The future of Plains' varsity football program
By Mike Miller
Valley Press
Football is a game of numbers. How then, can a school like Plains maintain a healthy program with dwindling numbers? That’s one of the many the questions looming over the heads of administrators and coaches as the 2011 season approaches.
“We’re in kind of a wait and see mode, but we’re trying to be proactive about getting the word out about possible scenarios,” Kendall said.
Last year as nearly a decade of tradition drew to a close with the abolition of the cooperative agreement between Plains and Hot Springs, leaving each to forge their own gridiron destiny. For the first time in years, each school will be solely responsible for fielding it’s own team.
According to Plains athletic director Orin Kendall, projected numbers for next year’s Horsemen football team are a concern. A recent student survey performed by Kendall revealed 20 students, from eighth graders to juniors, interested in playing football next fall.
That number begs the question: how many players are required to maintain a varsity football program?
Although no one seems to have a definitive answer, most guesses seem to hover near 20. To put that number in perspective, 27 players began the 2010 season on the Plains-Hot Springs roster, and 22 are required for a full scrimmage at practice.
Regardless of the number of players beginning the season, some will almost certainly be lost to attrition. As a former football coach and athletic director, Kendall has lost players for a variety of reasons. Some to injury, others to academic or other eligibility concerns, those that moved away and others that just decided to quit. In other words, a team that begins the season with low numbers might be in serious trouble by seasons end.
Dwindling numbers is the first of many concerns surrounding the program. A team with low numbers is less likely to be competitive. Additionally, a team with few numbers would likely field a higher percentage of underclassmen, who would be more susceptible to injury when pitted against larger, more experienced opponents.
“There are a lot of things to be considerate of. We need to make sure that they have a positive experience so they will come out the following year,” Kendall said.
What then, are Plains options moving forward? One, maintain a varsity program. Two, have only a junior varsity. Three, although it’s too late to pursue an alternate co-op opportunity for next season, seek one out in 2012 or beyond. Finally, if, down the road, interest and numbers continue to wane, have no program at all.
“We’re going to do everything we can to try to maintain our varsity schedule for next year, but if our numbers warrant and if it looks like it would be more of a safety concern, we would want to continue playing football and we would go to a jv schedule,” Kendall said. “We want to be prepared to do whatever is necessary to continue playing football here at Plains High School.”
Unfortunately for Plains, as a class B school, they do not have the option to drop down to eight or six man football according to MHSA regulations.
One thing is certain, however, there will be football in Plains next season. More than likely it will be either varsity only or junior varsity only, but Kendall said there is a 100 percent chance Plains will have some kind of team next season.
After the naming of Mike Tatum as next year’s interim head coach there has been some resurgent student interest, according to Kendall.
After meeting with his players, Tatum said they seem to be split on the issue of playing varsity only or jv only. “They do want to play, but once they get on the field, how much will it matter?” he said.
The timetable for the final decision has not yet been set, but Kendall, next year’s incoming athletic director Mike Cole, and school administrators are weighing potential options. Whatever their decision, they will present their solution to the school board which will make the final ruling.