Two weeks ago I posted an article about the Big Eight expansion possibility. As of last night that possibility is now a reality. Reeds Spring became the final school to have its school board accept the invitation to join the league.
The fourteen team league will feature Monett, Cassville, Aurora, Mt Vernon, McDonald County, Lamar, East Newton, Seneca, Nevada, Springfield Catholic, Marshfield, Logan-Rogersville, Hollister, and Reeds Spring. The teams will be split into two divisions. The old COC schools will be joined by Mt Vernon and Aurora in the east. Nevada will join the remaining schools from the current Big Eight in the west.
Final scheduling format details are still being worked out and will be announced in January. The rumored, most likely scenario for football, seems to be that you will play the teams in your own division and then rotate three teams from the other division. They have expressed interest in trying to keep some rivalries alive (ie Monett vs Aurora and Monett vs Mt Vernon) so there is a chance that they could come to some kind of “natural rivalry” agreement for one of the cross-over games.
Whatever they end up deciding, its nice for this to finally be done. I am looking forward to life in the new Big 8. When you look at it a lot will stay the same for Reeds Spring (and Hollister for that matter). Most of the division came from the small COC. The other two are teams that the Wolves have been playing. They played Mt Vernon twice last year and are scheduled to open with them in 2017. Aurora is a team that they always seem to play whether they are on the schedule or not. In addition to being in the same Jamboree the Wolves and Houn Dawgs have played ten of the past eleven years including three straight years in the district playoffs. So, there will really be nothing new there…
What I am looking forward to are the cross over games. Lamar might be the best team in the state below Class 5. All they have done is win 6 straight Class 2 State Championships. Monett is a team the Wolves have seen a couple of times in recent years and they just won the Class 3 state title. I have never been to East Newton for football but look forward to it. Seneca has been up and down lately but Branson folks will remember when the Indians had it rolling. If you have never been to a game there its a great atmosphere. The fans are right on top of the field. Cassville was on the Wolves schedule last year and is again in 2017. And McDonald County will provide a chance to play a Class 4 school. Nevada is really a team I know absolutely nothing about. I do know that will be a long trip when we have to make it. But maybe not as bad of a drive (road wise) as some of the other places I have already mentioned.
It is a new day without a doubt. This is a win-win situation for all those involved. Well, for everyone except Bolivar. The Libs are left, currently, without a conference home. And to he honest, not a lot of tears are being shed from league opponents about it. Buffalo had already joined with some other teams to the north in forming a new conference.
Thing stay the same for the remainder of this year and next year and in 2018 the NEW Big 8 will launch.
