Set, this is the new conference. We start next year. All in Favor say I......I
Bolivar
- Thread starter mizzoutiger13
- Start date
I really do wish everyone could have worked together to create the Southwest Missouri mega conference with multiple, changing divisions from year to year. In the end, while competition is of course required (it's sports after all, where someone wins and someone loses), shouldn't we also expect these state-funded schools to work together for the betterment of athletics, activities and academics, and the overall welfare of the students?
I'm confident a set of rules or guidelines could have been created to help update the football divisions of 10 teams each prior to every season, to create a competitive schedule for most. And while that might cause some pretty good team to finish 6-3 instead of 9-0, everybody still makes the district playoffs and has their chance in the end just like they would've in the previous system.
I'm confident a set of rules or guidelines could have been created to help update the football divisions of 10 teams each prior to every season, to create a competitive schedule for most. And while that might cause some pretty good team to finish 6-3 instead of 9-0, everybody still makes the district playoffs and has their chance in the end just like they would've in the previous system.
Liberator Dad
Well-Known Member
Liberator Dad
Well-Known Member
Liberator Dad
Well-Known Member
It would be complicated but, I am intrigued by the idea. Leave some room in there to schedule good rivalries regardless of the size of school maybe?
I'm not a Bolivar fan by any means, but I will say they have always played on par competition for the majority of their schedule. They continually lost to Webb and Harrisonville and if Webb was in a different class I'm sure they would have made runs to the dome. Lance was a great coach; competitor and always had well coached teams. My guess is that other sports are more of an issue than football, but on this board there seems to be blinders to the fact that there are softball, soccer, and tennis teams too. Side note do they play Clinton that seems to be another school with similar size to logistic problems that's not too far away.
Liberator Dad
Well-Known Member
Yes. The new schedule does include Clinton. We played them back in the late 1980's when I played.
Yes, I count 36 teams in the current Big 8, OC, and COC including Bolivar. Four divisions of 9 teams each gives you an 8 game division schedule plus 1 rivalry game with one of the other 27 teams.
And in basketball and other sports, 36 is a great number. For example, 3 divisions of 12 or 2 divisions of 18.
Btw, this is every football class 3 thru 6 school in "swmo", stretching up to Nevada, Bolivar, Buffalo and Camdenton, and over to the east to Rolla and West Plains. Only class 2 school is Lamar who is nearly class 3 and obviously is quite competitive in the Big 8 in most sports. No doubt they'd want to be included.
The only issue I have with it is that here in Jasper county there are (soon to be) 5 COC teams in close proximity. I think it would be unfortunate for any of these teams to play a team 100 miles away and not ones that are right next door. I'd be interested in the Big 8 and some of the OC. But teams like Waynesville, West Plains, and Rolla make zero sense for regular season for those of us in the western part of the COC Large and I want no part of that.
Not that these schools are ever going to implement our proposal but maybe consider grouping certain schools that will play every year. For example the 4 JasCo + Neosho. The 5 SPS schools. The Springfield suburban schools, etc... They round out the schedules drawing opponents from the pool at large.
I don't really see what benefit there is to the Big 8. I would like playing some of them vs some of the COC or OC because they are quality programs and shorter travel. But they have a good thing going already.
I have always thought a Lamar/WC game would be intriguing.
Not that these schools are ever going to implement our proposal but maybe consider grouping certain schools that will play every year. For example the 4 JasCo + Neosho. The 5 SPS schools. The Springfield suburban schools, etc... They round out the schedules drawing opponents from the pool at large.
I don't really see what benefit there is to the Big 8. I would like playing some of them vs some of the COC or OC because they are quality programs and shorter travel. But they have a good thing going already.
I have always thought a Lamar/WC game would be intriguing.
Liberator Dad
Well-Known Member
I am not sure right now what we can do. Maybe this new committee will be able to get the OC or Big 8 to reconsider.
Hey Bolivar dad, just a few observation after watching the feed, I noticed that whoever was talking mentioned that Reeds had wanted to join the Big 8 for a long time but did not want to travel to Lamar and Seneca. And that Bolivar and Reeds had a contentious relationship, but because of that travel they were not worried they would leave. Just a fact even if Reeds ever would have wanted to join the big 8 at that time there was nothing open as the Big 8 was not interested in expanding. But I did find it interesting that Bolivar knew they at one time had ruffled Reeds but never mentioned what that was, do you know What happened? Whatever it was the guy put it out there? Also it has been mentioned that the COC large and small are actually two different conferences? However I noticed again whoever was speaking said that the COC large and small meet together as one conference, so basically I would think that Bolivar is still a member of that conference and because of that the COC large should have to take them? Have the talked to the state about that?
I would think Bolivar is still a COC school but what do I know, seems like the right thing to do.
I thought it was pretty crappy when we walked away from the SW conf and left Mac County and Nevada hanging
Liberator Dad
Well-Known Member
The way it was presented at the community meeting the Small and Large COC are treated as separate conferences so when Joplin came in that put the Large at the number they wanted to be at as we had told them no since only football and two other coached wanted to go Large COC. The issue with Reeds never came up. If you watch the Facebook feed (It is still there) then the way it was presented was that we had an excellent relationship with every school in the Small COC and the quote in the paper today from our principal says "I felt like we were blind-sided. I felt like our students were being treated unfairly, and it was just putting us in a very difficult on a short notice."
If you listen to that Facebook feed you can hear the other version of events that are out there regarding the situation. I am personally at the point now where I am convinced that there is more to the story. I had my say. It appears that the majority of the school board, administration and community are ready to move forward. The majority also seem to believe that the issues raised were not legitimate and that there is no need for accountability. I am disappointed with this since I was one of the people raising the issues but, that's democracy. So, at this point, I am just jousting at windmills. I need to respect the will of the majority even if I disagree with it. I've also lost a couple of lifelong friends over the issue (insert violin music here lol).
