COC Week #2...Let's discuss

[sw5890]

You could get those 7 schools in a corner conference maybe with Monett? Also I guess a conference can't cross state lines but those schools could have a scheduling agreement with Pittsburg. Pittsburg is desperate for local games against similar sized schools.

Yeah I agree Pittsburg always seems to be scratching for opponents but playing Carl, Webb and Carthage, Nevada, even Neosho could make a lot of sense. Right now they are all off the table.

The smaller ones may not want Joplin but it's one game. It was absolutely awful for Joplin families being in the ozark conference all those years. Personally I would love that "corner conference". I would hate for CJ to leave the COC because they are so close and it's one that even if it's a road game it's very convenient.

 

[sw5890]

One thing that sucks about COC travel is the junior high volleyball and basketball tournaments. We had to go to Ozark 3 nights in 1 week to play in that thing.

Oh I know, I had a friend who did that last year I think they said it was in Branson over multiple days. They said it was just awful.

 

[AC100]

I think CJ will wait a few years. They have a few good classes coming and will give them a chance. However by the end of the decade CJ will probably have a team about like they have this year again and the COC will have 4 or 5 class 6 schools. Something will have to be done then.

 

[Eagles_Ball]

One thing that sucks about COC travel is the junior high volleyball and basketball tournaments. We had to go to Ozark 3 nights in 1 week to play in that thing.

Three yrs ago Ozark played Nixa in the finals of the 8th grade boys COC tournament. In CJ. At 8:30. On a Thursday night. Dumbest. Ish. Ever.

 

[sw5890]

Three yrs ago Ozark played Nixa in the finals of the 8th grade boys COC tournament. In CJ. At 8:30. On a Thursday night. Dumbest. Ish. Ever.

Now that I think of it I remember last year hearing someone say they ended up having 2 of the volleyball coc tourney games at CJ involving nearby teams that agreed neither of them wanted to go to Branson. Someone deserved some major kudos for making that happen.

 

[Eagles_Ball]

Now that I think of it I remember last year hearing someone say they ended up having 2 of the volleyball coc tourney games at CJ involving nearby teams that agreed neither of them wanted to go to Branson. Someone deserved some major kudos for making that happen.

I feel like I remember that too. If only people were smart and ambitious enough to make that happen with regularity when the situation would arise. They always want what’s “best for the kids” until someone has to work a little, then all bets are off at times.

 

[AC100]

Yes. In the last year or 2 I think they allow first round games to be at more local sites. I am under the impression that it is just the first round.

 

[hctjtiger]

This is off subject but I still have a little white football with Parkwood Bears on it that the football team handed out to me and my classmates when we was in first grade just before they went to state in 80'.

I may have handed that ball to you. If so, you’re welcome.

 

[Baldguy]

If we keep talking the idea of a separate conference for football vs other activities, MSHSAA may get the brilliant idea to use the districts as leagues (like Oklahoma and Kansas are doing), and then Class 1 District 1 will have wonderful road trips.

As for separate conference affiliations for the Springfield and Joplin areas, I could see Joplin one day having a competitive league in the following scenario:
Joplin 1st high
Joplin 2nd high
Webb
Carthage
Neosho
Carl Junction (they will continue to grow some, and the Big 8 will not let them back in most likely)
Mac County (if they keep luring some of the NW Arkansas boom to live north of the state line)

As for Springfield, there are a lot of possibilities. If certain schools grow or get formed, there may be a need for a Springfield-only super league. Ages back, Springfield was even mentioning a new high school at Battlefield, but it didn't become reality.

 

[bullitpdq68]

This is off subject but I still have a little white football with Parkwood Bears on it that the football team handed out to me and my classmates when we was in first grade just before they went to state in 80'.

I was in 7th grade and moved to Monett by then. But still had family on that team. However I remember the Parkwood Bears would coming at some point to Kelsey Norman elementary when I was young.

 

[bullitpdq68]

My dad played for Parkwood in the late 60s for Dewey Combs.

My Uncle was on the last Joplin High school team before they split into two high schools. I believe that was Dewey's first year is what he told me? Dewey was the Last coach of Joplin high school and the First coach of Joplin high school.

 

[Eagles_Ball]

As for Springfield, there are a lot of possibilities. If certain schools grow or get formed, there may be a need for a Springfield-only super league. Ages back, Springfield was even mentioning a new high school at Battlefield, but it didn't become reality.

I can't imagine SPS having their own league, but I can see the other large Greene and Christian Co schools joining to form one. SPS enrollment really isn't growing. Poo is probably the only HS that is at or even near capacity.

 

[bullitpdq68]

If we keep talking the idea of a separate conference for football vs other activities, MSHSAA may get the brilliant idea to use the districts as leagues (like Oklahoma and Kansas are doing), and then Class 1 District 1 will have wonderful road trips.

