Realignment Idea

[Bluebird 17]

As far as realignment. Would it be a good or bad idea for the schools on the boarder of Kentucky, West Virginia, or Tennessee. To switch Leagues.  

An example. Graham High School going to the West Virginia high school association or Bluefield High school joining the VHSL. 

I know that some people would get more than upset at that idea but its an idea that might help out some of the schools that are too far away from other schools in the state. 

[Austrian Ben Shapiro 66]

32 team NFL-style SWVAFL

this is not ideal and places geography above school population size but hear me out:

two conferences (Clinch and Holston)

Clinch runs from Wise County across to Wythe County basically Northern SWVA

Holston runs from Lee to Smyth, Southern SWVA

Clinch North- Richlands, Tazewell, Graham, Bluefield (great division, 3 of these schools have been contenders for the better part of the past 20 years)

Clinch South- Union, Central, Burton, Eastside (the Wise Co. schools stay together, there have been years where 1A Burton would be 2nd in this division)

Clinch East- George Wythe, Rural Retreat, Ft. Chiswell, Bland (not great but the Wythe County schools are usually above average)

Clinch West- Southern Gap (Buchanan County High School), Mount View, River View, Ridgeview (Dickenson runs this division, SG could be decent with the right staff and the WV schools are natural rivals for most of this conference)

 

 

Holston North- Lebanon, Castlewood, Honaker, and Twin Springs (Russell schools together plus TS, Honaker has been great more often that not in the past 20 years and Lebanon is an underachiever that should fix that)

 

Holston South- Abingdon, Virginia, Holston, Battle (Falcons and Bearcats run this division, with Holston and Battle picking up the scraps of the Greater Bristol division)

Holston East- Patrick Henry, Chilhowie, Northwood, Marion (Chilhowie and PH provide two very good programs to this division)

Holston West- Lee, Rye Cove, Thomas Walker, Gate City (the Devils and Generals compete for the West crown on a near yearly basis)

 

this is also somewhat future proof, if consolidation happens in Tazewell, Russell, Washington, Smyth, Scott, you simply either expand eastwards into Carroll, Grayson counties or try to pick up some NETN or EKY schools. Obviously this will never happen but…

[Austrian Ben Shapiro 66]

Just now, Austrian Ben Shapiro said:

32 team NFL-style SWVAFL

this is not ideal and places geography above school population size but hear me out:

two conferences (Clinch and Holston)

Clinch runs from Wise County across to Wythe County basically Northern SWVA

Holston runs from Lee to Smyth, Southern SWVA

Clinch North- Richlands, Tazewell, Graham, Bluefield (great division, 3 of these schools have been contenders for the better part of the past 20 years)

Clinch South- Union, Central, Burton, Eastside (the Wise Co. schools stay together, there have been years where 1A Burton would be 2nd in this division)

Clinch East- George Wythe, Rural Retreat, Ft. Chiswell, Bland (not great but the Wythe County schools are usually above average)

Clinch West- Southern Gap (Buchanan County High School), Mount View, River View, Ridgeview (Dickenson runs this division, SG could be decent with the right staff and the WV schools are natural rivals for most of this conference)

 

 

Holston North- Lebanon, Castlewood, Honaker, and Twin Springs (Russell schools together plus TS, Honaker has been great more often that not in the past 20 years and Lebanon is an underachiever that should fix that)

 

Holston South- Abingdon, Virginia, Holston, Battle (Falcons and Bearcats run this division, with Holston and Battle picking up the scraps of the Greater Bristol division)

Holston East- Patrick Henry, Chilhowie, Northwood, Marion (Chilhowie and PH provide two very good programs to this division)

Holston West- Lee, Rye Cove, Thomas Walker, Gate City (the Devils and Generals compete for the West crown on a near yearly basis)

 

this is also somewhat future proof, if consolidation happens in Tazewell, Russell, Washington, Smyth, Scott, you simply either expand eastwards into Carroll, Grayson counties or try to pick up some NETN or EKY schools. Obviously this will never happen but…

The clear weaknesses are heavy divisions such as the Tazewell+Bluefield division and Wise County’s against empty divisions like the Far SWVA division, but this system would probably create more compelling football for county/countyline rivalries plus keeping nearly everyone in the playoff hunt all year long.