Totally agree - I think when it comes to the big publics wanting to shut the door on the big privates in NWO, the theme is "be careful what you wish for".
Look at the current TCL - since the mass exodus of non-TPS schools, the level of competition from those schools has continued to decline. You can argue social trends and demographics, but you can't deny the impact that primarily competing against a lower standard has had on programs that had (and still have) many talented kids participating. Think "a rising tide lifts all ships".
Toledo is not a big enough metro area to completely segregate the competition at the larger school level - just not enough schools to go around without the privates, and not enough competition without them to battle-test (and gain the points necessary) for the post season (where unless things change at the state level, you still have to compete against privates to win it all).
And I would venture to say that if the big privates are forced to go independent, there will be an INCREASE in talent flowing to those schools, not a decrease. Back in the early 90's during the blue/red heyday of the TCL, TPS got in a pissing match with the voting public over a levy and cancelled fall sports. It worked - the "emergency" levy passed and sports were reinstated, but not before the big privates and non-TPS were forced to schedule out that fall as independents. For SJ, it turned out to be a great move. Sure, there were some long drives, but we played some of the best competition the state had to offer, and it gave us the experience and the points needed to make the playoffs and get the schools first playoff win (you know, back when there were half as many divisions and teams taken per region) - and made a lot of great memories we still laugh about today. I know some of my very talented public school friends were envious - we were playing traditional power schools from ours and other states, playing in D1 college and pro stadiums, and guys were getting looks from the major college level. I'd venture to say for the big privates, if those days become the rule - not the exception, and we see little of local big publics competing directly with big privates (where they both share the stage), you may see more kids desire to go to the big privates and compete on that higher level. The competition level the big privates will enjoy in the regular season will likely make them better post-season competitors as well, furthering the divide in talent, not improving it.
I get both sides of this story but things are tad different today then when lil' Dave Croci led SJ to their first playoff win.
I have documented before that it was TPS' fault in 1991 to almost cancel their fall sports. The Big 3 and burbs saw a big uptick in kids because of it. The same can be said in 2008-2009 when TPS canceled lower level sports and some varsity sports. Lesson to TPS, do not cut sports, no matter what. However, that was a TPS problem more than anything else.
Today's situation is different than 1991 & 2009. In 1991 the Big 3 were stable from the standpoint that they had a steady influx of kids coming to them on a yearly basis from the Catholic grade schools around town. In 2009 that had changed and although vouchers were in year 3 they were limited and one school was just beginning to take advantage. By 2021 the voucher program has expanded, The Big 3 receives a very small percentage from the few "Catholic" schools that are left, and those "Catholic" schools are actually holding tutorials at local libraries on how to take advantage of the voucher system. In other words, in your day, the Big 3 in Toledo could, for the most part, stand on their own with just a majority Catholic kids. Today, not so much. So, they have gained an advantage and are using it to target the public schools talent. The game, as they say, has definitely changed. Central Catholic would probably be closed if not for vouchers. Throw in a Cardinal Stritch and you'd have two. They outwardly poach top talent.
In 1991 SF & SJ found games with teams like Massillon, Fostoria, Midview and Boardman and there was a far less difference between those two schools and other Catholic's around the state. Today, outside of the first 3-4 games of the season you will not be able to schedule anyone BUT powerhouses and travel 2 to 4 hours to play which is costly. In 1991 you could still schedule local freshman and JV games with NLL and GLL schools. When the TRAC publics join the NLL and they all agree not to schedule with the "Catholic" schools at any level it is going to become a nightmare for private schools. Even those pre-conference 3-4 games to start the season will be a burden because if the NLL decides to boycott you run out of area options quick. This is not 1991, as you celebrate one season. When you have to find multiple opponents in multiple sports and the travel is 2 to 4 hours away it becomes very costly. In order to sustain that cost you will need money and the vouchers only cover a portion of the tuition for most schools as is. This does not even take into account having to play a football schedule that goes something like this...
Detroit Catholic Central
Cleveland Benedictine
Olentangy Orange
Lakewood St. Edward
Cincinnati Elder
Akron Hoban
Massillon
Tol St. Francis
Cleveland St. Ignatius
Tol St. Johns
Is all I can say is you better have depth and talent. Going 5-5 or 4-6 is not going to help either. It is easy going 9-1/10-0 every year when you outdude everyone on your schedule but when you have to face teams with the same talent and depth with better coaching look out.
This was my same problem with the old TCL when there became a gap in competitiveness in the 90's and even more so the 00's and when vouchers started (2006). The Big 3 were a showcase to poach your kids. Once it happens it is tough to correct but CCHS beating the snot out of the local public in football acts like compound interest. They already got 4 of your more talented kids and now they are showcasing them on your very field. It was like watching an abusive one-way relationship. If the playing field was apples to apples or at least close, like it was in 1988 there would not be this problem but when they are actively gaming the system to poach kids from your district at some point as a public district you have to say enough is enough, apply a tunicate, and fight back. After all, the privates are stealing your public dollars and do not have to abide by the same rules. Not to mention the illegal notion that MY property taxes can be used for my neighbor's kid to attend a HS outside of the school district I live in. That is another whole other thread on its own so I digress.
Using the giant Catholic schools like Cleveland St. Ignatius, who still rely on and get a steady influx of Catholic kids, is not an equitable argument either. Toledo's "Catholic" schools, especially TCC, are Catholic in name only and are merely a private institution based on survival. They can still teach Catholicism but they can no longer rely on "Catholic" kids from SJ Point Place (closed), St. Michaels (closed), St. Catherine (closed), Blessed Sacrament, St. Hedwig (closed), and St. Adalbert (closed) to fill their coffers like they used to. Hopefully those old Stranahan/Gallagher and Delp endowments can keep them afloat.
At it's root cause this is 100% a result of the state of Ohio voucher program and the attack on public schools. Nothing more. Nothing less.
