Merge or Not To Merge IAC and MAC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:STA has not de-emphasized sports in any way. That was ten years ago.
In the last five years, they have about the same number of IAC titles as Prep and Landon.
STA does not recruit like prep and bullis and they rarely take transfers, so maybe that's what the pp means about de-emphasizing.

Results are a little wonky b/c Covid cancelled some seasons. 2019/2020 thru fall and winter of this year:

Regular season titles:

GP - 22
STA - 16
Landon - 10
Bullis - 7
EHS - 1
SSAS - 1

Looks like STA has won every regular season title in XC, Soccer and Tennis in that timeframe.

Now do Football, Basketball and Lacrosse, which are the sports that IAC alums mostly care about. You can add baseball and soccer if you'd like. None of us give a crap about XC, Tennis or (as much as this pains me as a Bullis alum) track and field.

[Anonymous]

For all the recruiting and reclassing Prep does for football, you take the big guy off the team and they are middle of the pack in IAC. Landon had them beat two years ago - thanks to alums running the play clock - and lowly STA beats them two years in a row.

[Anonymous]

I don't see why Prep would benefit or want anything to do with competing against the MAC schools if a merger were to take place. (ok Sidwell Basketball Team would likely beat Prep, but hoops only requires 2 -3 alphas to form an elite team)

GP admin needs to think bigger picture and make the jump to the WCAC. Being affiliated with MAC schools, most of whom are perceived as very progressive with minimal focus on athletics, would hurt the Hoyas long term athletic aspirations and prestige. GP has an advantage with their dorms, and their student population is already larger than a few WCAC schools. Prep would be competitive in the WCAC (soccer, lax, hockey, wrestling, baseball, and even basketball). Regarding football, which historically shapes athletic conferences, the Hoyas can opt to play in the lower level of the WCAC with PVI, Ryken, BI, Carroll and Ireton. I'm sure Landon, STA and Bullis would keep their games with GP to preserve rivalries.

In all seriousness, if The Heights can play in the WCAC, Georgetown Prep can certainly compete and even win some titles.

Time to cut the cord and make the jump!

The GP Alumni want nothing to do with the likes of GDS, Maret, and Sidwell Friends etc.

[Anonymous]

As long as the Georgetown Prep AD, who also happens to be the head football coach, remains the same, the Little Hoyas are not going anywhere. Football dictates the alignment of athletic conferences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't see why Prep would benefit or want anything to do with competing against the MAC schools if a merger were to take place. (ok Sidwell Basketball Team would likely beat Prep, but hoops only requires 2 -3 alphas to form an elite team)

GP admin needs to think bigger picture and make the jump to the WCAC. Being affiliated with MAC schools, most of whom are perceived as very progressive with minimal focus on athletics, would hurt the Hoyas long term athletic aspirations and prestige. GP has an advantage with their dorms, and their student population is already larger than a few WCAC schools. Prep would be competitive in the WCAC (soccer, lax, hockey, wrestling, baseball, and even basketball). Regarding football, which historically shapes athletic conferences, the Hoyas can opt to play in the lower level of the WCAC with PVI, Ryken, BI, Carroll and Ireton. I'm sure Landon, STA and Bullis would keep their games with GP to preserve rivalries.

In all seriousness, if The Heights can play in the WCAC, Georgetown Prep can certainly compete and even win some titles.

Time to cut the cord and make the jump!

The GP Alumni want nothing to do with the likes of GDS, Maret, and Sidwell Friends etc.

There’s no compelling reason for Prep to consider the WCAC.

Maybe if the IAC collapses or throws them out (on the way to collapsing)

This nonsense about the IAC and MAC combining or some other reshuffling of the DMV privates is pure speculation.

“Being discussed”. Being discussed by whom? The whole idea is absurd. It’s a single person on here making things up.

If you believe any of it, I’ve got a bridge over the Potomac I’d like to sell you. Because you are obviously gullible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see why Prep would benefit or want anything to do with competing against the MAC schools if a merger were to take place. (ok Sidwell Basketball Team would likely beat Prep, but hoops only requires 2 -3 alphas to form an elite team)

GP admin needs to think bigger picture and make the jump to the WCAC. Being affiliated with MAC schools, most of whom are perceived as very progressive with minimal focus on athletics, would hurt the Hoyas long term athletic aspirations and prestige. GP has an advantage with their dorms, and their student population is already larger than a few WCAC schools. Prep would be competitive in the WCAC (soccer, lax, hockey, wrestling, baseball, and even basketball). Regarding football, which historically shapes athletic conferences, the Hoyas can opt to play in the lower level of the WCAC with PVI, Ryken, BI, Carroll and Ireton. I'm sure Landon, STA and Bullis would keep their games with GP to preserve rivalries.

