Because football stays at the fore all year for many of us, realignment has perhaps been the premier topic of discussion the last few weeks here in the office.

Once that dam breaks, most everything for the next two years falls into place.

Four days before the University Interscholastic League releases its realignment plans for 2008-09 and 2009-2010, among the biggest questions regarding the Houston area – or at least its western corridor – are where Strake Jesuit will fall, whether Stratford will take a drop to 4A or play up to 5A and where the Aldine, Spring Branch and Alief ISD schools will land.

With an eighth Cy-Fair ISD high school, Cypress Woods, coming into 5A this fall, conventional wisdom says all of that district’s schools will be joined in one cluster. The same could be true for Katy ISD, which sees Seven Lakes come up to 5A. That district would number six if it’s all Katy ISD, and seven if Strake Jesuit rejoins them, as was the case a few years ago.

According to reports, Stratford has 2,056 students, which puts it solidly in 4A. So the rest of Spring Branch could join with Alief – which makes geographical sense. Adding Strake Jesuit in there makes even more sense, though the Crusaders competing with Katy isn’t far-fetched and likely makes that district ultra-competitive.

A reporter colleague of mine said over the weekend he'd be shocked if the Katy district ends up being only six schools. I can see his point, but he was as quick to admit he's predicted realignment most years for the last 20 and rarely come out right.

That leaves Aldine ISD, whose schools would have to join with a district or districts to the north and/or east.

Losses of 5A schools from Dallas-Fort Worth and Austin mean Houston likely will gain a region, giving the area Regions 14 to 24 in 5A. Two or three of them likely would be in Region 2, meaning they’d be in the postseason with Dallas-Fort Worth and Austin instead of Houston.

Questions, questions.

Shortly after 9 a.m. Friday, we’ll get a few answers and myriad arguments will start.

Amazing how a simple little principle like geography inspires such fervor.

Let the (pre-)games begin

Arguably the second sport to football in Houston, if not all of Texas, is baseball. Preseason practice began Friday in weather better suited to Wrigley Field in April than Houston anytime.

Tradition’s rich around here, and there’s no reason to expect 2008 won’t be a banner baseball year. Among other nuggets, approximately 30 area players are Division I signees and Cy-Fair returns a healthy number of players from its 2007 5A championship team.

Baseball scrimmages begin Feb. 4; the regular-season begins Feb. 18.

Softball practices began Monday. Their first regular-season games are Feb. 11.

Speaking of looking ahead …

The schedule for the Texas 7-on-7 State Tournament and its qualifying events will be released Friday, according to Greg McCaig, Cypress Creek’s football coach and president of the Texas State 7-on-7 Association.

Send your alumni news

The Athlete’s Connection will highlight former area high school players’ achievements at the collegiate – or professional – level each Wednesday in our “Alumni Watch” segment. Do you know of an athlete worth profiling? If so, call us at (713) 339-4400 or e-mail to dpurpura@athletesconnection.com.

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