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Cardinal Ohara

Place is a joke they are still recruiting kids from other districts and the only reason Algeo had success was because he sent kids to D1, but otherwise they stunk w him there and they still stink
 
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Commish is on a roll. We got the wealthy at Conestoga who are gonna get away with it, and we got Ohara as a joke.
No one is safe on the Commish's watch.
 
It's about time we have someone on this board who calls people out instead of letting people do whatever the hell they want and talk nonsense with out any response great picture gang green your team is still ready for disaster #BringBackNoSleaves
 
Philly brown is just the first of many how about the kid Ted field from garnet who transferred there for a so called Catholic education then when Algeo passes away and all promises were off the table he went back to garnet valley and guess what. He is not that good that's why he is not playing anywhere. I know Rutgers got smart and took his scholarship away
 
Philly brown is just the first of many how about the kid Ted field from garnet who transferred there for a so called Catholic education then when Algeo passes away and all promises were off the table he went back to garnet valley and guess what. He is not that good that's why he is not playing anywhere. I know Rutgers got smart and took his scholarship away
he was a beast
 
Commish everyone entitled to their opinion here. Guessing you are young and full of vigor. I'll give you my opinion on your opinion which I'm sure is as biased as yours based upon our backgrounds. My background is I grew up as little kid around O'Hara program, was lucky enough to be good enough to play there and then coached at the rival for fair amount of years. Now back trying to help the school and the program give some other kids a similar opportunity that I was afforded and had big impact on whatever success I have had in life.

Place is a joke.
I will beg to differ but also say it has fallen way below what the program has traditionally been. I will also say in my opinion over the total body of work it has a tradition that is only surpassed by Ridley in Delco.

They are still recruiting kids from other districts.
The school needs bodies so at the 8th grade level they are recruiting anyone who is willing to pay $9200. As for current high school kids there is no way this current staff is soliciting players. It likely happened in the past. Do parents call and want to transfer their kids in because Tommy is behind Bobby at insert school here. You bet. Again if the third clarinet in Marple's band wants to transfer into O'Hara and become the lead clarinet while paying $9200, O'Hara is going to take the student.

Only reason Algeo had success was because he sent kids to Division 1
While am I not Socrates I have had a logic course or two in my time. If someone recruited and sent kids to Division 1 programs it would be logical they would have some success, correct. Algeo actually had excellent success bringing in skill talent. I have and continue to make the argument that the program did not do a good enough job getting kids who were high school football players and made it more about next level. This created an issue where many kids were more concerned with their next team rather than winning high school games because they were from all over and not as concerned with the tradition. In my opinion this is partially why teams with D-1 talent may have underachieved. Plus the league they were in improved dramatically.

Otherwise they stunk with him there and they still stink.
Algeo was 68-42 at O'Hara and won a Catholic League title in the Red Division with both Roman and O'Hara. While the record of 68-42 isn't stellar there were no Harritons, Lower Merions, etc in their league. Right now the program down. Record says they have stunk last two years. I'll concede that as factual. I"ll also concede that Bonner and Carroll are way down from where they were. There's 9200 reasons why. Same 9200 reasons why Central League football is actually a ton more competitive then it ever been top to bottom. All the archdiocesan schools have major issues at that price point. It's been a boon for Haverford, Springfield, Garnet Valley, Marple and Radnor on the football field. Nothing wrong with that at all. Central League way better in football because Catholic kids now attend the schools and they actually began to hire football coaches and not give the job to some gym teacher so he could boost the top three years on his PSERS pension.

Just my two cents and opinions. No need to be angry. We can all disagree.
 
I'm a Shanahan grad and realize Catholic schools have fallen due to high yearly tuition costs (it was $800-$1000 in late 70s and early 80s) plus most public schools are solid these days. Still hard to believe O'Hara once had 3000-4000 students and now it's around 1200. I just heard from my daughters friends mother that this years freshman class is 322 at Carroll. Highest ever? Carroll is now pulling Malvern kids which Shanahan had a lock on once they moved to Downingtown in 1999. Shanahan is the only game Chester County and has some very very big hitters behind it so doubt it will fall. Is it possible O'Hara closes along w Bonner/Prendie? You can get to Carroll and West Catholic from most of Delco by public transportation. Will Dan Conner put a great product on the field just like boys basketball and some great girls programs they have? That will draw even more.
 
Commish everyone entitled to their opinion here. Guessing you are young and full of vigor. I'll give you my opinion on your opinion which I'm sure is as biased as yours based upon our backgrounds. My background is I grew up as little kid around O'Hara program, was lucky enough to be good enough to play there and then coached at the rival for fair amount of years. Now back trying to help the school and the program give some other kids a similar opportunity that I was afforded and had big impact on whatever success I have had in life.

Place is a joke.
I will beg to differ but also say it has fallen way below what the program has traditionally been. I will also say in my opinion over the total body of work it has a tradition that is only surpassed by Ridley in Delco.

