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Bolivar/Conference

Liberator Dad

Liberator Dad

Well-Known Member
Oct 12, 2011
233
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Bolivar, MO
www.highlanderpoliticalstrategies.com
Hey MoSports,

I’ve asked several folks involved in the process of finding a new conference for the Liberators if the committee has made any progress and I keep getting the same answer. We are making progress but nothing is finalized. I wondered if any of you have heard anything from your school administrators about Bolivar joining any of your conferences. It’s sad that this is what a fan has to do to get information but, we’ve had no updates in the newspaper or the school website here.
 
I have heard that a few teams in your area are going to start football programs. The new conference will consist of Humansville, Dadeville, Everton, Walnut Grove, Fair Play, Hermitage, Morrisville, Weableau, and Bolivar, and will begin next year. Bolivar hopes that they will be able to take up where they left off in the small COC, and be the team to beat in the conference.

Just teasing you Lib Dad, I would have been OK with Bolivar joining the Big 8.
 
Sadly, even though I know your teasing, I’ve heard there may be some schools South and and East of Springfield who are adding football who may want to create a conference that we can join. I hope this is not true. Again, rumor is all we have to go by if our administration doesn’t update us.
 
I would have nothing against Bolivar joining the Big 8, Monett played them for years and I think they would be a decent add. Nevada tried several times to join the big 8 and was told no go. The rumor was their administration had upset some of the big 8 Admins. Well once there was some changes, they were eventually allowed to join. I don't know a thing about what is going on at Bolivar and will not pretend to, but just food for thought. Maybe they are going to have to be some changes made, and Bolivar is going to have to become just a tad bit more humble and respectful and show they can be a real team member if or when they are allowed to join a conference.
 
bullitpdq68 said:
I would have nothing against Bolivar joining the Big 8, Monett played them for years and I think they would be a decent add. Nevada tried several times to join the big 8 and was told no go. The rumor was their administration had upset some of the big 8 Admins. Well once there was some changes, they were eventually allowed to join. I don't know a thing about what is going on at Bolivar and will not pretend to, but just food for thought. Maybe they are going to have to be some changes made, and Bolivar is going to have to become just a tad bit more humble and respectful and show they can be a real team member if or when they are allowed to join a conference.
Click to expand...
Bolivar sounds like one of the Wannabe's Never wanting to work Together!
giphy-downsized.gif
 
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bullitpdq68 said:
I would have nothing against Bolivar joining the Big 8, Monett played them for years and I think they would be a decent add. Nevada tried several times to join the big 8 and was told no go. The rumor was their administration had upset some of the big 8 Admins. Well once there was some changes, they were eventually allowed to join. I don't know a thing about what is going on at Bolivar and will not pretend to, but just food for thought. Maybe they are going to have to be some changes made, and Bolivar is going to have to become just a tad bit more humble and respectful and show they can be a real team member if or when they are allowed to join a conference.
Click to expand...


I brought that up at a community meeting that we had here with the administration and the denials rained down like crazy. Even though I had administrators from other schools tell me otherwise. I even asked our high school principal to promise the people there that he would call the athletic directors at the old Small COC schools and get their feedback. He did make the promise but those calls never happened. It’s a real shame for the students and the community. Fewer football scholarships awarded. Fewer Kidd’s going out for football. I’m hearing rumors this is our athletic director’s last year. I hope that is true. I think that might be a good first step if we hire a good candidate and we do not promote a current administrator or coach.
 
Liberator Dad said:
I brought that up at a community meeting that we had here with the administration and the denials rained down like crazy. Even though I had administrators from other schools tell me otherwise. I even asked our high school principal to promise the people there that he would call the athletic directors at the old Small COC schools and get their feedback. He did make the promise but those calls never happened. It’s a real shame for the students and the community. Fewer football scholarships awarded. Fewer Kidd’s going out for football. I’m hearing rumors this is our athletic director’s last year. I hope that is true. I think that might be a good first step if we hire a good candidate and we do not promote a current administrator or coach.
Click to expand...

Denial can be an issue....
 
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Liberator Dad said:
I brought that up at a community meeting that we had here with the administration and the denials rained down like crazy. Even though I had administrators from other schools tell me otherwise. I even asked our high school principal to promise the people there that he would call the athletic directors at the old Small COC schools and get their feedback. He did make the promise but those calls never happened. It’s a real shame for the students and the community. Fewer football scholarships awarded. Fewer Kidd’s going out for football. I’m hearing rumors this is our athletic director’s last year. I hope that is true. I think that might be a good first step if we hire a good candidate and we do not promote a current administrator or coach.
Click to expand...

