East Lyme - The Eastern Connecticut Conference, warts and all, provides the foundation for high school sports in this corner of the world. It's the village green. Home plate. All schools, save Williams and the technical schools, where athletics bear more secondary roles, are members, establishing a communal center.

Perhaps until now.

League officials ought to begin pondering a potential future without East Lyme, one of the league's pillars.

East Lyme athletic director Steve Hargis sent a recent email to his coaching staff, indicating an offer for the Vikings to join the Southern Connecticut Conference, a 23-school league encompassing the Interstate 91 corridor from Middletown south as well as greater New Haven.

Hargis' email, sent here from a faithful spy, reads, "Most, if not all of you, are aware that we have been invited to join the Southern Connecticut Conference (SCC).

"At a recent meeting with (principal) Mike Susi, Dr. Lombardo (Superintendent James Lombardo, Tim Hagen (Board of Education chair) and Kevin Seery (selectman), I was asked to explore the possibility of such a move and begin the process of gathering data so we can make an informed decision."

Hargis' email asks his staff to attend a meeting Jan. 15 at East Lyme, during which SCC officials will "review the SCC philosophy, programs and their various scheduling models. They will also be providing schedule mock-ups so you each can see the divisional structures, championship formats and what the travel would look like."

School and league sources believe East Lyme will accept the offer. The SCC would add a 24th school, thus allowing itself three divisions of eight, if so inclined.

East Lyme might get criticized for this. Just not here. Its officials see a league content in catering to its smallest members amid unseemly backbiting, scheduling opt-outs and a potential future that includes technical schools and other athletically challenged institutions.

The SCC is about to get one of the ECC's best overall athletic programs.

Which invites the question: Is the ECC willing to let this happen?

I'm talking about the ECC. The real ECC. Fitch. New London. Ledyard. Montville. Stonington. Waterford. NFA. You do realize that you're losing a like-sized school for most of you that offers many sports on varsity and subvarsity levels, right? A school that elevates competition? A school whose absence means scheduling on a number of different levels will be more difficult, right?

I'm not sure East Lyme's departure would create a domino effect for this reason: The SCC might not want anybody else. Twenty-four is a workable number for a conference. Hence, the remaining schools might be stuck here, having to substitute East Lyme for Parish Hill one day. I'm sure that's palatable for some of the frauds in this league. But how about the schools that thrive on good competition?

Once again, I ask: Tell me why a nine-team league of East Lyme, Fitch, New London, Ledyard, Montville, Stonington, Waterford, NFA and Bacon Academy wouldn't work? No, really. Tell me. And stop thinking football only. This is way beyond one sport. There would be no more opt-outs, easier travel, better competition and no more incessant whining from the hinterlands retarding any sense of progress.

It might even convince East Lyme to stay.

Once again: I don't blame East Lyme officials for exploring this. I understand that severing ties with traditional schools and rivals creates potential ennui for the kids. Who are we playing today? Where? Who are they again? Kids in East Lyme would rather play Fitch than Lyman Hall. The bigger picture, though, suggests the athletic program will be better for it. More structure, better competition.

At some point soon, the ECC better find some leadership. Someone willing to look beyond his or her own schools' self-interests and about what's best for everybody. And what's best for everybody is nine schools. Period.

This current all-for-none and none-for-all is about to make the league become less relevant than ever. Out goes East Lyme and in comes some technical schools? Tremendous. Pass the brown paper bag. Can't wait for Ledyard vs. Norwich Tech.

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro.

Twitter: @BCgenius