I think its just a generational thing. Most people now days want options and a small town does not give you that. I live in Wooster, my neighbor just moved in this past fall from Tennessee,his wife got a job at Smuckers. They never thought about locating in Orrville, they looked as far away as Akron before choosing Wooster. The main reason was the different opportunities Wooster High school had for their son. I have been in Wooster for 2 years, grew up near the area but not in Wooster, if my wife and I had a choice we would be living in Columbus, but we have good jobs and family near by. Orrville is not the only small town dealing with these problems, all though many small communities would love to have the jobs that Orrville has.

unc4life;1709396 wrote:I think its just a generational thing. Most people now days want options and a small town does not give you that. I live in Wooster, my neighbor just moved in this past fall from Tennessee,his wife got a job at Smuckers. They never thought about locating in Orrville, they looked as far away as Akron before choosing Wooster. The main reason was the different opportunities Wooster High school had for their son. I have been in Wooster for 2 years, grew up near the area but not in Wooster, if my wife and I had a choice we would be living in Columbus, but we have good jobs and family near by. Orrville is not the only small town dealing with these problems, all though many small communities would love to have the jobs that Orrville has.

Very true! Many small communities dealing with this same issue.

Old Rider;1709457 wrote:Very true! Many small communities dealing with this same issue.

Plenty of big ones too. Canton dealing with loss of blue collar factories & an aging population just like us.

Low property values along with public & private school alternatives in that area are killing that school.

If you don't think those factors impact their athletic teams go check out McKinley basketball compared to what it was less than a decade ago & let me know what you see.

So does that mean every school will be looking to change leagues?

An-Old-Fan;1709619 wrote:So does that mean every school will be looking to change leagues?

I think you are tying to lay a trap so let me say this...Many schools are looking to change conferences. Just look at the potential change just in the PAC from schools leaving and new ones added. Will be some changes in the OCC as well. Still does not make me for it but I can understand it. It is a football move for Orrville if it happens.

Orrville won tonight 70-42. Fridays game @ Dalton should be a good one and a great atmosphere!

Nice win last night Riders...keep it going you know you will have a tough environment on Friday.

Should be a great atmosphere on Friday in Dalton. Dalton will definitely benefit by being at home. Other than that, I expect a nip and tuck game. I think it would benefit Orrville if the officials are letting them bang underneath. Physical play has bothered the Dalton post players at times this year. Orrville doesn't have a good record, but they would've been contenders if they played in the WCAL. Dalton ramped their schedule up the past few years, but it is nothing like the meat grinder Orrville faces in the OCC. I know people in both of these programs, and I would say both of these programs think they are decidedly better than the other. IMO this game should happen during every regular season. Dalton has been the most dominant WCAL team over the past 4-5 years, and Orrville always considers themselves to be a notch above the WCAL competition. Orrville plays almost the entire WCAL in their non conference schedule, but has rarely played Dalton. I think it could be a natural rivalry with the schools in such close proximity. Who gets the big win Friday night, and who suffers the devastating defeat?

Welp sounds like the PAC voted last night to invite Orrville and Northwest. Its been a good run in the OCC for Orrville and I for one will miss them playing in the league. Orrville will still be the smallest school in their conference, hope its everything you guys hoped for.

unc4life;1709935 wrote:Welp sounds like the PAC voted last night to invite Orrville and Northwest. Its been a good run in the OCC for Orrville and I for one will miss them playing in the league. Orrville will still be the smallest school in their conference, hope its everything you guys hoped for.

It won't be. The girls sports will suffer from not having to play in the OCC (they are very good and look to be for years to come) the boys will still struggle and not pay the price to get better. Lose/Lose in my opinion!

rrfan;1709937 wrote:It won't be. The girls sports will suffer from not having to play in the OCC (they are very good and look to be for years to come) the boys will still struggle and not pay the price to get better. Lose/Lose in my opinion!

