I know this is a Salem Schedule thread (and I think that's a very good schedule that will challenge them somewhat and help prepare them some for the postseason), but I wanted to post a question about football in the Roanoke Valley as a whole.
Are we nearing a situation where we are going to see decent-sized classification schools fold the tent and not field teams every single season? Said differently...will we start seeing Class 3 and 4 teams not fielding teams (i.e. a school like Northside or Hidden Valley)?
One of the most recent examples of a larger school not fielding a team was Park View. They have since starting making their way back into the fold. And I know that Southwest Virginia have had several schools; particularly Class 1 schools not fielding teams. But for those of you with ears on the ground down there, are you hearing anything concerning? Now granted, I know that many of the Class 1 and even Class 2 schools in deep Southwest Virginia have gotten bailed out due to consolidation so those communities should be good for awhile.
Sports participation is down as a whole. And yes I know that there are some sports, and some schools which have seen an increase in interest. And that's a great thing considering the amount of trouble that high schoolers have been getting into in many areas across the state.
But I was just curious, and...in a sense worried, about this being a scenario. I know how much football brings together those communities (I lived in the region for almost 13 years for college and work) and I would certainly hate to see the one thing that brings people together go away.
