Thursday, August 16, 2007 11:03 PM CDT
No word on Apollo defections
BY BRIAN NIELSEN Sports Editor
bnielsen@jg-tc.com
EFFINGHAM – No one announced Wednesday it was leaving the Apollo Conference.
Whether that can be said in a few months is uncertain.
League athletics directors met Wednesday as they usually do to start a school year but this time amid speculation that as many as three or maybe even four schools could be jumping to the Little Illini Conference soon, which might open a spot for Mattoon in the Apollo.
Martinsville’s move from the Little Illini to the Little Okaw Valley started the wheels in motion earlier this summer and next Wednesday’s LIC meeting might determine whether things accelerate or stop.
“That was the topic of course,” said Doug Mammoser, the athletics director at Newton which is one of the schools that could go from Apollo to LIC. “At this moment we have not gotten any notice. The principals from the Little Illini have not met. We’re just hearing rumors like everyone else.”
But Mammoser, who also coaches Newton boys’ basketball, did not deny Newton’s interest in looking at becoming one of the LIC’s largest schools rather than one of the smallest in the Apollo.
“Our enrollment is getting smaller,” he said. “That’s a concern for us right now. We’re not the only school with the problem. I know our names come up with the Apollo. Between the ADs and the principals, we don’t know anything we can expand upon.
“I think the Little Illini principals will get together this month. For now it’s pure speculation and I can’t really say too much other than that. Obviously, the size of the conference is something that would be attractive and with the scheduling (in the Apollo) with eight teams it’s tough for football. I guess we’re putting a little bit ahead because we haven’t been asked. We know there’s an opening for Martinsville but I don’t know other than that. We’re still a member of the Apollo. Things will become clearer in the next few months.”
Accordingly, the Apollo is not sending out invitations for replacements quite yet.
“All I can tell you is the Apollo Conference is still eight strong,” Charleston Athletics Director Jerry Calandrilla said after Wednesday’s meeting. “For the most part, they don’t know anything about it. They’re in the Apollo Conference. Now will that change after the LIC meeting? I don’t know.
“When you have uncertainty in one conference it starts the rumor mill for other conference.”
The Little Illini has a special meeting planned for Wednesday after Martinsville earlier this summer announced it would be moving from the LIC to the Little Okaw Valley next year. That departure would leave the LIC with nine football playing schools plus the Hutsonville-Palestine co-op in other sports.
“Obviously, we’re looking to replace Martinsville with one team or maybe three, four or five and have large-school/small-school divisions,” said Oblong Principal Fritz Wheeler, who serves as the LIC president. “I think different principals have received calls from different ones. I don’t feel comfortable discussing those things.”
Newton, Robinson and Paris are the Apollo Conference schools with smaller enrollments that might be considered to become large-school division members of the LIC.
That could draw some opposition from smaller LIC schools although Martinsville, one of those small schools, is now leaving.
“Obviously, the smaller schools aren’t looking to go against insurmountable odds but if we could develop large-school/small-schools scenarios we wouldn’t have to go all season against bigger schools,” Wheeler said. “It’s just kind of an evolving type thing. As school enrollments change, conferences change. What’s best for the LIC might not be best for every school in the LIC but they must be doing something right because it’s been in existence for a long time.”
In the spring of 2006 Mattoon, which has the smallest enrollment in the Big 12 Conference, applied for membership in the Apollo where it would have become the largest school.
The Apollo denied Mattoon membership last year citing both the difficulty in scheduling for what would have become a nine-school conference and the fact Mattoon’s enrollment could make it difficult for the Apollo’s smaller schools in football.
But if one or more of the Apollo’s small schools moved, Mattoon would likely receive more favorable consideration.
“I haven’t heard a thing,” Mattoon Athletics Director Gerald Temples said. “I haven’t talked to anybody. I have no idea other than Martinsville is pulling out.
“We would certainly be interested if that opportunity presented itself. We were interested when we applied for membership and we would still be interested but there has been nothing indicated to us yet.”
Contact Brian Nielsen at bnielsen@jg-tc.com or 238-6856.
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