Football Scheduling Problems Tackled at School Board Session

01/16/2009
DuBOIS - Some changes may be on the horizon for the DuBois Area School District's football program. Athletic Director Pam Murdock told the school board at Thursday's work session about the scheduling problem over the last 12 years.

She said the issues with the District 9 scheduling began when Clearfield refused to renew its four-year contract for football. "At that time, the league took a stance and said if you don't play DuBois we might not play you in other sports," Murdock said. "To make a long story short, after some board meetings and people talking to Clearfield, within a month we had a letter stating they would play DuBois again. That lasted one year."

In 2006, Clearfield withdrew from the league, which left five teams to play against one another. Many roadblocks were enountered when trying to find different configurations of teams to make a schedule.

"In 2006, Bradford, Brookville, DuBois, St. Marys and Punxsutawney . . . realized we were in trouble as a league. Only having five teams, that would only give us each four games a year," Murdock said. "That left us having to find six games to fill in."
Clearfield had been accepted into the Mountain Athletic Conference. Brookville and Punxsy were accepted into another league, leaving the District 9 league with two teams. Bradford participated with District 10 for the first time this year.
When DuBois applied to the MAC, it was accepted and rejected within a 48-hour period due to a misunderstanding. DuBois was accepted to the MAC was given a schedule of five games for 2008-09.

"We still have a schedule for next year," Murdock said. "Unfortunately, we just met in December and then in January and now we have a two-game schedule. We probably looked at no less than 10 to 12 different schedules."
This lack of games in 2009 is caused by discontent among the majority of its members.
Murdock said 10 teams will leave the MAC in 2009 to re-form what was previously known as "The Big Eight," which may include one or two more teams.
"Since that time, I have spoken to District 10 representatives again. Four years ago, we had discussed the possibility of going to District 10," Murdock said. "When we left we had more ties with District 6, but unfortunately that is not going to work for us."

Murdock said District 10 has seen very receptive and can offer a seven-game schedule for the varsity team, as well as a junior varsity football schedule. It will not be able to provide a junior high schedule, but the school plays in an intercounty league with Hollidaysburg, State College and Altoona.

A letter will be sent to District 10 from the district saying DuBois is interested in joining the league. The district will meet in February to review the letter and make a decision. If DuBois is approved to join District 10, this would take effect in 2010.

"Travel wise, it is not going to be that much different because we are going to Lewistown, Chestnut Ridge, Pittsburgh, Erie, Bellefonte. If you look at the travel time and the teams in District 10, there may be a slight increase in transportation, but I don't think it is going to be that drastic," Murdock said. "At this time we don't know which region we would be put in with." Murdock said the change of district would affect football only.