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Winners and losers of realignment
February 1, 2008If you have not heard, realignment was today. Lots of reshuffling happened (for more info on that, check in sports) -- some predictable, some not.
Here are, in my opinion, are Friday's biggest winners and losers:
WINNERS
Bowie: Any time one of our teams from the area drop down a classification, good things usually happen. Bowie is a legit playoff threat in District 5-2A.
District 5-3A: Not only was a six-team district granted (something every coach wants, especially for scheduling purposes), but the three teams that do make the playoffs get a bye in the first round.
Rider and WFHS: Their district got stronger as Lake Dallas, the 9-4A champ, and an 8-2 Little Elm squad, as well as The Colony, replaced Denison and Sherman.
This will make for a more interesting district race, and since four teams make the 4A playoffs next year, it is hard to see both city schools not making it.
District 9-A: I am still a little surprised they kept Munday, Seymour, Windthorst, Petrolia, Archer City and Electra together. I would have thought they would have been split up like they ended up being for basketball.
But this district was the toughest Class A district around, and I cannot wait for two more seasons of compelling theatre.
LOSERS
Graham: They could be the second-best team in 5-3A next year and not make the playoffs in the district they are in.
Just to recap -- Brownwood (seven state titles, down from 4A); Abilene Wylie (one of the best 3A programs in the state); Snyder (went to state semis last year); Sweetwater and Breckenridge (great tradition). That is 15 state football championships among those five teams. This district is a doozy.
Northside: The only six-man team that really shuffled. The Indians, who won state as a Div. II school, moved up to Div. I. They will play the likes of Throckmorton now, and it will be harder for a deep playoff run.
District 5-2A: Although I am sure the coaches are glad for a six-team district, this one will get even harder.
Bowie becomes a playoff-caliber team, and Henrietta and Holliday are always good. Olney has been strong lately and Nocona's program is on the rise.
Plus, Chico was an easy win the past couple of years, and Alvord/Jacksboro have been at the bottom of that district. All three of those teams are gone.
Also, two of the three teams that do make the playoffs will have to play CIsco and Clyde right off the bat. Not easy.
Posted by at 4:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Comments
I really enjoyed reading your coverage of the UIL Realignment. Looking forward to more on all the North Texas teams next fall.
One request...will you please followup on all the non-district foes for the area. I noticed WFHS and Rider were there, but I'd be interested in all the teams in the area from 1A to 5A.
Rumor out of Windthorst on the schedule is:
Holliday, Olney, Stamford, Lindsay, Alvord.
Poetic justice for Graham? With all the "behavior" problems of their fans to be shipped off to that district -it's almost like UIL put them on a 2 two year ban from the playoffs!!
Little history lesson regarding the teams in 9A and Region II Championship game since 2001.
Region II Championship history
2001 Petrolia v Celeste **
2002 Petrolia *** v Knox City
2003 Windthorst *** v Albany
2004 Windthorst * v Haskell
2005 Windthorst * V Lindsay
2006
Div I Archer City v Valley Mills *
Div II Windthorst ** v Electra
2007
Div I Seymour ** v Valley Mills
Div II Munday *** v Windthorst
* Region Winner
** State Runner-up
*** State Champion
