Jackson applies for membership to OVC, SOC, SCOL

[Ironman92]

The pay for parking jab is so old and just tiresome. Just an unnecessary 1st point. If you don't like Jackson fine...just have better excuses that aren't petty.

[noreply66]

The pay for parking jab is so old and just tiresome. Just an unnecessary 1st point. If you don't like Jackson fine...just have better excuses that aren't petty.

Pay for parking must make a team better.....lol

[art_vandelay]

Jackson has little to no chance of getting the necessary votes here. Gotta think the smaller schools will fear the effect that a bigger school moving down after Jackson is placed in SOC II would have in both football and basketball. I guarantee Webster will vote against it as they'd likely end up in SOC I for basketball.*

[Ironman92]

Jackson has little to no chance of getting the necessary votes here. Gotta think the smaller schools will fear the effect that a bigger school moving down after Jackson is placed in SOC II would have in both football and basketball. I guarantee Webster will vote against it as they'd likely end up in SOC I for basketball.*

Good for Webster not wanting to play the smaller schools and wanting to play in the bigger school side of the league....which is not only bigger but very competitive.

[art_vandelay]

Ironman: being SOC II has likely cost Webster numerous conference championships over the past 25 years in boys and girls bball, but the preparation for D4 tourney is well worth it, and in my mind, one of the biggest reasons for both programs' recent postseason success. Without football revenue to fall back on, boys and girls basketball are Webster's biggest moneymakers. SOC II schools typically bring larger crowds, so Webster also has a financial motivation. Now if someone would guarantee Webster they'd stay SOC II in bball with Jackson added, maybe they could be persuaded, but don't see how they could get that assurance before a vote.

It's unfortunate for Jackson as I think they'd be a great addition to the league, but I can't blame the smaller SOC schools for being against it. And my suspicion is some of the SOC II schools would be against it as well for not wanting to take a yearly beating from them on the gridiron. All that adds up to at least 5 schools voting against them. Regardless, good luck to Jackson as it's a fine school and a lot of good people up there*

[4thgoal]

The pay for parking jab is so old and just tiresome. Just an unnecessary 1st point. If you don't like Jackson fine...just have better excuses that aren't petty.

I have no problem with Jackson, but I am pretty sure that the no charge for parking is actually in the constitution. Art_vandelay has some good points about SW and the reasons why they would vote against the addition of Jackson. I agree with him also that other SOC1 schools will highly likely be on board with their thoughts. It may actually be the SOC1 schools that determine Jackson's fate in the SOC, more than the SOC2 teams that they would be playing if admitted.

Everyone keeps talking about football, but that is the sport that would not cause any disruption. Jackson would fall right into the SOC2 and give all football schools a 5th conference game, which is what they should have. It is restructuring in sports like baseketball, baseball, softball, soccer, etc. that will most likely lead to Jackson not being admitted into the SOC.

[Jeep-ster]

Gonna open my mouth on the pay for parking at Jackson. Yes, it's an old dead horse but I DO NOT LIKE IT! And that dislike is a valid point. You pay for admission and then Jackson charges outrageous prices on concessions. I understand all the schools have high concession prices. But why add the parking fee? Then Jackson will not allow pop in their gym. This parking fee does stop me from attending games at Jackson. It bugs me so I choose not to give them my money. I like the Jackson area. Webster people frequently shop up there since not to far away. But I dislike the Jackson City School's parking fee. I am certainly entitled to voice my opinion.

[doubleplay643]

I will go out on limb and say Jackson would gladly trade the $2 pay for parking at sporting events for membership into the SOC...but, I doubt we have ever worry about that...but one can always hope I suppose.

If a league was ever going to step out and help another school out it will be the SOC or OVC. Even though they are smaller (considerably) compared to Jackson, southern Ohio is a breed of people that protect their own and may offer a helping hand. Quite certain there may be some variation or scenario that may play out where Jackson could at least be considered.

BTW, kudos to Nelsonville York for the ONE vote from the TVC...but now that I think about NY has that same mentality that the OVC/SOC schools do.

Chances may be slim and none but you never know.....every now and then a blind squirrel finds a nut.

[doubleplay643]

The SOC spokesperson in the link to the article above said it succinctly.

