Years of discussion led up to the Tarkio board of education’s vote Thursday on the future of the Indians’ football program.

Finally deciding on whether to move the historic tradition of the program from 11-man to 8-man, the school went to its most respected and venerable leader for advice. Longtime coach David Palmeiro gave his input, and the 5-2 vote didn’t necessarily coincide with all of his ideas.

But Palmeiro understands the reality that the numbers — participation and enrollment — played in the historic decision.

Starting for the 2010-2011 school year, Tarkio will field an 8-man football team — a landmark move for one of Northwest Missouri’s proudest football teams.

“My input was yes, we were 11-man, and yes, we had success at 11 and no, we haven’t had much success lately,” Palmeiro said. “Yes, the numbers are there (to stay 11-man), but only for one more year.

“It’ll be different; there is no doubt about that in my mind. I feel a little bad for the seniors next year because I feel like they could have had a successful season in 11-man. But kids will learn and adjust to 8-man.”

Palmeiro wanted the district to keep the 11-man program for at least one more year with the option of dropping to 8-man in 2011, although that move would preclude the Indians from state playoff contention that season.

In the midst of a seven-year lull, Tarkio’s dwindling enrollment and lack of success drove conversation in recent years about the possible switch.

The district plans to report an enrollment of 126 to the Missouri State High School Activities Association for the upcoming two-year cycle. That number would again place Tarkio among the smallest still fielding an 11-man team but makes the school one of the largest in 8-man.

The Indians last reached the postseason in 2002 via a district championship tiebreaker scenario. Since that time, Tarkio’s combined record in the past six-plus years stands at 7-60.

“Ultimately, we want what’s best for our kids to be successful,” Tarkio principal Jason Tolen said. “I think it’s the chance to be more successful on that level playing field and rekindle some of that fire for the sport.”

Tarkio owes much of its success, tradition and pride to Palmeiro, who led Tarkio’s football program for 28 years starting in the late 1960s and ended with his retirement in 1995.

But the native of Yonkers, N.Y., continues to call a small piece of Atchison County his home. During his tenure, Palmeiro accrued a 204-59-3 record, leading the Indians to 10 playoff appearances, one state championship and two runner-ups in four semifinal appearances.

While Palmeiro couldn’t have envisioned this scenario during his best years, he realizes the change has become almost inevitable despite some staunch opposition to the move.

Palmeiro remembers during his early years when Westboro still boasted a high school and separate team before merging with Tarkio. That move proved very inflammatory but eventually disappeared from public ire.

“I think as that happened and eased and took care of itself, so will this,” Palmeiro said.

Tarkio already played a partial 8-man schedule this fall in the junior high level due to low numbers; the sixth grade class includes only six boys.

That slate included a matchup with rival Rock Port, Tarkio’s historic neighborly rival. Next week, the teams meet for the 89th time in a series history dating back to 1921.

The move puts the rivalry — nicknamed the Atchison County Super Bowl — in jeopardy.

Tolen confirmed there have been preliminary discussions about how to continue playing Rock Port, whether in 8- or 11-man format.

“(This year’s) worked pretty well, and (Rock Port) did it willingly,” Tolen said. “They needed the games, and we needed the games.”

Tarkio’s football roster continues to hover around 25 kids, while Palmeiro routinely fielded teams with more than 40.

Second-year coach Andrew Webster felt the change would come eventually but didn’t lobby either way before last week’s vote. The Indians have shown signs of revitalization this year with two wins, the most since winning three in 2004.

“I just let it play out. I told them I’m a football coach,” Webster said. “If we have eight guys, we’ll coach eight. If we have 11, we’ll coach 11. I believe these kids can be successful. It just takes time.”

The move to 8-man might speed the process.

Tarkio hosted St. Joseph Christian earlier this season with the Lions moving up to play 11-man and fill out both teams’ schedule. Although not the best barometer for future success, Tarkio defeated one of 8-man’s best programs in the matchup.

The Indians also received confirmation of their inclusion in the Highway 275 Conference. Tarkio is a charter member of that league and already plays in it for all other sports except wrestling, which the 275 does not sponsor.

The switch to 8-man already reconnects the Indians to its conference roots. Now Palmeiro hopes the same can be done with the football program’s pride as it builds a new history with three less players on the field.

“I would very much like to see it because the town has always been a football town,” Palmeiro said. “It’s still a great football town to a degree. Maybe not back to what it was in the 1990s and early 2000s. It would mean a lot to this town if only to help the town.”

Assistant sports editor Ross Martin can be reached at rossmartin@npgco.com