Girls basketball and volleyball still have 10 out of conference games to "schedule up." Should be plenty of opportunity to prepare them for tourneys. If you only have 6 other PAC teams, and 22 games, that's 10 out of conf. games in which to get tested.

And it's more than "the next few years of girls teams." See beyond that. This is for the kids that are in grade school right now...putting them on an even playing field and keeping close to home. Not getting back from Lexington at 10pm on a Tuesday night.

Great job by Kent Smith and Jon Ritchie in keeping lines of communication open and chasing down all opportunities to make this change.

They should get a giant "thank you" then next time any of us see them. The first line of Kent's note to the various coaches was that it is a good move for our kids. Kids. That's who it's about. Not us armchair quarterbacks.

RedRider1;1709978 wrote:Girls basketball and volleyball still have 10 out of conference games to "schedule up." Should be plenty of opportunity to prepare them for tourneys. If you only have 6 other PAC teams, and 22 games, that's 10 out of conf. games in which to get tested.

And it's more than "the next few years of girls teams." See beyond that. This is for the kids that are in grade school right now...putting them on an even playing field and keeping close to home. Not getting back from Lexington at 10pm on a Tuesday night.

Great job by Kent Smith and Jon Ritchie in keeping lines of communication open and chasing down all opportunities to make this change.

They should get a giant "thank you" then next time any of us see them. The first line of Kent's note to the various coaches was that it is a good move for our kids. Kids. That's who it's about. Not us armchair quarterbacks.

Just because you think that does not mean all have to think that. I do think they (Kent and Richie) did a good job to get into the conference but I am really tired of hearing the travel as the big reason for wanting the change. Say the truth the boys football and basketball teams are not good enough to be in the OCC. The boys have not put in the work they need to do to get any better over the last few years. Please stop with the travel garbage!

rrfan;1709937 wrote:The girls sports will suffer from not having to play in the OCC

I disagree...you still have to go thru Gilmore Academy and the likes to make it all the way. Not sure if ANY league prepares you for that level of competition. The OCC has prepared us for districts...but if your 'good enough'...then you should be winning the district....regardless of which league your in. Did the WCAL prepare the Smithville girls when they were mopping up consecutive district titles in baskeball and volleyball??? NO...they were talented. The same thing that we have coming in the middle school girls program....TALENT. Again, if your good enough.....you'll win....regardless of ANY league your in!

rrfan;1709980 wrote:The boys have not put in the work they need to do to get any better over the last few years.

There has to be atleast some small amount of talent to work from...Ask these coaches...they will tell you exactly what kind of kid/athlete they are working with.

Can't build a shit sculpture out of diarrhea!!

rrfan;1709980 wrote:Just because you think that does not mean all have to think that. I do think they (Kent and Richie) did a good job to get into the conference but I am really tired of hearing the travel as the big reason for wanting the change. Say the truth the boys football and basketball teams are not good enough to be in the OCC. The boys have not put in the work they need to do to get any better over the last few years. Please stop with the travel garbage!

What "work" are the girls teams doing that the boys are not? Educate me.

The middle school teams have numbers and talent. Are they working harder that the middle school boys teams? Is the weight room you speak so highly of full of girls and not boys? You've seen this with your own eyes?

Talent goes a LOOOOOOONG way at the middle school level. It's rarely about hard work.

One thing that will be interesting is people on here think that the non conference will be filled with bigger schools from the OCC and around. Don't expect bigger schools to jump to play Orrville anymore in any sport. I also would be shocked if the Wooster Orrville football rivalry continues. If your the coach at Wooster playing Orrville does you no good at all. You cant waist one of three non conference games on a bad D5 school.

RedRider1;1709986 wrote:What "work" are the girls teams doing that the boys are not? Educate me.

The middle school teams have numbers and talent. Are they working harder that the middle school boys teams? Is the weight room you speak so highly of full of girls and not boys? You've seen this with your own eyes?

Talent goes a LOOOOOOONG way at the middle school level. It's rarely about hard work.

