Oh, to be the big football fish in a small pond!

The Missouri State High School Activities Association has published the results of its annual questionnaire circulated to all member schools. The most interesting question asks if the current classification for 11-man football should be expanded from five classes to six classes beginning in the 2002-2003 school year.

The result of the voting is interesting, to say the least. It’s no shock that over 87% (215 to 31) of schools voted to add another class for football. What is revealing is the way the vote went for adopting one of two different options proposed by the MSHSAA.

Under Option 1, there would be 32 schools in 1A, 64 in 2A, 64 in 3A, 64 in 4A, 61 in 5A and 32 in 6A. Schools with enrollment from 53 to 191 would make up the 1A classification. Option 2 puts 61 schools in 1A, 64 in each class from 2A to 4A, 32 in 5A and 32 in 6A. The 1A class would handle schools up to 251 enrollment.

Out of 250 votes casts by members schools, 123 indicated a preference for Option 1. Another 127 picked Option 2. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that this is all self- interest.

The current system puts the largest 64 football schools in 5A, the next 64 in 4A, and so on down through 2A. The remaining 62 schools are lumped in 1A. Smaller schools, like those in the Grand River Conference, are less concerned about how many teams there are in 1A. They just don’t want to have to compete for the playoffs against teams nearly twice their size, so expect the small schools to opt for Option 1. Under Option 2, there are about 40 schools who, by picking Option 2, would find themselves in 4A instead of 5A. Also, there are about 30 schools who would land in 3A instead of 4A and another 40 who would compete in 2A instead of 3A.

Schools with enrollments from 1,671 to 2,927 would remain in the largest class, no matter which option is adopted. Schools with enrollments from 1,323 to 1,669 would be in the second largest class, regardless of which option is adopted. Football schools with enrollments up to 191 are going to find themselves in 1A no matter what. That leaves those blocks of schools we can describe as “tweeners” who are very interested in how this will play out. Hamilton and Maysville find themselves in that group. So do perennial powers Brookfield, Chillicothe and Camdenton, just to name a few.

In case you’re wondering, South Harrison would find itself back in 2A no matter which option gets picked, unless its enrollment drops back below 252 in the next reporting period. Only an enrollment jump of nine students would push Gallatin into 2A under Option 1.

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Some of you may remember Joe Posnanski’s column last week in the Kansas City Star that promoted former Negro Leagues player and manager and current Kansas City baseball ambassador Buck O’Neil for The Baseball Hall of Fame. In his column, Joe launched a petition drive in order to get as many names as possible supporting Buck’s induction into The Hall.

Upon my request, Joe sent me a petition this week and I have it in the office. Anyone interested in signing can come in any time and do so at the front desk. The petition must be postmarked for return to The Star by July 3, so don’t delay. Let’s get behind Buck!