Conference Tweeking(again)

[Muddlehuddle]

Rumor has it that Portage, Blacklick Valley, Conemaugh Valley, and Ferndale all applied for membership into District 5!

I checked both the D6 and D5 web sites. Each district posts their meeting minutes. There is no mention on either site of a request for transfer/acceptance. The next D5 meeting is in late January. I guess we'll see if this is just talk or something serious.

[Opinionguy]

lol bb is NOT a good coach, his teams lack so many basic fundamentals and his gameplan/game management are awful. will be interesting to see if he can change the offense and actually have solid running plays

Not a good coach? Are you kidding? The guy turned a consistent LOSER into a WINNER. Just because he hasn't been able to beat his old man doesn't make him a bad coach.

Richland may be in for a slight down year this year but rumor has it that it's most talented class in the last 35 years is in the 8th grade as I type. I saw that group take it to FH at FH this year in J. High Football

[pitt75]

Let's be clear about Ridge's scheduling woes. All of their scheduling woes are their own fault.

They ran from the the LHAC---BEFORE---it was all sports. The turned down the Mountain conference--BEFORE--it was all sports(because it was too far)? Greenville, Dubois, and WV are real close.

In basketball they are horrible playing small A schools.
In football they hire a mercanary to win a playoff game and instead he produces a losing season--
with playoff loses to North Star and Bedford in the last two years. (Glad they didn't play Tyrone or BM)

They won't be happy unless they get to be twice the size of the schools they play.
I know they are not nearly Bishop McCort, but people on here have spoken about how McCort needs to man up---how bout CR. Join a AA conference like the LHAC or the Mountain and stop playing Fannett Metal and Hyndman in hoops.

Just a thought---with Ligonier and Laurel Valley merging and becoming a fairly large AA, why don't they and Ridge both apply to the LHAC.

2 more AA schools joining would work well for the league and both schools.
(Bedford seems to travel OK--How far is it from Ridge to Bedford?)

If I were Blacklick (85), Saltsburg (100) Penns Manor, Purchase Line, Blairsville (all under 150)
why would I want to keep the Ligonier --Laurel merger (272) or drive to CR (204).
(next two year male enrollment in parenthesis)

If CR joins the Heritage/West PAC or creates its own league; it says simply, "we are a bunch of cowards"--the travel to the Heritage would not be any better than the travel in the Mt Conference--in fact probably worse (Tyrone, Central are not bad trips fro Ridge) (They make P-O now and have made PV in the past).

Don't kid yourslef Ridge isn't worried about the length of any trips-- they are worried about the destinations.

[RidgeDad]

Let's address some of these issues. I believe Ridge left the LHAC because it was going to all sports. Yes, technically it was "before", but the LHAC had already made that decision when Ridge withdrew. Southy can confirm or deny that, but I think I'm accurate on that account.

Keep in mind, that in years to come Ridge is going to be closer to "A" than you might think. The freshman class this year has very few boys, and I think only 6 freshman were on the team this year.

Let's look at this "coward" schedule for a minute. I'll give you that a couple of these games (2 of them) are pretty easy and I'm sure that if a tougher school could be added, they would be. But options are limited when you are an independent. However, I would be willing to wager that ANY school on this schedule would beat the Heights. I don't see many LHAC schools complaining when they play them. How many AAAA schools are LHAC teams scheduling? Wouldn't Portage beat over half the teams in the LHAC this past year? I believe Greenville is a 3.5 hour drive - shoots down your travel argument. I could be mistaken here, but I also believe Greenville was in the state playoffs in 2008.

Windber Area High School L 14 - 21
Berlin Brothersvalley High W 33 - 7
@ Conemaugh Township High School L 14 - 21
Greenville High School L 7 - 29
Portage Area High School (HOMECOMING) L 0 - 32
Meyersdale Area High School W 41 - 22
@ Dubois Area High School W 31 - 25
@ Northern Garrett High School W 24 - 16
Phillipsburg-Osceola (SENIOR NIGHT) W 14 - 13
@ Bedford Area High School L 20 - 31
@ District 5AA Championship (#1 Chestnut Ridge vs. #2 Bedford @ NBC) L 18 - 29

I will say this, it really gets old when you up the mountain honkies come on here and look down your noses at anything Bedford County. You all did it to Bedford football when they were making their run this year, and a lot of you don't miss a chance at Ridge.

Max came to Ridge at a time when those who follow the program knew it was going to be a few down years coming. I believe, as do most others that follow the program, that Max is getting the ship righted and has the mentality that a tougher schedule is necessary. He is working towards that, but being an independent leaves few options. I don't believe his predecessor believed in a tougher schedule. His predecessor believed that a "W" was the most important thing to keep his job.

[Sideling Hill Fan]

I hope Ridge sticks around. The schools down here enjoy the easy 'aa' points they are getting in basketball!
When the 3 Fulton County schools and FM joined the ICC I was told Ridge was left out of that mix due to problems between the District 6 member schools and Ridge but that they were going to the ??? Conference- the one with Central, Penns Valley, Huntingdon, etc.-so I'm not sure why they are an independent except maybe they wanted to stay in the SHL. Pretty sure they had an invite from that other league that they turned down though unless I got bad info, which I doubt based on my sources.

[southpaw]

I don't think the "easy AA" points will be that easy in a couple of years.

Won't rehash the Ridge football situation again. Check the archives on this site.

Will add two points...

There IS a tremendous amount of dissatisfaction in the LHAC. It is NOT public knowledge but under the radar there are several teams that will get out if they get the opportunity. That's a fact.

Second, you can chastise Ridge all you want about their independent status but they have been for almost 20 years been a consistent supporter of having a WPIAL style classification leagues for all sports in District 5/6.

[usatf oldguy]

How about a district 5 conference ? Makes the most sense to me.Save traveling costs, increases local interset in the games,and is the best fit for an all sports conference.

[Muddlehuddle]

What ever happened to the PIAA proposal of reclassification by class???

[rainmaker]

Forbes Road vs. Mt. Union

or

Forbes Road vs. Turkeyfoot

Which makes sense in hoops?



Tussey vs. Southern Huntingdon in football or Tussey vs. Meyersdale

Which makes more sense?


I see local rivalries the way it is. District 5 can be settled in a playoff. You don't need to have it as an all sports conference. The travel would be unreal for teams in Somerset and Fulton counties.


NO THANKS!

[usatf oldguy]

A district 5 conference makes great sense to the majority of the teams.Granted you would need 2 divisions.I can guarantee that it would cost alot less in travel time and game reciepts would be alot higher.In football sf,forbes and fannet and mcconnelsburg don't field teams anyhow.So I think you could have a pretty easy travel schedule for all.In hoops you could throw forbes, fannet ,sf, mcconnelsburg etc. into one half the other teams into the other.The savings in travel money could be spent on the actual programs.Common sense!