OVC & SOC Merge Talk

[OVCFan1]

I could see Symmes Valley joining the OVC and Oak Hill being interested in it.
Question is is only Ohio teams going to be considered if not Raceland and or Russell would be great options to join the OVC.
I know Kentucky has district games than has to be played but both teams only play 3 district games a piece and that would allow them to play 7 other games.
Another option would be Ashland and Jackson the question would be will Ashland agree to play Ironton again if so it would be interesting in seeing a conference that looked like this.

Tier 1
Ironton
Ashland
Russell
Jackson
Fairland
Gallia

Tier 2
Coal Grove
South Point
Chesapeake
Rock Hill
Oak hill
Symmes Valley
Raceland

One would have 6 teams and one would have 7 teams.
But overall it would be a pretty decent conference in all sports and travel would be on not great but ok.

Again, Ky teams don't have a conference structure anymore, they have a State controlled District structure. The schools must maintain enough games in their district to qualify for post season...they would have a hard time joining a league in Ohio....Again, that's the way I understand it...

[OVCFan1]

https://khsaa.org/current-alignment-basketball/

This is basketball and the same principal applies to all sports

The Kentucky High School Athletic Association shall sponsor postseason competition in basketball for boys and for girls, provided that there is sufficient interest of the membership and such is approved by the Board of Control. The Commissioner shall divide the state into geographic sections with the approval of the Board of Control. The alignment shall be reviewed for changes to be effective with the 2013-2014 school year and every four years thereafter. In the interim, newly added or deleted programs will be handled on a case by case basis by the Commissioner’s office.
As of August 15, 2014, the alignment in basketball is —
REGION 1
District 1 – Carlisle County, Fulton City, Fulton County, Hickman County
District 2 – Community Christian, McCracken County, Paducah Tilghman, St. Mary
District 3 – Ballard Memorial, Graves County, Mayfield
District 4 – Calloway County, Christian Fellowship, Marshall County, Murray
REGION 2
District 5 – Crittenden County, Livingston Central, Lyon County, Trigg County
District 6 – Henderson County, Union County, Webster County
District 7 – Caldwell County, Dawson Springs, Hopkins County Central, Madisonville-North Hopkins
District 8 – Christian County, Fort Campbell, Hopkinsville, University Heights
REGION 3
District 9 – Apollo, Daviess County, Owensboro, Owensboro Catholic
District 10 – McLean County, Muhlenberg County, Ohio County
District 11 – Breckinridge County, Frederick Fraize, Hancock County, Meade County
District 12 – Butler County, Edmonson County, Grayson County, Trinity (Whitesville)
REGION 4
District 13 – Franklin-Simpson, Logan County, Russellville, Todd County Central
District 14 – Bowling Green, Greenwood, South Warren, Warren Central, Warren East
District 15 – Allen County-Scottsville, Barren County, Glasgow, Monroe County
District 16 – Clinton County, Cumberland County, Metcalfe County, Russell County
REGION 5
District 17 – Central Hardin, Elizabethtown, Fort Knox, John Hardin, North Hardin
District 18 – Caverna, Green County, Hart County, LaRue County
District 19 – Bardstown, Bethlehem, Nelson County, Thomas Nelson, Washington County
District 20 – Adair County, Campbellsville, Marion County, Taylor County
REGION 6
District 21 – Beth Haven, Fairdale, Holy Cross (Louisville), Pleasure Ridge Park, Valley
District 22 – Butler, DeSales, Doss, Iroquois, Western
District 23 – Bullitt Central, Evangel Christian, Moore, North Bullitt, Southern
District 24 – Bullitt East, Fern Creek, Jeffersontown, Mercy (Girls), Whitefield Academy,
REGION 7
District 25 – Central, DuPont Manual, Portland Christian, Presentation (Girls), Shawnee, St. Francis
District 26 – Assumption (Girls), Brown, Louisville Collegiate, Male, St. Xavier (Boys)
