The future of Logan and the SEOAL

[ChieftainGrad135]

What does everyone think? Does the SEOAL survive at the rate it is going? More importantly, how long does Logan hang on to what some seem to think is a dying league?

[dazed&confused]

What does everyone think? Does the SEOAL survive at the rate it is going? More importantly, how long does Logan hang on to what some seem to think is a dying league?

Dying is a radical term. Evolving is more what I feel is happening. Purely my opinion but I feel Logan is more and more ill-served by the SEOAL. Not in the short-term but down the road, it must look north and west. Who knows what the landscape will look like 20 years from now but if I were a betting man, I'd say Logan will hook up with an as-yet unknown league and the SEOAL will evolve into a more rural, intermediate-sized school league.

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

i totally agree dazed. i think the future of the seoal, will include more smaller schools, and the future of logan with their size differential , it would better serve them to look a little more northwest for a league.though i wished they were still on ironton's schedule.



i meant northeast.

[Dundas]

What are your thoughts on Vinton County and the SEOAL...VC is really dead in the middle of the current schools...and if the league does eventually go more rural, what are the chances VC joins the SEOAL in the next 10 years? Also, what do you think it would look like, team wise? (whos joining in the next 10 years and whos leaving) --Not saying VC is wanting to join or would join for that matter...just trying to spark some convo in the offseason! lol

[noreply66]

Logan seems to be getting smaller.
When the Lancaster By-pass was being worked on a lot of people talked about Logan getting much larger--hasn't come close to that yet.

[LoganElm_grad09]

i totally agree dazed. i think the future of the seoal, will include more smaller schools, and the future of logan with their size differential , it would better serve them to look a little more northwest for a league.though i wished they were still on ironton's schedule.

By Northwest do you mean MSL-Buckeye?

(This pertains to the standings in league play) I think the future of the SEOAL for the teams remaining will depend heavily on who Chillicothe hires. If they hire a guy to take charge who's well qualified, they will challenge Logan year in and out.

[Paladin]

As it stands now, the SEOAL is still a bigger school league -- Logan, Warren, Chilly, Jackson with Gallia and Portsmouth smaller. The 4 larger schools would have to leave and be replaced by small school teams. Not going to happen.

Down the road, Athens could still come back ( big school) and with a bad economy due to continue and funds being short for education, consolidation still has possibilities producing larger schools in SEO. I don't see the SEOAL being a small school league.

Logan could be invited to the OCC. Pigs may fly someday too.

[Daniel Larusso]

Logan will never be invited to the OCC. They are way too far out of Columbus for them to even consider. The teams in the OCC did not even like the trip to Chillicothe down rt. 23. Zanesville tried for years to get in to the OCC, and they are right on I 70. If Zanesville was unsuccessful how are you going to convince teams in the OCC to drive to some little town in the middle of nowhere down rt. 33. The OCC might be a bit much for Logan anyway. Just ask Chillicothe.

The MSL buckeye is full for the time being. If someone did leave I don't think Logan would be their first option. Logan could be a little bigger than what they are looking for. Then again I could be wrong. I would think their first option would be Westfall.

Time for the teams whining about the size of Logan to face the fact. Logan is stuck in the SEOAL just like the rest of us. They have been here for 80 plus years, and I personally hope they are around for another 80.

