No Boardman, though.
and of course, Fitch is for EVERYTHING BUT FOOTBALL

Begins with 2011-12.
Jefferson Area isn't in for football until 2012

http://www.vindy.com/news/2010/apr/20/all-american-conference-adds-fitch-and-j/

Hmmmm, Interesting!!

I can't see the fed leaving Fitch play JUST football.

I assume Fitch will be independent for football.

Someone on Yappi already mentioned that the Federal League has stated before that they aren't doing the "football only" thing with members.

The question is did AF keep themselves outta the football loop or did the AAC not allow them in for football? I assume AF kept themselves out, their size being what it is compared to current members would mean very few games in conference that would be of the same division. This does get their foot in the door should other large schools decide to join at a later date however.

skank wrote: I can't see the fed leaving Fitch play JUST football.

Or Letting?

Get a load of this article from channel 33

http://www.wytv.com/content/news/headlines/story/Fitch-Approved-to-Join-All-American-Conference/EyjBC4Q4WE-CEFOzPUFKgA.cspx

Holy crap, could they make this more confusing?

Both schools will be admitted for all but football in 2011-12.
Both schools WILL join for football in 2012-13

HOWEVER,
Teams in Fitch's tier will NOT be required to play Fitch in football, whereas teams in Jefferson's tier DO have to play Jefferson in football.

League will shift tiers in 2011-12

Tier One

Austintown Fitch
Beaver Local
Hubbard
Canfield
Howland
Hubbard
Niles
Poland
Struthers

Tier Two

Campbell
Champion
Girard
Jefferson
LaBrae
Lakeview
Liberty
Newton Falls

THEN, the tiers will be split in half into "Divisions", so basically it seems like 4 tiers of 4

Looks like Boardman's death sentence was applying and wanting in for all sports.

So, it's just a jumbled disaster with the same usual issues: NO ONE WANTS TO PLAY ANYONE IN ANYTHING
Sure, the avoidance of too many tough games got 8 teams into the playoffs last year from the AAC, but there's a reason no team from the valley other than Mooney and Ursuline made it past week 12.

coyotes22 wrote:

skank wrote: I can't see the fed leaving Fitch play JUST football.

Or Letting?

Let's call it allowing.

Where the heck is Gardens? Fill us in son. You're on every other thread but this one.

(Football only post. Generic thoughts)

At first I was very opposed to the move to the FED. Eventually I became fond of the league. I am glad to see Fitch returning to the local area. I hope that playing the likes of Canfield, Poland, Howland etc. to start with will somehow lead to mending the relationships with the big hitters in the Ytown area and having those teams on the schedule sooner rather than later.

The quality of football played by the individual FED teams is no better than the quality of the SVC (individual teams) as it stood when Fitch (and Boardman) left.


If this thread develops, I'd like to partake in more specific discussion.

Gardens35 wrote: (Football only post. Generic thoughts)

At first I was very opposed to the move to the FED. Eventually I became fond of the league. I am glad to see Fitch returning to the local area. I hope that playing the likes of Canfield, Poland, Howland etc. to start with will somehow lead to mending the relationships with the big hitters in the Ytown area and having those teams on the schedule sooner rather than later.

The quality of football played by the individual FED teams is no better than the quality of the SVC (individual teams) as it stood when Fitch (and Boardman) left.


If this thread develops, I'd like to partake in more specific discussion.

Id like to see this move, open up a future contract between Massillon and Fitch again. Would love to see them on the schedule.

The only team out of those 3 I see having the grapes to schedule Fitch is Poland. If Fitch wins those games, that contract will die too.

ts1227 wrote: The only team out of those 3 I see having the grapes to schedule Fitch is Poland. If Fitch wins those games, that contract will die too.

What about Howland? But I really don't see any real advantage for Fitch to schedule any of the larger AAC schools in football since they themselves are D-1.

There may not be a true advantage for Fitch, but it's the only way they're going to fill a schedule if they really want to cut down on travel like they say they do.

ts1227 wrote: There may not be a true advantage for Fitch, but it's the only way they're going to fill a schedule if they really want to cut down on travel like they say they do.

