BIG 8
- Thread starter Ftballfan16
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I said Clever but meant Crane. 🤷♂️ They haven't fielded a team since I can remember. This would be another SWMO small school whose location would be covenient for both the Mid-Lakes and SWC.
I’d say the 9 remaining members of the big 8 voted.
That league remains in tact, simply restructure from 2 divisions of 7 back to 1 league of 9.
One of these things is not like the other……
Lol, I don’t think Nevada, Monett or mac want to do anything different than to stay right where they are. I would also conjecture that they don’t want anything to do with the SPS.
So if Rogersville, Branson and Marshfield leave the Big 8 and COC isn't that what CJ and Neosho would join?
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I’m not sure if schools like west plains and Bolivar are more likely to join the defectors?
Neosho and CJ do not have geography on their side unfortunately. But they might join, just don’t know if those eastern schools would want them?
CJ would either stay in the COC or join this new league. The idea of going back to a league with a bunch of class 2 and 3 schools is absurd.
Yea, they would be the 2nd largest school in the big 8.
They are in a bad spot, they can’t compete in the COC, and the big 8 doesn’t want them. They need to cross their fingers that a new conference forms and wants them.
I could be wrong, but when CJ was in the BIG 8, they were the only class 4 school. That has changed since they left, but I don't think they will ever return to the BIG8!
You can't if you ever want a good enough strength of schedule to complete in a class 4 district. It isn't an option.
An update from West Plains...
Updated information on school conference affiliation was also presented. Several different school districts are in the process of shifting to different conferences and looking at making new ones. Dr. Davis told the board that his number one priority in these conference discussions is to keep West Plains “apart” of a conference, attempt to create more opportunities for the middle school students to compete in the conference, and most importantly, not let the district become independent.
Updated information on school conference affiliation was also presented. Several different school districts are in the process of shifting to different conferences and looking at making new ones. Dr. Davis told the board that his number one priority in these conference discussions is to keep West Plains “apart” of a conference, attempt to create more opportunities for the middle school students to compete in the conference, and most importantly, not let the district become independent.
I’ll bite 😂
Would CJ finish top 3 in the big 8 this year or last year?
Top 5 this year?
I’d say being 6-3 or 7-2 going into the class4 playoffs would be plenty prepared enough after having played the big 8. Powers regardless of class…. And a heck of a lot more fun for all involved….
being 1-8 or 2-7 or whatever they will be this year can’t be what’s going to keep kids out and prepare them for wining in the post season.
In baseball I don’t think they’re winning the big8 in that the last few years either.
Definitely not in boys basketball..
I guess the only sports that their “strength of schedule” might be low in is girls basketball? Girls volleyball?
I don’t think those sports are moving the conference affiliation meter, and you have such big seasons in those sports you can schedule a tough non con if you need challenged for the post season.
But like someone said, I hear they burned enough bridges that the BIG8 wouldn’t ever let them back anyway, so all this discussion is a bit moot anyway I suppose!
I wish them luck. Just feel bad that they are so out of place in the COC.
Marshfield and Rogersville wanting out of the big 8 east doesn’t make a ton of sense to me…
Anyone have any insight?
They are both average to above average in Most sports. Not so down or so dominant in any of the major sports to warrant moving.. from what I can tell…
The drive to Reeds or Mt vernon isn’t peachy but isn’t awful either… if they don’t like the hour and short change drives then they better not add west plains, or Neosho etc…
I can’t think of any other reasons for them to move?? Anyone else?
Anyone have any insight?
They are both average to above average in Most sports. Not so down or so dominant in any of the major sports to warrant moving.. from what I can tell…
The drive to Reeds or Mt vernon isn’t peachy but isn’t awful either… if they don’t like the hour and short change drives then they better not add west plains, or Neosho etc…
I can’t think of any other reasons for them to move?? Anyone else?
Skyline hopefully has good graces with someone.. hollister and reeds joining the mid lakes seems like a big move in a direction that skyline would want no part of.
It’s typically competitiveness, then travel.
Marshfield and Rogersville aren’t going to get a better travel situation unless they join the SPS! 😂
The point is they could go 9-0 in the Big 8 and still not be a 1 seed in their district. They went 8-1 and finished 4th several years ago. This is the reason CJ left and it wouldn't be better.
My guess is the same reason CJ left. Playing a lot of class 2 and 3 schools kills your strength of schedule.