I heard that it was the AD who was arrogant at meetings and even left meetings that caused all of this mess. I am shocked he still has a job as AD. Its a shame that those kids have to travel to places like Hanibal because the AD and administration couldn't see the writing on the wall for years. Lib Dad - is this the story you hear too in Bolivar?
 
farmer_fran said:
I heard that it was the AD who was arrogant at meetings and even left meetings that caused all of this mess. I am shocked he still has a job as AD. Its a shame that those kids have to travel to places like Hanibal because the AD and administration couldn't see the writing on the wall for years. Lib Dad - is this the story you hear too in Bolivar?
Click to expand...


What I heard is that Bolivar was offered chances to move conferences into a more stronger conference. Football and a few other coaches were all for it, but some of the smaller sports were against and the AD (Schraeder) was against as well.
 
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At this point the “why” is water under the bridge. The administration, school board and a vocal minority in the community have decided that there should be no accountability.

I posted this thread because I really would like to know what progress, if any, has been made in the search for a new conference. I honestly just wondered if any of the other schools or conferences represented here had been approached.
 
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Liberator Dad said:
At this point the “why” is water under the bridge. The administration, school board and a vocal minority in the community have decided that there should be no accountability.

I posted this thread because I really would like to know what progress, if any, has been made in the search for a new conference. I honestly just wondered if any of the other schools or conferences represented here had been approached.
Click to expand...

COC Ozark and Big 8 are pretty much done.

Bolivar is going to have to clean up some internal issues, again look to Nevada as an example of what needs to be done, they made some changes and are now proud members of the Big 8.
 
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We've talked about them on here before. I don't pretend to know the dynamics within Bolivar or between them and other schools. Surely there is a reason they were the only school left out but surely it can be overcome. Like any problem the first step is acknowledging that there is a problem.

I'm sure there is a solution out there and I think it could include some of the Big 8, maybe some schools like Nevada, Clinton, others up that direction in west central MO. The new big "8" seems like there is a lot of room for improvement with how it's aligned. Not all of the schools seem like a good fit to me and I think there is opportunity to form two basically unrelated divisions. I don't follow that conference closely so I could be misguided in my opinion though.

Plus Bolivar is just naturally kind of odd - Seem a little large for big 8, although they would not be the largest, but they seem too small for COC even if it wasn't full.
 
OC North
Lebanon
Rolla
Waynesville
Camdenton
Bolivar
Marshfield

OC South
Kickapoo
Central
Parkview
Glendale
Hillcrest
West Plains

OR
Kick West Plains and Rolla Out (never made since geographically any way).
Lebanon
Waynesville
Camdenton
Bolivar
Marshfield
Kickapoo
Central
Parkview
Glendale
Hillcrest
 
sw5890 said:
We've talked about them on here before. I don't pretend to know the dynamics within Bolivar or between them and other schools. Surely there is a reason they were the only school left out but surely it can be overcome. Like any problem the first step is acknowledging that there is a problem.

I'm sure there is a solution out there and I think it could include some of the Big 8, maybe some schools like Nevada, Clinton, others up that direction in west central MO. The new big "8" seems like there is a lot of room for improvement with how it's aligned. Not all of the schools seem like a good fit to me and I think there is opportunity to form two basically unrelated divisions. I don't follow that conference closely so I could be misguided in my opinion though.

Plus Bolivar is just naturally kind of odd - Seem a little large for big 8, although they would not be the largest, but they seem too small for COC even if it wasn't full.
Click to expand...


You bring up a good point, COC should have taken in Bolivar and split into two division. But we all know COC Large members don't care about their other conference members....

But everybody is is quick to ask why the Big 8 didn't taking them? So I have to ask why does the Big 8 have to clean up a COC mess? Bolivar was a member of the COC and they should have been adsorbed into the COC large once the small disbanded no questions asked...But we all know that didn't happen... They would have been a good fit if the COC split into two division.
 
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They were offered the chance to be a part of the Ozark Conference, and declined. Once left out, they attempted to get in, but, by then it was too late.

If they are patient, they will likely be offered another opportunity to join the OC as Central will not be a part of the league for long.

I’ve discussed ad nauseam why Central joining the OC was a monsterous decision by SPS and the OC members, pathetic on every level — and the ineptness within the decision making apparatus at Bolivar that led to them being left out of a conference has also been discussed here at length.

