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OHSAA recommending seventh division for football
COMMENT: How would this affect Ohio high school football?
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
An OHSAA subcommittee is hoping to split Division I in half, meaning a seventh division in football would be formed. The possible plan was announced today in a news release by the OHSAA:
An Ohio High School Athletic Association subcommittee has recommended to the OHSAA Board of Directors that, in the sport of football, Division I be divided in half, with the top four teams from each region qualifying for the OHSAA tournaments.
As part of the proposal, Divisions II through VI would continue to have the same approximate number of schools assigned to their respective divisions along with eight tournament qualifiers from each region. The proposal means that a seventh division would be added in football.
The chief issue the subcommittee attempted to address is the large variance in enrollment that occurs in Division I, where the smallest school in the division currently has 528 boys and the largest has 1,246. The proposed change would mean a smaller number of schools would be placed within each of the upper two divisions, with the result being that the two divisions would be comprised of schools with more similar enrollments.
Since the proposal would not mean a possible change to OHSAA Bylaws but rather the Association's Sports Regulations, the Board of Directors could act solely on the recommendation without a vote from the member schools.
Mike Richards, president of the OHSAA Board of Directors and principal of the Allen East Local Schools in Harrod, issued the following statement in regards to the proposal: "The recommendation was presented to the Board of Directors and our plans are to study the proposal further," Richards said. "We also have not set a timetable for acting on the recommendation. I can safely say that, should the proposal be accepted or a modification of the proposal be approved, we do not anticipate implementation of a change occurring in the next few years."
Richards said included in the Board's plans to study the proposal is to obtain input from the schools that are currently in Division I and to try to gauge the economic impact of the potential change. He added that it would be inappropriate for himself, other Board members or subcommittee members to comment further on the proposal until the Board takes action. The subcommittee was comprised of superintendents, principals, athletic administrators and coaches from across the state along with OHSAA administrative staff members.
"We continually hear feedback that our football tournaments are some of the best in the country, but, like everything else in which we are involved, we continually want to review what we do," OHSAA Commissioner Daniel B. Ross, Ph.D., said. "The committee was charged with looking at our tournaments to try to determine if our format is the best and if they are conducted as fairly as possible. On behalf of our Board, I want to thank the committee for meeting its charge."
Comments
By jonas
September 25, 2009 8:49 AM | Link to this
What is the purpose of this old article? October thru December 2008.
By Todd
December 26, 2008 5:48 PM | Link to this
Remember it goes by how many girls enrolled in the school for girls sports, and how many boys are enrolled in the school for boys sports.
St Ignatius has 1086 boys in their school (all boy school), under the current D-1 division which is 528 boys, St Ignatius could have two D-1 TEAMS, meaning their JV team could play as a Varsity D-1 team as well.
By Pops
November 30, 2008 7:25 PM | Link to this
Look who won the 2008 Division Two Football Crown. Nobody talks about this team. “SYLVANIA SOUTHVIEW” is a GREAT TEAM!!!! Theyre players just proved they can win it all! Its over………save your trash talking for next year. Maybe your team will make it all the way………maybe not ………..
By Joel
November 11, 2008 7:53 PM | Link to this
Either make this division and put Mayfield in it or put Mayfield in D-1!!!
By Joel
November 11, 2008 7:51 PM | Link to this
This would be great! I hate how Mayfield home to the Wildcats in NE Ohio always have to play teams that are half their size and even less! I mean it’s fun watching them beat everyone every year and go to the playoffs almost yearly but it gets old and i want to see some competition with some bigger and talented schools! for instance Mayfield with over 2100 students just played Archbishop Hoban a catholic school with only 800 students! Thats almost 3 times Smaller i mean common.
By highschool football fan
October 9, 2008 11:03 PM | Link to this
This should boast well for the Lebanon football team. They get drilled everytime they play a good D1 team. All I hear is how good they are but the teams they play against almost always have a loosing record. I was dissapointed to here them join the pansy divison of the WOL. Lebanon it is time to man up and schedule good teams. Your only chance to make the playoffs is for the ohsaa to make a small school division 1. Good luck girls…
By MoellerFan
October 9, 2008 8:42 PM | Link to this
Cool! Moeller ought to be able to dominate that D1 second tier!
By Bizzle
October 9, 2008 7:51 PM | Link to this
James…I am dumb huh? You missed the point. Public schools such as Trotwood and Graham have had recruiting violations swirling around them for years. The Schlatter kid from DeSales goes to Graham? DeSales and Graham are nowhere close to each other. All I am saying is that public schools are just as guilty of recruiting. I teach and coach in a public school and I get sick of the excuse that Catholic schools recruit…get over it…just win games and it solves the problem.
