Maverick,
I agree the matchup is highly unlikely, however why not?
Here's why the two should play:
1) Both teams have weeks 1-3 open every year, however recently both teams have chosen to open up with United. Both have beaten DIV/DV United by similar scores as well.
2) Both teams have nice traditions and produce winning teams most years, the winner gets a lot of Harbin points.
3) The teams already play basketball against each other and Malvern does more than hold their own I might add.
4) The schools are within ten miles and the districts border each other. Both communities would pack the stadiums.
5) Minerva's larger enrollment is not that big of an advantage to them. They have played Lisbon, United, Aquinas and Tuslaw recently, why not the Hornets?
http://fridaynightohio.com/team/Malvern+Hornets
http://fridaynightohio.com/team/Minerva+Lions
Nightmare:
The reason is this, think of the scenario like this:
Minerva wins and the excuse is "Minerva is a bigger school and should win this game." Malvern wins (albeit this would be rare if a series did occur) and people will never hear the end of it. It's all Malvern's gain, nothing to gain on Minerva's end IMO.
Now I'll try to address each of your points:
1. When Minerva scheduled United, the program was at it's lowest point since the 1950s. Combine that with the always tough NBC and Minerva made a logical choice in scheduling them. I wouldn't get caught up comparing scores (Malvern vs United and Minerva vs United) because that can sometimes get you into trouble.
2. Malvern's tradition only goes back a decade and is nowhere comparable to the tradition and success Minerva has had over many, many years. There are plenty of Harbins to be had from OTHER teams. I don't deem it necessary to play Malvern to acquire them.
3. I think basketball is a different sport altogether and it's easier for smaller schools to compete against larger schools. You only need 5 players on the court as opposed to 11. It's also not as physical of a game and IMO Malvern would be physically manhandled in most position groups during most years they would play.
3. I'll give you Minerva currently plays STA, but STA is a parochial school who plays "up" so to speak. Northwest, Alliance, Marlington all play them as well.
4. The schools are actually only about 5 miles from each other. Minerva draws good crowds, it's not necessary to schedule Malvern to make money at the gate.
5. This is to reiterate what I said in #1, when Minerva scheduled United and Lisbon the program was down. Tuslaw is D4 and, when the game was scheduled, a perennial playoff team. Tuslaw/Minerva brought a good gate last year too.
When the divisions realign, Malvern will be D7, Minerva D4. I'm of the opinion that there is absolutely NO justification for a school playing an opponent 3 divisions below them. I also think this is sketchy when we're talking about parochials, look at what happened to Mooney last week? I just really don't think Minerva has anything to gain by scheduling them, and I know that most people in the Minerva community would agree. The two schools scrimmaged in the early 2000s and I remember being vehemently against it. This is no disrespect to Malvern either, they have developed a nice program BUT they are simply not on the same level as Minerva. I have seen both teams play over the years and can tell you almost unequivocally that Minerva would annihilate the Hornets most years.
Nightmare, why don't you ask the Louisville posters why they don't play STA? I'm sure you'd get some interesting responses....
