Carroll County leaving the MVAL??

[Waggle Pass]

Per MDVarsityFootball/Sheldon Shealer's Twitter post.

"I'm hearing Carroll County is leaving the MVAL - this would end one of the largest leagues in the state if this true."


Would this clear the way for the Allegany County schools?

 

[bleedred]

As much as I would like to see the Allegany County schools in the MVAL, I don't think that it would happen.

 

[FHHSAHS]

Originally posted by bleedred:
As much as I would like to see the Allegany County schools in the MVAL, I don't think that it would happen.

With this large number of teams leaving the MVAL now is the TIME to act! This is unprecedented and changes the complexion of ANY previous conversations that may or may not have ever happened about FH and or Alco joining the conference. With Frederick County being the furthest east border, the western border could afford to shift over Allegany County.

I certainly hope this is considered. Better to ask and be told know than to assume and never know. The "we tried that before" argument is no longer valid with this big of a shake up going on.

 

[eaglesinsider]

Carroll County Times:



carrollvarsity[/B]‏@carrollvarsity
Source within Monocacy Valley Athletic League confirms Carroll County will withdraw effective June 1, 2015. Story to come. #mdpreps

Looks like a done deal.
This post was edited on 12/9 3:26 PM by eaglesinsider

This post was edited on 12/9 3:26 PM by eaglesinsider

 

[LHSlancerFAN]

I think this is the beginning of the end for the MVAL. Would not be surprised at all to see Washington County withdraw next because they are not happy about the football realignment. Looks like a lot of open dates coming next year!

 

[bleedred]

I'm with you on this one. Steve Lewis couldn't get it worked out with the smaller schools as they voted against Fort Hill getting in. If Buddy O is hanging around this board, he could give us greater insight.

 

[TDHelmick]

Any idea on what the new MVAL alignments were set to look like?

 

[eaglesinsider]

Originally posted by TDHelmick:
Any idea on what the new MVAL alignments were set to look like?

Before the Carroll schools pulled out they were going to put the 8 largest schools in a division, the next 8 largest schools in the next division and the 7 smallest schools in a division.

Best guess now:

Big School Division (8 Schools, all 3A):
- South Hagerstown
- North Hagerstown
- Linganore
- Urbana
- Oakdale
- Thomas Johnson
- Tuscarora
- Frederick

Small School Division (7 Schools, 4 2A, 3 1A):
- Catoctin (2A)
- Williamsport (2A)
- Boonsboro (1A)
- Brunswick (1A)
- Smithsburg (1A)
- Walkersville (2A)
- Middletown (2A)

Maybe put Middletown in with the big schools.

This post was edited on 12/9 6:47 PM by eaglesinsider

 

[Waggle Pass]

Originally posted by eaglesinsider:

Originally posted by TDHelmick:
Any idea on what the new MVAL alignments were set to look like?

Before the Carroll schools pulled out they were going to put the 8 largest schools in a division, the next 8 largest schools in the next division and the 7 smallest schools in a division.

Best guess now:

Big School Division (8 Schools, all 3A):
- South Hagerstown
- North Hagerstown
- Linganore
- Urbana
- Oakdale
- Thomas Johnson
- Tuscarora
- Frederick

Small School Division (7 Schools, 4 2A, 3 1A):
- Catoctin (2A)
- Williamsport (2A)
- Boonsboro (1A)
- Brunswick (1A)
- Smithsburg (1A)
- Walkersville (2A)
- Middletown (2A)

Maybe put Middletown in with the big schools.

This post was edited on 12/9 6:47 PM by eaglesinsider

Add FH, Alco and Mt Ridge to the small schools and schedule problems are solved. Even the Allegany Co schools to just the 2A ones would be fine. I know, I know....keep dreamin'.

 

[eaglesinsider]

Originally posted by Waggle Pass: Add FH, Alco and Mt Ridge to the small schools and schedule problems are solved. Even the Allegany Co schools to just the 2A ones would be fine. I know, I know....keep dreamin'.