As for the future of the SEOAL I don't think it is going to change much from what it looks like now. I can still see Warren trying to get out because of the obvious travel issues. It would not surprise me at all to see them re apply for the TVC or maybe the MVL. I hope it doesn't happen, but I do live in the real world. The only other teams I could see applying to the SEOAL are teams that have been here before. Ironton, Waverly, and Athens come to mind as teams who could compete across the board, and fit size wise. 1st, Waverly is probably not going to leave the SOC for anything. That league is good on travel and competition. Plus they did not fair too well in football the last time they were in the SEOAL. Waverly's return is a probably not. 2nd, Athens has been a member of the SEOAL for 80 plus years and recently decided to depart to the TVC. There is always a possibility that Athens might decide to come back because of the history, but I doubt it. They were not very successful in football or basketball their last few years in the SEOAL. Since going to the TVC their program has had a resurgence which is why I do not look for their return. They will win as many league titles as they want in the TVC, but success outside of the conference will be minimal. Athens' return is possible. 3rd, Ironton left for the unprecedented 3rd time to go back to an independent. I do not see Ironton wanting to come back to the SEOAL, and the SEOAL has probably given them their last chance. The only scenario I could see where Ironton maybe wanted back in would be if Warren left. With Marietta already leaving Warren is the only Washington county school left. The trips to Washington county seem to be what most of the travel complaining is about. I agree that they are kind of out on an island by themselves. As of the last time I checked Ironton still did not have a complete 10 game schedule, and I believe this will become a common theme as long as they are not in a league. It is not my problem to deal with though, and I wish them luck in their independence. The SEOAL is probably done with Ironton, but their return is still possible.

The teams that are committed to the future of the SEOAL.
Logan
Chillicothe
Gallipolis
Jackson
Portsmouth

Possible future SEOAL teams.
Warren(SEOAL member)
Athens
Ironton

[moonshine]

As it stands now, the SEOAL is still a bigger school league -- Logan, Warren, Chilly, Jackson with Gallia and Portsmouth smaller. The 4 larger schools would have to leave and be replaced by small school teams. Not going to happen.

Down the road, Athens could still come back ( big school) and with a bad economy due to continue and funds being short for education, consolidation still has possibilities producing larger schools in SEO. I don't see the SEOAL being a small school league.

Logan could be invited to the OCC. Pigs may fly someday too.

I agree with Mr. Paladin, Pigs, cows and goats will fly before Logan leaves the SEOAL. Logan and Hocking Co. is losing population and over the next few years our school system will have economic and butget concerns. As far as consolidation, Nelsonville-York and Trimble will consolidation with some of Trimbles students going to Athens. At that time Athens will have dominated the TVC and will be invited back to the SEOAL .

[coal miner's son]

I feel that Warren and Belpre will consolidate soon as well. This school will also be in the SEOAL. As for Logan, they are not going any where. No where to go.

[85inside]

I also agree that Logan is going nowhere.

[dazed&confused]

Now the issue of future consolidation of schools is a seperate issue. IF you were to have A Washington Co. school, A Scioto county school, A Athens county school, etc., then that changes everything. You have neighboring county schools of similar size (like Logan) and then the SEOAL makes all the sense in the world.

[dazed&confused]

I also agree that Logan is going nowhere.

And as long as Logan remains in the SEOAL as it is currently evolving, it WILL be literally going nowhere. Not in a DII football sense. I've seen too much of the last few years of the school collecting SEOAL football trophies and little else to be convinced otherwise. Don't get me wrong, they could come back to the pack in football, but they will never trail the pack. If (as my good friends in Ironton will say) you want to collect league trophies, then good! Stay where you are.

[moonshine]

I also agree that Logan is going nowhere.

And as long as Logan remains in the SEOAL as it is currently evolving, it WILL be literally going nowhere. Not in a DII football sense. I've seen too much of the last few years of the school collecting SEOAL football trophies and little else to be convinced otherwise. Don't get me wrong, they could come back to the pack in football, but they will never trail the pack. If (as my good friends in Ironton will say) you want to collect league trophies, then good! Stay where you are.

Hey Dazed, Who really want us, not the OCC, not the MSL. Where do we go. Remember we are not getting any bigger!

[dazed&confused]

I also agree that Logan is going nowhere.

And as long as Logan remains in the SEOAL as it is currently evolving, it WILL be literally going nowhere. Not in a DII football sense. I've seen too much of the last few years of the school collecting SEOAL football trophies and little else to be convinced otherwise. Don't get me wrong, they could come back to the pack in football, but they will never trail the pack. If (as my good friends in Ironton will say) you want to collect league trophies, then good! Stay where you are.