They are still recruiting kids from other districts.
The school needs bodies so at the 8th grade level they are recruiting anyone who is willing to pay $9200. As for current high school kids there is no way this current staff is soliciting players. It likely happened in the past. Do parents call and want to transfer their kids in because Tommy is behind Bobby at insert school here. You bet. Again if the third clarinet in Marple's band wants to transfer into O'Hara and become the lead clarinet while paying $9200, O'Hara is going to take the student.

Only reason Algeo had success was because he sent kids to Division 1
While am I not Socrates I have had a logic course or two in my time. If someone recruited and sent kids to Division 1 programs it would be logical they would have some success, correct. Algeo actually had excellent success bringing in skill talent. I have and continue to make the argument that the program did not do a good enough job getting kids who were high school football players and made it more about next level. This created an issue where many kids were more concerned with their next team rather than winning high school games because they were from all over and not as concerned with the tradition. In my opinion this is partially why teams with D-1 talent may have underachieved. Plus the league they were in improved dramatically.

Otherwise they stunk with him there and they still stink.
Algeo was 68-42 at O'Hara and won a Catholic League title in the Red Division with both Roman and O'Hara. While the record of 68-42 isn't stellar there were no Harritons, Lower Merions, etc in their league. Right now the program down. Record says they have stunk last two years. I'll concede that as factual. I"ll also concede that Bonner and Carroll are way down from where they were. There's 9200 reasons why. Same 9200 reasons why Central League football is actually a ton more competitive then it ever been top to bottom. All the archdiocesan schools have major issues at that price point. It's been a boon for Haverford, Springfield, Garnet Valley, Marple and Radnor on the football field. Nothing wrong with that at all. Central League way better in football because Catholic kids now attend the schools and they actually began to hire football coaches and not give the job to some gym teacher so he could boost the top three years on his PSERS pension.

Just my two cents and opinions. No need to be angry. We can all disagree.
Gang - Marple and Radnor are better due to coaching plus the Central slipping in football quality over the last 5 years. Marple and Radnor families can generally afford whatever schools they want. Please note both are pretty good districts.
 
I'm a Shanahan grad and realize Catholic schools have fallen due to high yearly tuition costs (it was $800-$1000 in late 70s and early 80s) plus most public schools are solid these days. Still hard to believe O'Hara once had 3000-4000 students and now it's around 1200. I just heard from my daughters friends mother that this years freshman class is 322 at Carroll. Highest ever? Carroll is now pulling Malvern kids which Shanahan had a lock on once they moved to Downingtown in 1999. Shanahan is the only game Chester County and has some very very big hitters behind it so doubt it will fall. Is it possible O'Hara closes along w Bonner/Prendie? You can get to Carroll and West Catholic from most of Delco by public transportation. Will Dan Conner put a great product on the field just like boys basketball and some great girls programs they have? That will draw even more.
Are you talking about the current freshman class in the building right now or next years freshman class? Because I'm heard from a very reliable source that Carroll's freshman class for next year is only around 90 total students right now..
 
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The most logical move would be to merge Bonner with Ohara. believe it or not Ohara is currently a large enough facility to accommodate the merger. "Delco Catholic"
 
Couple retorts here. Chestmont I agree that all the central league schools are pretty darn good academic options. My entire point is given the pay your taxes and go to public school option is pretty attractive what was once a very captive Catholic audience at 4 to 5 thousand dollars now either pays up for private school or uses their public school. Marple, Radnor, Haverford, Springfield, Garnet Valley etc etc all getting way more Catholic kids then ever in their history.

Totally disagree that Central is down last five years. Maybe their top teams haven't advanced as far in playoffs but overall talent level across the league is way higher. Its not the SOL or Chestmont and never will be unless the districts keep every kid which with Malvern, Haverford School, Episcopal and Prep lurking is never happening. However you ask the coaches at the five schools above they will tell you their overall talent level is as high as it's ever been.

Lastly I think you are incorrect about people from Marple and Radnor being able to send their kids wherever they want. A lot of newer money spending up to the their limits to get into a place like radnor for the schools. They can't afford 35k a year for private hs and then 60k for college. 10k for archdiocesan education is a non starter. Marple encompasses Broomall etc. In my business I see a ton of people who outwardly have all the trappings (huge house, two luxury cars, vacations) and not one nickel saved for education or retirement. Amazing how may people pay 30k for their kids high school and then saddle them with 250k of college student loan debt. Just hideous planning and all about show.