In all seriousness, if The Heights can play in the WCAC, Georgetown Prep can certainly compete and even win some titles.

Time to cut the cord and make the jump!

The GP Alumni want nothing to do with the likes of GDS, Maret, and Sidwell Friends etc.

There’s no compelling reason for Prep to consider the WCAC.

Maybe if the IAC collapses or throws them out (on the way to collapsing)

This nonsense about the IAC and MAC combining or some other reshuffling of the DMV privates is pure speculation.

“Being discussed”. Being discussed by whom? The whole idea is absurd. It’s a single person on here making things up.

If you believe any of it, I’ve got a bridge over the Potomac I’d like to sell you. Because you are obviously gullible.

As a parent of an IAC athlete, also an ISL player, I can tell you that this is happening for the 27-28 school year. Say whatever you want about Prep not wanting to play gds, but it’s going to happen. Prep may want to opt out and play like an independent since they are too big for the iac and too small for the WCAC. But Prep is not the only driving among the local private schools.
The two tiered system of the ISL works well and it’s long overdue that the boys adopt a similar conference set up. The IAC rivalries for the helmet sports will be untouched by a merger, so all the gals at Millie’s and all the dads at the grill should lighten up and have another one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see why Prep would benefit or want anything to do with competing against the MAC schools if a merger were to take place. (ok Sidwell Basketball Team would likely beat Prep, but hoops only requires 2 -3 alphas to form an elite team)

GP admin needs to think bigger picture and make the jump to the WCAC. Being affiliated with MAC schools, most of whom are perceived as very progressive with minimal focus on athletics, would hurt the Hoyas long term athletic aspirations and prestige. GP has an advantage with their dorms, and their student population is already larger than a few WCAC schools. Prep would be competitive in the WCAC (soccer, lax, hockey, wrestling, baseball, and even basketball). Regarding football, which historically shapes athletic conferences, the Hoyas can opt to play in the lower level of the WCAC with PVI, Ryken, BI, Carroll and Ireton. I'm sure Landon, STA and Bullis would keep their games with GP to preserve rivalries.

In all seriousness, if The Heights can play in the WCAC, Georgetown Prep can certainly compete and even win some titles.

Time to cut the cord and make the jump!

The GP Alumni want nothing to do with the likes of GDS, Maret, and Sidwell Friends etc.

There’s no compelling reason for Prep to consider the WCAC.

Maybe if the IAC collapses or throws them out (on the way to collapsing)

This nonsense about the IAC and MAC combining or some other reshuffling of the DMV privates is pure speculation.

“Being discussed”. Being discussed by whom? The whole idea is absurd. It’s a single person on here making things up.

If you believe any of it, I’ve got a bridge over the Potomac I’d like to sell you. Because you are obviously gullible.

As a parent of an IAC athlete, also an ISL player, I can tell you that this is happening for the 27-28 school year. Say whatever you want about Prep not wanting to play gds, but it’s going to happen. Prep may want to opt out and play like an independent since they are too big for the iac and too small for the WCAC. But Prep is not the only driving among the local private schools.
The two tiered system of the ISL works well and it’s long overdue that the boys adopt a similar conference set up. The IAC rivalries for the helmet sports will be untouched by a merger, so all the gals at Millie’s and all the dads at the grill should lighten up and have another one.

Prep can always join the Catholic league but they are scared.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see why Prep would benefit or want anything to do with competing against the MAC schools if a merger were to take place. (ok Sidwell Basketball Team would likely beat Prep, but hoops only requires 2 -3 alphas to form an elite team)

GP admin needs to think bigger picture and make the jump to the WCAC. Being affiliated with MAC schools, most of whom are perceived as very progressive with minimal focus on athletics, would hurt the Hoyas long term athletic aspirations and prestige. GP has an advantage with their dorms, and their student population is already larger than a few WCAC schools. Prep would be competitive in the WCAC (soccer, lax, hockey, wrestling, baseball, and even basketball). Regarding football, which historically shapes athletic conferences, the Hoyas can opt to play in the lower level of the WCAC with PVI, Ryken, BI, Carroll and Ireton. I'm sure Landon, STA and Bullis would keep their games with GP to preserve rivalries.

