Hypothetical Question

[Crab's Brother]

Say budget problems forced Scioto County so consolidate its public schools and create a county wide school. If the county's 11 public schools became 1 could the new school win a state division 1 football title?

Based on the enrollment figures from the OHSAA, if the 11 schools consolidated, the enrollment figure would be 1,360. This would make it the biggest school in the state. I do believe that the enrollment at Notre Dame would increase as more students would head that way.

Factoring in travel time to and from practice, more kids playing just one sport, and the ability to concentrate on just one sport, how would this new school be able to compete on the state wide scale?

[fightingtigers45]

I'm gonna say they couldn't win the state championship in Division 1.

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

that's a good question , but as spread out as it is geographically i'd say no. these d1 teams are generally huge city schools, mostly catholic. that can easily get to and from practice, and devote a lot of time to weight training, and fast programs.and they are from the same towns and cities from grade school on up.

[zebra77]

mentor has 2009 students, and several have 1600 to1800, so it would be somewhere in the midrange, but as for winning a state title, it would take 5-7 yrs for that to possibly happen.

[Crab's Brother]

Mentor has 999 boys. This hypothetical school would have over 1300 boys. I did not factor in the the girls.

I understand that the distance thing, but if the school is centrally located no one is more than 25-30 minutes away. With traffic as it is in some of the big cities, the Catholic school kids have just as far a ride. Let's not kid ourselves here.... in Scioto County, we have always heard how all these kids in the backwoods of the Northwest area that can't get to and from practice and how it kills the Mohawks year in and year out. If a kid is good enough, someone, somewhere will get them to practice.

I think with centralized resources, it wouldn't take long to be competitive.

[Endzone_Warrior]

I don’t understand why Notre Dame hasn’t done this? I mean when they have had good teams, it was mostly players from different school districts on the team. If we in Southern Ohio wanted to ever win a State Title, Notre Dame HS would be your best bet with it being a Private School, and able to pick who they want. If money was a problem for some, I’d say get a group of so called “Investors” together and help the kids that needed it. Just some food for thought........

[farmer]

1. Would be the schedule. You would have to travel to Cincy and Columbus to play games or farther.

2. Travel time to games in one way would lose some fans. But would also gain some fans who would like to see some of the big schools you would be playing. As well as being able for fans and school to pay for gas to travel.

3. Student fan base at games. Would think they would lose some just because of travel to home games.

4. Hard for fans to go from supporting a smaller school for generations to a bigger school. With some still holding grudges that for years or even before they were born.

5. The placement of the school and stadium.

Those are just a few things but I would say it would be harder to get a State Championship team in D1. Just look at some Logan and they didn't have some of the vary strong traditions at the smaller schools as Scioto County. With football being more training year round the spread out distance of the County makes it tougher. Even if a shuttle system was put into place to get kids to and from practice.

I would think it would become more like Cabel Midland and Spring Valley Schools in WV. Maybe a good year but mainly a middle of the pack football teams. Not coming close to a State Championship. But Scioto County would have a much better chance of winning a D1 Championship in boys basketball. As well as baseball and softball.

It would be easier for Lawrence County to consolidate into one school for football than it would for Scioto in my opinion.

[starbase_318]

Can you imagine the coaching staff? There are some very good coaches in the league that are producing nice teams annually.

[starbase_318]

:12224 :122245

[noles_fan]

Not for a few years. No question you would enough talent but right now with all the school rivalries you would have some clashes of egos. And as far as coaching staffs that could turn into clashes in coaching styles. But it is a good question and food for thought.

[Jesco White]

What if the county consolidated into 3 schools......combining Northwest, Valley, Clay and Minford in the north; West, Portsmouth, and New Boston in the south; East, Wheelersburg, South Webster and Green in the East? I'll have to check the numbers, but all 3 schools would roughly be large D-3 schools in football. It would be less egos and rivalries to blend, though there would obviously stil be some (i.e. Valley-Minford, West-Portsmouth, etc), but if certain things changed with funding (law enforcement, fire, EMS, etc) and these areas became consolidated "cities"/towns in their respective regions of the county.......how would they compete state-wide? They could form a league amongst themselves adding Ironton, Gallia Academy and Jackson; and have a 5-game league schedule as most leagues have now...

[noles_fan]

What if the county consolidated into 3 schools......combining Northwest, Valley, Clay and Minford in the north; West, Portsmouth, and New Boston in the south; East, Wheelersburg, South Webster and Green in the East? I'll have to check the numbers, but all 3 schools would roughly be large D-3 schools in football. It would be less egos and rivalries to blend, though there would obviously stil be some (i.e. Valley-Minford, West-Portsmouth, etc), but if certain things changed with funding (law enforcement, fire, EMS, etc) and these areas became consolidated "cities"/towns in their respective regions of the county.......how would they compete state-wide? They could form a league amongst themselves adding Ironton, Gallia Academy and Jackson; and have a 5-game league schedule as most leagues have now...

You would probably need to move Clay to the south to compensate for the size of Northwest( biggest school ) and New Boston(smallest school ) but that would be as bout the closest you could get to equal sizes. It would defently not be as less rivalries, with Valley and Minford being the biggest that you listed. I had this conversation about 7 years ago with a guy from Athens when I was working up there and found out they only had 5 schools in their county.

