Future of Pima's 2009 football season in question
By Jon Johnson
Assistant Editor
Published on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 10:42 AM MST
Pima has long been a football powerhouse in its 1A conference, but with its reclassification to 2A, the school may not even field a varsity team next year.
The Arizona Interscholastic Association reclassified the school last October. It has refused to hear Pima's petitions to reverse the ruling.
Pima Athletic Director Travis Hawkins gave a report to the school board at its meeting March 4 and said the team may not have enough players to participate. Teams field only eight players at the 1A level instead of the standard 11 per side.
Hawkins said he was going to poll the student body and see how many are thinking about playing next year. He said he has to notify the AIA by March 15 if the school plans to field a varsity team. Teams Pima would have to face in its new 2A region include Morenci, Willcox, Bisbee, Benson, Tombstone and Thatcher, according to Hawkins. Most of those schools have twice the enrollment of Pima. He added that Safford might be scheduled as well, but if it isn't, Pima would most likely be scheduled an away game at Desert Christian in Tucson.
Board member and team athletic trainer Bart Judd said he was worried about the players' safety and suggested disbanding from the AIA and playing a 1A schedule. He said Pima could invite teams to a tournament at the end of the season and dubbed it the "Pima Bowl."
"My suggestion is, because I think we're going to eventually be 1A again, is to play a 1A schedule (and) invite some teams that are competitive at the end of the season, have a semifinals and a finals and have a Pima Bowl or whatever you want to call it here," Judd said. "I would imagine our numbers would be about this or lower possibly the next couple of years, and we're going to be looking at 1A again anyway."
Hawkins said the four options Pima has are to attempt to do Judd's suggestion, schedule a regular 2A season, schedule a 2A junior varsity season, or not field a team at all. Pima's longtime coach, John Bryant, has already informed the school he would not return next year.
In other athletic news, the board voted unanimously to advertise for a new volleyball coach.
Last year's coach, Paul Moore, has been put on administrative leave from Duncan where he teaches and was formerly its volleyball coach. He was placed on leave due to allegations involving comments and gestures of a sexual nature and improper touching of former students, according to the Duncan School Board's notice. There were 37 separate incidents listed in the notice.
School Board member Vince Kieffer suggested advertising for a new volleyball coach but allowing Moore to apply for the job if he chooses. The School Board might not hire anyone for the position until May.
High School Principal Kalem Norton said Moore told him he plans to fight the allegations, but Moore sent text messages to players from last season that said he would probably not be their coach next year.
By Jon Johnson
Assistant Editor
Published on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 10:42 AM MST
Pima has long been a football powerhouse in its 1A conference, but with its reclassification to 2A, the school may not even field a varsity team next year.
The Arizona Interscholastic Association reclassified the school last October. It has refused to hear Pima's petitions to reverse the ruling.
Pima Athletic Director Travis Hawkins gave a report to the school board at its meeting March 4 and said the team may not have enough players to participate. Teams field only eight players at the 1A level instead of the standard 11 per side.
Hawkins said he was going to poll the student body and see how many are thinking about playing next year. He said he has to notify the AIA by March 15 if the school plans to field a varsity team. Teams Pima would have to face in its new 2A region include Morenci, Willcox, Bisbee, Benson, Tombstone and Thatcher, according to Hawkins. Most of those schools have twice the enrollment of Pima. He added that Safford might be scheduled as well, but if it isn't, Pima would most likely be scheduled an away game at Desert Christian in Tucson.
Board member and team athletic trainer Bart Judd said he was worried about the players' safety and suggested disbanding from the AIA and playing a 1A schedule. He said Pima could invite teams to a tournament at the end of the season and dubbed it the "Pima Bowl."
"My suggestion is, because I think we're going to eventually be 1A again, is to play a 1A schedule (and) invite some teams that are competitive at the end of the season, have a semifinals and a finals and have a Pima Bowl or whatever you want to call it here," Judd said. "I would imagine our numbers would be about this or lower possibly the next couple of years, and we're going to be looking at 1A again anyway."
Hawkins said the four options Pima has are to attempt to do Judd's suggestion, schedule a regular 2A season, schedule a 2A junior varsity season, or not field a team at all. Pima's longtime coach, John Bryant, has already informed the school he would not return next year.
In other athletic news, the board voted unanimously to advertise for a new volleyball coach.
Last year's coach, Paul Moore, has been put on administrative leave from Duncan where he teaches and was formerly its volleyball coach. He was placed on leave due to allegations involving comments and gestures of a sexual nature and improper touching of former students, according to the Duncan School Board's notice. There were 37 separate incidents listed in the notice.
School Board member Vince Kieffer suggested advertising for a new volleyball coach but allowing Moore to apply for the job if he chooses. The School Board might not hire anyone for the position until May.
High School Principal Kalem Norton said Moore told him he plans to fight the allegations, but Moore sent text messages to players from last season that said he would probably not be their coach next year.
