By Jeremy McDonald

Why do we focus on the bigger schools in sports coverage?

I have thought of this as a sports journalist the past two, going on three years now as a writer and as a regular Newspaper reader and TV viewer.

You see the bigger schools, the Folsom’s or Sheldon’s (Division-I) in California or the South Medford’s or Sprague’s (6A) in Oregon, but you don’t really see the smaller schools, i.e. the Blanchet Catholic (3A), Butte Falls (2A) or Colfax (Division-V) represented as well as their higher enrollment counterparts.

Makes me wonder and ask this question:  Why?

I think it’s because traditionally, the “better” athlete’s go to the “bigger” schools because of prior exposure by the media and scouts.

You even see this in college with kid’s transferring from NCAA Division-IAA, D-II, D-III or NAIA to the NCAA Division-IA level because of all of the media and the Professional Scouts who are focusing on the big games.

This is understanding why we focus on these schools since a solid chance that a good chunk of these kids will go on to the next level.

But there’s the same talent down in the Division-III-VII and 4A-1A levels, it’s just not the same premium (if it’s even noticeable) than those student bodies reaching beyond the 1,000/1,100 mark.

I know they’re slightly more entertaining as well, the smaller schools.

While covering Foresthill’s homecoming in 2014, a student body of about 130-150, they had a homecoming pig featured during their festivities.

Yes a pig; full grown, several hundred pound pig, that almost ran me over to get to the field as the second half of the game started (laughter).

But it was a good time.  It was as entertaining as any Rocklin (Division-II School in California) football game I’ve covered.

The only difference?  The student size and the demand for seeing the bigger schools in the public eye.

At the end of the day, I’m not saying it’s a bad thing.  I firmly believe that all schools should be covered no matter the school size or the history of the program.