Ironton Out Of SEOAL?

NYBuckeye96 · Post by **NYBuckeye96** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 2:34 pm

I wonder how many teams are looking at leaving the SEOAL? Jackson has been sending representation to Tri Valley Conference meetings even though the TVC has never once expressed interest in adding Jackson. I think Jackson is too big a school to be in the TVC personally.

I wonder if Jackson has been attending other league meetings for other leagues as well?

hilltopkid · Post by **hilltopkid** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 2:59 pm

I didn't know we tried and they declined. Heck, they let any other school and their brother join. I think if we did join the MSL-Buckeye, the MSL should move Amanda and BC into the Cardinal with LU, West Jeff, Harvest , Fisher, Berne etc... I know there are a lot of teams in that division, but heck, split it, like they have several other times. there are currently 8 teams in each division. 20 years ago there were 2 divisions. The Cardinal and the Buckeye.Now you have the Ohio, w/ teams like NC, Grandview , Whitehall etc...The only team in that division from the old MSL is Granville.

Zanes-Vegas · Post by **Zanes-Vegas** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 3:18 pm

kantucky II ... I think the blip in the scheduling is due to the league schedule flipping over every two years, with two teams in the "other division" rotating on and two rotating off, then trying to balance the home and away games for each school over the two-year period. Chillicothe played here in Week 10 this season, and will return in Week 4 or 5 next year. It's more a mathematical problem than a conspiracy. ;-)

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As for Zanesville leaving to join another league, well, that is virtually moot. That's why we're in the SEOAL in the first place. The MVL doesn't want us, though not overwhelmingly so; I'm told they took a vote in recent months and ZHS was denied by ONE vote. The ECOL (which would be the best fit for us in this region, IMO) has continually rebuffed our inquiries and interest over the years. The OCC (another league of interest to us) is not about to let us in, either. In reality, about the only other logical choice would be the MSL, but like with Chillicothe, our size would be a detrimental factor, I'm sure. My guess is that if Zanesville were to consider leaving the SEOAL, it would be to return to the same place we were before we joined -- an member of the OVAC and scrambling to fill playing dates.

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Regarding this alleged "vote" -- if the Ironton school board officially voted on this, then it HAD to be done in OPEN SESSION. It would be recorded (or should be recorded) in the minutes. Concerning making public comments, I don't know as the board members or the administration would be bound to give one, other than noting a "yes" or "no" vote and leaving it at that. I'm not sure if this is an issue that can be discussed in executive session, either -- I think that is limited to legal issues and personnel issues. If in fact this news is true, I would hope the board and administration had first discussed a plan of public relations to follow the vote ... you'd hate to be caught scrambling to give answers (CONSISTENT answers) without some forethought to the result of the vote in the public eye.

Charles Farquar · Post by **Charles Farquar** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 3:20 pm

Thats the first I have ever heard of Jackson sending representatives to the TVC. Im not disputing what you have said, Im just saying that is the first I have ever heard of it. Years ago there was a little interest in the SOC II and the league Hillsboro is in, those leagues really didnt want Jackson and I doubt if the TVC would ever either. I think Jackson will stay with the SEOAL they were an original member when it was formed and will probably hang in there. I see more of a chance of one division again happening if teams leave. It would still be a pretty tough league for the teams in it, everyone would be playing everyone else every year.

ironman02 · Post by **ironman02** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 3:32 pm

mtswngrvsg wrote:Could this just be the tip of the iceberge? More schools to follow? There has been alot of talk for awhile among schools that the SEOAL would have a hard time keeping all the schools that were in it since the expansion. You might be surprised at who all is questioning it. At least Jackson was up front about it from the begining.

What other schools are currently thinking about leaving? Are you trying to say that Jackson is going to leave?

I really expected Ironton to leave soon. They never wanted to be in the league in the first place.

I also was unaware that Jackson has been sending reps to TVC meetings. I don't understand why they would do that without an invitation. Personally, I will be VERY upset if Jackson ends up moving to another league. They are one of the charter members of the SEOAL and they need to stay put!!!