If they really want to cut down on travel, I'm sure there are 2 Mahoning County teams that would play them.

Maybe they don't want to play all-star teams.

Contrary to what I've read on several HS sites, I'm not sure that Fitch is going to immediately dominate the bigger AAC teams that they dominated in the past. About 12 or so years ago a terrible administrative decision put Fitch in a hole that it's not really dug out of yet. That one was immediately followed by the one that let Carl Pelini go as Head Coach just as they began to crawl out of it (...5 years later he's the DC at Nebraska...). Those top AAC teams that folks talk about have had very little change at the top and have been consistent on the field..........it's been a different situation for Fitch. After Hartman left in '93 (Won over 90 games in 12 years, won or shared 8 SVC Titles), Kenney got 3 years, Fedyski got 3 years, Pelini got 3 years, Kopp got 4, and Annarella has finished his 3rd.

Poland and Fitch will play each other this season.
Canfield last played Fitch in 2003. Fitch (6-4) beat Canfield (3-7) 48-40.
I don't recall the last time Fitch played Howland.
I'm pretty sure that Fitch last played Hubbard in 1980.

From the Fitch football program, these are the series W/L records against those teams:
Fitch vs Canfield, Fitch leads 22-9-1.
Fitch vs Poland, Fitch leads 6-1.
Fitch vs Howland, Fitch leads 11-4.
Fitch vs Hubbard, Fitch leads 25-23.


*Fitch is 1-0 all time against Canada*

Gardens35 wrote: Contrary to what I've read on several HS sites, I'm not sure that Fitch is going to immediately dominate the bigger AAC teams that they dominated in the past. About 12 or so years ago a terrible administrative decision put Fitch in a hole that it's not really dug out of yet. That one was immediately followed by the one that let Carl Pelini go as Head Coach just as they began to crawl out of it (...5 years later he's the DC at Nebraska...). Those top AAC teams that folks talk about have had very little change at the top and have been consistent on the field..........it's been a different situation for Fitch. After Hartman left in '93 (Won over 90 games in 12 years, won or shared 8 SVC Titles), Kenney got 3 years, Fedyski got 3 years, Pelini got 3 years, Kopp got 4, and Annarella has finished his 3rd.

Poland and Fitch will play each other this season.
Canfield last played Fitch in 2003. Fitch (6-4) beat Canfield (3-7) 48-40.
I don't recall the last time Fitch played Howland.
I'm pretty sure that Fitch last played Hubbard in 1980.

From the Fitch football program, these are the series W/L records against those teams:
Fitch vs Canfield, Fitch leads 22-9-1.
Fitch vs Poland, Fitch leads 6-1.
Fitch vs Howland, Fitch leads 11-4.
Fitch vs Hubbard, Fitch leads 25-23.


*Fitch is 1-0 all time against Canada*

I believe Hubbard is in the middle tier. Isn't Niles the other local team in the big tier?

I'm not sure where they are, I just mentioned the bigger AAC teams that have had some consistent successes in the past 10 years or so. Niles is hurting.

Gardens35 wrote: I'm not sure where they are, I just mentioned the bigger AAC teams that have had some consistent successes in the past 10 years or so. Niles is hurting.

Yes, Niles it hurting, but I wouldn't expect Hubbard to play up and play Fitch. It is to bad everyone in the Mahoning Valley wants to schedule a 10-0 season instead of playing good programs. Some great games are missed out on.

Al Bundy wrote:

Gardens35 wrote: I'm not sure where they are, I just mentioned the bigger AAC teams that have had some consistent successes in the past 10 years or so. Niles is hurting.

...... Some great games are missed out on.

True. I hope that this move is the first step in renewing some of that.

coyotes22 wrote: Id like to see this move, open up a future contract between Massillon and Fitch again. Would love to see them on the schedule.

That too! Fun times.

Gardens35 wrote:

coyotes22 wrote: Id like to see this move, open up a future contract between Massillon and Fitch again. Would love to see them on the schedule.

That too! Fun times.

YES YES!! For sure!! :shy:

I would love to go to Austintown every other year

Any word on Boardman being asked to join also? Heard rumors they may be asked, but, that they are too big of a school?