MisterGalliaGuy2016 wrote: ↑Wed Oct 16, 2024 1:28 pm
Carmen Ohio wrote: ↑Wed Oct 16, 2024 11:31 am
MisterGalliaGuy2016 wrote: ↑Wed Oct 16, 2024 11:16 am
I'm not sure why any OVC school agreed to schedule Ironton, or why they agreed to leave them in the league for the other sports. Should've given them the boot all around.
If you don’t know why they kept them in other sports you probably shouldn’t share your thoughts in public because they are assuredly wrong.
LOL. Bite me. Football and boys basketball are the only revenue sports that generate ticket sales and Ironton basketball fans don't travel NEARLY as well as Ironton football fans. I'm sure it was written into the agreement for Ironton to leave the OVC for football only, but that just seemed like giving them the Notre Dame treatment, where they stay independent for football, yet keep a conference for the less popular winter and spring sports.
Is it really worth keeping them in the league for a few road basketball games and Gallia, Portsmouth, and Fairland getting spanked in football every year? Is it?
It’s not like Ironton is dominant in those other sports, why would schools not play them? Ironton didn’t choose to leave in football. That was an OVC vote. Ironton sits in the middle of OVC schools in regards to travel, so it’s not an inconvenience. The only considerable travel is to Gallia. Driving from Coal Grove to Ironton for a school night volleyball game is much more convenient for fans than driving to Gallipolis
As far as the teams playing in football, Ironton/Portsmouth is the second longest running rivalry in Ohio high school football. It started long before the OVC existed and will be around long after. Fairland seems to be a successful program and wants to take the next step. You have to play outside the conference to find more competition. Gallia used to be a hard nosed and tough program. Not sure what has happened recently.
As I said, you might want to reconsider your public thoughts because they just come off as a whiner holding a grudge instead of someone who has the ability to think objectively.