Franco

[QuoteTheRaven]

I didn't know there was that big of a difference in size of enrollment. Well throw that idea out the window lol

[Crimson's Ghost]

Yeah, State College and Altoona are massive schools. Johnstown is only getting smaller. They shouldn't be on the same field in my opinion.

[dougkeklak]

This is all idle chatter based on football alone. ADs of any team in the LHAC, especially Johnstown or Somerset aren't going to give up the ease of scheduling across ALL sports in order to play Central Mountain, Mifflin County, State College, et al. Just not going to happen.

Would I love to see Johnstown-Altoona come back to the gridiron? Sure, but for now, at least they're staying committed to the series in basketball.

[footballguy99]

Altoona is one of the largest schools in the state.  I wouldn't want to play them if I was 3A or smaller.  This idea of them playing Somerset, Johnstown, Central, Clearfield, etc might help Altoona rebound and become a team that gets their kids interested again because they win 8-10 games a year. On the other hand, it isn't something I would want to do if I was one of those smaller schools.  Most of the time you would get beat.  

Look how many kids are in a graduating class at Altoona vs these other schools that have been mentioned.  The WPIAL might not be the best fit, and something local would be better...BUT there aren't local schools that match up with the size of Altoona HS.

[Crimson's Ghost]

Right, the LHAC wouldn't create a Notre Dame situation for Johnstown so now you'd have to find a new home for all sports.  Wouldn't be effective to have the girls tennis team play conference matches at Mifflin County.

[QuoteTheRaven]

What if you made a Big School Central PA Conference and broke it up into a big school and small school division within the conference? Keeping Altoona, State College, and the bigger schools in one division and the smaller bigger schools in the other, and have the occasional cross over game. You playing your cross over teams would rotate every year for every sport so Johnstown vs. Altoona might happen once every 3-4 seasons vs. every single year, similar to what the Big 10, ACC, Pac 12, and SEC do now. And for whatever holes in the schedule teams had you could fill them with out of conference games like Altoona always used to do with Williamsport, Erie McDowell, and the occasional out of state team. Might seem a little far fetched to some people but it's just food for thought and seeing what everyone thinks???

[billmurray]

What if you made a Big School Central PA Conference and broke it up into a big school and small school division within the conference? Keeping Altoona, State College, and the bigger schools in one division and the smaller bigger schools in the other, and have the occasional cross over game. You playing your cross over teams would rotate every year for every sport so Johnstown vs. Altoona might happen once every 3-4 seasons vs. every single year, similar to what the Big 10, ACC, Pac 12, and SEC do now. And for whatever holes in the schedule teams had you could fill them with out of conference games like Altoona always used to do with Williamsport, Erie McDowell, and the occasional out of state team. Might seem a little far fetched to some people but it's just food for thought and seeing what everyone thinks???

again, State College is out of the equation immediately. Altoona, they are just too big for the LHAC schools. In theory, it's good...me, I'd like to see Altoona, SC, Wmpt, Ctr Mt, Miff cnty, Dubois, Hlldybg form a league but...as I said, SC would be the anchor to a league like that and they won't move. Pipedream. 

[upnorth]

Just echoing Bill here. State College is very happy in the Mid-Penn and has no plans to leave it.

Altoona's travel to the WPIAL is no better/worse than travel to Mid-Penn schools. They have been in both conferences in the last decade and obviously prefer the WPIAL. They could return to the Mid-Penn in order to be able to schedule State College and Mifflin County in all sports, but that move would really only be beneficial to football in that they would have slightly less travel per football season.

[billmurray]

Just echoing Bill here.  State College is very happy in the Mid-Penn and has no plans to leave it.

Altoona's travel to the WPIAL is no better/worse than travel to Mid-Penn schools.  They have been in both conferences in the last decade and obviously prefer the WPIAL.  They could return to the Mid-Penn in order to be able to schedule State College and Mifflin County in all sports, but that move would really only be beneficial to football in that they would have slightly less travel per football season.

actually, "They" isn't the football community...it's the AD...and....IF Altoona was to join the Mid Penn they would have 2 teams fairly close, plus a couple open dates to schedule a couple other closer teams.  Yes, they'd have similar travel, but not as much. I believe the Mid Penn would be a great fit for Altoona...so did someone else...but that didn't happen

[Goldeneagles12]

Honestly makes me feel bad for the kids. I know you want to play the best competition but the kids have no way to build any confidence up. They win week one and then it's murderers row. The ad seems to not care if they get beat by 35 each week. I know it's hard to find a league around here. If it keeps up the kids will stop coming out.