11AA or 11AAA?
November 23rd, 2012 by 
Alica
Now that O’Gorman has decided to chosen to compete in the new Class 11AAA, leaving Brandon Valley to decide it it will compete at 11AAA or stay in 11AA. The school board will discuss this Monday night at their regular meeting. The topic is one of the first things listed on the agenda.
What should the school board choose? What are your reasons for your recommendation?
Posted in Uncategorized, School business | 
November 25th, 2012 at 7:50 am
AAA!!!! Staying AA would be an easy way to pile up state championships but AAA will build a stronger program in the long run.
November 26th, 2012 at 3:06 am
I disagree. Staying AA and maybe winning a championship or two will do more for your program than if you go AAA and get beat at that level. After this year I would bet a lot of younger kids are a lot more excited to be a part of the football program. Winning does a lot for the attitudes of these kids. I say stay down for a couple of years…enjoy the success and then re-evaluate where we are at and then maybe move up. Also I understand that its a possibilty that Harrisburg might be bigger than us in 2yrs and that would force us down to AA anyway. If that the case than why not stay and play AA and prepare ourselves for the future. We can still schedule games against SF schools during the regular season, so that we can measure how we are compared to them. But when it comes to the playoffs than we go to our AA division. JMHO
November 26th, 2012 at 8:48 am
Stay up in AAA. If we move down we are telling the kids it’s alright to run from a challenge and take an easier road. Going down will lessen the program because the competition won’t be there. The Lynx out scored the “new AA” 265-61 this season. If we go AA and win, we should do that but if we don’t win it all the the perception will be we failed. Lose, lose situation for the kids. My opinion is we stay up, but I would like to see the board do whatever the coaching staff wants because it is their program not the boards.
November 26th, 2012 at 10:40 am
Are there financial/educational considerations that need to be taken into account? Cost of travel? Time away from school for long distance travel? Other considerations???
November 26th, 2012 at 4:36 pm
help me please, if we stay in AAA who do we play???? Are we still going to be a menber of the ESD conference??? If so then why move or are we going to schedule games with all the AAA schools?
November 26th, 2012 at 7:39 pm
I say stay in AA. People ask “can we compete at AAA?” Sure we can, but can we win another state title? I think that will be hard at that level. I have gone to a lot of Brandon Valley football games in the last 40 years and I would have to say this is probably one of the best football teams that I have seen Brandon Valley ever have and we still didn’t win the big game. The last state football title for Brandon Valley was 14 years ago. Kids like to go out for football and play for a winning program. Look what happen to Sturgis and Spearfih. In the 1990’s they both had very good football programs. Now they get beat by 50-70 points a game. It’s because the kids don’t want to play for a football program that can’t win. Sturgis sure has the athletics because they are the top wrestling program in the state, but these same kids don’t go out for football. I think the coaches and school board should have a say in what we do, but I think the people in Brandon and Valley Spring should have a say also.
November 26th, 2012 at 8:36 pm
When was the last state championship in boys basketball? Should we create another class for that also? NO! We need to stay in AAA that is where are enrollment says we should be, if we move down we are choosing to play in a lesser division. That is not the BV way, we want to be the best of the best, not the best of a lower division. Hanging a 2nd tier banner won’t mean shit. They should not have let OG petition up but they did, so now we must not play chicken and run. Stay up in Triple A school board.
November 26th, 2012 at 8:49 pm
I love how people are saying “stay at rack up some championships”. Who says it’s going to be a cake walk if they stay in the same division . . .? Especially since Brandon has been Borderline horrible since the late 90’s prior to the last couple.
November 27th, 2012 at 8:46 am
@Driver-Obviously you have no idea what your talking about. ESD champs 99,00,06,08,10,11,12.
2005 lost in first round.
2006 lost in semis to eventual champion Roosevelt.
2007 lost in quarters to eventual champion Roosevelt.
2008 lost in semis to eventual champion Lincoln.
2009 lost in semis to eventual champion Washington.
2010 lost in first round.
2011 lost in quarters to eventual champion Roosevelt.
2012 lost in Championship.