Travel wouldn't be that bad:

Small School Division (Middletown to Big Schools, 9 Schools, 4 2A, 5 1A):
- Catoctin (2A)
- Williamsport (2A)
- Boonsboro (1A)
- Brunswick (1A)
- Smithsburg (1A)
- Walkersville (2A)
- Fort Hill (1A)
- Allegany (1A)
- Mountain Ridge (2A)

Add 11 min to all trips to get distance to/from Mountain Ridge

Cumberland to Brunswick- 1:35
Cumberland to Walkersville- 1:31
Cumberland to Catoctin- 1:30
Cumberland to Smithsburg- 1:15
Cumberland to Boonsboro- 1:12
Cumberland to Williamsport- 1:00

It really depends on what the Carroll County schools do. If Carroll looks to Baltimore County and the private schools (PA too, Hanover/Gettysburg/Delone Catholic/Littlestown are closer to CC than many MVAL schools) for games, there are going to be scheduling problems for the remnants of the MVAL and they may be willing to look west for schools since there is no one else to add.

My understanding in Carroll is that the 7 2A/1A schools will play each other and 3A Westminster will no longer play most of the CC schools. They may keep rivals Winters Mill and/or South Carroll but I expect Westminster to look OOC for 8 games a year.

Howard, Anne Arundel and Montgomery all play almost completely insular schedules in football (except Poolesville and some of the smaller AACO schools who get 2 OOC games every 4 yrs or so) and their openings are usually Week 1.

 

[LHSlancerFAN]

I really like that setup Eagle. If Washington County is serious about sticking with the MVAL, which from an article I read it sounds like it, this would be the time for the Allegany schools to enter. It would add more strength to the conference, and not just in football. Unfortunately football drives everything and with the beatings that Alco and Fort Hill have put on the Wash Co schools lately, it may be an uphill battle for them.

My advice to Allegany County, there is no harm in trying! The MVAL is reeling right now and if they want to keep the conference strong, adding a few member schools that are going to increase the competition level would be the smart move.
This post was edited on 12/10 7:54 AM by LHSlancerFAN

 

[FHHSAHS]

Who does one contact - is there an MVAL committee? A committee chair? Head A.D.?

 

[LHSlancerFAN]

My guess would be to contact the Supervisor of Athletics for Washington County (Eric Michael) or Frederick County (Kevin Kendro). In the articles regarding the issue, they are the ones making the statements for the Counties. If they arent the right person to contact, they should at least be able to point you in the right direction.

 

[TDHelmick]

There are a handful (most all) of the Washington County schools who do not, will not allow Alco and FH on to their football schedule. The vote will never pass. Only an executive order that would force them to play against their will would be the only way.

 

[bleedred]

There is an email address on the MVAL website. I forget his name but he actually wrote back to me and started to get the ball rolling. They invited Steve Lewis and Paul Green to a meeting, I believe that Steve was the only one who went. Bottom line is that it came to a vote, the larger schools were in favor but the smaller school all said no.

There has been a good amount of change in several admins. over the last decade, and we do have Todd as a representative now. If he could get his foot in the door, we might have a chance. All three County schools getting into the MVAL would be great but I don't see MR jumping at the chance of playing any of the Washington or Frederick County schools in any sport.

 

[FHHSAHS]

Originally posted by TDHelmick:
There are a handful (most all) of the Washington County schools who do not, will not allow Alco and FH on to their football schedule. The vote will never pass. Only an executive order that would force them to play against their will would be the only way.

But if the rest of the MVAL is looking to save the league, they may push their hand. If only the schools in Washington County vote no, there are still Frederick Co schools that might vote yes.

My argument is not that "we didn't try" before...my argument is, the MVAL is in a different place than it has been since it formed. I don't know if any teams have left individually before, but this is an entire county (7 schools) leaving a big conference at one time.

If it was ever going to happen, now is the time. This is not a normal situation.