By boxter
October 9, 2008 7:04 PM | Link to this
Split D2 & D3 also. Split all of them. Don’t let the private schools have sports anymore while you’re at it. Maybe if they split it enough EVERYONE can make the playoffs and we’ll be able to tell all of our children, “they are winners”. Give them a trophy and put their name in the paper but what ever we do amke sure they don’t have to EARN anything. What a joke.
By Ty
October 9, 2008 5:31 PM | Link to this
That seems like a good split, except Troy and Xenia are competitive on the big schools level. Troy is among the better high school football teams in the area. Xenia can be competitive too - they just need to keep a good coach around. It’s all in the coaching. A good coach can take a rag-tag group of kids and turn them into a respected, competitive football team, once he instill some discipline. I’ve seen it happen over and over again.
By Patrick
October 9, 2008 2:19 PM | Link to this
How tired is the argument that Catholic schools recruit in order to win games? Goodness gracious, it’s pathetic! Bottom line - these accusations are leveled by individuals who needs excuses for their failures on the field. Why don’t you try taking accountability for your missteps and lack of competitiveness and work to improve yourself instead of trying to shift blame to others? That’s precisely the sort of work ethic and determination cultivated in Catholic schools, and that’s why we win.
By LizardKingLives
October 9, 2008 1:56 PM | Link to this
Fan you must be retarded making comments like “Top schools in small divisions can play with any of the “big boys”.Facts are this smaller schools do not have a chance against bigger schools that is why they created divisions to start with…duh. under your thinking all schools should be in one division and play for one title.A top small school may be able to play occasionally-but not often.Like the saying goes-even a blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while.
By LizardKingLives
October 9, 2008 1:41 PM | Link to this
Bizzle - Catholic schools is where us city school kids went for the easy girls, the drugs and the gambling…hehehe.
By reality check
October 9, 2008 1:35 PM | Link to this
It is not the number of boys….it is the number of athletes. The Lebanon Coach says it is not an excuse….well, why even bring it up. The Lebanon youth program has as many particpants as any program….develop players.
Alter could compete with the D-1’s, they drilled Fairmont.
It is the program….not the number of boys.
By Brent
October 9, 2008 12:59 PM | Link to this
7th Division they talk about the difference between schools but the other sports always have had that. Using their number of 1,246 Girls Soccer (2 Divisions) = 942 difference Total teams = 470 Football is at what (7 Div.) = 715 total teams (a 722 difference). All other sports in Ohio has a bigger difference than that of football Volleyball (4 div.) 796 team Boy’s Basketball (4 Div.) 803 teams Girl’s BBall (4 Div.) 800 teams
By Bill
October 9, 2008 12:05 PM | Link to this
I like the idea. In the Miami Valley we need more “big school” teams. Right now, the only teams competitive statewide are, Centerville, Wayne and sometimes Northmont. It looks like Beavercreek has finally come into it’s own, too. Let’s not break that down into more “small schools”. Let’s get more teams in the “big schools” division.
By james
October 9, 2008 11:55 AM | Link to this
Bizzle - you should really just stop talking.
No matter where you’re from I’m pretty sure they would be willing to wrestle your school…if it would even be worth the trip.
8x state champions, USA Today Overall National Champion last year…took down St. EDs (the D1 state champ last year) not once, but twice once in a tournament once head to head.
Just stop talking, we’re all getting dumber reading your thoughts.
By 86trojan
October 9, 2008 9:55 AM | Link to this
Do they teach proper English and grammar at those Catholic schools? Do the elite athletes pay the same tuition as all the rest?
By Played Div V live Div IV
October 9, 2008 9:49 AM | Link to this
Perhaps it’s time to look regionally at how best to divide the schools into equitable divisions (some rural regions won’t have enough D-I schools, Metropolitan schools have lots of D-I opponents nearby (cost of travel is a factor in setting schedules for schools with lower tax base) we need to go back to 4 divisions with an equal number of schools in each division in each region 8 teams total make the playoffs, regardless of region
By T800
October 9, 2008 9:44 AM | Link to this
Once this economy thing hits full circle there will be a lot more kids going back to public schools. When this happens public schools will dominate and the same people on here talking crap will be crying about how unfair it is and that the public schools have unfair advantage and then they will be begging for this proposal.