Army · Post by **Army** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 3:58 pm

hilltopkid wrote:I didn't know we tried and they declined. Heck, they let any other school and their brother join. I think if we did join the MSL-Buckeye, the MSL should move Amanda and BC into the Cardinal with LU, West Jeff, Harvest , Fisher, Berne etc... I know there are a lot of teams in that division, but heck, split it, like they have several other times. there are currently 8 teams in each division. 20 years ago there were 2 divisions. The Cardinal and the Buckeye.Now you have the Ohio, w/ teams like NC, Grandview , Whitehall etc...The only team in that division from the old MSL is Granville.

Hilltop,

That's so weird to hear that Whitehall is in the MSL (Ohio Division). They were a Charter member of the OCC. We used to be in the OCC Capital Division with Whitehall-Yearling.

I think many teams around HERE have that mental state that Chillicothe is still a D1 School. That's the problem.

When we tried to find a league after we had come to the conclusion that it was time to hang it up in the OCC, I believe our first choice was the MSL (Buckeye) but as stated earlier, they declined our request.

Then the SCOL offered, but at about the same time the SEOAL expansion deal broke. If we would of went the SCOL route, we would of had four teams extremely close by Chillicothe, but three would of been a stretch on 2 lane roads. Heck for that matter, the whole SCOL is almost on 2 lane roads.

SCOL

1. Greenfield McClain D3
2. Hillsboro D4
3. Washington C.H. D3
4. Washington C.H. Miami-Trace D4
5. London D4 not to far from Westfall School District
6. London Madison Plains D4 13 miles from Urbana
7. Clinton Massie D4 almost to Cincinnati

I like the idea of all the SEOAL-South Division Teams along with Waverly, Portsmouth-West and Wheelersburg from the SOC II forming a new league.

What say you Hilltop and Breeze

1. Chillicothe Cavailers D3
2. Waverly Tigers D4 almost D3
3. Jackson Ironmen D2
4. Gallipolis Blue Devils D4

5. Ironton Fighting Tigers D4 Do we take a chance

Or do we ask Rock Hill D4 from the OVC

6. Wheelersburg Pirates D5 almost D4
7. Portsmouth Trojans D4
8. Portsmouth West Senators D5 almost D4

But, I would make some stipulation in drawing up a contract just for folks like (Ironton) that if they leave the league before 5 years, the school would have to pay the league $80,000 dollars. $10,000 each would go to the schools left in the league for there sports programs and $10,000 to the League Office for promotion of the league and support of the league activities.

I bet that would get there attention if they did join such a league.

What say you all

ARMY

henrysteele · Post by **henrysteele** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 4:04 pm

The vote did take place last night at the regular Ironton Board meeting. Kratzenberg, Rowe and Vaughn voted to exit the league.

The Tribune had a reporter at the board meeting. However, there is no story in today's newspaper about the meeting.

Maybe this whole board meeting is under an "orange" rug.

fighting_falcon · Post by **fighting_falcon** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 4:09 pm

I was under the impression that inthe old SEOAL you had to give a one year notice (like Athens did) about leaving. If this is still the case then Ironton would have one more year.

Maybe Zanes-Vegas would know or be able to find out. He seems to be in contact with the Zanesville AD alot.

Army · Post by **Army** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 4:18 pm

ironman02 wrote:
mtswngrvsg wrote:Could this just be the tip of the iceberge? More schools to follow? There has been alot of talk for awhile among schools that the SEOAL would have a hard time keeping all the schools that were in it since the expansion. You might be surprised at who all is questioning it. At least Jackson was up front about it from the begining.

What other schools are currently thinking about leaving? Are you trying to say that Jackson is going to leave?

I really expected Ironton to leave soon. They never wanted to be in the league in the first place.