As for separate conference affiliations for the Springfield and Joplin areas, I could see Joplin one day having a competitive league in the following scenario:
Joplin 1st high
Joplin 2nd high
Webb
Carthage
Neosho
Carl Junction (they will continue to grow some, and the Big 8 will not let them back in most likely)
Mac County (if they keep luring some of the NW Arkansas boom to live north of the state line)

As for Springfield, there are a lot of possibilities. If certain schools grow or get formed, there may be a need for a Springfield-only super league. Ages back, Springfield was even mentioning a new high school at Battlefield, but it didn't become reality.

With the lose of 1500 jobs from Tysons, I wonder how much that will affect Mac County school and those families. I know Butterfield and Monett are having job fairs for all of those displaced workers.

 

[bullitpdq68]

I think CJ will wait a few years. They have a few good classes coming and will give them a chance. However by the end of the decade CJ will probably have a team about like they have this year again and the COC will have 4 or 5 class 6 schools. Something will have to be done then.

You know when CJ left the Big 8 they predicted their enrollment would hit over a 1000 quickly. So far they have stalled out in the high 900. however now Bolivar is over 1,000, probably would have made more sense for them to move to the COC, but hindsight is always 2020.

 

[AC100]

An example on travel. Nixa volleyball is traveling to Columbia for a regular season volleyball game on a school night. That is a longer drive than any conference game for Nixa. They don't care about travel.

 

[Eagles_Ball]

An example on travel. Nixa volleyball is traveling to Columbia for a regular season volleyball game on a school night. That is a longer drive than any conference game for Nixa. They don't care about travel.

Who is "they"? I get most schedule like "they" don't care about travel. The premise is "they" should. That was the whole point. Coaches don't really care, for the most part. Admin would have to pay attention to care. But, for schools that can't find enough money, this is an easy avenue to save an awful lot of money.

 

[AC100]

I guess I mean the school administration. They could stop it if they wanted to. I just don't think they are going to change the conferences to have less travel if they are scheduling a trip to Columbia on a school night.

I just looked at Nixa's volleyball schedule and they don't schedule any Springfield public schools. Last year they played 3 out of the 5 but those were in tournaments. Last year Nixa softball scheduled Kickapoo and Glendale. Nixa doesn't want to play Hillcrest, Central and Parkview in anything. I guess I am saying you are correct that a Springfield league will never happen.

 

[MoSooner69]

You know when CJ left the Big 8 they predicted their enrollment would hit over a 1000 quickly. So far they have stalled out in the high 900. however now Bolivar is over 1,000, probably would have made more sense for them to move to the COC, but hindsight is always 2020.

Bolivar wanted no part of the "large" COC until it was too late,

 

[J. Kane]

Bolivar wanted no part of the "large" COC until it was too late,

 

[Eagles_Ball]

I guess I am saying you are correct that a Springfield league will never happen.

Correct. It's the obvious answer. Which means, in the realm of public "business", it has basically zero chance of happening.

 

[BoosterBosko]

Thats what the Mox said!

 

[COCguy]

Carl Junction is quite a bit bigger than Bolivar and has been for a while.

 

[AC100]

Carthage is about 120 kids from class 6 and they have grown by 100 over the past 4 years.

 

[AC100]

Bolivar is at 615. CJ is at 735.

 

[sw5890]

I guess I mean the school administration. They could stop it if they wanted to. I just don't think they are going to change the conferences to have less travel if they are scheduling a trip to Columbia on a school night.

I just looked at Nixa's volleyball schedule and they don't schedule any Springfield public schools. Last year they played 3 out of the 5 but those were in tournaments. Last year Nixa softball scheduled Kickapoo and Glendale. Nixa doesn't want to play Hillcrest, Central and Parkview in anything. I guess I am saying you are correct that a Springfield league will never happen.

They are focusing on building their sports to the highest level possible, for state championships, increase the profile of the school, for attracting and building scholarship level athletes, etc...so they are going to play the best opponents even if it means driving past schools 15 minutes away en route to one 3 hours away. It's a specific mindset - they aren't looking to fill a schedule with opponents, they are looking to fill a schedule with the right kind of opponents.

There are two ways you can look at that - an admirable drive for success, or an out of control waste of resources for activities that are overshadowing the actual purpose of the school district.

It's the same issue we've mentioned before with travel sports and how they are just off the rails in terms of how serious certain sports have become, particularly in certain towns. Sports aren't just for fun anymore in many cases.

 

[BearsCountry]

Kickapoo and Glendale to the COC is the easiest fix.

 

[bullitpdq68]

They are focusing on building their sports to the highest level possible, for state championships, increase the profile of the school, for attracting and building scholarship level athletes, etc...so they are going to play the best opponents even if it means driving past schools 15 minutes away en route to one 3 hours away. It's a specific mindset - they aren't looking to fill a schedule with opponents, they are looking to fill a schedule with the right kind of opponents.

There are two ways you can look at that - an admirable drive for success, or an out of control waste of resources for activities that are overshadowing the actual purpose of the school district.

It's the same issue we've mentioned before with travel sports and how they are just off the rails in terms of how serious certain sports have become, particularly in certain towns. Sports aren't just for fun anymore in many cases.

We looked at moving to Nixa a few years ago because they are supposed to be the best in the state in Special education. However We heard a lot of what you are saying about athletics and just felt we wanted our kids to be part of something more, so decided they were not for us.

