Yes, it's in a very preliminary talking stage right now. Such a football-only arrangement would embrace a total of 32 high schools from Daly City to Milpitas, three of them private/parochials. The aim, as described by several coaches in a published report today, would be the creation of four eight-team divisions, all based on their levels of competitive strength (or lack of same). The impetus is the growing imbalance between strong, average and weak programs. A few schools (Mills and South San Francisco are two prime examples) are barely above water when it comes to football as demographics, housing costs, safety concerns and other factors weigh on student/athlete interest in competitive prep football along the Peninsula and well into Silicon Valley. The proposed merger is a long way from becoming reality. But circumstances are forcing the issue into the open. Let's see where it goes.