James Yodice's article in today's Albuquerque Journal (http://www.abqjournal.com/683139/sports/prep-football-metro-has-a-reason-to-celebrate.html) raised that question.
A couple of thoughts: when we talk about "the South" in the big-school final over the last 40 years or so, we are really only talking about the following: Las Cruces, Mayfield, Clovis, Roswell and Goddard. The last two, of course, aren't in the top classification any more and don't seem likely to move up anytime soon. And Clovis hasn't been to the final since '07, and has only one title in the last 20 years. It's really just Las Cruces and Mayfield that have represented the South consistently in recent memory.
So now that enrollment is way down at Mayfield and Las Cruces, should we expect a more even balance between South and North? Cleveland and Rio Rancho seem set up to be regular visitors to the final game going forward. Whenever Bradley and Miller retire (perhaps not far away for either), will that bring their programs back to earth? Will other Southern schools (like Carlsbad, Hobbs or Centennial) rise to a state-final level?
A couple of thoughts: when we talk about "the South" in the big-school final over the last 40 years or so, we are really only talking about the following: Las Cruces, Mayfield, Clovis, Roswell and Goddard. The last two, of course, aren't in the top classification any more and don't seem likely to move up anytime soon. And Clovis hasn't been to the final since '07, and has only one title in the last 20 years. It's really just Las Cruces and Mayfield that have represented the South consistently in recent memory.
So now that enrollment is way down at Mayfield and Las Cruces, should we expect a more even balance between South and North? Cleveland and Rio Rancho seem set up to be regular visitors to the final game going forward. Whenever Bradley and Miller retire (perhaps not far away for either), will that bring their programs back to earth? Will other Southern schools (like Carlsbad, Hobbs or Centennial) rise to a state-final level?
