REALIGNMENT
February 1st, every other year, always brings about a lot of excitement as the UIL releases its biennial realignment and reclassification. This year was no different. The anticipation has been building since the conclusion of this past football season and was heightened by the fact the UIL decided to divide all 1A and 2A districts into two divisions. What this means is that rather than waiting until the playoffs to decide which schools would be division 1 or division 2 representatives, schools now are divided into divisions based on their enrollment and will play district schedules as well as playoff schedules based on this pre-determined division. Our school was placed in division 1 ("big school") of Class A. We will compete in district 7 with teams from Bosqueville, DeLeon, Itasca, and Valley Mills. DeLeon is an old foe having faced them the last four years, but I am excited about the opportunity to compete in a district with some new faces. It, no doubt, will prove to be a competitive district with playoff positions not being decided until the last week of the season. I am not well versed on each of these programs, but I am familiar enough with them to know each of these teams has experienced success in recent years and I expect a good football district over the next couple of years. Although, this will probably prove to be a tough district - hopefully because of us and not in spite of us--I feel it is an extraordinary opportunity for our program. I believe to be good you must play good people. We will have that chance over the next couple of years and I feel our kids will be better because of it. There has never been a game won or lost in February. We have known all along that were going to be guaranteed 10 games this next year, all yesterday's information did was put some names with some faces. I understand, and the players understand, that there is only one name on our schedule that matters right now and that name is Santo. It is important that our players and our staff take care of business by getting better. Getting better in the weight room and getting better on the track and getting better in 7 on 7. Tomorrow will take care of itself. Right now we are focused on today and we are focused on our team. Should be fun, always is! -- Coach Thornton
Date Posted: April 09, 2008