The Dock
Persona Non Grata
So, this came out of nowhere. Thanks to @danville96 – the other thread was kinda getting clogged up by me.
[As the Cardinal was within days of announcing their own defection.
WhitehallI'm more a fan of cocky names. Make it like an AAU program. All-Ohio Select League.
They should. They are recycling a old league I used in central ohio from 1925-1991 with some of thease same schools see WikipediaAre they not aware there is already a "Central Buckeye Conference" just to the west?
That is what I was thinking about. It broke up and the bac was formed with LCL schools in 1991.Are they using the name of the original Central Buckeye League (CBL) from the late 70’s/early 80’s or could they not think of something new? Academy, Bexley, Grandview & Buckeye Valley were members of the old CBL.
I can guarantee you that the Buckeye schools had no idea this was going to happen the way it did (Ohio leaving before the Cardinal could.Also...do you think the Buckeye schools knew in advance this would happen, therefore abstaining. In light of the possibility of the Cardinal schools now leaving, perhaps the Buckeye wanted to be the only MSL Conference?
I've read the statement about 20 times today. Independent of whatever school it was that said it to begin with, and independent of the circumstances I'm familiar with (I've followed the three-division MSL since Moses wore short pants), this on its face is an unusual statement. Factoring in what school is saying it, and taking into account the circumstances that I stand to believe has been already discussed outside of "the big room", this statement may as well have a klaxon alarm blaring out.“Our official stance in regards to our membership in the Mid-State League has not changed,” Harvest Prep Head of School Andrew Mills said in a statement to ThisWeek. “We have been members for nearly 20 years and do not wish to leave nor do we have any plans to do so in the near future. We have learned that some of the member schools have expressed their desire to no longer compete with our school, but after meeting with the league commissioner in an attempt to seek resolution, we still do not believe the league has adequately defined the reasons for asking us to consider leaving. This has made it impossible to correct any perceived deficiencies or make an informed decision on changing our membership status. We firmly believe that such a decision impacts the well-being of our students and families, which we take seriously.”
Very interesting response from Harvest Prep. They have no plans of going anywhere else.“Our official stance in regards to our membership in the Mid-State League has not changed,” Harvest Prep Head of School Andrew Mills said in a statement to ThisWeek. “We have been members for nearly 20 years and do not wish to leave nor do we have any plans to do so in the near future. We have learned that some of the member schools have expressed their desire to no longer compete with our school, but after meeting with the league commissioner in an attempt to seek resolution, we still do not believe the league has adequately defined the reasons for asking us to consider leaving. This has made it impossible to correct any perceived deficiencies or make an informed decision on changing our membership status. We firmly believe that such a decision impacts the well-being of our students and families, which we take seriously.”
There is a principle underlying high school sports and athletic conference formation: competition is to be mutually beneficial for both parties. In the absence of parity, there has to be realistic motivation and value that makes up for the discrepancy between competing schools in order to reach that mutual benefit... such as gate revenue, very reasonable travel, or at minimum a pronounced and visible demonstration of common ground and respect. Which, there is none of that here to make as-beatings in basketball on one end and 30-run baseball games on the other end any more palatable. Probably ~95% of the time, the continuous changes in conference formations are necessary adaptations to the disparity of competition. Schools grow, programs get really good with every reason to believe that their dominance is here to stay, sometimes there are disagreements and they end up with polite "we wish our former competitors the best of luck in their future endeavors." The remaining ~5% come together out of tradition, opportunities and finances (which is why Logan and Teays Valley willfully signing up to play Pickerington Central every year in football in the coming years; why is why the Licking County League got back together, etc.)Very interesting response from Harvest Prep. They have no plans of going anywhere else.
Agree with what you have stated. Harvest Prep has shown by it actions that only Football, Boys Basketball and somewhat respectable Girls Basketball programs are the only ones that matter at the school. Harvest Prep has been given 20 years to prove otherwise in the Mid State League. Most all schools have the same opinion of the Harvest Prep athletic program by the actions of Harvest Prep itself. However, it seems Harvest Prep thinks the problems lie with all the other schools- they certainly have back themselves in a corner. Good Luck to them.There is a principle underlying high school sports and athletic conference formation: competition is to be mutually beneficial for both parties. In the absence of parity, there has to be realistic motivation and value that makes up for the discrepancy between competing schools in order to reach that mutual benefit... such as gate revenue, very reasonable travel, or at minimum a pronounced and visible demonstration of common ground and respect. Which, there is none of that here to make as-beatings in basketball on one end and 30-run baseball games on the other end any more palatable. Probably ~95% of the time, the continuous changes in conference formations are necessary adaptations to the disparity of competition. Schools grow, programs get really good with every reason to believe that their dominance is here to stay, sometimes there are disagreements and they end up with polite "we wish our former competitors the best of luck in their future endeavors." The remaining ~5% come together out of tradition, opportunities and finances (which is why Logan and Teays Valley willfully signing up to play Pickerington Central every year in football in the coming years; why is why the Licking County League got back together, etc.)
Why the covenant that has guided high school sports through its evolution of the past ~35 years, particularly in the fast-growing Columbus metro, that schools ought to be team players and good actors that recognize when it's time to leave for the sake of the league that gave them a home to start with, is breaking... I don't know. This may very well be the first-of-its-kind situation in modern Ohio high school history.
To what end does Harvest Prep's administration being stubborn serve, to the point that they eventually are going to completely alienate themselves from every single school in the Central District if they don't change their minds and just leave, I don't know. I'm sure it's a pretty dumb end, though. And to head off someone asking "weLl hOw dO YoU knOw iTs a DuMb eNd?? HmMmMmmm" well... let's see... I wouldn't be arguing that "the well-being of our students and families" is somehow only possible by continuing to play in a league where everyone thinks your school is crooked and should be kicked out. But, what do I know? I'm not the one who "takes it seriously."
That’s what I’m wondering. It will be interesting to see if them and HP form a package.So after this new league is created...what happens to KIPP?
I really do think the school’s administration making the statement that they did is just further burning the school’s reputation and ability to craft relationships down the road. In the same vein, again, I have a hard time imagining it accurately reflects what the football coach feels and, to a certain extent, how the boys’ basketball coach (who is also the AD) feels.It is interesting the statement Harvest made about staying in the MSL. Why?