I would rather we not get into the league because the vote DIDN'T pass (meaning the vote happened).
Than not getting in the league because we assumed the vote WOULDN'T pass, meaning we didn't try.

Basing what will happen solely off of history is not as valid now with the way the MVAL is "reeling" (as Lancer put it).

I'm going to shoot a couple emails out myself.

 

[TDHelmick]

Originally posted by FHHSAHS:

Originally posted by TDHelmick:
There are a handful (most all) of the Washington County schools who do not, will not allow Alco and FH on to their football schedule. The vote will never pass. Only an executive order that would force them to play against their will would be the only way.

But if the rest of the MVAL is looking to save the league, they may push their hand. If only the schools in Washington County vote no, there are still Frederick Co schools that might vote yes.

My argument is not that "we didn't try" before...my argument is, the MVAL is in a different place than it has been since it formed. I don't know if any teams have left individually before, but this is an entire county (7 schools) leaving a big conference at one time.

If it was ever going to happen, now is the time. This is not a normal situation.

I would rather we not get into the league because the vote DIDN'T pass (meaning the vote happened).
Than not getting in the league because we assumed the vote WOULDN'T pass, meaning we didn't try.

Basing what will happen solely off of history is not as valid now with the way the MVAL is "reeling" (as Lancer put it).

I'm going to shoot a couple emails out myself.

The MVAL called an emergency meeting tomorrow. Allegany County will have/has pleaded their case again. That's about all I can say. So in reply to your post, yes somebody from here that knows what is going on with the MVAL is working all angles again. But I can confidently say that certain Washington County Schools will do all they can to keep Alco and FH out. To demonstrate...

Smithsburg has a handful of football openings next season. They actually have made some desperate moves to get it filled. Two teams in their region, FH and Alco, have the same open spots. Trust me, they have been asked and there is no way in Haiti they will play those two schools. So if they won't under this situation, what makes anyone believe they want either of those schools into their same league for a game every year? Brunswick too has the same open date as FH.

 

[FHHSAHS]

Good. That's all I hope for...that Allegany County is aware and makes their case. All they can do.

I agree with you in regards to some schools wanting to not have FH/Alco on their schedule. But if the MVAL as a group, under a quorum, votes to let the Allegany CO schools in - then it would be moot to what some schools want. It all depends on how much compromise and or pressure the schools as a collective are willing to deal with in order to restructure or save their league.

 

[LHSlancerFAN]

Well good luck to you guys! I for one will be pulling for you as I think Allegany County would make a great addition to the MVAL.

 

[eaglesinsider]

1m1 minute ago
It's now official - All eight Carroll County schools will be leaving the MVAL as of June 30, 2015. This may put the league's future in limbo

 

[eaglesinsider]

Carroll County's decision could spell end of MVAL

It appears the end of the Monocacy Valley Athletic League is in sight.
Depending on what side of the fence one is on, that is either a good thing, or a bad thing — and only time will reveal the answer.



On Tuesday, Carroll County Public Schools elected to split from the MVAL, effective June 2015 at the end of the current school year. It ends several years of speculation that Carroll County would break away.

That leaves the MVAL with North Hagerstown, South Hagerstown, Williamsport, Boonsboro, Smithsburg, Brunswick and Catoctin in the Antietam Conference, and Thomas Johnson, Frederick, Linganore, Urbana, Tuscarora, Middletown and Walkersville in the Piedmont Conference.

Or will it?

The immediate future is in the hands of a select set of individuals.

South Hagerstown athletic director Mike Tesla said the board of control consists of three principals, three athletic directors and the three county athletic supervisors — Eric Michael (Washington County), Kevin Kendro (Frederick County) and James Rodriguez (Carroll County).

Tesla noted that any final vote is done by the three school principals alone.

“Right now, I think Carroll County is being painted out to be the bad boy in this,” said Tesla. “But really, they aren’t.”