I also was unaware that Jackson has been sending reps to TVC meetings. I don't understand why they would do that without an invitation. Personally, I will be VERY upset if Jackson ends up moving to another league. They are one of the charter members of the SEOAL and they need to stay put!!!

ironman02,
Why did you expect Ironton to leave? We figured it would be Zanesville before anyone else due to travel.

ironman02 · Post by **ironman02** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 4:34 pm

I expected them to leave because there were so many Ironton people against the idea. Since the first moment they were involved in SEOAL talk, it seemed like the majority of the people in Ironton didn't like the idea. There has been a lot of talk about them leaving over the last couple years since they joined, so I figured that it would happen sooner rather than later.

I don't know about Zanesville. If they get an offer from a league that would cut down on travel, I think they will take that offer. However, it seems like they're kind of stuck at the moment.

I worry that Portsmouth may leave if Ironton is no longer around, but I hope that's not the case. They seem to be more dedicated to the idea of being in the SEOAL than Ironton, but I still wouldn't be surprised if they ended up leaving as well.

I don't know anything about the rumors that Jackson is considering leaving. If they are, then I say it's an absolute joke! Jackson is a school that has been in the SEOAL since it was created and there is no reason to leave now. The league is going to end up looking very similar to what it did before expansion within the next few years in my opinion, so there is no reason to leave. If Jackson leaves the SEOAL to go to a league such as the TVC, they will become the laughing stock of SE Ohio sports and deservingly so. Step up to the plate and compete is all I have to say to the Jackson Administration!

kantuckyII · Post by **kantuckyII** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 4:38 pm

I'm not saying I know if Ironton is leaving for sure. That is just what happened in the BOE meeting. Why the Tribune didn't report it? I cannot say but it did happen.

NYBuckeye96 · Post by **NYBuckeye96** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 4:40 pm

Maybe the paper was already sent to press before their was time to report on the meeting? It would be in tomorrow's paper I'm sure.

ItownHosscat · Post by **ItownHosscat** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 4:51 pm

Im sure there was a ton of other"news" that took priority over this story. :roll:

kantuckyII · Post by **kantuckyII** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 4:54 pm

you think they ran out of paper or ink covering that 'ton of news' and couldn't report this?

Army · Post by **Army** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 4:55 pm

Zanes-Vegas wrote:Actually, I don't think there are divisional crossover games in softball and baseball, unless you're in the championship game. Otherwise, those kind of games don't count in the league standings.

Still, economics are a concern for everyone. They have to be. It would be irresponsible not to consider it, and idiocy to deny that the problem exists.

Let's remember that when this league expansion came about, gas prices (for one) were nowhere near where they are today, and certainly nowhere near where they are projected to go in the short term (some experts claiming it will be close to $3.50 per gallon in the spring). There has to be a "tipping point" for every school in this league now, and certainly those of us on the periphery (which includes Ironton) have to think it about it the most.

I would guess it too late for Ironton to just bolt the SEOAL right now and still be able to fill a football schedule for next year with APPROPRIATE opponents. I would suspect that if the school board opts to leave, it would be a similar scenario to when Athens pulled out last year -- we're in it one more school year.

Army ... to answer the "puzzlement" questions, we had spent a long time trying to find a league "home." The old Buckeye Central Conference broke up after the '94-'95 school year when Nerk and Lancaster opted to join the OCC. That's when we joined the OVAC. But that's really more of an "affiliation" league -- there is no mandatory scheduling. League "championships" are determined among those schools who play a minimum number of games between member schools. The problem becomes that you could be frozen out if you couldn't get enough schools to play you. That's why you don't see many OVAC boys basketball banners in our gym, because we quite often couldn't get enough games within the OVAC to qualify. There was a referendum a few years ago to create mandatory scheduling, but it was defeated ... and we accepted an invitation to join the SEOAL expansion plan shortly thereafter.

Long story short, quite often folks forget that a league membership extends way beyond one sport. While we maintain our OVAC membership, it truly only helps certain programs (track, cross country, golf, swimming) to do so.

