Darren Kinnard
Section618.com

The Southern Illinois River to River Conference will hold a special meeting Monday to discuss its future. That future as currently constructed is unclear, as a group of schools has expressed an interest in starting a new conference.

Multiple school officials from SIRR schools tell Section618.com that Benton, Du Quoin, Harrisburg, Murphysboro, Nashville, and West Frankfort have explored the possibility of leaving the SIRR to start a new conference, with Anna-Jonesboro and Pinckneyville also potential members. Carterville, Herrin, and Massac County have not been included in those discussions.

The SIRR currently has 11 schools after Sparta accepted an invitation to join the Cahokia Conference back in June. The remaining SIRR schools voted 6-5 in July to remain at 11 schools. Breese Mater Dei and Mt. Carmel were likely the only schools potentially available to invite to replace Sparta, with Mt. Carmel widely seen as the potential target if the SIRR decided to try to add a school. Adding the Golden Aces would’ve also likely led to a significant divisional realignment. In late August, Mt. Carmel accepted an invitation to join the Little Illini Conference starting in 2021-22.

Sparta’s departure after this school year will leave the Mississippi side with only five teams. IHSA rules require conferences to have six or more teams in order for the conference champion to receive an automatic berth in the state football playoffs.

The SIRR started in 1993 when Benton, Harrisburg, Herrin, and West Frankfort left the South Seven to join Anna-Jonesboro, Chester, Du Quoin, Murphysboro, Nashville, Pinckneyville, and Sparta from the Southwest Egyptian Conference. Massac County, who was an independent, also joined to make a 12 team conference. Those teams were divided up into two divisions–the Mississippi and the Ohio. Carterville and Chester effectively switched conferences in 2010 with the Lions leaving the Black Diamond Conference to join the SIRR, and Chester leaving the SIRR to join the BDC.