My Sons both have autism high functioning but still they have sensory issues. The Monett High school football coaches this year and well any other sport he has been in have been more than amazing with my oldest he may never be a star for them but they have always made him feel welcomed and part of the team and he loves playing football and being on that team. I appreciate that about our small town, I doubt you will get that from any COC school, but I am sure you would from a few other Big 8's

 

[AC100]

Kickapoo and Glendale to the COC is the easiest fix.

If SPS would allow the schools to split up you could a lot of things with leagues.

 

[Baldguy]

I can't imagine SPS having their own league, but I can see the other large Greene and Christian Co schools joining to form one. SPS enrollment really isn't growing. Poo is probably the only HS that is at or even near capacity.

My thinking in writing that was Springfield and the surrounding communities. However, I can see that SPS probably isn't growing enough to warrant expansion, as the bedroom communities, aka suburbs or whatever they're called, are getting more of the increasing enrollment. Another 10-20 years could be interesting in the area, as long as society keeps some of its sanity.

 

[MoSooner69]

We looked at moving to Nixa a few years ago because they are supposed to be the best in the state in Special education. However We heard a lot of what you are saying about athletics and just felt we wanted our kids to be part of something more, so decided they were not for us.

My Sons both have autism high functioning but still they have sensory issues. The Monett High school football coaches this year and well any other sport he has been in have been more than amazing with my oldest he may never be a star for them but they have always made him feel welcomed and part of the team and he loves playing football and being on that team. I appreciate that about our small town, I doubt you will get that from any COC school, but I am sure you would from a few other Big 8's

Well said. I likewise have two special needs sons and that has a lot to do with where we chose to live.

 

[AC100]

The Springfield suburban schools could easily be with Glendale and Kickapoo and if you included Branson that would still be only 7.

When is the last time Branson won the COC in any sport?

 

[Missouri Kid]

We looked at moving to Nixa a few years ago because they are supposed to be the best in the state in Special education. However We heard a lot of what you are saying about athletics and just felt we wanted our kids to be part of something more, so decided they were not for us.

My Sons both have autism high functioning but still they have sensory issues. The Monett High school football coaches this year and well any other sport he has been in have been more than amazing with my oldest he may never be a star for them but they have always made him feel welcomed and part of the team and he loves playing football and being on that team. I appreciate that about our small town, I doubt you will get that from any COC school, but I am sure you would from a few other Big 8's

Nice testimonial. Glad to hear that about your school district and your opinion about other Big 8's.
And I would still like to know where you guys get those hot dogs .

 

[bullitpdq68]

Nice testimonial. Glad to hear that about your school district and your opinion about other Big 8's.
And I would still like to know where you guys get those hot dogs .

They come from a restaurant supply house. All of us booster members order up a case for ourselves now and then. They are some pretty darn good dogs.

 

[Stimie69er]

Just read that Renfro for Joplin is out, not sure for how long but the injury looks pretty severe. Praying for a quick recovery.

 

[Arcola]

Ever considered the three teams having trouble to find homes in SWMO are CJ, Bolivar and Stockton. All was lager if not largest schools in their conference.

 

[hitch_and_go]

Just read that Renfro for Joplin is out, not sure for how long but the injury looks pretty severe. Praying for a quick recovery.

Scary injury indeed . Hope he heals quickly. Hell of a player

 

[cru66]

Just read that Renfro for Joplin is out, not sure for how long but the injury looks pretty severe. Praying for a quick recovery.

Figured something happened in the 1st half because he didnt play much after his 1st td. Think he had a few plays in the 2nd.

 

[cru66]

Scary injury indeed . Hope he heals quickly. Hell of a player

Wheres the injury?

 

[Pleiku]

There's no pickems...but we can discuss...or you can pickem if you want. I just miss the banter on the weeks games.

Week 2 games
CJ @ Webb
REPMO @ Ozark (Thursday game)
Willard @ Joplin (Thursday game)
Carthage @ Branson
Neosho @ Nixa

Week 1 results
Willard 28 Neosho 21
Joplin 35 Branson 14
Nixa 14 Webb 7
Ozark 42 CJ 21
REPMO 20 Carthage 14

Webb beats CJ...probably pretty soundly.

REPMO beats Ozark...I'd say this is the game of the week. Or at least the "close" game of the week. Ozark is better. Their result at CJ was probably the biggest surprise in week 1. How much better? Should find that out Thursday night. It's a reasonable measuring stick for the middle part of the conference.

It'll be a quick 4th quarter Thursday night in Joplin.

Carthage gets the win, but think it could be close. This is a good one to tell us just how average Carthage is going to be and if and how much improved Branson is.

Woof...Coyotes in Nixa will be packed with postgame football crowd by 9pm at the latest.

Webb over CJ
Ozark intrigues me but Republic
Carthage
Nixa turbo
Joplin turbo

 

[hitch_and_go]

Figured something happened in the 1st half because he didnt play much after his 1st td. Think he had a few plays in the 2nd.

Not really my place to say but you can find that info on Facebook if you know his dad .