In all seriousness, if The Heights can play in the WCAC, Georgetown Prep can certainly compete and even win some titles.

Time to cut the cord and make the jump!

The GP Alumni want nothing to do with the likes of GDS, Maret, and Sidwell Friends etc.

There’s no compelling reason for Prep to consider the WCAC.

Maybe if the IAC collapses or throws them out (on the way to collapsing)

This nonsense about the IAC and MAC combining or some other reshuffling of the DMV privates is pure speculation.

“Being discussed”. Being discussed by whom? The whole idea is absurd. It’s a single person on here making things up.

If you believe any of it, I’ve got a bridge over the Potomac I’d like to sell you. Because you are obviously gullible.

As a parent of an IAC athlete, also an ISL player, I can tell you that this is happening for the 27-28 school year. Say whatever you want about Prep not wanting to play gds, but it’s going to happen. Prep may want to opt out and play like an independent since they are too big for the iac and too small for the WCAC. But Prep is not the only driving among the local private schools.
The two tiered system of the ISL works well and it’s long overdue that the boys adopt a similar conference set up. The IAC rivalries for the helmet sports will be untouched by a merger, so all the gals at Millie’s and all the dads at the grill should lighten up and have another one.

We will see, I guess.

But parents are the least likely to have inside information.

And an individual school coaches / administration might have an opinion. But this would be a revolutionary change that would require a large number of schools to agree. There is no one to drive that change and no mechanism to implement it. "Herding cats" is an apt metaphor.

Landon and Bullis are historically and geographically tied to Prep and have similar athletic programs. And I can't see St Albans wanting to go to the MAC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see why Prep would benefit or want anything to do with competing against the MAC schools if a merger were to take place. (ok Sidwell Basketball Team would likely beat Prep, but hoops only requires 2 -3 alphas to form an elite team)

GP admin needs to think bigger picture and make the jump to the WCAC. Being affiliated with MAC schools, most of whom are perceived as very progressive with minimal focus on athletics, would hurt the Hoyas long term athletic aspirations and prestige. GP has an advantage with their dorms, and their student population is already larger than a few WCAC schools. Prep would be competitive in the WCAC (soccer, lax, hockey, wrestling, baseball, and even basketball). Regarding football, which historically shapes athletic conferences, the Hoyas can opt to play in the lower level of the WCAC with PVI, Ryken, BI, Carroll and Ireton. I'm sure Landon, STA and Bullis would keep their games with GP to preserve rivalries.

In all seriousness, if The Heights can play in the WCAC, Georgetown Prep can certainly compete and even win some titles.

Time to cut the cord and make the jump!

The GP Alumni want nothing to do with the likes of GDS, Maret, and Sidwell Friends etc.

There’s no compelling reason for Prep to consider the WCAC.

Maybe if the IAC collapses or throws them out (on the way to collapsing)

This nonsense about the IAC and MAC combining or some other reshuffling of the DMV privates is pure speculation.

“Being discussed”. Being discussed by whom? The whole idea is absurd. It’s a single person on here making things up.

If you believe any of it, I’ve got a bridge over the Potomac I’d like to sell you. Because you are obviously gullible.

As a parent of an IAC athlete, also an ISL player, I can tell you that this is happening for the 27-28 school year. Say whatever you want about Prep not wanting to play gds, but it’s going to happen. Prep may want to opt out and play like an independent since they are too big for the iac and too small for the WCAC. But Prep is not the only driving among the local private schools.
The two tiered system of the ISL works well and it’s long overdue that the boys adopt a similar conference set up. The IAC rivalries for the helmet sports will be untouched by a merger, so all the gals at Millie’s and all the dads at the grill should lighten up and have another one.

We will see, I guess.

But parents are the least likely to have inside information.

And an individual school coaches / administration might have an opinion. But this would be a revolutionary change that would require a large number of schools to agree. There is no one to drive that change and no mechanism to implement it. "Herding cats" is an apt metaphor.

Landon and Bullis are historically and geographically tied to Prep and have similar athletic programs. And I can't see St Albans wanting to go to the MAC.

Time will tell but I think things are finally beginning to come together. Active talks between ADs from the MAC and IAC and Heads of School have been taking place for the past year about a merger.

If a merger does take place, Prep won't be impacted as they will play in the upper division (AA) of the league in all sports. GP would only compete against the MAC programs in basketball, tennis, soccer, cross country, golf, or wrestling. I don't see any of the MAC schools jumping up to the AA level in the helmet sports - ok maybe Potomac School, Maret or St James in football (depending on the year).