Vegas,

Was the old (Buckeye Central Conference) a league that most of the old C.O.L. Teams migrated to when the C.O.L. ended? I see where after the Buckeye Central Conference broke up after the '94-'95 school year when Nerwark and Lancaster opted to join the OCC. Who were the other schools in the Buckeye Central Conference beside Zanesville, Newark and Lancaster

Do you know

We left the C.O.L. after the 1976 football season to join the OCC Capital Division.

During Chillicothe's last season in then the C.O.L. (Central Ohio League) the League consisted of;

1. Upper Arlington AAA Replaced Ironton in 68
2. Grove City AAA I think? I can't remember. Added in 73?
3. Chillicothe AAA
4. Lancaster AAA
5. Newark AAA
6. Zanesville AAA
7. Marietta AAA

I still can't understand why Ironton joined the SEOAL again for a 3rd time just to leave all of a sudden?

Ironton's stint in the (SEOAL) Southeastern Ohio Atheletic League

First time 1925-29?
Second Time 1968-1984
Third Time 2006-2008?

Other Leagues....

(C.O.L.) Central Ohio League
1964-1967

(OHKYAL) Ohio Kentucky Atheletic League
1985 or 1986?-to-1991 or 1992?

Independent 1991 or 1992-2005

1928-1963? Don't know if the Ironton Fighting Tigers were in any League

Vegas, I think it's more than the travel. I bet if one was to dig deep into those folks down there, it's due to them losing in several sports. They hate losing.

And many thought they would come back into this league and rule it again from there glory days of the 70's and 80's in the SEOAL.

Anyway, we'll have to wait and see who else is contemplating on leaving. I know Chillicothe is pretty faithful when they have joined a league in the past. But I will be honest, if a deal like the one I posed about the 5 SEOAL South Division Schools and the 3 SOC II or 2 OVC Schools coming together and forming a new league in SE-Ohio, I would imagine Chillicothe would exit with them to form such a league.

Likewise, if the MSL (Buckeye Division) stated there was a slot open they might serious boot from the SEOAL.

That would be a close League on Rt 23 to play in. The only concern would be Canal Winchester D3, Ashville Teays Valley D2 and Columbus Hamilton Twp D2 all leaving in the future for the OCC?

Then it would be back to the drawing board again. I am not sure abut Chillicothe looking at the first League they played in from the early 1900's to the mid-to-late 40's, the SCOL. Who knows what is going to take place if Ironton really leaves. What's next? Who's next should be the better term?

ARMY

Tigercannon71 · Post by **Tigercannon71** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 4:59 pm

Army, if you remember right most Ironton fans didnt want to join this league in the first place. The contract was for 2 years so they had to finish out the contract before they could leave. I think the school board is trying to right the ship back to where it was before all this mess happened a couple years ago.

You would think the Tribune would cover news of this magnatude.

91blue14 · Post by **91blue14** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 5:33 pm

this isnt even news or a shock priod just the way they have always been :idea:

ItownHosscat · Post by **ItownHosscat** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 5:45 pm

tigercannon71 wrote:Army, if you remember right most Ironton fans didnt want to join this league in the first place. The contract was for 2 years so they had to finish out the contract before they could leave. I think the school board is trying to right the ship back to where it was before all this mess happened a couple years ago.

You would think the Tribune would cover news of this magnatude.

Where was this poll?

Tigercannon71 · Post by **Tigercannon71** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 5:51 pm

It was on here when it was first revealed that Ironton was joining the league. Plus there was an informal one done at one of the Ironton games you must have missed it.

ItownHosscat · Post by **ItownHosscat** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 5:53 pm

henrysteele wrote:The vote did take place last night at the regular Ironton Board meeting. Kratzenberg, Rowe and Vaughn voted to exit the league.

The Tribune had a reporter at the board meeting. However, there is no story in today's newspaper about the meeting.

Maybe this whole board meeting is under an "orange" rug.

Whats an "Orange"rug?