By Rodney Hays
Editor
Prosper High School now knows which teams it will play in district action beginning in August. And one of the very familiar names is not on the list.
The University Interscholastic League realigns the districts for football and other sports every two years, releasing the new realignments on Feb. 1.
Beginning in August, the Eagles will compete in District 11-3A with Lucas Lovejoy, Farmersville, Princeton, Nevada Community and Frisco Lone Star, which will open for the first time in August.
One team not on the list this season is the Celina Bobcats. Even though Celina is located just six miles up the road from Prosper and has been in the district since Noah gathered the animals, Celina will compete in District 10-3A with Anna, Bonham, Commerce and Van Alstyne.
And it seems Celina athletic department has tucked its stubby little Bobcat tail between its legs and running for the safer confines of schools like Melissa instead of the Eagles. Eagle Head Coach Kent Scott said he tried to reach Celina athletic deparment on Monday morning.
"We called multiple times this morning. I had two games that fell through and they had a couple as well. They wouldn't play," Scott said.
Scott said he was disappointed in not having the rivalry with Celina continue. He said "the tables sort of turned a little bit and they don't want to play." After many years of using Prosper as a whipping boy in football, the Eagles have a two-game winning streak in place over the last couple of seasons, which seems to be enough to keep Celina from heading south on Preston Road.
The Six-Mile Rivalry football game has been a showcase event in Collin County for the past several years with thousands of crazy fans lining both sides of the field for the games. Scott said dollar signs couldn't even keep the game intact.
"I thought the gate alone ought to be reason to play," he said. But in the end it wasn't and the fans will pay the price.
If the Six-Mile Rivalry is to see a 2010 version, the teams will have to meet in the area round of the playoffs.
Another football playoff team from this past year's District 9-3A was Argyle. The Argyle Eagles are in District 9-3A again with Aubrey, Gainesville, Pilot Point, Sanger and Whitesboro. Prosper will play Argyle in the non-district schedule.
District 11-3A will be tough for football. The Eagles were eliminated from the playoffs by Lovejoy this past season. Princeton is usually a good basketball and baseball program. The Panthers also have a new football stadium to play in.
And Farmersville has won its district for the past two seasons and won the state's 2A crown just three seasons ago.
Scott said he believes Lone Star will be like Frisco Wakeland was two years ago, when it played in Prosper's district.
"When you've got a school in that district with the resources they have, they will be okay," Scott said.
Scott didn't know much about Nevada Community, but looking at them in 7-on-7 over the past couple of years, he said they have some talented kids.
Overall, Scott said, "it's a change anyway. We get to see some new folks. It'll be fun."
In basketball, Coach Greg Nix said he was "a little shocked. I thought we would stay with Aubrey, Celina, Pilot Point Lone Star and Anna."
Nix said he would miss the rivalry games with teams like Celina and Argyle this next season.
"I feel like it is Texas without its OU," Nix said of losing Celina from the district.
Nix said Lovejoy and Princeton both should be good at basketball and Lone Star "could be interesting."
As for how the district could shake out for the Eagles basketball team in 2010-11, Nix said. Princeton is "out of coach's kids, so Lovejoy looks to be the one to beat."
Volleyball coach Jolene Vinson said Lovejoy will also be a force in volleyball. And along with the excitement of playing some new teams, she will miss the rivalry with Celina.
"There is always something special about playing against your rival," she said.
This could be the last time Prosper stays at the 3A level. According to the district's newsletter The Eagle Express, with enrollment numbers including the seventh and eighth grade classes at Rogers Middle School, Prosper might bump up to class 4A in two years.
The rest of the non-district football schedule is still pending with sites to be determined. But in non-district the football team is scheduled to play, Waco LaVega, Carrollton Ranchview, Alvarado, Bridgeport and Argyle.