I don't understand why people are freaking out about this concept. It's a good idea and I hope the ADs can execute on this plan. The MIAA which is comprised of 30 private schools across the state of MD has an A, B and C division for each sport.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:STA has not de-emphasized sports in any way. That was ten years ago.
In the last five years, they have about the same number of IAC titles as Prep and Landon.
STA does not recruit like prep and bullis and they rarely take transfers, so maybe that's what the pp means about de-emphasizing.

Results are a little wonky b/c Covid cancelled some seasons. 2019/2020 thru fall and winter of this year:

Regular season titles:

GP - 22
STA - 16
Landon - 10
Bullis - 7
EHS - 1
SSAS - 1

Looks like STA has won every regular season title in XC, Soccer and Tennis in that timeframe.

Now do Football, Basketball and Lacrosse, which are the sports that IAC alums mostly care about. You can add baseball and soccer if you'd like. None of us give a crap about XC, Tennis or (as much as this pains me as a Bullis alum) track and field.

Or you could do it if you give a carp about it....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see why Prep would benefit or want anything to do with competing against the MAC schools if a merger were to take place. (ok Sidwell Basketball Team would likely beat Prep, but hoops only requires 2 -3 alphas to form an elite team)

GP admin needs to think bigger picture and make the jump to the WCAC. Being affiliated with MAC schools, most of whom are perceived as very progressive with minimal focus on athletics, would hurt the Hoyas long term athletic aspirations and prestige. GP has an advantage with their dorms, and their student population is already larger than a few WCAC schools. Prep would be competitive in the WCAC (soccer, lax, hockey, wrestling, baseball, and even basketball). Regarding football, which historically shapes athletic conferences, the Hoyas can opt to play in the lower level of the WCAC with PVI, Ryken, BI, Carroll and Ireton. I'm sure Landon, STA and Bullis would keep their games with GP to preserve rivalries.

In all seriousness, if The Heights can play in the WCAC, Georgetown Prep can certainly compete and even win some titles.

Time to cut the cord and make the jump!

The GP Alumni want nothing to do with the likes of GDS, Maret, and Sidwell Friends etc.

There’s no compelling reason for Prep to consider the WCAC.

Maybe if the IAC collapses or throws them out (on the way to collapsing)

This nonsense about the IAC and MAC combining or some other reshuffling of the DMV privates is pure speculation.

“Being discussed”. Being discussed by whom? The whole idea is absurd. It’s a single person on here making things up.

If you believe any of it, I’ve got a bridge over the Potomac I’d like to sell you. Because you are obviously gullible.

As a parent of an IAC athlete, also an ISL player, I can tell you that this is happening for the 27-28 school year. Say whatever you want about Prep not wanting to play gds, but it’s going to happen. Prep may want to opt out and play like an independent since they are too big for the iac and too small for the WCAC. But Prep is not the only driving among the local private schools.
The two tiered system of the ISL works well and it’s long overdue that the boys adopt a similar conference set up. The IAC rivalries for the helmet sports will be untouched by a merger, so all the gals at Millie’s and all the dads at the grill should lighten up and have another one.

We will see, I guess.

But parents are the least likely to have inside information.

And an individual school coaches / administration might have an opinion. But this would be a revolutionary change that would require a large number of schools to agree. There is no one to drive that change and no mechanism to implement it. "Herding cats" is an apt metaphor.

Landon and Bullis are historically and geographically tied to Prep and have similar athletic programs. And I can't see St Albans wanting to go to the MAC.

Time will tell but I think things are finally beginning to come together. Active talks between ADs from the MAC and IAC and Heads of School have been taking place for the past year about a merger.

If a merger does take place, Prep won't be impacted as they will play in the upper division (AA) of the league in all sports. GP would only compete against the MAC programs in basketball, tennis, soccer, cross country, golf, or wrestling. I don't see any of the MAC schools jumping up to the AA level in the helmet sports - ok maybe Potomac School, Maret or St James in football (depending on the year).

I don't understand why people are freaking out about this concept. It's a good idea and I hope the ADs can execute on this plan. The MIAA which is comprised of 30 private schools across the state of MD has an A, B and C division for each sport.

Highly, highly unlikely to ever materialize.

If schedules in the major sports aren’t going to change, then what’s the benefit to the IAC schools? They give up some latitude of action and have to pay a share of the cost of a staff and what do they get for that?

