Portsmouth/So. Gallia want to Join SOC

[a_c_m]

Nobody really wanted to play soccer when we had it. We already had number issues with a coed team, fielding an all boys or girls team would be very difficult.

I knew quite a bit about the soccer programs at Portsmouth in the final years that they had a team. The fact was the kids did want to play. There was absolutely no support from the administration, the student body and very little from the parents. I remember many a game when the Trojans played at New Boston that there was just a few supporters in the stands. When the Tigers went down to the "cage"the following from the Tiger faithful was always great. There wasn't anyone one taking the $$ at the gate. $$ keeps the programs going!

Portsmouth had competitive teams in the past and could have again.

[ManitouDan]

when is the vote ? Man I hope they get in .

[Tartanblue]

There will be two more meetings about it and I believe that at the second or the one after that one the vote will be taken.

[friday_nite_fan]

If both schools are voted in, when will this take effect? Will they be part of the league next school year, 09-10, or later? I hope it happens!!

[wemufans]

I say let them join. But move Northwest to the other division especially in football.

[Tartanblue]

I say let them join. But move Northwest to the other division especially in football.

Northwest competes really well most of the time in the SOC II in all sports but football, if you move them it should just be for football until they can prove they can play with the big schools.

If both schools are voted in, when will this take effect? Will they be part of the league next school year, 09-10, or later? I hope it happens!!

I could see South Gallia started league play next season if voted yes, but I think Portsmouth would have to stay in the SEOAL because of scheduling already done.

[SENDEM]

The only thing that I would see as a problem with adding both of the school are. With basketball on both side (boys an girls) the way its set right know they play all schools in their respected division TWICE an that leaves only 4 games out of conference to try to get some much needed exposure thru out the state of Ohio for all players. This is just the way that I see it. An like another poster said before is that most of the team in the SOC II already play one or the other but just once.

[Mercerville Monster]

I hope for this to happen more than anything. That would handle the schedule that is called "weak" and the kids could play for league championships and honors.

I will say this, if South Gallia is rejected again, it could be a VERY long time before we would get in a league. If we cant get into the SOC, then I dont know where else to look. South Gallia wants the SOC, but does the SOC want South Gallia? Lets hope so!

[beaverlover]

Looking at it from a basketball stand point......16 league games would be ridicilious,they would have to figure out something other than all teams playing twice.

[Tartanblue]

I hope for this to happen more than anything. That would handle the schedule that is called "weak" and the kids could play for league championships and honors.

I will say this, if South Gallia is rejected again, it could be a VERY long time before we would get in a league. If we cant get into the SOC, then I dont know where else to look. South Gallia wants the SOC, but does the SOC want South Gallia? Lets hope so!

I think the SOC wants South Gallia as all the schools in the SOC I play them in everything.

[alabama mike]

Personally, I have no dog in the fight but I would love to have the Trojans in the SOC. Many have already stated that Portsmouth plays the most of the other SOC schools in just about every sport. Portsmouth is not the power that they were at one time and I dont think they would dominate as some have said in previous years. I know there is a history that many of the old timers have with PHS and not wanting them in the SOC. Hopefully, they along with South Gallia will be welcomed into the fold. If this does happen, I see the SOC going to 3 divisions to help with some scheduling prolbems. If I am not mistaken, this is how the current SOC shapes up:

SOC 1
New Boston
Green
East
Notre Dame
Clay
Symmes Valley
Eastern
Western

SOC 2
Burg
Northwest
Minford
Valley
West
Waverly
Webster-most sports

Non football schools:
Webster
Eastern
Western
Clay

IMO, I think it would be doable but it will take all the AD's working together to get schedules where they need to be in the next few years.

[Trojan_FB_Alum]

As I posted in the football forum I think they need to let PHS and South Gallia in then invite Ironton and Manchester. This would allow them to split into 3 divisions. I already posted the football divisions and breakdowns in that forum so I will not repeat myself. Here is how I see B-ball shaping up.

In basketball all divisions will be representative of the schools enrollment. If they drop below that set enrollment level for 2 fall counts they can ask the conference to vote and allow them to move to a lower division. If they exceed the limit for 2 consecutive counts the conference must vote to see if they want to move them up. SOC 3 Schools of 160 boys or more. SOC 2 would consist of schools from 95-159 boys if a school goes above 159 for 2 consecutive counts the SOC would vote to see if they wanted to move them up. If they drop below same rules would. SOC1 would consist of 0-94 with the same rules.