By kurt
October 9, 2008 7:59 AM | Link to this
Arguing about how to appropriately break down divisions is like arguing about tax rate differentials,depending on income.The ultra-rich ARE rich because they have undue influence on tax law.The St. X’s and Ignatius’s are crying foul because they didn’t get their lobbyist in the door—boo hoo hoo.If you can afford to play an out of state school [on the road] or travel across the state on Friday—too bad,suck it up—you’re BIG BOYS now
By Warpath93
October 9, 2008 7:55 AM | Link to this
Affirmative Action for HS football.
By Patchy
October 9, 2008 7:17 AM | Link to this
If there is expansion at the top there should be contraction at the bottom. Six current divisions is far too many and is symptomatic of the ‘everyone gets a trophy’ self-esteem culture.
Every year we read about so-called powerhouse teams with names that are longer than their school buildings like Muddycreek Wheatfield Northeast Central or One Stoplight Consolidated Senior High. Sadly for them the OHSAA has diluted the meaning of a championship.
By Mick
October 9, 2008 7:00 AM | Link to this
Jammin you’re wrong. I’m sorry to say it but you are. I am 20 years old and when I went to south I was ALWAYS either lifting in the weight room, playing baseball, or wrestling. While doing all of this is “somehow” managed to get straight A’s in all of my classes including my advanced classes (AP calc, AP english, AP government). Now that I’m in the “real world” I have a full time position as a contractor at Wright-Patterson AFB probably making more money than you are.
By VietVet
October 9, 2008 7:00 AM | Link to this
The success of the parochial schools is a fact. Their track record of consistent top ten teams and winning state championships is noted.They don’t recruit, they attract.If I had a son with football talent and I could afford the tuition,I would send him to a parochial school too.He has a better chance being admitted to a Div.1 college.Because of this,it gives the parochial schools an advantage over the public schools in the talent level.Just the way it is.Won’t hurt to try this.Change back if it
By Jammin
October 9, 2008 5:40 AM | Link to this
Too much emphasis on playoffs-too much emphasis on $$$. Not everyone should make the playoffs-put the emphasis on education-these kids are spending more time playing sports than in the classroom, which is why half of them are’nt prepared for life after high school when they get into the real world-and please, leave your racist, political crap out of my only retreat from this type of BS.
By Mike
October 9, 2008 12:32 AM | Link to this
That would be a good idea. We want to get more teams in the playoffs. Adding another week to the playoff system isn’t practical - the playoffs would be longer than the regular season. Adding another division makes a lot of sense. Kudos to OHSAA.
By Tim
October 9, 2008 12:15 AM | Link to this
RACISM DEAD IGNORANCE BREAD… TO HELL WITH THIS BLOG…..
By j
October 8, 2008 11:37 PM | Link to this
HEY VOTE GOP, WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU SAYING DUDE. WHATS WITH THE N WORD ON THIS SITE. AND TO EVERYBODY WHO FOLLOWED AFTER HIM WITH COMMENTS THAT EITHER DIDNT CARE HE SAID THIS OR AGREE WITH HIM. WHY IS THE JOURNAL LETTING THIS POST STAY, SOMEONE SHOULD HAVE REMOVED HIS/HER POST. ARE YOU FOR REAL
By Best idea yet
October 8, 2008 8:38 PM | Link to this
It’s an idea and not a bad one. But, after awhile aren’t you really, really making a STATE CHAMPIONSHIP mean less and less. When I was in HS in the 80’s, we had 3 divisions and 2 teams per region made the playoffs. Not to take anything away from today’s teams, but you really had to be special to win a state title back then. I’d rather see them add more teams to the playoffs… or just open it to everyone, like in basketball.
By bigogar
October 8, 2008 8:20 PM | Link to this
This is to bizzie, I don’t know where you are from but let me tell you that there are alot of people that knows where GRAHAM IS!!!!! One of the DIV-2 FINAL-4 in BASKETBALL and if you have not heard, 8-TIME DIV-2 STATE CHAMPS & 2008 NATIONAL CHAMPS!!!!!!!!!! So how many of your Catholic schools have did that in 1 year???????????
By RWF
October 8, 2008 8:20 PM | Link to this
Amazing, I am from Louisville and the comments against Catholic schools playing sports (mainly football) are very similar to what’s in Kentucky. There has been a huge referendum for years by the Superintendents/ADs/principal of some public school districts to have all Catholic schools play in there own division. It has never passed, and has even gone to the legislature. The cry has been about recruiting, all unsubstantiated. The state & KHSAA say if there is a recruiting violation, report it!