I guess I’d take being 9-0 or 8-1 (in my best year) and a 2 or 3 seed. Over being 1-8 or 2-7 and a 4 or 5 seed.
That’s just a fans perspective, their admin and coaches might see it the opposite idk..
I just think they were blinded by a 4-5 year stretch of talent when they made the COC jump, fast forward and now Nixa is a powerhouse, republic is a load, and they can’t beat the worse Carthage team in over a decade. Not to mention the road trips to Branson and ozark etc… outsiders perspective feels bad for them.
If this was the ncaa selection committee or the CFP I would 100% agree with you.
Another topic. Mshsaa might need to re visit the SOS formula. Playing Lamar or Seneca should be worth a lot more points than playing Central or Parkview etc…
I totally agree but that isn't how it is calculated. You are better off beating Central.
I totally agree with being blinded by the talent back then. I will also say that level of talent or close to it is coming back around soon. These things go in cycles.
I guess that goes back to what defines “better off” id bet a lot of folks would trade a spot or two in the football district standings for a better conference fit.
I hope you’re right.
In their best year can they finish top 3 or 4 in the COC?
There's no penalty for playing down. SOS isn't a thing. Opponents record and 10 bonus points per class played up is all that's factored in outside of the game result.
Spent some time last night crunching some numbers, hoping to post something here later today. However, since there was never a real consensus opinion on the quantifying factors, perhaps we will start with enrollment numbers and then try to fit the pieces of the puzzle together taking geography and travel time in consideration.
Who do you see as part of that? I really hope the COC doesn't end up as the 4 Springfield suburbs plus Joplin WC and Carthage. The SPS could maybe get Kickapoo and Glendale in there, they would be good fits in terms of competition but a big negative for travel, for us at least. We'd lose Branson (good) which in football at least would likely be replaced by someone further away than Branson, but also lose local games Neosho and CJ and have more trips to Springfield.
The current situation is about as ideal as Joplin could ask for. It's hard for me to imagine any of these changes affecting Joplin in a positive way travel wise at least.
Maybe bringing back the old system where we don't need 10 teams to fill a football schedule would help.
Does anybody else find it funny that these are the same COC small schools that cried about getting beat down by Bolivar year over year and begged to be let into the big 8. And now they are fleeing the Big 8. They even said they would not join if we allowed Bolivar in...They want to find a conference that they can be the bully in and win and not get better.
That is certainly the main issue. There are certainly enough schools to create a league if everyone wants to. You could choose from these schools but I don't know who would want to do it:
Branson
Willard
Rogersville
Marshfield
Neosho
CJ
Parkview
Hillcrest
Monett
Nevada
Bolivar
Mac County
Does the COC and Ozark combine and create a Divisions Like an east and west then have cross over games? To me that would make the most sense.
I sure hope not. There is nothing in that for us. More trips to Springfield. Or worse, a crossover game with Rolla or West Plains.
I don't know if Monett can be in that conversation, However Monett is clearly going to be class 4 going forward. I have heard the same augment from some Monett parents, that CJ been using, that honestly the Big 8 size wise does not fit us anymore. However Monett is a founding member of the big 8/SWC/Big 12 what ever it has been called in it's almost 100 years of existence. Plus honestly right now playing in a conference with Lamar Seneca MV is better competition than one that would be made up of Most those schools listed...but again that is right now. And yes Going forward Monett's school population wise has out grown cAssville Aurora East Newton Mt Vernon, Seneca, but man 20 minute travel is so nice and comfortable especially for parents. We have it sweet in the Big 8 because we are the the centrally located school. But Clearly the rest of the big 8 is not growing as we are, what happens in say 10 years when we are even bigger?
All that being said when I spoke to a few parents in Monett last night about the Big 8 imploding many are wondering if us leaving the Big 8 might not be in our better interest in the long run, nobody is saying now, just future looking. But wow that would be a big decision a hard decision, but would it be the right decision for the future? There would be those who would be upset, and those who think it is the right decision.
And again unlike any of those schools listed Monett was a found member of the conference and has always been a member and a driving force in the conference. I don't know that we have anybody in the administration that has the balls to make that call to leave, because it would be a big one for our community. However our administration was willing to kill the longest rivalry game in the history of SWMO when we stopped playing Aurora yearly and people were upset about that and they got over it...But I just don't think Monett would leave not at this time, if ever.
You forgot West Plains might be leaving. and who is to say the newly formed Conference includes Rolla?
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Not Missouri But this kid plays for Althoff Catholic Class 1 in Illinois.
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