For the past ten seasons Hot Springs and Plains have shared not only a football team, but all of the passion, sense of community and pride that go with it. In 2011, however, each will have to find their own grid-iron identity as the two will be on different sidelines for the first time in a decade.

“I feel, if a school can have an independent program, it’s better for the community and it’s better for the school,” Hot Springs Athletic Director Chris Clairmont said. “It’ll be hard to get used to the change, but I think people are ready for it.”

“It’s bittersweet for us. I think that the co-op really created a lot of long lasting good memories and some competitive football,” Plains Athletic Director Orin Kendall said. “They’ve got enough now to have their own program and I don’t think anyone can fault them for wanting to go that way.”

When St. Regis and Alberton made the switch to six-man football, it brought the sport to the Western part of the state for the first time in decades. Combine that with Hot Springs’ promising enrollment numbers, and it seemed the opportune time for the Savage Heat to begin their own program.

Although Hot Springs has yet to be officially released from the co-op by Plains, or admitted into Class C standing by the MHSA, both steps appear to be formalities at this point.

“I think this decision for Hot Springs, in all honesty, was a win win. Whichever way they voted their kids were going to have an opportunity to play football and I think that’s what it’s all about,” Kendall said. “We certainly aren’t going to deny them the opportunity to play six-man football under the Savage Heat banner.”

After informal discussions with Hot Springs Superintendant Kenny Marjerrison, Clairmont asked the school board for permission to investigate the interest in the community and student body in beginning an independent football program at their meeting last month.

Clairmont and Marjerrison were surprised by how swiftly the board acted when they voted to break from the co-op last week in order to ensure they would meet the MHSA deadline to join Class C and begin their football program next fall.

“Neither of us really thought that the board would take action that night, but we wanted to present the information just so they had a look at it. They thought it was compelling enough to be able to make a move,” Clairmont said.

It took much less time to disband the co-op then it did to form it. According to Kendall, who was head football coach at the time, the co-op was shot down in its first attempt, before being accepted the following year by both schools.

“I’ve seen so many good things out of this,” Kendall said. “I’m predjudice because I got to know a lot of great kids form Hot Springs, a lot of great parents from that community as well.”

Despite their history together, each team is now faced with the challenge of developing a program with limited numbers, although projections for the future seem optimistic.

Additionally, each has their own logistical speed bumps to overcome as they enter the 2011 football season.

Three of the four current coaches are from Hot Springs and will presumably remain with the Savage Heat next season. The Horsemen are hoping former coach Seth Petit can return from his obligation to the Army Reserves and be back by next fall. If not, Plains will be left with a glaring leadership void. The Horsemen, however, won’t be holding any grudges against their former teammates.

“We understood that they would do what was in the best long-term interests of their school’s students, athletes and parents,” Kendall said. “We at Plains will continue to support their athletes and football team without reservation.”

The Savage Heat, on the other hand, will have to outfit an entire team with pads and uniforms for the first time in ten years, though Clairmont and the Savage Heat seem grateful for the challenges and are eager to tackle each one as it arises.

“I’d like to thank the Plains school and community for allowing Hot Springs to play football with them for as long as we have,” Clairmont said. “We also thank them for the ability to let us have our own program.”