Principals vote 13-2 to allow Joplin to enter Central Ozark Conference

[DHS_Strong]

Only one more obstacle stands in the way of Joplin being accepted into the Central Ozark Conference.

The conference's principals voted 13-2 earlier this month to admit Joplin, which would enter the COC as its biggest school.

The only votes cast against Joplin came from Republic and Bolivar.

If conference superintendents approve, Joplin will be part of the conference's large school division joining Branson, Carl Junction, Neosho, Nixa, Ozark, Republic, Webb City, and Willard.

Currently, Nixa is the biggest school in the conference, but its enrollment is 500 less than Joplin's.

 

[Rock Hard Corn Frog]

What is a conference principal? The principal of the individual high schools?

 

[Stevedangos]

Does the vote have to be unanimous ??

 

[cardsbeatwriter]

Why would Bolivar vote no? Wouldn't Joplin into the large just guarantee them a spot in the COC small where they can continue to bully people?

 

[Ru-B-Do]

What will that do to the OC with 7 teams. Will they replace Joplin or just play 1 out of conference game.

 

[freezeoption]

who are you going to fill it with, everyone around is in a conference that I don't see wanting to move

 

[MoSooner69]

Why would Bolivar vote no? Wouldn't Joplin into the large just guarantee them a spot in the COC small where they can continue to bully people?

Good question. Bolivar wants no part of the large. They have had the opportunity and didn't want to go.

 

[hsmaniac]

Does this mean Webb and Joplin would start playing in football?

 

[Stevedangos]

Yep,,,but I thought every school had to vote yes to allow a new school in to the conference

 

[Dr.Jekyll]

They might, but I would be surprised if it had to be unanimous.

 

[sw5890]

That is great, I hope they get in. I think Joplin would be the biggest winner in the deal considering they would be trading teams that are hours away for teams of the same or better caliber but only minutes away. But I think it's good for the other coc teams in the area too.

Plus I think Junge is a neat stadium and it would give me a reason to go over there occasionally.

 

[greenergrass]

Hope it happens. Then for the OC. Lets get Central back in the OC.

 

[freezeoption]

central has a hard time with class 2

 

[Rock Hard Corn Frog]

That is great, I hope they get in. I think Joplin would be the biggest winner in the deal considering they would be trading teams that are hours away for teams of the same or better caliber but only minutes away. But I think it's good for the other coc teams in the area too.

Plus I think Junge is a neat stadium and it would give me a reason to go over there occasionally.

Absolutely. In the OC Joplin's shortest trip is Hillcrest or Parkview. In the COC, especially with the addition of CJ Joplin would have 5 games closer than that. I know there is some discrepancy in school size but it makes absolutely sense in terms of travel in many sports if Joplin is playing Webb City, Carl Junction, Carthage and Neosho.as opposed to West Plains, Rolla Camdenton and Waynesville.

 

[Dr.Jekyll]

Dead issue now, but, in my opinion, Joplin should have built 2 high schools.

 

[sw5890]

Dead issue now, but, in my opinion, Joplin should have built 2 high schools.

I totally agree. The arguments they had for sticking with gigantic consolidated school do have some logic, but it was a missed opportunity in my opinion to get out of jail free from that failed experiment. There is a reason you see pretty much every other district splitting high schools that start to get that large.

Of course the advantage pertinent to this board is the renewed rivalry between the two schools, and the option to form a conference consisting entirely of class 4/5 teams all within 30 miles of each other.

But yes, it's a dead issue at this point.

 

[csnANDy]

Well, I think this is great. It's been like what maybe 20 years since we've played and I use to like the rivalry. A little heated sometimes...

 

[jaxon30]

If conference superintendents approve, Joplin will be part of the conference's large school division joining Branson, Carl Junction, Neosho, Nixa, Ozark, Republic, Webb City, and Willard.

So......Carthage is no longer in the COC Large?

 

[wcfanfourever]

That would give everyone 9 conference games and pretty much would do away with any games outside the conference wouldn't it

 

[mizzoutiger13]

Would Joplin be joining for the 2016-2017 school year with CJ?

 

[greenergrass]

Dead issue now, but, in my opinion, Joplin should have built 2 high schools.

WHAT??? What class 2 teams do they play?

 

[MoSooner69]

Would Joplin be joining for the 2016-2017 school year with CJ?

Its not official quite yet, and all the talk has been for two years down the line. All the schedules are already set. It would cause a huge problem. I am pretty sure we are looking at 2018-2019.

 

[Dr.Jekyll]

WHAT??? What class 2 teams do they play?

Why are you asking me that question??????

 

[greenergrass]

Why are you asking me that question??????

NO I was asking Freeze. Still trying to workout kinks in the new site. My bad. I thought I put it on his thread.