I wish I had more for you bullit and I will miss the Reeds Spring game most of all. I hope that this new community committee can help rectify the situation. I will always be a Liberator but this has been a very rough road for many in the community who tried to make a difference.
A lot of talk about what the coaches wanted. When issues like changing conferences arise is it standard procedure for administration to let coaches dictate the outcome by a simple vote? Or was this an opinion poll used by administration as a tool in making a decision?
Coaches are paid to win games and their decision making process can many times be short-sided to what ever allows them to be sucussfull right now. I would think it is the job of the administration to look out for the districts long term stability.
Coaches are paid to win games and their decision making process can many times be short-sided to what ever allows them to be sucussfull right now. I would think it is the job of the administration to look out for the districts long term stability.
Liberator Dad
Well-Known Member
Being an old Monett Cub I can tell you I would have liked it if Bolivar could have joined the Big 8 For 40 years Monett and Bolivar opened the football season, in the 90's it was ranked as one of the top 5 rivals by ky3 I believe in this area. I heard that if you guys can find another school that would fit you could reapply, because the Big 8 wants to keep the division equal.
Liberator Dad
Well-Known Member
Yes. In 1985 we were driving down the field to beat you and we through an interception at the end of the game and lost. I was the center on that team. It was a great rivalry. I would love to have it back. I would love to be in the Big 8. I hope it works out that way if we can't get in to a conference with some Class 4 schools in it.
Forsyth get their program up and running, they would be a logical choice. Then move Mount Vernon to the West.
Big 8 West
Cassville
East Newton
Lamar
McDonald County
Monett
Mount Vernon
Nevada
Seneca
Big 8 East
Aurora
Bolivar
Catholic
Forsyth
Hollister
Logan-Rogersville
Marshfield
Reeds Spring
Big 8 West
Cassville
East Newton
Lamar
McDonald County
Monett
Mount Vernon
Nevada
Seneca
Big 8 East
Aurora
Bolivar
Catholic
Forsyth
Hollister
Logan-Rogersville
Marshfield
Reeds Spring
Actually Mits it was a harder sell to not have Monett and Aurora in the same division. Monett and Aurora have been going at it a long time. A lot of people in Monett are upset they believe our Cassville Sup put his feelings over those of the town. Most people who graduated before 2000 in Monett don't feel Cassville is our rival it will always be the Hound Dawgs....A lot of people are upset in Monett that we will not be playing the Dawgs every year. Hope they make sure it happens.
Really don't think the folks that just left the COC would have any interest in this....
Liberator Dad
Well-Known Member
There was a time when Monett and Aurora played on thanksgiving day. Yeah at one time it was way bigger.
Hey Mits here is a story the Times did on the game a few years ago. Sure our young naive sports editor along with current Monett Administration doesn't care about Monett's history and wants to pump up the Cassville Monett rival but us old timers know the truth.
http://www.monett-times.com/story/2141593.html
However, for some Monett residents, the annual holiday brings back a flood of memories of a local tradition when Monett and Aurora met on the gridiron every Thanksgiving Day.
"It was the biggest game of the year and against our biggest rival," said Jack Fox, who played from 1946 to 1950 for Monett. "You could be winless on the season, but if you beat Aurora, it was a successful year."
According to The Monett Times records the Cubs and Houn' Dawgs have played football against each other since 1911. The Times has consecutive game reports dating back to 1924.
"The crowds were huge, everything you expect at a big game," Gene Spivy, who played on the 1944 Monett team. "The stands were full, and people would be lined around the field three and four people deep."
Headlines in the paper estimated the crowds in excess of 3,000 to 5,000 according to Fox.
"They were huge, loud and raucous," Fox said. "It rivaled anything I saw at Missouri in college."
Monett and Aurora were bitter rivals and the games were usually played at 2 p.m.
"Playing a daytime game was a special thing," Fox said. "The only games played during the day were college games. It was something special."
Kenley Richardson, who played for the Cubs from 1927 to 1931, was tabbed as Monett's head coach in 1944, which added more fuel to the fire.
Under Richardson, the Cubs were dominate against the Houn' Dawgs, acquiring an 11-0-1 record. He also led the Cubs to three undefeated seasons in 1944, 1946 and 1950.
http://www.monett-times.com/story/2141593.html
However, for some Monett residents, the annual holiday brings back a flood of memories of a local tradition when Monett and Aurora met on the gridiron every Thanksgiving Day.
"It was the biggest game of the year and against our biggest rival," said Jack Fox, who played from 1946 to 1950 for Monett. "You could be winless on the season, but if you beat Aurora, it was a successful year."
According to The Monett Times records the Cubs and Houn' Dawgs have played football against each other since 1911. The Times has consecutive game reports dating back to 1924.
"The crowds were huge, everything you expect at a big game," Gene Spivy, who played on the 1944 Monett team. "The stands were full, and people would be lined around the field three and four people deep."
Headlines in the paper estimated the crowds in excess of 3,000 to 5,000 according to Fox.
"They were huge, loud and raucous," Fox said. "It rivaled anything I saw at Missouri in college."
Monett and Aurora were bitter rivals and the games were usually played at 2 p.m.
"Playing a daytime game was a special thing," Fox said. "The only games played during the day were college games. It was something special."
Kenley Richardson, who played for the Cubs from 1927 to 1931, was tabbed as Monett's head coach in 1944, which added more fuel to the fire.
Under Richardson, the Cubs were dominate against the Houn' Dawgs, acquiring an 11-0-1 record. He also led the Cubs to three undefeated seasons in 1944, 1946 and 1950.