In your scenario it is also little about conference too!

And just remember....when you lose in basketball or volleyball, you're tired but you still get your juice box or ice cream after the game.

When you lose in football, you physically hurt. That day and the next day.

Our middle school boys are getting physically beaten down....it's not a "weakness" thing. When Ashland runs 75 kids off the bus for a football game and we have 25, it's simply numbers.

When D-2 Ashland or Wooster can play 11 on offense and 11 on defense, and we're running the same 15 kids out there for offense, defense and special teams...it's a numbers game.

rrfan;1709990 wrote:In your scenario it is also little about conference too!

You're not proving your point...you're implying that the girls are working harder than the boys.

Admit that there's talent on the girls side and not as much on the boys side....and that has more to do with it that lifting or not lifting weights.

Still waiting...what are the girls basketball and volleyball coaches doing that the football and boys basketball coaches aren't?

unc4life;1709987 wrote:One thing that will be interesting is people on here think that the non conference will be filled with bigger schools from the OCC and around. Don't expect bigger schools to jump to play Orrville anymore in any sport. I also would be shocked if the Wooster Orrville football rivalry continues. If your the coach at Wooster playing Orrville does you no good at all. You cant waist one of three non conference games on a bad D5 school.

I almost guarantee you we will be playing West Holmes and Wooster in both football and basketball. Have for years....even when we were in separate leagues in the past. As far as a bad D5 school....we use to say the same thing about Wooster....why waste our time with a BAD D1-2 team.

Old Rider, the glory days have passed you by. It's a new time and a new community. Orrville 'swag' and 'RTR' are things of the past. Oh, and 117-14 over the last two years.

RedRider1;1709994 wrote:You're not proving your point...you're implying that the girls are working harder than the boys.

Admit that there's talent on the girls side and not as much on the boys side....and that has more to do with it that lifting or not lifting weights.

Still waiting...what are the girls basketball and volleyball coaches doing that the football and boys basketball coaches aren't?

I have been the king of this argument fan club. Talent wins I have said that from day one. When you don't have talent (football) you don't just pick up the ball and move on.

Fine you guys win...this is the greatest day in the history of the Red Rider Tradition. Sorry I just don't feel that way.

I do believe the girls work much harder than the boys. For example the girls are in basketball season and playing JO Volleyball and in Volleyball playing AAU Basketball. These girls are working circles around the boys. I know for a fact that there were times when the girls would go to track practice, then go and play in a two day basketball tourney and then on Sunday play about 4-5 games of JO Volleyball tourney. But it is to much to ask for the boys to get in the weight room and get stronger, faster, and more athletic. It is crap!

RedRider1;1709994 wrote:You're not proving your point...you're implying that the girls are working harder than the boys.

Admit that there's talent on the girls side and not as much on the boys side....and that has more to do with it that lifting or not lifting weights.

Still waiting...what are the girls basketball and volleyball coaches doing that the football and boys basketball coaches aren't?

I have also said over and over this is not a coaching problem! Don't put words into my mouth. In fact have been on the other side and said I feel bad for the coaches. They out work every player they have including in the weight room!

CCRolly;1710009 wrote:Old Rider, the glory days have passed you by. It's a new time and a new community. Orrville 'swag' and 'RTR' are things of the past. Oh, and 117-14 over the last two years.

Three things Wooster only wished they had....glory days, swag, and tradition.

Your speech and debate team could probably say those things though!

Old Rider...you do realize its 2015 your football team has won 3 games in the past 2 years and your school just let the whole area know that their athletic program is no longer what it was. Mighty Orrville has been taking on the Giants of the OCC for over 12 years now and have done just fine. You might be right West Holmes and Wooster might play you in some sports heck maybe even football, but don't sit here and thump your chest like the good olde days are back and everyone wants to play Orrville. I still find it amusing that two bad years of football can make a school change conferences, because if you think it has anything to do other then football your crazy. Only in Orrville.