The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1959-03-27
3[PoMFZMlzz4
ParOchiaIG
Merits Study

The recent decision of Central Catholic League
schools to play a loop baseball schedule this spring,
inspires the thought that establishment of a Gel foot
ball loop should be encouraged.
At least the thought merits consideration and
study.
ParochiaI school officials in recent years have
expressed anxiety because II has become Increasingly
difficult for non-leagve schools to book suitable
games. The difficulty has been caused by the i'm
creased memberships in various leagues which leaves
loop members . bare minimum Of open" dates for
non-leagUs contests.
This has forced Columbus parochial teams, which
q decade ago had little difficulty in booking local
games, to schedule more out-of-toWn games. Not only
are the grid teams forced to travel more, but in some
instances, they have to travel farther to find suitable
competition.
: Of course this means an added expense to the
school which also has to take a beating at the gate
since many OF Its followers can't make those Friday or
Saturday night trips to watch their team in action.
Since it is unlikely that The various Diocesan
schools will be admitted TO existing leagues, composed
mostly OF public schools, she psrochiaI school officials
have the alternative OF either forming . League or
travelling far and wide to play grid games.
The Gel has been a very successful basketball
loop and a colorful one. During its nine years of exis-
tence, 1t has been represented in the regional tourna-
In the regionals by winning their Central District Class
A division titles.
Because the fiveyear-old Metro League expired
when three OF the six schools were admitted to the
1dlhu SUuIlty LEAGUE, Tie 0OlQOVeT SCHOOLS tOlIn0
themselves without a league.
thus the Gel baseball loop was born by adding
Newark Catholic and Springfield Central Catholic to
the remains of the Metro League, namely, St. Charles,
Holy Family and Watterson.
Why not a C football circuit? There probably
Is one big obstacle and one argument against it.
The big obstacle Is thar no paroehiaI school has a
football field equipped with lights and srandstands.
However. this obstacle doesn't appear to be insvr.
rnountsble since the paroehiaI teams have been pIsv.
ing on other school fields for years.
II a Gel is established in football, a study would
be launched to determine the feasibility of a Central
Catholic League football stadium where two weekend
on Saturday night.
{ The main argument is that mixing Class A and
Glass AA schools in basketball and baseball leagues
Is bad enough, but In football, it's out of the question.
Admittedly, st. Charles, Glass AA has dominated
the Metro League like the New York Yankees domin-
ate the American League.
However, this certainly hasn't been true in the
Gel. 81. Charles won the league title in 1851 and
shared 1t with a Glass A school-Newark Catholic
In 1853.
Titles have been won or shared the other ssver
years by Class A Standardization St. Mary, sprina.
field Central Catholic, Newark Catholic, and Column
bus St. Mary.
Still, opponents point out, football is a lot differ.
emf. In football you need many more PLAYERS and the
Class A teams just don't have the manpower of Class
IA schools. '
Even SO, Class A and Class. AA parochial schools
have been playing each other for years. Moreover.
although the dividing line for the two divisions is $50
boys, the Class "A parochial schools don't have a vast
ly bigger population.
AS far as the minor argument that parochial
schools shouldn't keep to Themselves many large
clies have parochial leagues which are very success
full Moreover, playoffs are run in which a parochial
champion team battles the public school winner in
basketball to determine a city champ.
Columbus isn't that large yet. However, there are
plenty Of psroehisI teams In Central Ohio which would
benefit u they belonged TO . football loop.
Thus, It's the opinion of this writer that at least
. study could be made. Nothing ventured-nothing