Hey Dazed, Who really want us, not the OCC, not the MSL. Where do we go. Remember we are not getting any bigger!

OK, remember I said, "twenty years from now". There will be changes and other options. Don't tell me new and/or altered leagues will not be available. Don't fight the last war! Look to/anticipate the future!

[WHSwarrior]

I agree with the concept that Warren and Belpre SHOULD consolidate and play in the SEOAL, but I don't see it happening unless a state-mandated merger comes about. Belpre will want to merge, and Warren will want to absorb Belpre, and everyone will just argue and bicker until the state forces it (eventually). Pennsylvania has started an effort to halve the number of districts in the state (from 500 to less than 250)...Ohio could very possibly see this same push once the state has money to assist schools in the merger process...but that money doesn't currently exist. They can barely pay for education status quo.

Warren, as of now, really does not have anywhere but the SEOAL to go. There are certainly pros and cons to joining the TVC, but it makes no sense to join the league as it is currently made up. Not enough schools our size, not enough potential playoff points, not enough practice against top-quality schools for playoff preparation. If the TVC adds enough members to play in 3 6-team divisions, and adds larger schools to the top division, Warren will likely consider it. Even though all the Warren posters keep saying how we are committed to the SEOAL (and we are) it is important to remember that 1) Marietta is leaving and 2) Warren is changing athletic directors.

Ultimately, Warren's best league option would be the Muskingum Valley League if they were to expand to 10 teams and split into North-South divisions. But...not likely. So it's SEOAL or bust for us.

[dazed&confused]

I agree with the concept that Warren and Belpre SHOULD consolidate and play in the SEOAL, but I don't see it happening unless a state-mandated merger comes about. Belpre will want to merge, and Warren will want to absorb Belpre, and everyone will just argue and bicker until the state forces it (eventually). Pennsylvania has started an effort to halve the number of districts in the state (from 500 to less than 250)...Ohio could very possibly see this same push once the state has money to assist schools in the merger process...but that money doesn't currently exist. They can barely pay for education status quo.

Warren, as of now, really does not have anywhere but the SEOAL to go. There are certainly pros and cons to joining the TVC, but it makes no sense to join the league as it is currently made up. Not enough schools our size, not enough potential playoff points, not enough practice against top-quality schools for playoff preparation. If the TVC adds enough members to play in 3 6-team divisions, and adds larger schools to the top division, Warren will likely consider it. Even though all the Warren posters keep saying how we are committed to the SEOAL (and we are) it is important to remember that 1) Marietta is leaving and 2) Warren is changing athletic directors.

Ultimately, Warren's best league option would be the Muskingum Valley League if they were to expand to 10 teams and split into North-South divisions. But...not likely. So it's SEOAL or bust for us.

And I have said that if we have consolidations that make larger districts out of several smaller districts, this could be the catalyst that pushes the SEOAL forward. But it will take such a move on the part of the state to make this happen.

[Orange and Brown]

Logan will never be invited to the OCC. They are way too far out of Columbus for them to even consider. The teams in the OCC did not even like the trip to Chillicothe down rt. 23. Zanesville tried for years to get in to the OCC, and they are right on I 70. If Zanesville was unsuccessful how are you going to convince teams in the OCC to drive to some little town in the middle of nowhere down rt. 33. The OCC might be a bit much for Logan anyway. Just ask Chillicothe.

The MSL buckeye is full for the time being. If someone did leave I don't think Logan would be their first option. Logan could be a little bigger than what they are looking for. Then again I could be wrong. I would think their first option would be Westfall.

Time for the teams whining about the size of Logan to face the fact. Logan is stuck in the SEOAL just like the rest of us. They have been here for 80 plus years, and I personally hope they are around for another 80.

