EdgyTim said:

Didn't realize they had turf sorry my bad

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Lots of use at MV They could you a new carpet

Nero was doing some good things at Stagg, interested to hear why he left.

tjjrr said:

Thanks Ratsy. I am not in the "inner circle" so other than looking at a roster from last year I can only make guesses and assumptions. Of those 16 seniors you say we have I only have a very small number of those actually being starters, with the rest coming from the junior class and then a number of sophmores. I would assume that kids like Groesch, Jobe Kepler and Davis would be 3 sophmores that may find a spot in the starting lineup. I am curious as to who plays center this fall as well as QB. I think both of those spots will have some competition as there are several candidates. Bottom line is I think we'll be a much younger team overall this year as opposed to last season.

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All.... We all just guess until they come out on the field. (lol) The back up center last season was Daniel Hallam (6'2" 275 ) SHG will have quite a bit of speed in the backfield. Khorbin Gregory can really motor and I assume he will be one of the starting rb's. Trent Caldwell was the mop up qb in 2023. Another speedster. As quick maybe faster then Levi was. He didn't throw much coming in late in those blow out games but can really run and showed it. The few times Trent did throw looked fine.

Lower level success in 2023 was a mixed bag. Sophomore's went 5-4 and the freshman 6-2. But lots of talent I'm told at both of those levels.

I just want to see a relatively injury free season. Last year from week 1 all the way through the playoffs the Cycs had multiple injured key players every game. The worst year I have ever seen with team injuries. Be lucky enough and avoid that will go a long way in how 2024 shapes up.

Lastly with the two new division setup in the CS8 the team that wins their respective division automatically qualifies for postseason regardless of record. Ratsy

johnndoe said:

I would be curious to discover the extent that youth programs feeding into public high schools that run option football use such an attack. Particularly as it relates to having a option-ready QBs coming in as freshmen with some background,

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While I agree with you 100% and understand that it gives you an immense advantage, Isn't that the whole reason for hiring good coaches? You want to develop players not everyone has the luxury to be able to select who they bring to their school. I imagine 90% of a varsity roster are kids who worked their way through the lower levels and I'm not saying its the same thing as playing on Friday night but I watched South Elgin play 6 games with a qb who scored 25 touchdowns and then when he went down the backup came in and scored like 20 something of his own.

I would be curious to discover the extent that youth programs feeding into public high schools that run option football use such an attack. Particularly as it relates to having a option-ready QBs coming in as freshmen with some background,

EdgyTim said:

Upstate 8? How will West Aurora fare and where will they fit into the conference?

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Will they knock off SE for the title and become new king? Upstate 8er and been wondering what its going to be like now being that we get to play non con. Hopefully we get some better games to test kids earlier? I know SE opens with Barrington and Batavia so can only imagine what those scores will be with a first year staff. Gonna find out what works and where you're behind EARLY

Kevin JCHS 81 said:

Interesting perspective as to the future of Private schools with regards to trying to run an option offense. I fully agree with your thoughts. Kids today MAY be less likely to want to play for even a very successful team, if they feel they would be playing for what they consider to be a boring offense, even if it works well.

Thanks, good food for thought.

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Now my question is other than some of those schools moving to more of an RPO based offense isn't it really the same thing just dressed up more sexy? A lot of the most winningest schools ran and still run the option style offense. Since when did winning become soo unattractive to kids.... Cary Grove ESL is the the ultimate clash of those two types of thought and Cary seems to have figured it out with less high level recruits.

EdgyTim said:

Didn't realize they had turf sorry my bad

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Edgy that’s the original turf so it’s due for replacement(or to shut the program down), you were spot on on district 204.

SiuCubFan8 said:

How the CCL shakes out.
- IC, how do they respond after maybe one of their best teams.
- SF, lots of skill position talent. How does the OL/DL hold up? Which QB starts?
- Naz, i just assume they break my heart again! lol
- CoM, do they continue their climb.
- Marist, do they rebound?
- Rita, know very little about them for next year.