By fan
October 8, 2008 8:15 PM | Link to this
Top schools in small divisions can play with any of the “big boys”. I would put Coldwater against anyone last year or this year. This is D-1 schools(Troy) whining about being beaten annually by D-2 schools (Trotwood). Oh yeah, what happened to big bad Colerain last week?? Fact is, coaches who care about the kids and not advancing their own careers will draw players without recruiting.
By R J..Miamisburg
October 8, 2008 7:58 PM | Link to this
Cont-A school like Elder plays Major Div 1 teams from around the USA, One reason they rank in the Top 100 USA or Rivals each year. Not afraid to play the big boys of DeLacord Cal, Or StAqua of Fla. year end and out they play the Best in Ohio-Indy-Ky and else where. Same goes for the St X or LaSalles or Moe’s The History makes the Kids Want to go to these schools.. Plus wheredoes the retired PRO NFL players Kids go> Yep Catholic Schools.Its Why Their the Best in Cincy.. Would you not do the same?
By Alter Grad
October 8, 2008 7:58 PM | Link to this
Andy, Your attitude towards Catholic Schools is exactly what is wrong with most public schools. Do you only want your kids to experience mediocrity and never have the chance to rise to the occasion and triumph over a team that is more talented? We play to win just “one” game against a team better than us. I played over 20 years ago on some of the best teams Alter has had. I will always remember the games that we won as underdogs, but can’t remember the ones when we blew them away.
By bizzle
October 8, 2008 7:53 PM | Link to this
All you public school people need to check your own backyard and see why kids in your district aren’t going to your school. You can sit there and whine about the catholic schools recruiting, but the bottom line is that that Catholis School have tuition, there are limited remedial classes, generally have 2nd tier facilities in comparision to a public school, have to wear uniforms, and generally have more restrictive discipline codes. And by the way has anyone ever heard of Trotwood or Graham?
By R J..Miamisburg
October 8, 2008 7:51 PM | Link to this
Their someone goes again with the Catholic Schools recruit crap. If you have the kind of history a school like Elder has, you would know that the kids going to Elder all had their Dad’s-GrandDads-Great GrandDads-Uncles-Cousins-brothers and the kid next door that went to Elder. They have on this years team Kids who roots go back 3 or 4 Generation. Even have kids who older brothers were part of the 02-03 State teams. They dont ever move from the West Side of Cincy. They don’t need to Recruit.Cont.
By Joe
October 8, 2008 7:41 PM | Link to this
Catholic schools do not recruit individual athletes; that’s illegal. If you know of a recruiting violation, report it to the OHSAA. Also, size is no guarantee of success; see Cincy Oak Hills. Any advantage the Catholic schools may have in drawing from a large area is more than offset by annual tuition of $7,000 or more. Bottom line: get better coaching, develop a better work ethic in your kids, and get better community support. This is not rocket science.
By Jeff
October 8, 2008 6:53 PM | Link to this
What they need to do is allow schools with between 450 and 650 boys decide if they want to be D-I or D-II. Then proud schools like Troy can be D-I, and the whiners can excel in D-II.
By Andy
October 8, 2008 6:09 PM | Link to this
Love the idea! These smaller schools can’t compete with your Upper Arlington’s and St. X’s. It also will make the games closer and more exciting. I think also there should be a seperate playoffs for the Catholic schools, since they are private and do recruit.
By Paul
October 8, 2008 6:05 PM | Link to this
Why stop with football!!! These smaller D-1 schools cannot compete with the huge ones. There’s a greater difference in D-1 than in D-2 thru D-6 combined.
By New Strategy?
October 8, 2008 5:26 PM | Link to this
What about if ALL the private schools were placed into there respected divisions? Is there enough private schools to do this with? That would be some GREAT football,especially since they recruit.
By rj
October 8, 2008 5:25 PM | Link to this
I’m not sure how many schools participate in football, but for the sake of my point, let’s say there is 130.
Therefore, let’s split into 130 divisions, and everybody can be a champion………
By TheTroyTrojan
October 8, 2008 4:40 PM | Link to this
I know Coach Nolan up here in Troy was upset of a possible downgrade to division 2, but, who knows how he would feel about this…he probably is not going to like it.
By Carl
October 8, 2008 4:13 PM | Link to this
Sounds like some coaches of smaller D-1 schools are complaining because they aren’t good enough to make the playoffs. Keep the playoffs as they are now, don’t mess with what has worked. Coaches can do a better job as well as players can do a better job.