As for the future of the SEOAL I don't think it is going to change much from what it looks like now. I can still see Warren trying to get out because of the obvious travel issues. It would not surprise me at all to see them re apply for the TVC or maybe the MVL. I hope it doesn't happen, but I do live in the real world. The only other teams I could see applying to the SEOAL are teams that have been here before. Ironton, Waverly, and Athens come to mind as teams who could compete across the board, and fit size wise. 1st, Waverly is probably not going to leave the SOC for anything. That league is good on travel and competition. Plus they did not fair too well in football the last time they were in the SEOAL. Waverly's return is a probably not. 2nd, Athens has been a member of the SEOAL for 80 plus years and recently decided to depart to the TVC. There is always a possibility that Athens might decide to come back because of the history, but I doubt it. They were not very successful in football or basketball their last few years in the SEOAL. Since going to the TVC their program has had a resurgence which is why I do not look for their return. They will win as many league titles as they want in the TVC, but success outside of the conference will be minimal. Athens' return is possible. 3rd, Ironton left for the unprecedented 3rd time to go back to an independent. I do not see Ironton wanting to come back to the SEOAL, and the SEOAL has probably given them their last chance. The only scenario I could see where Ironton maybe wanted back in would be if Warren left. With Marietta already leaving Warren is the only Washington county school left. The trips to Washington county seem to be what most of the travel complaining is about. I agree that they are kind of out on an island by themselves. As of the last time I checked Ironton still did not have a complete 10 game schedule, and I believe this will become a common theme as long as they are not in a league. It is not my problem to deal with though, and I wish them luck in their independence. The SEOAL is probably done with Ironton, but their return is still possible.

The teams that are committed to the future of the SEOAL.
Logan
Chillicothe
Gallipolis
Jackson
Portsmouth

Possible future SEOAL teams.
Warren(SEOAL member)
Athens
Ironton

I have a couple minor issues with your post.

The first one being that you somehow think Athens can now beat Nelsonville-York every year because they are now in the TVC. They couldn't beat NY when they were in the SEOAL and they haven't beaten then the last 2 years as members of the TVC. So saying Athens can win as many league titles as they want in the TVC is stretching it a bit. The TVC-Ohio Title comes through Nelsonville-York!!

The 2nd one being Jackson, If Jackson is so Commited to the SEOAL why did they try to get into the TVC? (That sounds like total commitment to History and tradition to me!) I know Jackson stood up at the League meeting and told everyone that they aren't going anywhere, (blah blah blah......) Lets face it, If the TVC extended an invitation to Jackson they wouldn't bother to pack they would leave the SEOAL without even saying goodbye!

3rd, How is Warren a Possable future SEOAL team when they are in the league now?

I really hope the SEOAL sticks around. It has been around a long time. I don't know what changes are coming but there are changes coming so lets all sit back and see what happens.

[Philos_Finest]

The MVL may be looking to expand in the next few years(ideally 3 teams to join). At least, that is the rumor. I'm not sure if Logan is to far out there or not but imo, it would be a good fit. It's not a terrible drive down there but it is probably to far for most schools to want to travel.

[Daniel Larusso]

Logan will never be invited to the OCC. They are way too far out of Columbus for them to even consider. The teams in the OCC did not even like the trip to Chillicothe down rt. 23. Zanesville tried for years to get in to the OCC, and they are right on I 70. If Zanesville was unsuccessful how are you going to convince teams in the OCC to drive to some little town in the middle of nowhere down rt. 33. The OCC might be a bit much for Logan anyway. Just ask Chillicothe.

The MSL buckeye is full for the time being. If someone did leave I don't think Logan would be their first option. Logan could be a little bigger than what they are looking for. Then again I could be wrong. I would think their first option would be Westfall.

Time for the teams whining about the size of Logan to face the fact. Logan is stuck in the SEOAL just like the rest of us. They have been here for 80 plus years, and I personally hope they are around for another 80.