If it benefits the SOC member schools the application from Jackson will pass, if it does not benefit them it will fail. Nothing will be personal. Very straightforward and classy response, one appreciates that business is business and nothing is personal.

Still rooting for a miracle.

[Buckeye-4-Life]

Why wouldnt the small schools in the SOC vote Jackson in? They would not have to play them and it would not change the dynamics of the league for them. The question is do the bigger schools in the league want to play Jackson. Jackson is a bigger school but they have GREAT facilities and bring an excellent fan base!

[art_vandelay]

Why wouldnt the small schools in the SOC vote Jackson in? They would not have to play them and it would not change the dynamics of the league for them. The question is do the bigger schools in the league want to play Jackson. Jackson is a bigger school but they have GREAT facilities and bring an excellent fan base!

Adding Jackson provides no benefit to the SOC I schools that I'm aware of as Jackson would not play most of these schools in any sport. As to potential drawbacks for the SOC I schools, first in football: if Northwest wakes up and starts dominating SOC I football on their sheer numbers-advantage alone, then the SOC I schools may want Northwest moved back to SOC II. Problem is Jackson would now occupy Northwest's former spot. In other sports (mainly basketball), adding Jackson potentially pushes a SOC II school (probably South Webster) back to SOC I which both Webster and the SOC I schools would rather avoid.

I hate it for Jackson that they are in this position, but just can't see them getting the necessary votes they need to get in the SOC.*

[Buckeye-4-Life]

If im not mistaken, schools can decide to stay up if they wish. So Jackson coming in would not do anything to Webster if they wanted to stay up. Northwest will never dominate SOC I no matter how long they stay down. Maybe able to compete year in and year out but never dominate.

[Buckeye-4-Life]

The Bi-Laws are a joke in the SOC anyway. Schools move up and down whenever it fits them and its allowed

[Blackjack]

Leave South Webster in the SOC2 and put Jackson in the SOC1. Jackson's basketball program is the worst in the area.

[Troy]

No it's not. JV thru 7th grades all had very good seasons. You guys have to at least be better as a program than Wellston.

[art_vandelay]

More I think about it, adding Jackson creates an uneven number (17) of schools in SOC. So it not necessarily a given that SOC II would have to move somebody to SOC I as either way, one of the divisions will have 9 schools. If SOC I is given assurance that nobody from SOC II is forced upon them as a result, that may take away those schools' concerns. Then it becomes a question of whether Burg, Valley, Minford, West and Waverly want to deal with Jackson on a yearly basis in football? Likewise, do Oak Hill, Webster and Northwest want to face Jackson in other sports besides football? Still would be shocked to see this happen as it only takes one school with an agenda, plus a few of their allies to vote with them, to shoot it down.*

[Tartanblue]

The uneven number of teams really wouldn't be a factor if it would become one the SOC could add another team like St. Joe as all SOC I teams pretty much play them. Jackson in the SOC would be the best fit and would bring in good gates especially with games against Burg, Valley, and West

[cghs82]

The uneven number of teams really wouldn't be a factor if it would become one the SOC could add another team like St. Joe as all SOC I teams pretty much play them. Jackson in the SOC would be the best fit and would bring in good gates especially with games against Burg, Valley, and West

Yeah, St. Joe would be a good fit for SOC I, but they were rejected a month or two ago unfortunately. I did make a plan for SOC with 17 teams and with 18 teams, but that was with Portsmouth (this was before Gallia Academy joined the OVC) and I got every sport pretty even for both plans and both had a 10 team SOC I, but I think could make another one with Jackson being the 8th team in SOC II (with St. Joe joining SOC I and South Webster moving down to help scheduling). Jackson's wrestling team would have to join somewhere else or go independent though since no other SOC school has it but maybe they could joim Chesapeake, Fairland, and Gallia Academy to create a league for Wrestling since the TVC wouldn't take them.

[Ironman92]

Quite honestly, as a loyal supporter of Jackson....only the SOC is interesting/exciting to me. I like competing against this schools and they typically compete well throughout the sports. No other league interests me at all.

[courier]

With Portsmouth being denied I'd really have to question the reasoning if Jackson was to be admitted. It would have been an interesting league if Jackson Ironton Portsmouth and Gallia Academy were admitted.