There is a saying that goes most people are willing to change, not because they see the light, but because they feel the heat. We think that may not always be the case as change is necessary because the number of people dictate it.

One such example is what plenty of high schools in the Upper Peninsula are going through this year as football teams are trying to realign themselves to deal with shrinking enrollments.

Because some schools are having such a problem manning an 11-man squad, some schools are switching over to eight-man football. This is creating quite a stir in the U.P. football conferences. This may not be a bad thing, but it is making people re-think how football conferences should be put together.

Currently, there are some schools that borrow players from other schools so a team can be made. With the Michigan High School Athletic Association allowing eight-man football now, that may be changing. There are problems though.

To have an eight-man football team, you have to find teams that have the same configuration and that could mean additional travel time on tight budgets. It also can mean seeing old rivalries come to an end.

Another concern is neighboring Wisconsin is looking at changing its format all together and that could mean the end of interstate games. It almost appears as though we are in no-man's land.

It appears the current conferences will have to deal with a lot of questions including allowing schools to participate in multiple conferences. This is not easy and it is only going to get tougher.

Living in the U.P. is a great thing, but there also comes challenges that other areas may not face. Dealing with a shrinking school population is one of them. With the state trying to clamp down on finances, it looks to only get tougher.

The other great thing about the U.P. is it is an area that can learn and adapt to almost any situation. Sports should be no different and we hope all will work out in the end. It is all coming down to a matter of change.