Death of Albion football program forces Willow Run JV and varsity programs to play as one
The Willow Run High School varsity football team will have a larger than usual roster in its Week 2 matchup against Highland Park.
Unfortunately for the Flyers, this isn't because their own program is thriving, but because another is suffering.
As first reported by the Jackson Citizen Patriot, Albion High School announced on Monday that it would not have a team at any level for the 2012 season due to lack of participation. Albion was scheduled to play Willow Run's junior varsity team on Thursday, Aug. 30. Rather than trying to find another JV team to play, or going a week without a game, Willow Run coach Rufus Pipkins said he will most likely combine his rosters for the Flyers' game the next day against Highland Park.
Willow Run coach Rufus Pipkins.
But administrators felt they needed about 25 players to keep the program going, according to a Jackson Citizen Patriot report. Albion athletic director Brad Shedd told the Citizen Patriot that as few as five showed up to practice last week.
"It's crazy," said Pipkins, whose team has experienced a dip in participation of its own, as plans to possibly close the school have been a regular topic at district school board meetings of late. "It seems like numbers across the state are down."
Albion, similar to Willow Run, has seen its enrollment drop significantly in recent years, going from 527 students in 2006 to 222 this year. Willow Run has gone from 729 students to 429 since 2008.
Albion's first-year coach Mike Culliver said he will work at the middle school level to try to build interest in the game again in the community.
“I’m trying to do everything I can to keep it around,” Culliver told the Jackson Citizen Patriot. “I’m still the head coach there, and I’ll do whatever I can to rebuild.”
-- Rich McGowan of the Jackson Citizen Patriot/MLive Media Group contributed to this report.
Pete Cunningham covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at petercunningham@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.
Comments
jns131
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 3:43 p.m.
What is even funnier is that WR will cease to exist at the end of next year forcing them into a no after school varsity program. Well at least they get one win less season.
Davidian
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 11:56 a.m.
The failure of Albion football is no surprise, and it goes way beyond a lack of interest. Albion in many ways mirrors Detroit and many other Rust Belt cities. It used to be a thriving place, but it has been in a steep decline for many years. There are very few well-paid jobs outside the college, whose hiring practices are pretty much global at this point, and the college itself has gone to great lengths to insulate itself from the community - at least that is the prevailing perception. People there are so poor - I mean literally hand to mouth poor, and have all the social problems that come with it. This aren't isolated families. According to the Freep, Albion has one of the poorest school districts and some of the highest percentages of homeless children. The few families with any money usually send their kids to Lumen Christi or other private schools - and they reap the benefits of whatever talent Albion may have brought to the table. Albion isn't all bad. are some stalwarts that are proud to live there and have carved out a nice community for themselves, and hats off to them. But an equally large part of Albion is falling down, just like their school system, just like their football team. Hoepfully Albion experiences a full comeback - but right now there is no reason to think that will happen. Very sad. Social commentary over. Thanks.
tim
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 11:04 a.m.
I know someone that lives in nearby Homer. He tells me that Homer( school of choice) gets many many kids from Albion. Once parents think their kids can have a better school experience somewhere else it starts a snowball effect. Ten players leave, Albion is diminished - ten more leave etc.
Davidian
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 4:11 p.m.
Bobby, Just to play devil's advocate: Can you say for sure that Albion has always worked with the community? Or did they become involved when the city began to look like a ghetto and their enrollment became jeapordized? I don't know the answer to that question to be perfectly honest. I was just commenting on what the perception is. I know that growing up there, there was definitely an "us vs. them" mentality, on both sides of the spectrum.
BobbyJohn
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 2:49 p.m.
I would say that Albion College works hard to involve the college with the community of Albion. Many staff and students volunteer many hours of their time to contribute to the city of Albion. So I disagree with your statement that the college tries to distance itself from the local community. Just go to Albion College's website and see al the programs and hard work that volunteers do to do more than their fair share for Albion city. If not for the college, Albion would be in a much sorrier state.
Monica R-W
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 12:23 p.m.
Thanks Davidian, Guess your reply answer questions were the kids that could go to Albion P.S. have gone. My question is if anyone else is bit uncomfortable with how public schools in general across this state are losing students to the "pick and choose" charter school for-profit business model? Also, I'll say this again....what do folks think will occur with the charter school for-profit business model, when or if all public schools systems are gone (or nearly gone). Thinking about it from a corporate minded business mentally, it would be time to CHARGE the students via their parents, a bit more to send them charter schools. Never mind we as tax payers, forward over revenue via our tax dollars to those "for-profit charter schools". Feeling a Gordon Greko moment in the movie Wall Street coming on it 5-15 years with Michigan education system....i.e. "Greed is Good".
Craig Lounsbury
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 11:52 a.m.
when I was a high school junior (a long time ago) our team had 19 players. During practice we could only run plays on one side at a time because we didn't have 22 guys to field a full offense and defense.
A2comments
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 10:50 a.m.
"But felt they needed about 25 players to do so, according to a Jackson Citizen Patriot report.". Not a sentence, unless "But" is a person...
Pete Cunningham
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 2:48 p.m.
The grammatical error has been fixed. Thank you.