 

[MoSooner69]

Central did not play ANY Class 2 teams last year..
while they did play some smaller schools none were that small...
they played 3 class 5 schools, 3 class 4 schools, and 3 class 3 schools in the regular season.

 

[bullitpdq68]

Hey Sooner

With the addition of Joplin that fills the large class, what happens in the small class COC? You have Buffalo and Hollister wanting out and have been complaining about the conference out growing them for years, Coc looks to be doing nothing to address that by adding even a larger school? You have Bolivar in the 800 and Marshfield at almost 1000, so what happens to Reeds and Rogersville who are in the mid 600 if Buffalo and Hollister really do leave.

I mean this almost looks like the COC is trying to grow but only large schools and not addresses the inequalities of the COC small. Or once Joplin joins and Hollister and Buffalo do leave, will they just re-balance the schools according to size? Meaning Reeds and Rogersville will be the smallest in the COC small?

 

[sw5890]

Hey Sooner

With the addition of Joplin that fills the large class, what happens in the small class COC? You have Buffalo and Hollister wanting out and have been complaining about the conference out growing them for years, Coc looks to be doing nothing to address that by adding even a larger school? You have Bolivar in the 800 and Marshfield at almost 1000, so what happens to Reeds and Rogersville who are in the mid 600 if Buffalo and Hollister really do leave.

I mean this almost looks like the COC is trying to grow but only large schools and not addresses the inequalities of the COC small. Or once Joplin joins and Hollister and Buffalo do leave, will they just re-balance the schools according to size? Meaning Reeds and Rogersville will be the smallest in the COC small?

Dropping those two and re-balancing solely on numbers would probably put WC and CJ in the small and I don't think anyone would be cheering about that.

 

[freezeoption]

it has been a while since I have been down there, but I believe they played ash grove, Cabool or something like that

 

[MoSooner69]

Hey Sooner

With the addition of Joplin that fills the large class, what happens in the small class COC? You have Buffalo and Hollister wanting out and have been complaining about the conference out growing them for years, Coc looks to be doing nothing to address that by adding even a larger school? You have Bolivar in the 800 and Marshfield at almost 1000, so what happens to Reeds and Rogersville who are in the mid 600 if Buffalo and Hollister really do leave.

I mean this almost looks like the COC is trying to grow but only large schools and not addresses the inequalities of the COC small. Or once Joplin joins and Hollister and Buffalo do leave, will they just re-balance the schools according to size? Meaning Reeds and Rogersville will be the smallest in the COC small?

its pretty much geared towards the Large. That is how it has been and probably always will be. Not sure what will happen, but I have no doubt the small, if it exists, will look different in the future.

 

[MSUBear200065]

Heard Clever & Forsyth will be joining the Mid-Lakes in Football as soon as their programs have varsity schedules. Would the mid-lakes be an option for Buffalo & Hollister? Or Clever & Forsyth to the COC Small?

 

[ChaoticFanatic]

it has been a while since I have been down there, but I believe they played ash grove, Cabool or something like that

They used to play Willow Springs for a cycle or two, assuming we're talking about Central that is.

 

[MoSoEagle]

I hope Joplin gets in to the C.O.C.... but I'm betting they won't win a conference title anytime soon!

 

[mosofan]

It's official as of yesterday. Joplin will join the COC Large in 2018-2019.

 

[hsmaniac]

Webb. Joplin. Can't wait!

 

[BearsCountry]

http://www.news-leader.com/story/sp...rk-conference-compete-coc-2018-2018/83186374/

 

[sw5890]

http://www.news-leader.com/story/sp...rk-conference-compete-coc-2018-2018/83186374/

It kind of seemed like the author is trying to spin it as though Joplin was going to a smaller conference with less competition where they would have a better opportunity to dominate small schools. Since members of the COC small were included in the list of who they were joining. It is true they will be the largest COC member, but being the largest school in this corner of the state Joplin was also the largest OC member.

 

[MGHS]

Does seem odd that Joplin will be playing against smaller schools in general...in truth Joplin needs to be playing bigger schools more often to become competitive in C6.

Also it looks like this move is going to destroy the COC small or at least some of the teams in it will want to leave. The C3 and C2 squads playing up almost every game will not be a good thing long term.

 

[COCfan1212]

It kind of seemed like the author is trying to spin it as though Joplin was going to a smaller conference with less competition where they would have a better opportunity to dominate small schools. Since members of the COC small were included in the list of who they were joining. It is true they will be the largest COC member, but being the largest school in this corner of the state Joplin was also the largest OC member.

I was really confused when I saw the author include some COC Small schools on that list. It's both COC but since its separate divisions they won't be playing in many sports.

 

[tigershs]

If you look at average school size the Large COC and OC are almost identical.

 

[tigershs]

in fact if i am not mistaken I think the OC has 3 class 4 schools(West Plains,Hillcrest, Camdenton) and the Large COC has 2 (Webb City and Carl Junction)