District 27 – Atherton, Sacred Heart (Girls), Seneca, Trinity (Louisville) (Boys), Waggener
District 28 – Ballard, Christian Academy-Louisville, Eastern, Kentucky Country Day, Walden
REGION 8District 29 – North Oldham, Oldham County, South Oldham, Trimble County
District 30 – Anderson County, Collins, Shelby County, Spencer County
District 31 – Carroll County, Eminence, Gallatin County, Henry County, Owen County
District 32 – Grant County, Simon Kenton, Walton-Verona, Williamstown
REGION 9
District 33 – Boone County, Conner, Heritage, Cooper, Ryle
District 34 – Dixie Heights, Lloyd Memorial, Ludlow, St. Henry District, Villa Madonna
District 35 – Beechwood, Covington Catholic (Boys), Covington Latin, Holmes, Holy Cross (Covington), Notre Dame (Girls)
District 36 – Bellevue, Dayton, Highlands, Newport, Newport Central Catholic
REGION 10
District 37 – Bishop Brossart, Calvary Christian, Campbell County, Scott, Silver Grove
District 38 – Harrison County, Nicholas County, Pendleton County, Robertson County
District 39 – Augusta, Bracken County, Mason County, St. Patrick
District 40 – Bourbon County, George Rogers Clark, Montgomery County, Paris
REGION 11
District 41 – Frankfort, Franklin County, Western Hills, Woodford County
District 42 – Bryan Station, Henry Clay, Sayre, Scott County
District 43 – Lafayette, Lexington Catholic, Lexington Christian, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Tates Creek
District 44 – Berea, Madison Central, Madison Southern, Model
REGION 12
District 45 – Boyle County, Danville, Garrard County, Kentucky School f/t Deaf, Lincoln County
District 46 – Burgin, East Jessamine, Mercer County, West Jessamine
District 47 – Casey County, Pulaski County, Rockcastle County, Somerset
District 48 – McCreary Central, Southwestern, Wayne County
REGION 13
District 49 – Clay County, Jackson County, North Laurel, Oneida Baptist, Red Bird
District 50 – Corbin, South Laurel, Whitley County, Williamsburg
District 51 – Barbourville, Knox Central, Lynn Camp, Pineville
District 52 – Bell County, Harlan, Harlan County, Middlesboro
REGION 14
District 53 – Cordia, Jenkins, Knott County Central, Letcher County Central
District 54 – Buckhorn, Hazard, Leslie County, Perry County Central
District 55 – Breathitt County, Jackson City, Riverside Christian, Wolfe County
District 56 – Estill County, Lee County, Owsley County, Powell County
REGION 15
District 57 – Johnson Central, Magoffin County, Paintsville, Sheldon Clark
District 58 – Allen Central, Betsy Layne, Prestonsburg, South Floyd
District 59 – East Ridge, Piarist, Pikeville, Shelby Valley
District 60 – Belfry, Lawrence County, Phelps, Pike County Central
REGION 16
District 61 – Bath County, Fleming County, Menifee County, Rowan CountyDistrict 62 – East Carter, Elliott County, Morgan County, West Carter
District 63 – Greenup County, Lewis County, Raceland, Russell
District 64 – Ashland Blazer, Boyd County, Fairview, Rose Hill

[fielddaddy]

I could see Symmes Valley joining the OVC and Oak Hill being interested in it.
Question is is only Ohio teams going to be considered if not Raceland and or Russell would be great options to join the OVC.
I know Kentucky has district games than has to be played but both teams only play 3 district games a piece and that would allow them to play 7 other games.
Another option would be Ashland and Jackson the question would be will Ashland agree to play Ironton again if so it would be interesting in seeing a conference that looked like this.

Tier 1
Ironton
Ashland
Russell
Jackson
Fairland
Gallia

Tier 2
Coal Grove
South Point
Chesapeake
Rock Hill
Oak hill
Symmes Valley
Raceland

One would have 6 teams and one would have 7 teams.
But overall it would be a pretty decent conference in all sports and travel would be on not great but ok.

Again, Ky teams don't have a conference structure anymore, they have a State controlled District structure. The schools must maintain enough games in their district to qualify for post season...they would have a hard time joining a league in Ohio....Again, that's the way I understand it...

