I have a lot of respect for a group of people who must endure the task that the Realignment Committee is taking on as we speak, but I think they have messed up Wake County.

I just don't get it. It isn't that hard to come up with a solution to avoid a 9-team conference in Wake County. Honestly, if I can do it, anyone can.

In a previous blogpost, I offered a few solutions. I want to reiterate those and give my commentary on each. Before I do that, though, here is my basic logic:

• Teams that are currently in a conference get priority over teams entering the conference.
• There should not be multiple 4-A conferences bordering the current Tri-Eight conference with six or seven schools in it while another has nine.

SOLUTION #1

The first solution I gave was to move Panther Creek and/or Green Hope to the PAC-Six Conference. The two schools are right on Highway 55, just minutes from Durham. Panther Creek would be closer to Durham than Green Hope by about a 1.5 miles, however.

I would have a hard time supporting this move. Sure, geographically it makes since, but it breaks up some very intense rivalries in the conference. It may be some of the most intense rivalries in the area. Also, Person County is quite a hike from the Cary/Morrisville area in rush hour. Of course, Lee County isn't too close either.

SOLUTION #2

Move Athens Drive back to the Cap-Seven Conference. The Jaguars came to the Tri-Eight in the last Realignment from the Cap-Seven Conference, and they are more of a Raleigh school than Western Wake anyway.

I understand the logic in leaving the Cap-Seven with only seven teams. Before the next realignment, there is going to be a new high school in the North Raleigh area of Wakefield. Heritage High School will likely join the current Cap-Seven Conference, making it the Cap-Eight. This is similar to Panther Creek joining the Tri-Eight Conference. Before Panther Creek was in existence, it was the Tri-Seven Conference. Also, Wake County Athletic Director Bobby Guthrie told me when the Board of Directors' Realignment Proposal was released in December, that Athens had requested to stay in the Tri-Eight. They were a prior member of the conference, so I believe they should get priority over outside schools when it comes to requests.

SOLUTION #3

Drop Lee County out of the Tri-Eight Conference and allow Holly Springs to move in. Lee County can go to the Cumberland County Conference where there are only seven teams, or they can go to the other Cape Fear conference with Richmond, Scotland, etc.

I would support this, but it goes against one of my two rules: Current members of a conference get priority when it comes to requests. I have been told in the past that Lee County does not want to move into a conference with the Cape Fear area schools, that they prefer to stay with the Wake County schools. I don't know if this is 100% accurate, but if they requested to stay with the Tri-Eight, if possible (which it is), they should be allowed to stay with that conference. If they did move to another conference, I would hope it would be the Cumberland County conference because the other conference includes teams very far away, such as Lumberton.

SOLUTION #4

Drop Harnett Central out of the current Greater Neuse River Conference and put them into the conference with the Cumberland County schools. That will leave the GNR with seven teams, and Holly Springs can go back into their current conference.

This is the solution I support. This is what would happen if I were in charge. Holly Springs is not a current member of the Tri-Eight, and therefore, they shouldn't get priority to break up the conference unless it is absolutely necessary. Plus, let's face it, Harnett Central is closer to the Fayetteville schools than East Wake. What else does this solution do? It keeps all of the current Wake County conferences the same. It minimizes change, which is important for the growth of athletic programs.

The bottom line is, there is no excuse or explanation for having a nine-team conference when there are six and seven-team conferences right next door. It just doesn't make sense.

Coming up this week on WRAL.com, we'll have reaction from local schools and athletic directors.