It's early February and we're talking....high school football?
Jasper moves to into new 3A district
By JIMMY GALVAN Managing Editor

Jasper Athletic Director Thomas Brooks admitted he wasn't really surprised when the University Interscholastic League sent the Bulldogs north in Friday's realignment announcement.

The new District 18-3A will be made up of Carthage, Center, Diboll, Huntington, Jasper, Lufkin Hudson (basketball only), Pollok Central (basketball only and Rusk.

"I had heard that Kirbyville was going to be close to moving down," Brooks said. "And I knew if they moved Kirbyville down, then we would be come the northest school and if they want to keep six in a district, we would leave District 21-3A and kick us out.

"But I thought we might move towards a Houston district because before we were in that district with those schools," Brooks said. "But I think it will be good because we are playing different people and its good for our players. Some haven't been to Rusk or Carthage.

The UIL realigns its districts every two years. The districts establish the main competition for football and other athletic contests.

It had been rumored that if Jasper left District 21-3A, they would head to enter a district with Shepherd, Coldspring, Cleveland and Tarkington instead.

The move to District 18-3A will add more miles on Jasper's travel card this coming year. But Brooks doesn't mind the travel time when it comes to his football squad.

"I think travel is good because you spend more time together and get your thoughts together on the game," Brooks said.

"You're not as close in the home games. You look back at our record last year and you will see that in our away games we did good. I really don't mind it but it does become a concern with our other sports."

He pointed to volleyball, basketball, soccer, baseball and softball squads that will be forced on the road either on Tuesday or Friday of a given week.

"When they are away on a Tuesday and they get back late, then that won't be a good thing for those teams," Brooks said.

Jasper boys' basketball coach Terry Young believes the new district will be tough one.

"The new district 18- 3A will be the toughest I believe in the state," Young said. "We going up against teams in this district that are much more athletic than many of the teams we have faced this year with the likes of Diboll, Carthage, Rusk and Center.

"We also have a builtin disadvantage since Hudson and Central will be able to work basketball all year since they don't have football teams," Young said.

"Travel will be a nightmare. Kids will be out late and this will certainly affect their academic performance and our travel budget," Young said. "I think because of the makeup of this district you will have to be ready each night, because with so many athletic teams, you want be afforded the opportunity to have a bad night. This is going to be tough. I thought our current district made me better, and this one for sure, will do even more for my development as a coach."

Jasper girls' basketball coach Joe Baker also sees the new district as a challenge.

"Going into a new district isn't going to be easy, but this team will be seasoned, and I have no doubt that they will try to push for a playoff spot next year," Baker said. "It will be a tough district and travel time will be long for some of these games, but I believe that we will be fine."

Jasper baseball coach Shawn Mixon sees the new district as a new challenge for the Dawgs.

"Carthage and Hudson have good programs and are in the hunt every year. ," Mixon said. "Others like Central and Rusk put good teams together every few years. It will be a strong baseball district, probably not as strong top to bottom as the one we are in right now, but not many are."

While Jasper softball coach Nancy Walker likes the change, she is not looking foward to the extended trips.

"I am glad that we changed districts but I am not looking forward to the long trips to Rusk and Carthage," Walker said. "For the girls programs the district will be tough and competitive as it was in the one we just left."

Football-wise, Brooks said that Carthage and Diboll are the heavy hitters that stand out in the district.

"They are school that I think are going to be very good," Brooks said. "I don't know much about the other schools because I studied them in the playoffs last year."

Brooks kept some of his former District 21-3A foes in his non-district schedule for the 2008 season. Jasper will take on West Orange-Stark, Hamshire-Fannett, Silsbee and Kirbyville in non-district next year. The Bulldogs will open the year against perennial powerhouse Gilmer.

"I thought it was good to still be playing the top teams in the district," Brooks said. "We had good rivalries with these teams and it's good to keep those going. Some people think I am crazy for playing Gilmer in the opening week but I think our non-district schedule is going to help us in the long run. I don't think playing easy teams and winning those games easy helps you. You can be 5-0 in non-district and then go 0-5 in district and what good did it do you when you are home for the playoffs."

Georgia Purdy contributed to this report