Ashland and Russell are in the same district which is only 4 teams.
Raceland has only 4 teams in it.
I'm not sure if they are required to play other teams in KY outside their district to qualify for playoffs I only know that Raceland Ashland and Russell only show 4 total teams in each of their district rankings

[OVCFan1]

I could see Symmes Valley joining the OVC and Oak Hill being interested in it.
Question is is only Ohio teams going to be considered if not Raceland and or Russell would be great options to join the OVC.
I know Kentucky has district games than has to be played but both teams only play 3 district games a piece and that would allow them to play 7 other games.
Another option would be Ashland and Jackson the question would be will Ashland agree to play Ironton again if so it would be interesting in seeing a conference that looked like this.

Tier 1
Ironton
Ashland
Russell
Jackson
Fairland
Gallia

Tier 2
Coal Grove
South Point
Chesapeake
Rock Hill
Oak hill
Symmes Valley
Raceland

One would have 6 teams and one would have 7 teams.
But overall it would be a pretty decent conference in all sports and travel would be on not great but ok.

Again, Ky teams don't have a conference structure anymore, they have a State controlled District structure. The schools must maintain enough games in their district to qualify for post season...they would have a hard time joining a league in Ohio....Again, that's the way I understand it...

Ashland and Russell are in the same district which is only 4 teams.
Raceland has only 4 teams in it.
I'm not sure if they are required to play other teams in KY outside their district to qualify for playoffs I only know that Raceland Ashland and Russell only show 4 total teams in each of their district rankings

I believe they need to play so many in their region. but, you may be right. but if so, I still say you'd never get the KY schools in today's age...they would want to play the teams in their region for voting purposes on the post season. a game or 2 a year is one thing, a full conference schedule on top of needed district/region with scheduling would be a nightmare.

[Orange and Brown]

Again, Ky teams don't have a conference structure anymore, they have a State controlled District structure. The schools must maintain enough games in their district to qualify for post season...they would have a hard time joining a league in Ohio....Again, that's the way I understand it...

Ashland and Russell are in the same district which is only 4 teams.
Raceland has only 4 teams in it.
I'm not sure if they are required to play other teams in KY outside their district to qualify for playoffs I only know that Raceland Ashland and Russell only show 4 total teams in each of their district rankings

I believe they need to play so many in their region. but, you may be right. but if so, I still say you'd never get the KY schools in today's age...they would want to play the teams in their region for voting purposes on the post season. a game or 2 a year is one thing, a full conference schedule on top of needed district/region with scheduling would be a nightmare.

Regions in Kentucky have 3 to 5 teams in them and you are required to play those games. They have dedicated weeks on the schedule for region play.

[trojandave]

fielddaddy: You left Portsmouth out of your Tier 1 and Tier 2 alignments.

[Billy Brave]

Is the OVC just being preemptive in preparation for Ironton's eventual departure?

I think this is an attempted compromise between Ironton and OVC, so Ironton doesn't have to schedule South Point, Chesapeake and Rock Hill in football, but can keep rest of their sports in OVC where they belong. Independence would work for Ironton football, but not for any other sport.

Since OVC wants 2 divisions, they need to add 4 schools in an ideal scenario. Some schools that make sense include Jackson, Wellston, Oak Hill, and Symmes Valley.*

Take River Valley too. Please?

[fielddaddy]

fielddaddy: You left Portsmouth out of your Tier 1 and Tier 2 alignments.

My bad I would put Portsmouth in Tier 1 with Ironton I believe they would be ok in that tier of schools

[Jason Vorhees]

Here’s some previous schools and their football records while in Conference:

St Joe (1962-1979):
1962: 5-5
1963: 9-1 (OVC Champs)
1964: 9-0 (OVC Champs)
1965: 2-7
1966: 5-4-1
1967: 6-4
1968: 5-4
1969: 6-3-1
1970: 7-3
1971: 7-2 (OVC Champs)
1972: 0-10
1973: 1-8-1
1974: 8-2 (OVC Quad-Champs)
1975: 3-7
1976: 3-6-1
1977: 1-7-1
1978: 2-8
1979: 3-6

Symmes Valley (1962-71; 1977-1984)

1962: 1-8
1963: 3-6
1964: 1-8-1
1965: 2-8
1966: 4-6
1967: 1-8-1
1968: 1-9
1969: 1-9
1970: 0-10
1971: 2-8
1977: 1-7
1978: 2-8
1979: 0-10
1980: 0-10
1981: 1-9
1982: 4-5-1
1983: 1-8-1
1984: 0-10

I don’t think the answer is expansion. I think that the answer is something similar to the OVAC in the Eastern Portion of the State.