Ultimately point is no matter how anyone spins it Archdiocesan education is not a private education. If you live in a district with a good school more people are saying the choice comes down to pay up for a true private school or use the public school. The archdiocesan audience right now are people who won't or can't pay private school rate, live in a public district they do not want, are devoutly loyal to a system that educated them, or there for a specific extracurricular or activity. (ie Wood football, O'hara girls basketball, Carroll boys basketball)

The O'Hara building could easily hold 4,000 students. However the archdiocese isn't stupid they realize the alums are the ones with the money they need for all elements of their operation and closing their schools alienates them. The fantasy that all this can be changed with a merger isn't true either. It still is an archdiocesan education. Whether its 11,500 at Carroll, 9200 at O'hara or 8700 at Bonner it's priced wrong for what they provide. Carroll charges more so parents say they are on main line and it gives parents some silly level of comfort that kids aren't exposed to some perceived lower socio economic bogeyman. I.e. people from Newtown Square or Havertown don't want their kid going to school with kids from Darby or Brookhaven but they can't or won't pay for Malvern or Villa.

The one way these schools can survive is leave Archdiocese and become real private schools where the board and leadership can set policy and pick educators. Then they can pick a price point that provides value. Shanahan is up because the system worked, people achieved success and people moved west. There is just a larger percentage of the devoutly loyal to a system that educated them crowd out that way who also wanted as far away from where they grew up as possible.
 
That is as well an analysis of the current state of archdiocesan high schools that I have read.
 
Are you talking about the current freshman class in the building right now or next years freshman class? Because I'm heard from a very reliable source that Carroll's freshman class for next year is only around 90 total students right now..
This current school year (2015-16) freshman class is 322. No idea about next year.
 
The most logical move would be to merge Bonner with Ohara. believe it or not Ohara is currently a large enough facility to accommodate the merger. "Delco Catholic"[/

Agreed. As you know many Catholic school alumni (St James is an example) have very strong feelings about their home school and now closing. Realistically the Archdiocese should merge Bonner/Prendie and Carroll into O'Hara. It would add a few students to Shanahan but really help Pope John Paul in Collegeville. Carroll takes kids from Collegeville, Phoenixville and Methacton which are heavily Catholic areas.
 
Couple retorts here. Chestmont I agree that all the central league schools are pretty darn good academic options. My entire point is given the pay your taxes and go to public school option is pretty attractive what was once a very captive Catholic audience at 4 to 5 thousand dollars now either pays up for private school or uses their public school. Marple, Radnor, Haverford, Springfield, Garnet Valley etc etc all getting way more Catholic kids then ever in their history.

Totally disagree that Central is down last five years. Maybe their top teams haven't advanced as far in playoffs but overall talent level across the league is way higher. Its not the SOL or Chestmont and never will be unless the districts keep every kid which with Malvern, Haverford School, Episcopal and Prep lurking is never happening. However you ask the coaches at the five schools above they will tell you their overall talent level is as high as it's ever been.

Lastly I think you are incorrect about people from Marple and Radnor being able to send their kids wherever they want. A lot of newer money spending up to the their limits to get into a place like radnor for the schools. They can't afford 35k a year for private hs and then 60k for college. 10k for archdiocesan education is a non starter. Marple encompasses Broomall etc. In my business I see a ton of people who outwardly have all the trappings (huge house, two luxury cars, vacations) and not one nickel saved for education or retirement. Amazing how may people pay 30k for their kids high school and then saddle them with 250k of college student loan debt. Just hideous planning and all about show.

Ultimately point is no matter how anyone spins it Archdiocesan education is not a private education. If you live in a district with a good school more people are saying the choice comes down to pay up for a true private school or use the public school. The archdiocesan audience right now are people who won't or can't pay private school rate, live in a public district they do not want, are devoutly loyal to a system that educated them, or there for a specific extracurricular or activity. (ie Wood football, O'hara girls basketball, Carroll boys basketball)

The O'Hara building could easily hold 4,000 students. However the archdiocese isn't stupid they realize the alums are the ones with the money they need for all elements of their operation and closing their schools alienates them. The fantasy that all this can be changed with a merger isn't true either. It still is an archdiocesan education. Whether its 11,500 at Carroll, 9200 at O'hara or 8700 at Bonner it's priced wrong for what they provide. Carroll charges more so parents say they are on main line and it gives parents some silly level of comfort that kids aren't exposed to some perceived lower socio economic bogeyman. I.e. people from Newtown Square or Havertown don't want their kid going to school with kids from Darby or Brookhaven but they can't or won't pay for Malvern or Villa.

The one way these schools can survive is leave Archdiocese and become real private schools where the board and leadership can set policy and pick educators. Then they can pick a price point that provides value. Shanahan is up because the system worked, people achieved success and people moved west. There is just a larger percentage of the devoutly loyal to a system that educated them crowd out that way who also wanted as far away from where they grew up as possible.
All good points Gang but my point goes towards Ridley (not making playoffs for 4-5 years.. That's rare). Even Garnet Valley seems to be down the last 2 years. On the other side Springfield, Marple and Haverford have done well. I guess you are right the quality of league is getting better as you have 7 or 8 teams in the mix for a the league title.
 
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