34°Northern Ohio League shakeup update: Upper Sandusky confirms NCC interest, Galion to follow?
12:38 AM
Dec 17
2008
Dec 17
2008
As promised and expected, more steps have been taken this week towards the ultimate destination of both Galion and Upper Sandusky leaving the Northern Ohio League for the North Central Conference.
On Monday, the Upper Sandusky Board of Education said it had instructed their athletic director to explore the option of joining the NCC, all but confirming rumors that had been swirling for nearly a week. The Upper Sandusky board indicated the move was simply to gather information at this point, but the writing is likely on the wall after Tuesday morning's NCC principals and athletic director's meeting held at Ontario High School.
At that meeting, a source holding an athetlics position within the North Central Conference said it was a unanimous 8-0 vote by current member schools to accept both Upper Sandusky and Galion if they formally choose to apply, provided the conference switches to a big school/small school format. If the move happens, the big school division will probably consist of Bucyrus, Bucyrus Wynford, Ontario, Galion and Upper Sandusky with the small school division being made up of Buckeye Central, Riverdale, Lucas, Crestline and Colonel Crawford.
No one from Upper Sandusky or Galion attended the meeting.
Such a move would greatly affect three area teams currently in the NOL, Bellevue, Norwalk and Willard. They make up the eight-team Northern Ohio League along with Fostoria, Tiffin Columbian, Shelby, Galion and Upper Sandusky. If the said two schools do decide to make the decision to leave the NOL, nothing will likely be decided officially until the spring when both schools have had an opportunity to discuss the moves internally and publicly.
The earliest either team could join the NCC would be the 2011-12 school year. Until something more concrete is decided, it is still too early to tell what options the Northern Ohio League would have if they were reduced to either a six or seven-team league. The wild card in all of this right now appears to be Galion, who is yet to publicly confirm their NCC interest.
If Upper Sandusky agrees to leave and Galion doesn't, would the NCC accept Upper Sandusky by themselves to make it a nine-team conference? That is why it seems just a bit too early to speculate who could replace either school, but there is one certainty we can now all confirm...
Upper Sandusky is looking to get out and Galion is apparently at least considering it. And the NCC wants them both. Stay tuned...
On Monday, the Upper Sandusky Board of Education said it had instructed their athletic director to explore the option of joining the NCC, all but confirming rumors that had been swirling for nearly a week. The Upper Sandusky board indicated the move was simply to gather information at this point, but the writing is likely on the wall after Tuesday morning's NCC principals and athletic director's meeting held at Ontario High School.
At that meeting, a source holding an athetlics position within the North Central Conference said it was a unanimous 8-0 vote by current member schools to accept both Upper Sandusky and Galion if they formally choose to apply, provided the conference switches to a big school/small school format. If the move happens, the big school division will probably consist of Bucyrus, Bucyrus Wynford, Ontario, Galion and Upper Sandusky with the small school division being made up of Buckeye Central, Riverdale, Lucas, Crestline and Colonel Crawford.
No one from Upper Sandusky or Galion attended the meeting.
Such a move would greatly affect three area teams currently in the NOL, Bellevue, Norwalk and Willard. They make up the eight-team Northern Ohio League along with Fostoria, Tiffin Columbian, Shelby, Galion and Upper Sandusky. If the said two schools do decide to make the decision to leave the NOL, nothing will likely be decided officially until the spring when both schools have had an opportunity to discuss the moves internally and publicly.
The earliest either team could join the NCC would be the 2011-12 school year. Until something more concrete is decided, it is still too early to tell what options the Northern Ohio League would have if they were reduced to either a six or seven-team league. The wild card in all of this right now appears to be Galion, who is yet to publicly confirm their NCC interest.
If Upper Sandusky agrees to leave and Galion doesn't, would the NCC accept Upper Sandusky by themselves to make it a nine-team conference? That is why it seems just a bit too early to speculate who could replace either school, but there is one certainty we can now all confirm...
Upper Sandusky is looking to get out and Galion is apparently at least considering it. And the NCC wants them both. Stay tuned...
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03:01 AM
wulijun says
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10:00 PM
Mark Hazelwood says
My point is from talking with several NOL administrators, they don't WANT a large Division II school even. That is simply not the makeup of this league anymore and it is coming from the mouths of people within the administration at four of the six NOL schools that would remain if this happens. Division III is now the largest school in the NOL and nobody appears heading to Division II (football example) anytime soon.I'm not pushing anyone else's opinion. That is simply MY OWN, as you are entitled to your's.
10:13 PM
Mark Hazelwood says
I just can't see the NOL taking in both Fremont and Sandusky...Ross has an enrollment of over 1,000 kids and that is considerably large for the NOL's current makeup.From an NOL perspective, a dream world to them if those two leave is probably Clyde and Sandusky. That's not to say either are looking to move, but I bet that is who the NOL would reach out to should one or both of Galion/Upper leave.
09:10 AM
Keith says
Respectfully your view of Fremont Ross as too big is a common misperception. Many folks in Fremont as well as outside of Fremont still view Ross as that big DI school from the 1970's and 1980's and that is simply not the case. Ross is one of the smallest DI schools in Ohio right now and will be a DII school in football in the next few years if not in 2009. People such as yourself must stop pushing the misinformed opinion that Ross is too big.01:12 PM
donutshopguy says
Just can't see Sandusky in any league without Fremont. Clyde would be a great addition to the NOL. Later I could see Perkins joining the NOL. They are growing in size and may out grow the SBC.Schools like Huron, Margaretta, St. Mary's, Port Clinton and Oak Harbor are getting smaller with enrollment. Perkins and Clyde would be a better long term fit with the NOL.
09:19 PM
wetsu says
It seems likely that any movement involving Sandusky would also include Ross due to the rivalry, that could muddy the prospects for both schools in the event that Upper and Galion bolt. I'm a transplanted Sanduskian who now resides in the Lima area and I feel for Lima Senior should the GBC disband. There is not a more loyal league member than Lima, but, things always seem to fall apart where league affiliation is concerned. Yet, the idea of NOL travel as opposed to mid-week travel to Lima has to appeal to the powers that be at SHS.10:19 AM
Sandtown_05 says
Sandusky and Fremont would also save money by joining the NOL..They both have to drive to Lima, Findlay, Napolean, and Marion Harding just for there league games...They would also have more fan support by joining the NOL because fans will actually drive to away games plus it would make some interesting rivalries so im all for it!!!10:36 PM
Mark Hazelwood says
I think if this happens, which it almost appears to be a certainty on Upper's end, that Sandusky has to at least look into the option of looking into a move to the Northern Ohio League...in my opinion, anyway.10:08 AM
Sandtown_05 says
If upper and galion leave i hope sandusky and fremont join the NOL...Sandusky already plays some of the teams in the NOL anyways and it would be shorter driving distance for games.07:12 PM
donutshopguy says
Sandusky and Fremont would be great choices. Good local rivalies. Clyde also would be a great addition to the NOL. Clyde maybe getting to big for the SBC? Just a thought.06:47 PM
wetsu says
If the NOL will accept Fremont Ross and Sandusky I recommend that the two schools make every attempt to join the league. While I enjoy some of the GBC match-ups I don't believe that the league can last long-term.01:00 PM
americancripler says
All you can hope is that the NOL can survive a shakeup like this.. As a Graduating member from a school from the NOL, I'd hate to see a long time Confrence like that take a hit too big that it might consider just disbanding itself..On the other side, who could possibly fill the two open positions in the NOL? Just a thought..