The board of control decided in September to realign the MVAL based on new enrollment numbers — which were announced in November — instead of geographical locations. The board’s decision was not announced until two weeks ago.

“I know some of the Frederick County schools were unhappy, so the push was to have everything by the numbers,” said Tesla. “The vote was to keep the league the way it was. But Frederick County wasn’t happy. There was a schedule sent to football coaches (by Kendro) and suddenly we are voting on something at another meeting when we’ve already approved the (enrollment numbers). The principals voted 2-1 in favor and I was shocked.”

After the MVAL fall sports banquet on Nov. 24, Tesla said Carroll County started to rumble about leaving.

“I believe the league would have stayed the way it is if we kept the vote on the original league alignment, maybe with the exception of one or two of the smaller schools asking to become independent in football,” said Tesla.

Rodriguez was unavailable for comment on Wednesday.

Michael’s biggest headache now is also simple: He must look out for the interest of Washington County schools.

“Obviously at this time we have to assess where we are at and what move to make for the future,” said Michael. “We have to take our time to look at options. We’ll expect to have a full slate of games. But at this point, I don’t know what things will look like. We have to decide whether to continue as a league or go another route.”

If the schools decided to remain under the MVAL banner, adjustments in scheduling would be minimal and, in some cases, non-conference games could be scheduled with Carroll County schools.

Should the MVAL meet its demise, any schedules currently set for the 2015-16 school year will likely be tossed aside.

“It will be just like starting all over,” said Tesla.

Tesla has been a director on the MVAL board of control for the past 15 years.

“I think it will happen,” said Tesla of the MVAL possibly folding for good. “I’d like to see us save it with Frederick County. It would benefit scheduling.”

If the MVAL folds, the scheduling process will likely become a major nightmare for school athletic directors.

Current schedules drawn up with the enrollment alignment approval will be thrown out and new slates will need to be configured — especially if the schools end up as independents.
This post was edited on 12/11 12:39 AM by eaglesinsider

 

[LHSlancerFAN]

After the comments made in this article from a Washington County AD about Frederick County, I highly doubt that Frederick County will want to stick with the MVAL and Wash Co. But I think thats exactly what Washington County wants because they know that even with a "new" MVAL, Frederick County will make sure that North and South play against the big boys and they dont want any part of that.

 

[TDHelmick]

This is no different than the college football conference realignments that have taken place over the past 2-4 years. Football drives the cart. And make no mistake...football is driving the MVAL cart. Otherwise there is no talk about having to play the big boys.

 

[TDHelmick]

Quote of the day from one of the top Baltimore City football programs when asked if they would be interested in playing a game with FH next season with the same open date. I told the coach that FH had a light junior class and would be losing a good handful of seniors. "Yea, but you have that big fullback coming back, no thanks.

I guess #34 must have made an impression at M&T last week.

 

[LinemenWinGames]

You should put that on the Sun board about the Balt City turn down. I spoke to a Washington County School assistant principal who has been involved with local sports for years. He said that the MVAL is all but done. I haven't heard about the outcome of the meeting. I don't know why it would fold just because of Carroll stepping out. They appear to still have a good league. It would be great to get the Allegany teams in there but the the Antietam Confererence would have 10 teams. The realignment as I understand is for football only.

This post was edited on 12/11 7:47 PM by LinemenWinGames

 

[eaglesinsider]

The plot thickens:


Carroll's withdrawal from MVAL not a done deal
Dec 11, 2014 11:08 PM
Carroll County Public Schools announced this week that the county's eight schools would withdraw from the Monocacy Valley Athletic League for all sports effective June 30, 2015.

Whether Carroll actually goes through with that now is in question.

After many coaches received word from their respective athletic directors over the last few days that they would need to begin scheduling games with teams from outside of Frederick and Washington counties, some have been told to put those plans on hold.

Speculation was rampant on social media Thursday that Carroll would remain in the MVAL in all sports except football, although a number of options remain on the table.

