CONFERENCES No vote by TAC handcuffs Super

Howland's Bruce Johnson, the catalyst for the movement, is disappointed by Tuesday's action.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
NILES -- The process to form a Mahoning Valley high school super conference took a step backward Tuesday when the Trumbull Athletic Conference voted against joining the alliance.
Officials from the Metro Athletic Conference and Inter-County League have agreed to move forward with the process and were awaiting the TAC's vote.
But principals and athletic directors from the eight-member conference turned the proposal down in a two-hour meeting at Alberini's Restaurant.
Couldn't agree
"It was just about trying to get everything incorporated as to what could happen to make everybody happy," TAC commissioner Mel Staats said. "The [super conference] committee worked it out and presented what they had. At this point, it just didn't fly."
The super conference would include multiple divisions, determined by the number and size of schools in each sport. It would aim to improve the competitiveness of schools that vary in size.
Its name, MIT (representing the Metro, Inter-County and Trumbull alliance), had been proposed. Now, as it appears, the MIT will be a letter short.
"I'm taken aback," said Bruce Johnson, Howland's activities director and a catalyst in forming the super conference, of Tuesday's vote.
"When we went to the TAC in the first place, to form the MAC-TAC, they were the ones who said that if we got the ICL, they would agree to do it," Johnson said. "We went out and got the ICL, and then they turned around and voted no. It's disappointing."
The numbers
Needing a majority vote to pass, the TAC split the balloting, 4-4.
A source speaking on the condition of anonymity said that Brookfield, Hubbard, LaBrae and Liberty approved the proposal, while Champion, Girard, Lakeview and Newton Falls voted against it.
"We are for the super conference," Girard principal Ron Ragozine said. "We just wanted something more in black and white as far as how they will decide who goes into what division.
"We feel that some things need to be tweaked before we can vote yes," Ragozine said.
When asked about key issues in Tuesday's discussion, Staats chose his words carefully. He cited transportation to athletic events and schools' enrollment figures.
The latter issue is believed to be pivotal. Officials have said that schools are hesitant about where they'll be grouped in the super conference, especially as it relates to football, the biggest revenue-producing sport.
"I just believe we have an opportunity now that we may never get again," Johnson said. "We have awfully good people in place in these three leagues, and I think the time is right to get together."
Looking ahead
The MAC and ICL will continue to push forward with the super conference idea, MAC commissioner Clem Zumpella said.
"When the time comes, we'll announce that we're accepting applications from other schools," Zumpella said.
Johnson said that Howland will continue to take a leadership role in making the super conference a reality.
"They told me from the beginning that this would never happen, that it would never even get to this point," Johnson said. "Every time we got knocked down, we just got back up.
"I honestly believe these are good people, but they made a mistake in voting this down."
richesson@vindy.com