[Izladoom]

I have had the chance to see several of the d1 teams play and I don't think we would even make the playoffs if we combined into 1 school. Some of those schools sends several kids to bcs schools. Are whole county sends 1 every few years.

[Birdbrain1]

Since it's Hypothetical....That would be terrible for the county. You say there is 11 schools. So if you have a large football team. We will say 80 even 100 kids on the team. So lets see....100/11 =Average, less than 11 kids from each school on the team.....that leaves around 30 to 40 kids out per school. That's over 300 teenage boys with nothing to do on Friday nights in this county. I think i like it the way it is. Just a thought....

[Crab's Brother]

I have had the chance to see several of the d1 teams play and I don't think we would even make the playoffs if we combined into 1 school. Some of those schools sends several kids to bcs schools. Are whole county sends 1 every few years.

Those schools have D1 kids because they have the resources to allow kids to work year round on one sport and train accordingly. As an example from Iast year believe that Alex Shears and Luke Keller could have been Division I players had they worked from their freshman years on nothing but strength and speed training to prepare for football. Keller was a good basketball player, but in this hypothetical, more than likely, he would not have been on the basketball team. With 11 public schools, it is necessary for kids to play multiple sports in this area. Maybe I am wrong but I think that would make a huge difference.

Since it's Hypothetical....That would be terrible for the county. You say there is 11 schools. So if you have a large football team. We will say 80 even 100 kids on the team. So lets see....100/11 =Average, less than 11 kids from each school on the team.....that leaves around 30 to 40 kids out per school. That's over 300 teenage boys with nothing to do on Friday nights in this county. I think i like it the way it is. Just a thought....

You will not get an argument from me. I like how it is. I would hate it the other way. I just started the topic to spark conversation.

[fightingtigers45]

I just don't see how it's possible.

Our area rarely sends out big time Division 1 talent. Combining the schools would just have a really good team with no D1 players against beastly teams that send them out every single year.

[NewEra]

I just don't see how it's possible.

Our area rarely sends out big time Division 1 talent. Combining the schools would just have a really good team with no D1 players against beastly teams that send them out every single year.

I can see your point, but would it also be possible that this would provide more of an opportunity for local kids who are exceptionally talented to get d1 looks that he may not get simply because of the perception of the level of competition? Could these kids put in this position rise to the occasion and the team beat some of the d1 players, and truly showcase just how good they are. Their have been several talented kids come from the area, however I feel don't get the looks based on the location, competition, etc. I have on the otherhand seen several kids from "big time" school who gets looks and when I see them in person I am not all that impressed. I do believe the area would send out a d1 playoff team yearly if this hypothetical situation every came to pass, that being said I am a traditionalist and could not imagine their not being a Minford, Burg, West, Valley, etc, etc...

[fightingtigers45]

I just don't see how it's possible.

Our area rarely sends out big time Division 1 talent. Combining the schools would just have a really good team with no D1 players against beastly teams that send them out every single year.

I can see your point, but would it also be possible that this would provide more of an opportunity for local kids who are exceptionally talented to get d1 looks that he may not get simply because of the perception of the level of competition? Could these kids put in this position rise to the occasion and the team beat some of the d1 players, and truly showcase just how good they are. Their have been several talented kids come from the area, however I feel don't get the looks based on the location, competition, etc. I have on the otherhand seen several kids from "big time" school who gets looks and when I see them in person I am not all that impressed. I do believe the area would send out a d1 playoff team yearly if this hypothetical situation every came to pass, that being said I am a traditionalist and could not imagine their not being a Minford, Burg, West, Valley, etc, etc...

I would agree that they would make the playoffs and win a playoff game or two. But, not a state championship.

I see what you're saying about increasing their exposure, and while that is true, we still don't have some things going for us that the urban areas do.

[NewEra]

I just don't see how it's possible.

Our area rarely sends out big time Division 1 talent. Combining the schools would just have a really good team with no D1 players against beastly teams that send them out every single year.

I can see your point, but would it also be possible that this would provide more of an opportunity for local kids who are exceptionally talented to get d1 looks that he may not get simply because of the perception of the level of competition? Could these kids put in this position rise to the occasion and the team beat some of the d1 players, and truly showcase just how good they are. Their have been several talented kids come from the area, however I feel don't get the looks based on the location, competition, etc. I have on the otherhand seen several kids from "big time" school who gets looks and when I see them in person I am not all that impressed. I do believe the area would send out a d1 playoff team yearly if this hypothetical situation every came to pass, that being said I am a traditionalist and could not imagine their not being a Minford, Burg, West, Valley, etc, etc...

I would agree that they would make the playoffs and win a playoff game or two. But, not a state championship.

I see what you're saying about increasing their exposure, and while that is true, we still don't have some things going for us that the urban areas do.

Yeah, I agree, but I wouldn't place it out of the rhelm of possibility to compete for state every so often(maybe 5 to 10 year cycles). Example of this could of been around 2000-2003, that team would of been stacked. Burleson at QB with a stable of backs.
The real question is would this ever work? I just don't see it, and wish not too.

[Bleeding Red]

There is a good example of this right across the river in Kentucky. They have some very large "county" schools that get throttled every year by the bigger "city" schools.

Sure every now and then the blind squirrel finds a nut, but its not the norm.