Flying Wallenda wrote:Bisonguy06 wrote:No one is picking on Central Cass and Kindred. The problem is the division above them. They are part of the solution.
The top division should grow and should include everyone larger than Jamestown, with Jamestown as the bubble team. No opting down. The next division, having lost teams upward, would need to replace.
Central Cass and Kindred are the next two largest schools, with a gap behind them. They are bedroom communities to the rapidly growing Fargo/West Fargo area.
By current and future enrollment, I believe they belong up a division, and if the numbers said something different, so would I.
Bisonguy I'm interested in your opinion on why the top division should grow? The GF/Fargo schools that some have villainized in this go around had very mediocre (or worse) seasons. Perhaps they are where they should be instead of getting cleaned up on by Sheyenne, WF, etc...? Ironically, the teams that composed the old 11A (wahp/DL/VC also had the same kind of season as did those GF and Fargo schoools). Two of the smaller boys, St. Mary and J-town competing for the title. Seems like maybe parity was found?
Interested in your take. Thanks.
From memory, if you grouped the largest 14 schools together, the largest would be Minot and the smallest would be Fargo south and the enrollment ratio would be about 2 to 1. It was not long ago that Fargo south was THE powerhouse in the east. Meanwhile, Minot went 2-7 this year.
I think if we are able to tell the smallest team in any division that you will not play an opponent that is more than double your size, that is about as good and as fair as anyone can expect.
After Fargo South there is a male enrollment gap of over 100, then Jamestown, then another gap of 100 or so. Jamestown is the bubble team, but it is quite clear that the dividing line belongs either right above or right below Jamestown.
Finally, I do not support opting down. Plain and simple. Not where the enrollment ratio is 2:1 or less.