[Vegeta]

Add Jackson and Piketon then combine the OVC and SOC.

SOVC IV
Ironton
Jackson
Waverly
Portsmouth
Gallia Academy
Wheelersburg

SOVC III
Portsmouth West
Fairland
Minford
South Point
Piketon
Chesapeake

SOVC II
Rock Hill
Oak Hill
South Webster
Valley
Dawson-Bryant
Northwest

SOVC I
Clay
Eastern
Western
Notre Dame
Sciotoville Community
Symmes Valley
South Gallia
Green
St. Joseph
Glenwood

[goUK]

Portsmouth would not agree to that. OVC can just stay as is and split into 2 football divisions. The rest if the sports are extremely competitive. You could do 1-2 crossover games or not. Either way this will free up a few non conference games for ironton football, which we know is the reason for this. Even though they have been to state twice in the current set up which proves its not a deal breaker to make it all the way. I could definitely see Gallia wanting to leave, but they cant compete with bigger schools in most sports so the tvc would be the only option. Im sure the twin state league is knocking as well.

Ironton
Portsmouth
Fairland
Gallia

Rock hill
South point
Coal grove
Chesapeake

[greygoose]

Add Jackson and Piketon then combine the OVC and SOC.

SOVC IV
Ironton
Jackson
Waverly
Portsmouth
Gallia Academy
Wheelersburg

SOVC III
Portsmouth West
Fairland
Minford
South Point
Piketon
Chesapeake

SOVC II
Rock Hill
Oak Hill
South Webster
Valley
Dawson-Bryant
Northwest

SOVC I
Clay
Eastern
Western
Notre Dame
Sciotoville Community
Symmes Valley
South Gallia
Green
St. Joseph
Glenwood

Just need to leave the SOC out of it, you'd be better off asking a leopard to change it's spots.

[Beergogglebluez]

Jackson is division 3 it seems silly to keep bringing them up. Most of the ovc school are d5 and a few kids from 6 or division 6. I think it will be 2 small schools.

[Vegeta]

If the SOC refuses to get with the times like many of the backwards minds in southeast Ohio, I think the only options are possibly trying to reach out to Oak Hill and River Valley. Maybe a set-up like the one presented below would suffice. I don't see many other alternatives for expansion outside of maybe Symmes Valley which is probably on the too small side of the equation.

Ironton
Portsmouth
Gallia Academy
Fairland
South Point

Dawson-Bryant
Rock Hill
Chesapeake
Oak Hill
River Valley

[TigerBob]

I still have not thought of or seen proposed a school that makes sense for everyone in the league.

Jackson - Gallia a hard no, why would they lock in a bunch of D5/6 teams in football and D3 at best in all others?

Oak Hill - What do they gain by moving? What do they add by joining?

Symmes Valley - Too small, they’d move from a league that makes sense competitively to one that makes sense geographically, but they can’t compete in any sport on a routine basis

River Valley - Does the OVC really make more sense than current home? Do Ironton and Portsmouth want to make that trip routinely?

Minford - Makes sense competitively and geographically, but they’d need to be really unhappy to switch, as it’s at best an even move

Wheelersburg - lol

West - Good fit competitively, they’d probably double their drive times to join, not sure why they’d do that

Northwest - I can see their motivation, currently between SOC I and II in terms of competition and would be a better fit in OVC. Not sure why current OVC schools looking to add them though, what are they really adding in terms of membership

Other schools like Green and St. Joe are a stretch even as additions in a potential “small school half” of the OVC.

Maybe one of these schools makes a bad decision, it happens all the time. Just not sure I see who it really makes sense for.

[greygoose]

I still have not thought of or seen proposed a school that makes sense for everyone in the league.

