The Western Big Six has the same six members it has had since it was formed in 1969. So while it would appear their would be no incentive for the WB6 to do anything, the two conferences have been talking about some form of merger. As with most high school conferences, the driving force is football. Athletic directors in the WB6 need to find four non-conference games each year. If a school wants to use those four games to get wins to qualify for the play-offs, it can be difficult to find games.
It will be interesting to see what happens over the next few weeks in this regard. The following is an article from the Galesburg Register-Mail.
GALESBURG —
For the second time in less than a month, athletic directors from the Western Big 6 and the four remaining Mid-State 6 Conferences met to discuss interest in exploring a possible merger or expansion.
Following the early afternoon gathering at The Hungry Hobo restaurant, Steve Smithers, Rock Island Alleman AD, issued a press release announcing the meeting and a timetable for more discussions on the issue.
“This topic will be on the agenda at the respective principal or district meetings over the next week or so,” the release read. “The WB6/AD principal meeting in Monmough May 1, the Peoria district meeting April 26 and the Peoria ND (Notre Dame) meeting April 26.”
Along with WB6 schools Galesburg, Quincy, Rock Island, Rock Island Alleman, Moline and United Township, the talks have included remaining MS6 members Peoria Central, Peoria Manual, Peoria Richwoods and Peoria Notre Dame. Chillicothe IVC and Quincy Notre Dame will leave the MS6 as football playing schools at the end of the next school year to join the West Central Conference.
“It’s been taken up a notch,” said Ralph Henning, Galesburg athletic director of the talks. “But no deals have been cut yet and they certainly won’t until all the respective school boards discuss it.”
According to earlier reports, the four remaining MS6 schools have explored possibilites of membership in the Corn Belt, Central State 9 and Big 12 Conferences.
The WB6 has existed with its current membership since it was formed in 1969.
Following the early afternoon gathering at The Hungry Hobo restaurant, Steve Smithers, Rock Island Alleman AD, issued a press release announcing the meeting and a timetable for more discussions on the issue.
“This topic will be on the agenda at the respective principal or district meetings over the next week or so,” the release read. “The WB6/AD principal meeting in Monmough May 1, the Peoria district meeting April 26 and the Peoria ND (Notre Dame) meeting April 26.”
Along with WB6 schools Galesburg, Quincy, Rock Island, Rock Island Alleman, Moline and United Township, the talks have included remaining MS6 members Peoria Central, Peoria Manual, Peoria Richwoods and Peoria Notre Dame. Chillicothe IVC and Quincy Notre Dame will leave the MS6 as football playing schools at the end of the next school year to join the West Central Conference.
“It’s been taken up a notch,” said Ralph Henning, Galesburg athletic director of the talks. “But no deals have been cut yet and they certainly won’t until all the respective school boards discuss it.”
According to earlier reports, the four remaining MS6 schools have explored possibilites of membership in the Corn Belt, Central State 9 and Big 12 Conferences.
The WB6 has existed with its current membership since it was formed in 1969.
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