Wednesday, January 12, 2000

Mid-Miami vote likely a welcome for Lebanon

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BY DAVID ECK and SUE KIESEWETTER
Enquirer Contributors

        LEBANON — School principals in the Mid-Miami League (MML) will vote Thursday on Lebanon's request to return to the league it helped found in 1954.

        Early indications are they will welcome back the prodigal son with open arms.

CONFERENCE LINEUPS

The current lineup in the Fort Ancient Valley Conference, which Lebanon wants to leave:   • FAVC Cardinal: Goshen, Kings, Lebanon, Little Miami, Loveland, Norwood, Ross, Wilmington.   • FAVC Buckeye: Anderson, Amelia, Glen Este, Harrison, Mason, Northwest, Turpin, Winton Woods. Here is the projected lineup for the Mid-Miami League if Lebanon's application is approved for the 2001-2002 school year:   • MML South: Edgewood, Fenwick, Franklin, Talawanda, Lemon-Monroe, West Carrollton.   • MML North: Carroll, Lebanon, Miamisburg, Stebbins, Fairborn (joins 2000-2001), Springboro.

        “It's where they belong,” MML Commissioner Steve Parks said Tuesday. “They were a charter member for so long. It's great to have them back.”

        Franklin Athletic Director Marvin Sands agreed.

        “They're a very strong program overall and their numbers are growing,” Mr. Sands said Tuesday. “They have nice crowds, which helps with gate receipts. That's how you pay the bills.”

        The Lebanon school board on Monday agreed to apply for membership in the MML beginning in the 2001-02 school year. Since 1997, Lebanon has been part of the Fort Ancient Valley Conference (FAVC).

        School officials and coaches cited a variety of reasons for wanting to return to the MML, including less travel, more publicity, bigger crowds, and traditional rivalries.

        Moving back to the MML puts Lebanon in the same league as nearby rivals Springboro, Franklin, Miamisburg and Lemon-Monroe. And it would include fellow football power Edgewood, which defeated Lebanon last year in the playoffs.

        “I think where you lose money is where you play people far away,” said Dave Brausch, Lebanon athletic director and head football coach. “I think the closer you play, the less your fans have to travel.

        “There aren't too many rivalries that are two hours apart in high school sports.”

        Additional publicity is also important, he said.

        “Every kid and every parent loves to see an article on their kids in the paper,” Mr. Brausch said.

        “This is a local district situation,” said FAVC Commissioner Steve Borich. “They felt a need to change, and we understand that. We certainly hate to see them leave if they end up leaving.”

        Should Lebanon leave the FAVC, the rivalry between it and Kings will stay intact, said Gregg Darbyshire, Kings athletic director.

        “We'll continue our ties with Lebanon. We'll move from league play to nonleague play,” Mr. Darbyshire said. “The rivalry was big before they came into the FAVC. It will stay big after they leave.”

        He disagreed with any notion that Lebanon would face tougher competition in the MML, saying that's “a matter of opinion.”

        Once Lebanon formally leaves, the FAVC's expansion committee will begin recruiting schools, Mr. Darbyshire said.

        "We've been in this situation before when Springboro left,” Mr. Darbyshire said. "We're always looking for quality schools.”

       

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