I hope for the kids sake that Alco can turn things aorund. It would be good for local football in many ways.
This did not happen overnight but has been in the works for several years. Appel takes over at FH and builds a great program with much recognition and success. Players and parents see this and want to be a part of it for a variety of reasons (scholarships, pride, bragging rights at work,etc.).
As players and parents move and shuffle their kids to be a part of the best program (which begins happening in pee-wee footbal now) the balance of power between the city schools and other local schools is thrown way off.
Alco stayed close for years mainly due to the influence and abilities of the Robinette's (who ironically lived in the Frankfort district, moved to the Fort Hill district and played for Alco). Now that cupboard is empty and the kids (who are a lot smarter than adults give them credit for) don't see the value in wasting their time to beat an unstoppable force. The thought may be no homecoming win, no playoff victory, no state championships so why bother.
The thought patterns about football and sports in general that we are accustomed to have shifted drastically in the last several years. Young people have many more options in regards to how they spend their free time and many don't see the value in sports ecspecially the one's that are physically and mentally demanding like football particularly when winning becomes more difficult.