by John Stegeman, Interim Sports Editor
1 day 17 hrs ago | 253 views | 0 | 0 | |
By JOHN STEGEMAN
Interim Sports Editor
Representatives from Portsmouth and South Gallia high schools met with athletic directors from the Southern Ohio Conference at a league meeting Wednesday to propose admission into the league for all varsity sports.
For the Trojans, this is the fourth attempt to join the SOC, which includes all the high schools in Scioto County except Portsmouth, three Pike County schools, one Jackson County school and one Lawrence County school.
Portsmouth's last attempt to join was in 2001. This time around, Portsmouth and South Gallia are on a joint ticket, applying for admission together.
Portsmouth Athletic Director Joe Albrecht made the case for Portsmouth.
"We felt that we'd be honored to be in the SOC," Albrecht said. "We feel that our athletets compete against each other from an early age since we're (located) right in the middle of everyone.
"We feel that we could add to the competitive level," he added. "It would generate more income for all schools involved."
Some time ago, Portsmouth would have been the largest school in the conference. Now however, it would be the third largest behind Northwest and Waverly.
"We're not the same school, and nobody is, that we were 20 or 30 years ago," Albrecht said. "We would be the third largest enrollment in the league."
Portsmouth currently competes in the Southeastern Ohio Athletic League. In that league PHS is the smallest school and has to travel as many as three hours to reach some opponents.
South Gallia is currently independent but plays many SOC schools each year.
Albrecht said the meeting was very welcoming and listened to what both schools had to say.
"It's such a strong established league with rivalties already in place," Albrecht said. "It really means something, in talking with their coaches, to win an SOC championship in any sport... We dont have that same feeling in the SEOAL."
SOC Secretary-treasurer Dave Frantz explained what has to happen for any school to join the league.
"Before a new member school is admitted to the conference there must be a waiting period of two regular (monthly) meetings," he said. "Potential member schools may be admitted by a three-fourths positive vote of all votes cast."
Neither South Gallia or Portsmouth submitted suggestions for realignment of the league divisions but Frantz said that is something the league will have to discuss.
"There was discussion of how would we handle scheduling and would we need three or two divisions," Frantz said. "It was very unofficial brainstorming."
Frants said there will be one more meeting where the proposals are reviewed, and at the next meeting there will be a vote. For a three-fourths majority, if all 16 schools vote, 12 positive votes would be needed for admission.
"This is one of those deals where all the athletic directors will go back and talk with their superiors and get their heads togeter and decide what is best for the Southern Ohio Conference," he said. "Different schools have different policies. Ultimately the vote comes from the top. Different schools handle their voting different ways. Sometimes the superintendent makes the decision and sometimes the athletic director makes the decision."
South Gallia athletic director Jack James could not be reached for this story.
----- Original Message -----
From: Jack H Plymale
To: Sam Kegley
Sent: Sunday, February 08, 2009 9:00 AM
Subject: Re: Portsmouth wanting in SOC League
On Sun, Feb 8, 2009 at 4:50 AM, Jack H Plymale
Looks like the final degradation. If that guy there in Portsmouth can get this done;he and his massive coaching staff may not have to work at all.Last year didn't give any evidence that they did anyway,If they get in this league they need to leave two open dates. One for aunt Nancy's girls school. The other for the little sisters of the poor.They shouldn't be any worse than 500 against them.
Sorry that this hurt you so much, Jack.
Portsmouth may sometimes have more athletic championships because not all good people are out of there. But defacto segregation has moved many to the suburbs of the once respectable city or even to far away places like Costa Rica.
It may hurt to see the County League schools on the PHS schedule, but you find many of PHS"S athletic offspring on the rosters of these schools now.
As your football coach, Paul Walker, went on to become the dominant basketball coach in Ohio, if not all of HS basketball and the terrific Greater Ohio League (GOL), things are constantly changing. Portsmouth was respected in the league, but that kind of travel for the 100 mile and over distant competition, eventually made the scheduling difficult in bringing those calibre teams to P'Town.
Other factors, beyond me, brought the apparent future promise of Portsmouth down. The confluence of two rivers, the steel mill, the largest singly owned freight yards in the world, and a strong shoe industry slipped into history.
Even the Detroit Lions suffered this year and that city is in a downward spiral. Our Portsmouth Spartans are hardly remembered except by old Torjan warhorses like yourself, Jim Fout, and Doc Yeagle. I found out this week that my cousin and friend, Don Barney passed away two years ago. Change. We are currently promised change on the national scene and I don't welcome the type that is coming.
I know you don't like to bring up the politics subject so I will stay away from that.
Your memories of our city on a hill, or beyond the flood wall, are great. Please continue sharing, especially thoughts of your beloved Mabert road, your parents, and your teammates.
Sam
Sam Sorry to hear about Don. He was a friend of mine also. He was an
excellent athlete also, especially basketball, but just didn't take to team
sports. Not real fast but plenty of courage. Sam, I just yesterday
finished " An Empire Of Wealth"by John Steele Gordon. You share an
understanding of the economy with him. His is just a bit more studied in
detail and a bit more extensive.If you have the time, I think you'd like the
book. By the way Sam, the Lions have suffered for years. They just rolled
over and died this year.
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