Doing this way the divisions would break down like this.

SOC3 160-plus
Waverly 253
Northwest 228
Ironton 216
Portsmouth 195
West 186
Burg 185
Minford 182
Valley 178

SOC2 95-159
Oak Hill 133
South Webster 129
Symmes Valley 124
Manchester 116
South Gallia 104
Eastern 101

SOC 1 0-94
East 91
Western 87
Green 81
Clay 79
New Boston 44
Notre Dame 38

This would allow you to play everyone in your division twice resulting in 14 conference games for SOC3. 10 conference games for SOC 1 and SOC 2, but leave many opportunities for cross divisional games.

[NYBuckeye96]

Looking at it from a basketball stand point......16 league games would be ridicilious,they would have to figure out something other than all teams playing twice.

The MVL teams currently play 16 league games in basketball.

Before the TVC split into divisions, the league teams played 16 league basketball games. In the '80s when Wellston, Meigs, and Miller joined the TVC and before Warren left, the league teams played 18 league games in basketball.

[Tartanblue]

this is a joint addition....if a vote is no neither of the two get in....they doing this combined they both get in or non at all. So for South Gallia they have to hope schools vote yes for Portsmouth.

[THE'GENERAL']

Basketball

SOC 1

notre dame, east, clay, south gallia, green, new boston

SOC 2

western, eastern, symmes valley, south webster, oak hill, west

SOC 3

wheelersburg, northwest, waverly, portsmouth, minford, valley,


FOOTBALL

SOC 1

notre dame, green, south gallia, east, oak hill, symmes valley, northwest

SOC 2

wheelersburg, minford, valley, waverly, west, portsmouth

[biggdowgg]

I've read the link to the article in the PDT, so obviously this is something that Portsmouth wants to happen. So be it.

BUT

My question is now pointed at the remaining SEOAL schools, who for the fourth time since expansion will be faced with making changes. For example, when the league expanded prior to the 2006-07 school year, a league assigner of officials was hired (Kelly Stillwell of Logan) and scheduling was enacted four years in advance with officials being offered contracts. I am looking at a copy of the four year football schedule as I type this.

So then before the school year even began, Athens gave their two year notice to leave, and an unbalanced league of two divisions was left beginning with the 2008-09 school year. I dont know how the other schools made up for this change, but GAHS just kept Athens as a non-league opponent.

Then Scott Aaronhalt became the AD at Zanesville and no one was surprised that they gave notice. I'm not sure they ever were committed to the league to begin with, but once again ADs are left to scramble, and once again in GAHS' case we will be playing Zanesville as a non league opponent in 2009, much to my chagrin but scheduling non league late in the year for a DIII program in this area isnt easy.

I have no idea what the status of Ironton is. I know I read where a decision was voted on at a board meeting, but am not clear as to whether they have formally given notice or not. Either way it is just a matter of time.

Now Portsmouth is bailing, which brings up my question:

IF the SOC fails to admit Portsmouth to their league, what should the position of the SEOAL member schools be towards a school who admittedly is looking for a more local league affiliation, and would no doubt bolt if such a chance arose? Given our scheduling years in advance and hiring of officials, shouldnt we protect ourselves from possibly more adjustments and scheduling/hiring of game officials that would arise and just tell Portsmouth to leave?[/quote]

then you would be down to no teams in a hurry,,I also heard that Jackson was supposed to be at this last meting, but mised it, and would be attending the next meeting...so, you would need to go ahead and kick them out now to

[biggdowgg]

by the way,,I am against leaving the league we are in now, I love the compitition

[a_c_m]

I personally hope that both are admitted to the conference. I like some of your ideas about adding Manchester. They are the only Southern Hills League member that has football and they would fit in with the SOC I schools.

When can we expect to hear the decision?

[Tartanblue]

I don't see Manchester leaving the SHL, and I would not add them for just football. I don't think they will be the only school with football long as I read on here during football another school in the SHL was starting football up. Although with all they are saying on the sectional thread I wish they would join the SOC so they could see how good some of the teams are and not judge after only playing 1 or 2 who are in rebuilding years for a couple years.

[Mercerville Monster]

Beleive me, everyone at SG would LOVE to be in the SOC!

If it happens, which I think it might, I hope it would be next year. That would be awesome. We would be starting the new year in a new school, new facilities, and finally a member of a conference.