The Final From the Notebook………**Just a one week ago Brookhaven had dropped a narrow 51-47 loss to then undefeated Leake in the Class AA State Championship game. Fast forward one week and the Lady Cougars are Overall Champions after knocking off the best Class AAA had to offer in MRA, Presbyterian and Jackson Academy. Having to play in the shadows somewhat during the past several seasons due to the success of the Brookhaven’s boy’s program the girls have left their permanent stamp on MAIS basketball.
**Speaking of girl’s basketball, how about the success Delta continues to have in Class A basketball? All they’ve done is win 9 of the last 13 Class A titles. Big “Shout Out” to Head Coach Barry Finnie!
**Heidelberg Academy made their first Overall appearance in the school’s 42 year history. Head Coach Alan Prunera did a fantastic job overcoming tremendous odds in directing his squad through the post-season.
**The beat goes on for MRA as they did what most expected in winning their 5th consecutive Overall crown.
**Just 27 months ago Southern Sport & Travel was launched with the hopes of providing not only a data-base for MPSA/MAIS supporters to acquire information about other schools but to also provide much deserved recognition to MPSA/MAIS student-athletes. Struggling to garner a mere 200 hits a month in the beginning, the site soon saw modest gains as more on site athletic coverage was provided during basketball post season.
Growth continued through the 2009 football season and nearly doubled as the 2010 basketball playoffs got underway. While the 2010 baseball season was expected to see a slide in hits to the website, levels stayed surprisingly strong.
The 2010 football season looked to reach big numbers from the onset and by the time playoffs rolled around in November just over 18,000 viewers visited the site that month alone.
As was the case just a year ago, basketball has exceeded football in traffic to Southern Sports & Travel even though coverage was slightly down due to various reasons. Over 23,000 visitors took the time to take in the website this month.
With the growth of the website improvements such as video and audio clips were added along with a facelift to the appearance of the site, not to mention covering more Class AAA and Class A events.
Unfortunately what did not accompany the huge growth in visitors and improvements to the site was support through advertising and other venues. Sponsorship ads purchased mostly by Class AA schools were greatly appreciated but the revenue associated with those ads only supported the cost of the website through football season. Not to mention the fact that some of the ads on the site went unpaid for.
After years of personally supporting the costs associated with Southern Sports & Travel in an effort to provide what I have always felt was a huge void with regards to MPSA/MAIS athletics, coverage will cease following this baseball season. Any baseball scores received will be posted.
Although there have been some big bumps in the road and hurdles to jump I’m optimistic and hopeful that in the near future the vast information gap that has existed within the MPSA/MAIS will be improved and I hope Southern Sports & Travel played a small role in doing that.
For that to happen changes need to take place and those that resist the technology that affords MPSA/MAIS athletes to gain recognition need to swallow their pride or push aside their ego and conform. If the change doesn't occur, the gap between the schools with vast means and the schools with little will continue to widen.
To the many friends I have been so blessed to make over the past two years….God Bless.
Comments:
Anonymous said...
Although I understand what you stated, just want you to know your site, the hours, and your efforts have been appreciated by many and wished more could have been done to allow your work here to continue.
Brookhaven Fan
D. Keene
Anonymous said...
This is so sad. I love your website. Even when my son was not participating in the MAIS I viewed your site several times a week to keep up with all the other players and schools. The MAIS is small enough that you get to personally know and follow players from all the schools directly thru Southern Sports & Travel. I really appreciate the coverage and your time that you have given to these deserving athletes and will miss this site very much. If I may ask.....is there anyway that we may possibly be able to save this site? What would it take?
Anonymous said...
Thank you for all that you have done to promote our schools and athletes. I have truly enjoyed and appreciated all that you have done!!!!
Anonymous said...
If there is anyway to save the site let us know.
Jeff King said...
Your website is very beneficial to MAIS Athletics. It has been very beneficial to me personally as well. Thanks for all that you do.
Anonymous said...
Everyone from Columbia that really keeps up with MAIS athletics looks at your site almost daily. Is it something you are burnt out on, or is it something that is costing you too much time, effort, and money to keep doing. If it is just a sponsor thing, I think there are a lot of people, including myself, that would love to help support the site that don't really know the costs of doing it. Regardless, thanks for all the wonderful things you have done for MAIS athletics
Reid Mccay
Anonymous said...
Everyone here at Manchester Academy as well in this part of the state are extremely sad about the news. You have no idea how much the MAIS community appreciates all that you do for our kids and schools. I for one am truly appreciative. The articles you write are amazing, it makes one feel as if they were there. I hope that there is something that can be done to keep it going. You are an asset. The MAIS office should emply you themselves or pay for your the cost of your site because no one else can cover the league like you can.
Thanks for everything,
Russell Cruise
Anonymous said...
I will certainly miss your site and all the positiveness you have given to MAIS athletics. You will be missed and I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.
Thanks for all the great reads and for keeping sports writing interesting and positive for our children!
Lisa from the North AA
Anonymous said...
Really hate to hear you're closing down the site. The work you have done has been fabulous, and you've brought much benefit to our student/athletes, the schools they represent, and the families/friends that support them. I know that all of us who have watched you work and have enjoyed the product you have produced have been amazed at the time, energy and effort you've put into the site. What would it take to keep the site going? How many additional sponsorships would you need to make it viable? What other venues of supporting the site are there? I'd love to do what I reasonable could to help make this worth your while. You've certainly done a great work with the site, and if it does close down it'll be missed sorely.
ken powell
