Vanlue Football in Jeopardy...again

• WebFire

  http://thecourier.com/Issues/2010/Apr/27/ar_sports_042710_story2.asp?d=042710_story2,2010,Apr,27&c=s
  
  Vanlue decided not to renew Coach Cooper's contract after only 1 year. Unfortunately, the article does not state why, but it was a shock to the superintendent.
  
  Looks like Vanlue football is once again not sure of it's future. Will this be year that the program folds?
  

  Cooper said he had 19 boys sign up to play next season, but with a handful of returnees that may be transferring out of the district, that number could easily drop to 13 or 14 when the pads are handed out this summer.

  BVC Bylaw 33 states that conference schools are required to notify the BVC president and executive secretary in writing no later than six months before the start of the first day of practice if the school will not be able to begin and or complete a full varsity season in the sports of football, volleyball or boys and girls basketball.
  
  If a school can't complete the season, it will owe a penalty fee to each BVC school that was scheduled to host the school that could not field a team. The penalty fee owed would be calculated by the home school's treasurer and will be the average amount from the three most recent home gate receipts with the school that was unable to field a team. If a school failed to pay the penalty fee within three months, the school could face dismissal from the BVC.
  
  Cutting through the jargon and legalise, if Vanlue committed to play football and was forced to cancel a road game against another conference school, Vanlue would have to pay a fine to replace that school's lost revenue because of the cancelled game.
  
  A school could likely survive canceling one scheduled game, but if a school were forced to cancel multiple games, that would be disastrous for any small-school athletic department.

• THE4RINGZ

  

  That is sad to hear. The young men in the area who wanted to play football won't have the chance unless they can get picked up by another school. Hope it works out for everyone involved.
• Keith

  Isn't Vanlue in talks with Arcadia to merge the two districts anyway? I realize it wouldn't be for this coming year but sometime in the near future?
• WebFire

  Keith wrote: Isn't Vanlue in talks with Arcadia to merge the two districts anyway? I realize it wouldn't be for this coming year but sometime in the near future?

  They were, but Arcadia recently just said no thanks. They said Vanlue lacked interest because their board members did not attend their board meetings and such. And Arcadia is hoping to get a new school built with the state program, so they need to move forward.
• killdeer

  

  Extremely shocked to hear this...Coach Cooper is a good man who had made great strides in attempting to reestablish some tradition and continuity in the program. He had reestablished a youth program as well. Unfortunately, this probably says more about the state of things with the board and the community at large than it does about Mr. Cooper. To be excited and willing to take on perhaps one of the most challenged and beleagured programs in the state, then to be told..."No thanks"....................
  How many would be willing to put up with that.
  
  IMO, Vanlue football is done. It is not a question of if...just when.
• devil1197

  They should just end it now.
  
  It seemed like the Coach actually cared and was developing somewhat of a program, but only to be "surprised" you're fired at the board meeting.
  
  I honestly think they didn't renew him in order to have a valid excuse not to hire another coach and end the program.
• Shane Falco

  Please don't tease me like this!
• WebFire

  devil1197 wrote:
  I honestly think they didn't renew him in order to have a valid excuse not to hire another coach and end the program.

  I was kind of thinking the same thing. Although they did post the job in the papers.
• Keith

  WebFire wrote:

  Keith wrote: Isn't Vanlue in talks with Arcadia to merge the two districts anyway? I realize it wouldn't be for this coming year but sometime in the near future?

  They were, but Arcadia recently just said no thanks. They said Vanlue lacked interest because their board members did not attend their board meetings and such. And Arcadia is hoping to get a new school built with the state program, so they need to move forward.

  Ah, thanks for the update Webfire. I was not aware of that. Much appreciated.