Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for March 8, 2006 DIAMOND DAYS NUMBERED?

From today's Southern Illinoisan...

Cairo could be eliminated from Black Diamond later this month

By Todd Hefferman
The Southern

At least one Black Diamond Conference principal thinks Cairo won't be allowed to stay in the 10-team league after it dropped football earlier this year.

Ron Van Horn, in his sixth year as principal of Sesser-Valier High School, said at the league's principals meeting in late February, that very scenario was put on the table.

"That discussion was put out on the table because the conference, itself, was originally formed for football reasons," Van Horn said. "The conference we formed three or four years ago was simply adopted because of football, and it was our agreement that our schools, at that time, would participate in football or be part of a co-op.

"I think the overwhelming consensus was that if you don't play football, you're not in the conference."

The issue wasn't voted on, but could come back up at the league's spring principals meeting March 21, Van Horn said. Principals could vote Cairo out of the league, vote to keep the Pilots in the conference, vote on some other proposal or not vote at all.

Van Horn said there is a bylaw within the conference rules that requires schools in the Black Diamond to participate in football, either as an independent team or as a co-op, such as the arrangement Christopher and Zeigler-Royalton have. BDC President Don Smith, the principal at Carterville High School, said he didn't believe there was a bylaw that said that, but that a bylaw could be proposed at the March meeting to address that issue.

Smith also said he didn't know if the league's principals would even vote on kicking the Pilots out of the Black Diamond.

"I think by that time (March 21) there may be several bylaws floated around at that time to address the situation," Smith said. "I can't predict how that will turn out. I think the question will be addressed. I don't know how it's going to turn out. I think it's going to be interesting."

Cairo Principal Tony Maltbia said he hopes the school remains in the conference.

"I think our ultimate goal is to stay in the Black Diamond. That's yet to be seen," he said.

Maltbia declined to comment further until after the March 21 meeting.

Cairo announced it was dropping its football program for the 2006 season Feb. 17, leaving the league's other nine schools scrambling to find a replacement game. Sesser-Valier is the only school that's been successful, signing a two-year agreement with Trenton Wesclin, Sesser-Valier Athletic Director Danny Kirk confirmed Tuesday.

Wesclin finished 7-3 last year, finishing second in the Cahokia Conference to Breese Central and losing to Johnston City in the playoffs. Sesser-Valier finished 2-7 last season, it's worst season in over a decade.

Carmi-White County is in talks with Farmington, Mo., but hasn't locked up the game, according to Bulldogs coach Kurt Simon.

Johnston City Athletic Director Ross Babington and Carterville Athletic Director Todd Rogers said they expect the Illinois High School Association to award forfeit victories for those schools that are unable to find replacement games. Rogers said he expected the league's athletic directors to formulate a letter at their spring meeting to ask for that arrangement.

The league's athletic directors agreed earlier this month to stay with the 2006 schedule through the 2007 season, instead of rotating. The 2007 schedule was supposed to be the first year of a new rotation of the 10-team slate, but in light of Cairo's withdrawal from football, the schedule will remain as it is this coming fall.

Carterville is in a unique position, as the Lions are scheduled to play Cairo in Week 9 this season. A week off may be better for the Lions' playoff hopes, assuming they have enough wins to make the postseason.

"Being Week 9 for us, if we don't get a game, it's not absolutely crushing for us, but I think we want to keep our options open, and maybe look at Kentucky or Missouri," Rogers said.

The Black Diamond may be looking at a schedule without the Pilots, who will be without football for the first time since 1920 this fall.

"I think the principals may want to have discussions and hold another meeting later," Van Horn said. "Myself, I'm ready to vote, but not everyone has been involved as deeply or thoroughly as I have."