[RicFlair]

To be honest, while good in theory, and the thought that they would be really good if you combined them now....In all honesty, after the first 4 or 5 years, youd probably go back to being average. When you consolidate, you mix in a lot of good athletes at one time that all played. After 4 or 5 years, you've got kids who may not have played had they still been separated.

It's a numbers game, that's why sports are classed. Historically bell county, and middlesboro especially have produced good and even some great athletes and combining the 3 schools would only make those chances of having those 5 or 10 good players more likely.... Not to say they would be phenomenal every year, just saying the chances of having championship caliber teams year in and year out is more likely