Coaches contacted Thursday declined to speak on the record, preferring to wait and see how it plays out.

Carroll County supervisor of athletics Jim Rodriguez said Thursday that it's premature to speculate on specific details, as there is still much to be worked out between the other members of the MVAL, as well as various athletic directors, principals and even school superintendents.

For now, he said, Carroll still plans to withdraw, but the situation is fluid.

Upon learning of the original plan to leave the MVAL, several coaches contacted Tuesday and Wednesday looked at it as a positive.

"One thing is that it does open up some games on the schedule. That's why [before] you always try to get into a holiday tournament to get some stronger teams," Winters Mill girls lacrosse coach Courtney Vaughn said in a phone interview Wednesday."I would rather lose to a good team by five than beat a team by 10."

Some concerns about additional travel were brought up in response to the county schools leaving the MVAL. Vaughn pointed out, however, that trips to Hagerstown, Smithsburg, Boonsboro and other long distance opponents would not be missed.

Vaughn said she wasn't concerned about ending rivalries Carroll schools may have with Frederick or Washington county schools, and even wondered if any existed in the first place. The veteran coach said one of the only reasons she liked scheduling MVAL members was because of some schools' turf fields. Other than that, she was looking forward to the switch.

"I think people are pretty pleased about it," she said.

Carroll County as a whole has been associated with the MVAL in its current form since the 2003-2004 school year, when the original MVAL - which was founded in 1973 - merged with the Central Maryland Conference to create a 22-team "super conference." The MVAL has gone through a few makeovers in the past decade but had continued to include all the original schools while adding new schools from Carroll and Frederick counties as they were built.

 

[Waggle Pass]

Originally posted by LinemenWinGames:
You should put that on the Sun board about the Balt City turn down. I spoke to a Washington County School assistant principal who has been involved with local sports for years. He said that the MVAL is all but done. I haven't heard about the outcome of the meeting. I don't know why it would fold just because of Carroll stepping out. They appear to still have a good league. It would be great to get the Allegany teams in there but the the Antietam Confererence would have 10 teams. The realignment as I understand is for football only.

This post was edited on 12/11 7:47 PM by LinemenWinGames

You could put that on the Sun board but two things will happen.

1. No one would believe it.

2. Someone from one of the privates, Gilman, Calvert Hall, McDonogh, would chime in "Hey WE have open dates. Why don't ya play us ya chicken$hits!"

 

[LinemenWinGames]

I agree with your options.

 

[FHHSAHS]

Originally posted by Waggle Pass:

Originally posted by LinemenWinGames:
You should put that on the Sun board about the Balt City turn down. I spoke to a Washington County School assistant principal who has been involved with local sports for years. He said that the MVAL is all but done. I haven't heard about the outcome of the meeting. I don't know why it would fold just because of Carroll stepping out. They appear to still have a good league. It would be great to get the Allegany teams in there but the the Antietam Confererence would have 10 teams. The realignment as I understand is for football only.

This post was edited on 12/11 7:47 PM by LinemenWinGames

You could put that on the Sun board but two things will happen.

1. No one would believe it.

2. Someone from one of the privates, Gilman, Calvert Hall, McDonogh, would chime in "Hey WE have open dates. Why don't ya play us ya chicken$hits!"

#2 - Verbatim.

 

[eaglesinsider]

The city league gets bashed on a pretty regular basis on the Sun Board by anyone who knows anything about football, at least this year. Football was down in the metro area this year on every level, public and private, and the City league was the worst by far. Most people picked both FH and Douglass-PG to win by at least 3 TDs. I'm not sure Dunbar would have beaten South Carroll this year.

As much as I'd like to see a Fort Hill-McDonogh game, I don't think it'd be productive for either team. I'd like to see FH play an MIAA B level school like Boys' Latin or Saint Paul's. That would be a good matchup for both teams. Looks like we might be getting a McDonogh-Franklin game next year though so I'm happy with that. The more games between the good publics and the good privates the better.