For you to say they have been borderline horrible shows how out of touch with BV football you are. They have been very competitive throughout the 2000s. Since 2005 they have only been beaten in first round twice. That is equivalent to a bball team making it to the state tournament 6 out of last 8 years. I would bet you would think that was a solid bball program yet when people judge football they have to make it to the dome. Winning a AA title would make you the 9th best team in the state. Lets not run and hide, stay in AAA.
November 27th, 2012 at 9:02 am
Thanks @Statman. Great data!!
November 27th, 2012 at 10:39 am
What’s their record each year? If I remember correctly, this isn’t like pros where 25% make it to the playoffs.
Also, how many teams make it to the playoffs? If it’s over 50%, sorry..your ’stats’ don’s show true accomplishments. . .
November 27th, 2012 at 12:13 pm
can any one tell me, please, if we are AAA do we play only AAA schools or do we still compete in the ESD???
November 27th, 2012 at 12:51 pm
@driver-your commenting on this thread and you don’t even know the current system? And by the way, more than 25% of the NFL teams make the playoffs.
We would still be in the ESD, however we will no longer play all the ESD teams. Another moronic part to this new system they threw together. I think BV will for example play 4 ESD teams and Yankton could play 6. Tell me how you crown an ESD Champion with that.
November 27th, 2012 at 12:51 pm
@Driver, your ignorance is showing. @always Metro Conference and ESD will have crossover games. Not enough teams in the Metro to fill a schedule. Right now the plan is dual membership in ESD and Metro Conferences.
November 27th, 2012 at 12:53 pm
I am surprised, not, at so many wanting to stay in the easier division “just to win”. Does not show much about your program or team that way!
November 27th, 2012 at 1:50 pm
If I was a stub player at Brandon, and Brandon decides to go to AA I would transfer. I would always wanna play at the top level of competition for better experience.
November 28th, 2012 at 6:53 am
I am not surprised that OG wants to move up because they have a attitude that says we want to compete at the highest level. I believe that most people at BV have that same attitude. I would be surprised and disapointed if we agree to compete at a level lower than where we belong.
November 30th, 2012 at 10:32 pm
Plain and simple, until you begin to develop your program from a younger age up to the high school level, you will never compete in this state. This is true at any level 9B to 11AA, ask anyone and they know this. We had a tradition in this town, and it has been lost for a lot of years, until it starts on the pee wee fields again, don’t look for any championship flags to fly…..
December 1st, 2012 at 12:01 am
maybe if someone would start playing the players that are good and talented not just based on last names it would get better?
December 2nd, 2012 at 1:19 pm
To the last poster. I am sure that if the staff would have played your kid we would be state champions! Clueless
December 4th, 2012 at 12:58 pm
no my kids go to Washington, so they know what a championship is like just sayin. #WarriorNation
December 6th, 2012 at 9:00 am
#18 what is the difference from the pee wee teams of old verus today???
December 6th, 2012 at 12:49 pm
Brandon Valley will play the same schedule whether AAA or AA. The ESD added Harrisburg and now has 9 teams. The schedule allows only 8 games per SDHSAA rules. Thus, BV will play 6 ESD games (as will every ESD school) and we will play 2 SF schools for our total of 8. Wanted to answer those questions and misinterpretations from above.
December 6th, 2012 at 4:33 pm
Randy, thank you. It’s really nice to get the accurate information straight from someone who deals directly with the topic.
December 6th, 2012 at 4:39 pm
Randy,how will playing in the ESD affect the power points and seeding?
December 7th, 2012 at 3:04 pm
AAA and AA teams will all get the exact same power points as has been the case over the past many years. You get power points based on the number of wins your opponents have during the entire season. There will be no bonus or loss of points based on your AAA or AA classification for the next two years. After two years, that scenario may be changed, but is opposed by ESD schools who have conference games that must be played and there is little choice to decide on who your schedule is composed of.
December 10th, 2012 at 12:26 am
to always listening, I have never seen a high school coach at any pee wee games or practices talking to the kids. That is all I meant…..it used to be that way when the old regime was around. Good luck in AAA boys….
December 10th, 2012 at 5:20 pm
Really all it comes down to is whether or not the administration, board and coaches view AAA like Kueter or are they more like Likness. One sees a challenge and the other an excuse