As for the future of the SEOAL I don't think it is going to change much from what it looks like now. I can still see Warren trying to get out because of the obvious travel issues. It would not surprise me at all to see them re apply for the TVC or maybe the MVL. I hope it doesn't happen, but I do live in the real world. The only other teams I could see applying to the SEOAL are teams that have been here before. Ironton, Waverly, and Athens come to mind as teams who could compete across the board, and fit size wise. 1st, Waverly is probably not going to leave the SOC for anything. That league is good on travel and competition. Plus they did not fair too well in football the last time they were in the SEOAL. Waverly's return is a probably not. 2nd, Athens has been a member of the SEOAL for 80 plus years and recently decided to depart to the TVC. There is always a possibility that Athens might decide to come back because of the history, but I doubt it. They were not very successful in football or basketball their last few years in the SEOAL. Since going to the TVC their program has had a resurgence which is why I do not look for their return. They will win as many league titles as they want in the TVC, but success outside of the conference will be minimal. Athens' return is possible. 3rd, Ironton left for the unprecedented 3rd time to go back to an independent. I do not see Ironton wanting to come back to the SEOAL, and the SEOAL has probably given them their last chance. The only scenario I could see where Ironton maybe wanted back in would be if Warren left. With Marietta already leaving Warren is the only Washington county school left. The trips to Washington county seem to be what most of the travel complaining is about. I agree that they are kind of out on an island by themselves. As of the last time I checked Ironton still did not have a complete 10 game schedule, and I believe this will become a common theme as long as they are not in a league. It is not my problem to deal with though, and I wish them luck in their independence. The SEOAL is probably done with Ironton, but their return is still possible.

The teams that are committed to the future of the SEOAL.
Logan
Chillicothe
Gallipolis
Jackson
Portsmouth

Possible future SEOAL teams.
Warren(SEOAL member)
Athens
Ironton

I have a couple minor issues with your post.

The first one being that you somehow think Athens can now beat Nelsonville-York every year because they are now in the TVC. They couldn't beat NY when they were in the SEOAL and they haven't beaten then the last 2 years as members of the TVC. So saying Athens can win as many league titles as they want in the TVC is stretching it a bit. The TVC-Ohio Title comes through Nelsonville-York!!

The 2nd one being Jackson, If Jackson is so Commited to the SEOAL why did they try to get into the TVC? (That sounds like total commitment to History and tradition to me!) I know Jackson stood up at the League meeting and told everyone that they aren't going anywhere, (blah blah blah......) Lets face it, If the TVC extended an invitation to Jackson they wouldn't bother to pack they would leave the SEOAL without even saying goodbye!

3rd, How is Warren a Possable future SEOAL team when they are in the league now?

I really hope the SEOAL sticks around. It has been around a long time. I don't know what changes are coming but there are changes coming so lets all sit back and see what happens.

1st, come on everyone can see what's going on with Athens in the TVC. Nelsonville will challenge in football, and Vinton County will challenge in basketball, but for the most part Athens will win as many league titles as they want in almost any sport they want.

2nd, You are correct Jackson did try to apply to the TVC, but the SEOAL has changed since that decision. The travel for Jackson isn't bad anymore so I wouldn't see them having a future complaint. The TVC almost unanimously voted them down last time, and I could see the same happening if they applied again. Nobody in that conference wants to see Jackson on the football field. I know Vinton County and Wellston play them in a non league game, but when was the last time one of them won? I can assure you that Nelsonville's monopoly on the TVC football title would be over if the Ironmen became a league member.

3rd, You are also correct about Warren being an SEOAL team, but this topic is about the SEOAL's future. The only reason I listed Warren in the future column is because I don't know how strong their league commitment is. Which has to do mainly with travel concerns. They did state along with Jackson that they were committed to the SEOAL. However, with Marietta now gone I do think if the MVL or TVC came calling that Warren would probably leave.