Only strong survive in next year's revamped Sierra Foothill League

The Roman numerals don't mean as much in high school sports any more. The lines that separate the quality of play between Division I and Division II in football, and sometimes all five divisions in other sports, are a bit more blurry than they were 10 years ago, much more out of focus than 20 years ago.These days what division a school's sports program is in doesn't automatically give you an idea of how that program stacks up against other schools. That's why next year, when the Sac-Joaquin Section goes through one of its periodical league realignment phases, you could argue that the best section league will be home to mostly Division II schools, one of which is still classified Division III for football.Maybe it's a good thing for future Sierra Foothill League members that it isn't 2006 yet. Think about it; in football this year perennial powers Del Oro and Granite Bay, resurgent Rocklin and Roseville, and on-the-come Woodcreek and Oakmont would all battle it out for two playoff berths. In all other sports Division I Nevada Union joins the party to form a beast of a league.For now Granite Bay and NU reside in the Division I Metro Conference, Oakmont in the Division III Pioneer Valley league, and who knows, maybe by next year some of the future SFL programs will have tailed off a bit.But don't count on it. And that's good news for those of us on the outside looking in.It's not like all of the coaches involved are dreading the increased competition, either. Football coach Dale Mortensen of Oakmont put Division I Tokay of Lodi on his non-league schedule this year in anticipation of the move. Vikings volleyball coach Darrell Sedersten probably wishes realignment were this year, since his club has non-league wins over Del Oro, Roseville and Woodcreek.It will happen soon enough. Once it does, here's hoping the section throws any future radical SFL realignment plans out of the window.