Just a few thoughts...

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SF skill positions should be a load to defend this year…this could be the most talent they’ve ever had as a unit. Looks like you’ve got FBS offers for 4 guys at receiver (Washington, Willis, Dario, and Mueller). 1000 yard rusher back in Ransom. Whoever wins the QB battle will absolutely have earned it, got 3 really good ones (2 of whom with varsity starting experience) sitting in that QB room. As usual, the skill positions will be the strong point of the team, but this year looks to even be an outlier on that front when it comes to the level of talent.

Question for me is: can they stop / at least contain the run consistently? Their biggest weakness last year was run defense. JCA, IC, and then Naz in the semis all gashed them for 200+ yards. If they can stop the run they’ll be in good shape. Got some help with Hall, should be a load on the DL. The DBs should be very good - FBS level kid in Valeri anchoring that crew. McGrath, Glock, Boose, Saldana are all returning starters from a solid unit last year. Carter adds another high-level DB - could be a D1 talent himself.

cornerrat said:

All.... If everyone on last years roster returns (not what Hudl or MaxPreps might show) but what the roster you get at the stadium SHG for the 2024 season will have 16 seniors and 24 juniors. Cyclones will dress a smaller number of lucky sophomores and a couple special freshman that show outstanding promise. Not that they will get in but stranger things have happened. Ratsy

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I look each year at the number of Seniors on Rochester's roster. 20 or more tends to be a good sign for the season. Last year, they had 22. In 2015, they only had 13 and it showed in the playoffs. 24 Juniors for the Cyclones is a really good number and bodes well for '25, which will also see Chatham's best senior class since Luke Lehnen and company.

Topiary said:

I would say CoM should have a solid season. MC and LA will dominate each with a great QB. Who will be Rice QB? Marist got in a nice transfer QB from LWE in Ritter. Rita lost a bunch of starters to transfer portal but they will be solid with their returning QB and RB (Herman). Rice if they stay healthy should have a solid D - but who will be the QB?

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Who did Rita lose ?

Thanks Ratsy. I am not in the "inner circle" so other than looking at a roster from last year I can only make guesses and assumptions. Of those 16 seniors you say we have I only have a very small number of those actually being starters, with the rest coming from the junior class and then a number of sophmores. I would assume that kids like Groesch, Jobe Kepler and Davis would be 3 sophmores that may find a spot in the starting lineup. I am curious as to who plays center this fall as well as QB. I think both of those spots will have some competition as there are several candidates. Bottom line is I think we'll be a much younger team overall this year as opposed to last season.

tjjrr said:

And here's yet a few more questions regarding the CS-8. As for SHG, the question is how many sophmores can you put in a starting role on a varsity roster? They have a very small number of seniors even on the roster, and only a handful of juniors, so it looks like they will be a very young team. I think Rochester may be in a similar situation. So once again, will SHG take it on the chin in week one, (at St. Louis CBC) and then spend the rest of the season trying to recover just like last year? And my other question, will Lincoln EVER play SHG in football on any level? They seem to have no problem playing them in all other sports, or maybe that was an agreement they made before they re-joined the conference. Just curious. As for Chatham, I do think they will be very good. How good? only time will tell, but for the next 2 years they should be a load.

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All.... If everyone on last years roster returns (not what Hudl or MaxPreps might show) but what the roster you get at the stadium SHG for the 2024 season will have 16 seniors and 24 juniors. Cyclones will dress a smaller number of lucky sophomores and a couple special freshman that show outstanding promise. Not that they will get in but stranger things have happened. Ratsy

rocketnation said:

Under the new two division CS8 structure, you will mostly have only 2 "crossover" games with the other division. West division SHG will likely want to play Chatham and Rochester each year from the East division (and they will want to play SHG and each other), so you could see no SHG games against Lincoln, U High, or the Decatur schools in the regular season until the conference structure changes again. Depending on SHG's class, they could possibly face these schools in the playoffs.