Both sides (those who put Central in the OC and those at Bolivar who put them in their current predicament) need to admit their mistakes and come together to fix it.

From what I’ve heard, however, I’m not sure either party is willing to admit there is anything that needs to be “fixed,” so buckle up for some long road trips at Bolivar and a lot more 16-0 losses to Mack’s Creek by the softball team and 56-0 football scores at Central.
 
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bullitpdq68 said:
You bring up a good point, COC should have taken in Bolivar and split into two division. But we all know COC Large members don't care about their other conference members....

But everybody is is quick to ask why the Big 8 didn't taking them? So I have to ask why does the Big 8 have to clean up a COC mess? Bolivar was a member of the COC and they should have been adsorbed into the COC large once the small disbanded no questions asked...But we all know that didn't happen... They would have been a good fit if the COC split into two division.
Click to expand...

They decined an offer to join the COC. So whatever issues you have with the COC are misguided is this situation.
 
bullitpdq68 said:
You bring up a good point, COC should have taken in Bolivar and split into two division. But we all know COC Large members don't care about their other conference members....

But everybody is is quick to ask why the Big 8 didn't taking them? So I have to ask why does the Big 8 have to clean up a COC mess? Bolivar was a member of the COC and they should have been adsorbed into the COC large once the small disbanded no questions asked...But we all know that didn't happen... They would have been a good fit if the COC split into two division.
Click to expand...
Yep,,,,why did the COC large take in Joplin and leave a long term conference member school hanging out to dry,,,,pretty sucky deal by all involved
 
The Large COC offer was supported by the football program and one other I believe. I know it can be debated but it would have put some of the other programs in a tough spot. 400+ more students in some cases would have been a big deal. It’s been denied here locally but I also heard directly from an OC administrator that we waited too long or turned down an offer there. Guys, there will never be a recognition of the problem. It just won’t happen. Too many people would have to admit they made a mistake. I can’t imagine being a parent driving all the way to Hannibal in the rain last night and then having Hannibal score on every possession in the first half. It would have been a long drive home last night. Here’s to a brighter Liberator future.
 
The community and parents should have called for the AD to be removed once this happened. I am sure they are waking up today not too happy about driving 3 and half hours each way to Hanibal for the butt-kicking they received last night, just to have a game on the schedule. Embracing being an independent is a crock.

Ridiculous the pride and ego of that AD.
 
bullitpdq68 said:
I have no issues, just pointing out that people want the big 8 to fix COC issue. I heard there was no offer.
Click to expand...

You just repeated yourself after being told that you were wrong so apparently you do have an issue with the COC. Bolivar was offered to join & declined. That's a Bolivar issue not a COC issue.
 
Counter All Day said:
You just repeated yourself after being told that you were wrong so apparently you do have an issue with the COC. Bolivar was offered to join & declined. That's a Bolivar issue not a COC issue.
Click to expand...

Sorry I had never heard they had been offered after the COC small collapsed, but Bolivar turning down an opportunity to join the COC large after the collapse of the small was a bad move for them.
 
bullitpdq68 said:
Sorry I had never heard they had been offered after the COC small collapsed, but Bolivar turning down an opportunity to join the COC large after the collapse of the small was a bad move for them.
Click to expand...

bullit,

You are correct. They were not made an offer after the conference collapsed. The offer was to join the Large COC and it was made over two years ago. The football coaches and one other sport (maybe two) voted to accept. The rest did not. My personal feeling is that it would have been good for the football team and baskbetball but not so much everyone else.
 
Liberator Dad said:
The Large COC offer was supported by the football program and one other I believe. I know it can be debated but it would have put some of the other programs in a tough spot. 400+ more students in some cases would have been a big deal. It’s been denied here locally but I also heard directly from an OC administrator that we waited too long or turned down an offer there. Guys, there will never be a recognition of the problem. It just won’t happen. Too many people would have to admit they made a mistake. I can’t imagine being a parent driving all the way to Hannibal in the rain last night and then having Hannibal score on every possession in the first half. It would have been a long drive home last night. Here’s to a brighter Liberator future.
Click to expand...
How much bigger is Carl Junction than Bolivar?
 
Liberator Dad said:
bullit,

You are correct. They were not made an offer after the conference collapsed. The offer was to join the Large COC and it was made over two years ago. The football coaches and one other sport (maybe two) voted to accept. The rest did not. My personal feeling is that it would have been good for the football team and baskbetball but not so much everyone else.
Click to expand...