If it ain’t broke don’t worry about fixing it.

In this case, the juice isn’t worth the squeeze effort.

This reminds me of the fantasies fans indulge in in which the ncaa conferences are rejiggered around geography.

[Anonymous]

What’s the benefit of this new structure? Which schools does it help and who does it hurt or inconvenience?

Wouldn’t there have to be some compelling reason or set of reasons to do it?

These are wildly different schools with a very limited history of playing one another.

For many years, Potomac school has been interested in joining the IAC, but couldn’t get close to an invite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see why Prep would benefit or want anything to do with competing against the MAC schools if a merger were to take place. (ok Sidwell Basketball Team would likely beat Prep, but hoops only requires 2 -3 alphas to form an elite team)

GP admin needs to think bigger picture and make the jump to the WCAC. Being affiliated with MAC schools, most of whom are perceived as very progressive with minimal focus on athletics, would hurt the Hoyas long term athletic aspirations and prestige. GP has an advantage with their dorms, and their student population is already larger than a few WCAC schools. Prep would be competitive in the WCAC (soccer, lax, hockey, wrestling, baseball, and even basketball). Regarding football, which historically shapes athletic conferences, the Hoyas can opt to play in the lower level of the WCAC with PVI, Ryken, BI, Carroll and Ireton. I'm sure Landon, STA and Bullis would keep their games with GP to preserve rivalries.

In all seriousness, if The Heights can play in the WCAC, Georgetown Prep can certainly compete and even win some titles.

Time to cut the cord and make the jump!

The GP Alumni want nothing to do with the likes of GDS, Maret, and Sidwell Friends etc.

There’s no compelling reason for Prep to consider the WCAC.

Maybe if the IAC collapses or throws them out (on the way to collapsing)

This nonsense about the IAC and MAC combining or some other reshuffling of the DMV privates is pure speculation.

“Being discussed”. Being discussed by whom? The whole idea is absurd. It’s a single person on here making things up.

If you believe any of it, I’ve got a bridge over the Potomac I’d like to sell you. Because you are obviously gullible.

As a parent of an IAC athlete, also an ISL player, I can tell you that this is happening for the 27-28 school year. Say whatever you want about Prep not wanting to play gds, but it’s going to happen. Prep may want to opt out and play like an independent since they are too big for the iac and too small for the WCAC. But Prep is not the only driving among the local private schools.
The two tiered system of the ISL works well and it’s long overdue that the boys adopt a similar conference set up. The IAC rivalries for the helmet sports will be untouched by a merger, so all the gals at Millie’s and all the dads at the grill should lighten up and have another one.

Prep can always join the Catholic league but they are scared.

Duke does OK in the ACC. Vanderbilt survives in the SEC and Northwestern is OK in the B1G.

If GP isn’t interested, neither would Landon or Bullis be. And I don’t think St Albans will be either.

There’s more than athletics to consider here. It’s the set of schools you want to have considered as your peers.

This isn’t a democracy where majority rules. It’s everyone for themselves. And a large number of these schools would have to commit to this new structure to make it even borderline feasible.

[Anonymous]

One benefit of a merger would be a playoff system for football. The IAC ended in a three-way tie for the second time in the last three years.

The dcsaa playoffs are decent, but that organization hates to see the private schools win anything.

With only five football teams in the IAC, a playoff this past year would have strange. Add some more teams with a merger and end the season with an outright winner.
Just a thought !

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One benefit of a merger would be a playoff system for football. The IAC ended in a three-way tie for the second time in the last three years.

The dcsaa playoffs are decent, but that organization hates to see the private schools win anything.

With only five football teams in the IAC, a playoff this past year would have strange. Add some more teams with a merger and end the season with an outright winner.
Just a thought !

Well. maybe. Its a more valid point if you bring in strong teams that are actually going to affect the records of the stronger ones at the top of the table. But, that doesn't seem to be the case.

Besides no one cares about the issue raised. It's a potential solution to a non-problem.

Sharing the title doesn't bother anyone. I've been around the IAC for many years, and that's never been raised as an issue.

And if you didn't divide the thing up into tiers some schools would never again sniff a championship in anything. And if you did, it defeats the whole purpose of a larger league.

This isn't English Soccer. The rosters of the high school teams change radically from year to year. So you are "relegating" last year's team.

Actually this whole conversation seems to be about a SOLUTION LOOKING FOR A PROBLEM.

It's a lot of work and risk for the schools and for many of them it offers no real benefit.