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All.... SHG is in the second year of the success factor. Even if the Cyclones multiplied enrollment of 884.40 were to land in the upper end of class 4A it would not apply. They will be class 5A per that rule. Normal U is firmly 4A and Lincoln likely on the high end of 4A like last year. Mac is 5A so that's a possible meeting between the two in postseason play. Ratsy

Yes, I had forgotten to take into account the split in the conference. They can split it any way they want, certain factors will probably remain the same. Lanphier, Southeast, Eisenhower, and (most likely) Lincoln will remain bottom dwellers, until one of them shows otherwise. Springfield, Jacksonville and perhaps QND will be middle of the pack, and SHG, Chatham, Rochester and Mcarthur will be towards the top end of the spectrum. It is my understanding that every 2 years they will look at things and possibly "tweak" or make changes if it is deemed necessary. Whoever "they" are that will decide such things.

Justin

PowerI66 said:

Has the MV turf gone bad?

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Didn't realize they had turf sorry my bad

Big win for the Mustangs against a very good PC team yesterday. Rita is 20 - 8 and tied for first place in the CCL Blue, I believe. Didn't think they'd be this good this year.

With the way they're playing, it should come down to them and Larry for Sectional final.

Winner would avoid JCA in the Super-sectionals until Final Four or State Championship game.

tjjrr said:

And here's yet a few more questions regarding the CS-8. As for SHG, the question is how many sophmores can you put in a starting role on a varsity roster? They have a very small number of seniors even on the roster, and only a handful of juniors, so it looks like they will be a very young team. I think Rochester may be in a similar situation. So once again, will SHG take it on the chin in week one, (at St. Louis CBC) and then spend the rest of the season trying to recover just like last year? And my other question, will Lincoln EVER play SHG in football on any level? They seem to have no problem playing them in all other sports, or maybe that was an agreement they made before they re-joined the conference. Just curious. As for Chatham, I do think they will be very good. How good? only time will tell, but for the next 2 years they should be a load.

Click to expand...

Under the new two division CS8 structure, you will mostly have only 2 "crossover" games with the other division. West division SHG will likely want to play Chatham and Rochester each year from the East division (and they will want to play SHG and each other), so you could see no SHG games against Lincoln, U High, or the Decatur schools in the regular season until the conference structure changes again. Depending on SHG's class, they could possibly face these schools in the playoffs.

And here's yet a few more questions regarding the CS-8. As for SHG, the question is how many sophmores can you put in a starting role on a varsity roster? They have a very small number of seniors even on the roster, and only a handful of juniors, so it looks like they will be a very young team. I think Rochester may be in a similar situation. So once again, will SHG take it on the chin in week one, (at St. Louis CBC) and then spend the rest of the season trying to recover just like last year? And my other question, will Lincoln EVER play SHG in football on any level? They seem to have no problem playing them in all other sports, or maybe that was an agreement they made before they re-joined the conference. Just curious. As for Chatham, I do think they will be very good. How good? only time will tell, but for the next 2 years they should be a load.

A champion's heart for sure. He was a joy to watch play. My deepest condolences to his family.

The 1970s was an era of very good coaching across the state.
Here are some who were among the best:

• Jack Leese East Leyden
• Pat Cronin St. Rita
• Bill Graham Barrington
• Tom Kavanagh St. Laurence
• Bob Reade Geneseo
• Gordie Gillespie Joliet Catholic
• Bill Duchon, Glenbard West
• Paul Adams, Deerfield
• Murney Lazier, Evanston
• Ben Murray, Rockford Boylan

We can all be grateful that several among them and a few others not listed there came together and convinced the IHSA to start a playoff system and name State Champions,

EdgyTim said:

Just also add in WV and MV as well....

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Has the MV turf gone bad?

Kaneland has a beautiful facility

I figured that tulip fest would be keeping that field state of the art