Jackson - Gallia a hard no, why would they lock in a bunch of D5/6 teams in football and D3 at best in all others?

Oak Hill - What do they gain by moving? What do they add by joining?

Symmes Valley - Too small, they’d move from a league that makes sense competitively to one that makes sense geographically, but they can’t compete in any sport on a routine basis

River Valley - Does the OVC really make more sense than current home? Do Ironton and Portsmouth want to make that trip routinely?

Minford - Makes sense competitively and geographically, but they’d need to be really unhappy to switch, as it’s at best an even move

Wheelersburg - lol

West - Good fit competitively, they’d probably double their drive times to join, not sure why they’d do that

Northwest - I can see their motivation, currently between SOC I and II in terms of competition and would be a better fit in OVC. Not sure why current OVC schools looking to add them though, what are they really adding in terms of membership

Other schools like Green and St. Joe are a stretch even as additions in a potential “small school half” of the OVC.

Maybe one of these schools makes a bad decision, it happens all the time. Just not sure I see who it really makes sense for.

I get some of your talking points on a few teams but to sit here and say what does this team add by joining I disagree with. Simply because you've got teams in the current league now that really add nothing to the league as a whole other than a number. This is a football site so I'm only speaking in terms of football quality only. I think you hit the nail on the head with more than 1 team when discussing who might want to stay or go and that's drive times. A team like Northwest would be a better fit for OVC play both in size and playing style and they offer more to the league than say a Rock Hill or South Point especially with the new facilities plus with them being closest to the bypass road travel makes a bit more sense still not ideal. Symmes Valley is another I get ppl mentioning but that's simply based on location I don't think Symmes gains anything from a competitive stand point by joining especially given their school size. Jackson I'm with ya, no way even if teams wanted to let them in I don't think Jackson would. Oak Hill probably one of the teams that makes the most sense based on size and location although going up and down 93 that trip sucks but they offer just as much as some of the other teams in the league as well. River Valley have to agree with you there also location is probably going to knock them out of that. I think you've got a good list of teams but Northwest, Oak Hill, (possibly River Valley but doubtful) as the 2 most logical moves that could be made.

[BuckeyeBlood]

I think you have to look at the big picture, long term and not just currently or the last year or 2.
Northwest does make sense in some aspects like size and playing style. But competitively and travel they do not. Proctorville to McDermott is an hour and 10 minutes. Although that’s not horrible on school nights let’s say for basketball you’re getting home pretty late. Still not terrible though. Competition wise I think Northwest wouldn’t bring much at all. They are up and down in most sports, they’ve been up I guess recently but it wasn’t long ago they were as bad as bad can get in football. Would’ve likely finished last place in the OVC those years too. I think they’ll be back at that point sooner than later.
Jackson really to me makes 0 sense at all. Once again it’s about an hour and 15 minute drive from Proctorville. Jackson is D3 they would gain very little by playing most of these schools. They only team who would have anything for them in football is Ironton, and Jackson was better than Ironton this past season, idc the result.
Symmes Valley is pretty small. Travel would make sense for most schools. Speaking competitively they would have beat some of the OVC schools this past season imo. But that’s not something that would happen on a regular basis.
Oak Hill makes sense from a geographical standpoint, not great but about an hour at the farthest. They’ve been up and down. Would be near the bottom some years, middle of the pack most years. 93 is a terrible road to drive on as well.
Really just don’t think any of these schools fit in well long term. I think it would be a mistake for any of them to join. OVC expansion talks should probably hear more towards WV schools. WV schools to Portsmouth would be an hour + so not ideal on school nights but once again not terrible, it’s doable.

[wobycat]

The ovc needs two teams so they can split the division. I think symmes valley, would be a great fit for the lower division and possibly adding Jackson or river valley. I don’t think any other local teams will join

[mattash]

Symmes Valley, Oak Hill, Northwest and River Valley. If they can get 2 of the 4 .

[mattash]

OVC1
Ironton
Portsmouth
South Point
Fairland
Gallia Academy
Chesapeake

OVC2
Symmes Valley
Coal Grove
Oak Hill
Northwest
River Valley
Rock Hill