-10)
D3 Licking Valley (5-5)
D1 Wheeling Park (WV) (1-9)
D3 Chillicothe (1-9)
D3 Beaver Local (1-9)
D2 Logan (10-0)
D2 St Charles (5-5)
D2 Marietta (1-9)
D3 Gallia Academy (2-8)
D3 Jackson (7-3)
da-ville on the other hand 1/2 of the teams they play are as big or bigger but most other then logan & jackson had down years. the 2009 season they were an independent NOT in the SEOAL. they played 2 D1, 3 D2, 5 D3 teams.

so, if athens would have stayed in the SEOAL and went 9-1 they would have easily made the playoffs. why b/c the SEOAL has schools that are bigger. athens would have recieved most level pts from that. instead they sheduled them with teams that are way smaller and play in a league they are way to big for. the only way they would be able the make the post season is to go 10-0.

[Dundas]

Athens wouldve had to went 10-0 last season to make the playoffs...but with them scheduling up next year, they could (depending on the rest of the region) make it at 8-2..9-1 next (with their schedule) next season, should definatly be enough to make it.

I dont know their exact schedule but they play Warren, Gallia, Parkersburg (south?), Chillicothe and one other I cant think of right off hand. They have dropped Belpre (moving to the Hocking Division), Fed Hock, Bloom Carrol, and Wahama.