That is what I had heard too, that you had been offered before the collapse of the small but nothing was done after. I have to say probable a good move overall at that time not to jump because it is hard to justify moving conferences for just one or two sports. Again you guys were in a bad spot back then, talent wise in football you had outgrown the COC small but in other sports probable couldn't have competed in the COC large. I have nothing against you guys I think you would have been a good addition to the Big 8 I still think you would be. Growing pains can be tuff Monett is going thru it now, our enrollment says we are class 4 in some sports or talent level says something different. Just the way the ball bounces. And contrary to what counter says I have no issues with COC, just wondered why they didn't extend an offer after if they were willing to do it before?

The Big 8 has 3 class 4 school in football so it would be nice to have one more.
 
AC100 said:
How much bigger is Carl Junction than Bolivar?
Click to expand...

I added some other schools from some other conference to see how everybody stacks up. In the Big 8 they would be the third largest. In the COC they would clearly be the smallest.

Here are the Last numbers reported to dese for grades 9-12
CJ is at 987
Bolivar is at 849
Marshfield 948
Monett 763
Mac County 1119
Webb City 1242
Reeds 604
Logan Rogers 706
 
bullitpdq68 said:
I added some other schools from some other conference to see how everybody stacks up. In the Big 8 they would be the third largest. In the COC they would clearly be the smallest.

Here are the Last numbers reported to dese for grades 9-12
CJ is at 987
Bolivar is at 849
Marshfield 948
Monett 763
Mac County 1119
Webb City 1242
Reeds 604
Logan Rogers 706
Click to expand...
So are those 100 kids enough of a reason to say they can't compete in the COC large?
 
AC100 said:
So are those 100 kids enough of a reason to say they can't compete in the COC large?
Click to expand...

Well maybe, Let's see if CJ can continue to compete in the COC? Sometimes you have the Jimmy and Joe's sometimes you don't, I think CJ will fall to the back of the pack in the coming years.

Ozark and Nixa are both close to 1800 so you are talking over double the enrollment. Hard to say some years they might, some years not so much. This year Ozark and Nixa look to be down, and CJ is a bit down so probable lucky for them.
 
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bullitpdq68 said:
Well maybe, Let's see if CJ can continue to compete in the COC? Sometimes you have the Jimmy and Joe's sometimes you don't, I think CJ will fall to the back of the pack in the coming years.

Ozark and Nixa are both close to 1800 so you are talking over double the enrollment. Hard to say some years they might, some years not so much. This year Ozark and Nixa look to be down, and CJ is a bit down so probable lucky for them.
Click to expand...
For football CJ will be way down for 3 to 4 years. They have been competing well in other sports at the varsity level. It is tough below the varsity level because we run out of kids before the other schools do.
 
AC100 said:
For football CJ will be way down for 3 to 4 years. They have been competing well in other sports at the varsity level. It is tough below the varsity level because we run out of kids before the other schools do.
Click to expand...

I heard Ozark has over 60 kids out for Freshmen football, so you are right you do run out of kids unless you are like Webb City who continues to match up year over year with their numbers.
 
tigershs said:
OC North
Lebanon
Rolla
Waynesville
Camdenton
Bolivar
Marshfield

OC South
Kickapoo
Central
Parkview
Glendale
Hillcrest
West Plains

OR
Kick West Plains and Rolla Out (never made since geographically any way).
Lebanon
Waynesville
Camdenton
Bolivar
Marshfield
Kickapoo
Central
Parkview
Glendale
Hillcrest
Click to expand...


Bolivar and Marshfield would never join the OC and if they did, they would exclude football from that membership. They would get rocked by 60-70% of the teams in the conference.
 
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mizzoutiger13 said:
ChaoticFanatic said:
Bolivar and Marshfield would never join the OC and if they did, they would exclude football from that membership. They would get rocked by 60-70% of the teams in the conference.
Click to expand...
2008-2015 Bolivar is likely easily in the top quarter of the OC in my opinion.
Click to expand...

Welp, that was 3-10 years ago.

Do you think they’re ever going to have a run of athletes that strong and consisistent again?
Do you think they’ll have a coach who is equal in caliber to the one they had during that run?

Not likely.
 
Oh and by the way:

2015 Bolivar lost to West Plains 48-12 in districts.

And West Plains didn’t even win the OC that year.

Hmmmmm.
 
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