Steve T. Gorches: Smith wants NWC expansion

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Gary 21st Century Charter School's head basketball coach, Rodney Williams talks to his players during practice on Tuesday, January 25th, 2011. The team will be eligible to play in the IHSAA tournament next year. | Scott R. Brandush~Sun-Times Media

Updated: November 3, 2011 10:42AM

Sometimes it turns out I’m right after all. All I can say is, “Whew, am I glad I didn’t anger anyone else.”

But seriously, I wasn’t questioning myself too much after Sunday’s column on what needs to be done to fix the virtually nonexistent Northwestern Conference in Gary — all three schools of it.

Whittling down the column to its simplest point, the NWC needs to expand to prevent extinction and it needs to do it right away.

Turns out, Gary city athletic director Earl Smith agrees with me wholeheartedly.

Yeah, I was shocked too.

Very few ever completely agree with me, including my wife of 18 years, my teenage son, my boss, my parents, my friends, etc.

But Smith has moved to the top of the list of those who like the way my brain works.

It’s a very short list.

Smith has been part of Gary athletics for a long time as an athlete, a coach and administrator. Preserving the NWC’s future is first and foremost on his to-do list.

“It’s time to save the NWC — being associated with this conference almost my entire life, there is nothing that I wouldn’t want more than to have this idea come to fruition,” he said in a very lengthy e-mail. “It is true that we cannot call ourselves a true conference.”

That’s an understatement.

The saying might be, “three’s company,” but three is definitely not a conference. Four isn’t even a very good conference number — are you listening Hammond athletic directors?

So what is Smith doing to make my pleas and his wants reality?

First, he said talks have been ongoing with all three charter schools in Gary — I forgot to mention 21st Century in my last column, but that school will be competing in the IHSAA tournament for the first time this school year. The Cougars will replace Bowman Academy in Class 1A Sectional 49 as Bowman moves up to 2A.

On its upcoming boys basketball schedule, 21st Century will be facing all three Gary public schools — West Side, Lew Wallace and Roosevelt. Now how can 21st Century be playing those three schools and Bowman still isn’t?

Are you listening Marvin Rea (Bowman athletic director and head boys basketball coach)? Because Smith is listening and trying his best to fix this stupid issue.

“There has been yearly dialogue with Bowman on scheduling games in all sports,” Smith said. “Do the NWC and Bowman need to be (together)? Yes! They used the Wirt facility for football and this year they are contracted with Roosevelt for their home games.”

You have to hand it to Smith. He’s not leaving any gray area in his intentions, which are to have all three charter schools in the NWC as soon as possible. At least two of them sound like they will be members sooner rather than later.

“We have confronted Lighthouse Academy about joining the NWC and there is a positive yes,” Smith said. “The 21st Century charter school has participated in our athletic programs at seventh and eighth grade the past few years and they will be in our (basketball) holiday tournament this year.”

And last May, 21st Century competed in the NWC track meet.

“They have expressed a strong commitment on joining the NWC,” Smith added.

Now it’s your turn Bowman. It’s time for Rea to let bygones be bygones and approach Smith about joining the NWC. It’s better for the school. It’s better for the kids. It’s better for the fans.

As for my opinion that other schools outside Gary should be in the NWC to possibly make it a super conference, Smith agrees with that sentiment too. He said there has been a “reluctance” on the part of Hammond High and East Chicago Central to join the NWC due to a past relationship “with one coach in particular.”

(I still can’t comprehend why East Chicago is an independent. Isn’t being part of a conference so much more advantageous in high school than the alternative?)

But Smith is optimistic those issues are water under the bridge.

“The issues in my estimation should never have been the deciding factor in damaging relationships that have been positive for many years,” he said. “We are now hoping the problems have been resolved and that we can address the idea of joining to establish what we also feel would be a great conference.

“I assure you I have discussed this conference idea with other schools, but it has only been dialogue. Now it’s time to test the waters.”

Bravo Earl, bravo. For once, the ball isn’t in Gary’s court when it comes to improving its high school athletics. Smith has done what most everyone wants. He’s made the extra pass, and now it’s up to other schools to take the ball and run with it.

Metaphorically speaking, Bowman, East Chicago and any Hammond school with a brain needs to reach the end zone (if you prefer football analogies) or dunk the ball through the basket.