I agree Dr.
I don’t want to see it split either, but as long as Privates are allowed to recruit and Publics can’t the two sides will never agree. It’s heading that way and unless the IHSA comes up with a magical formula that both sides agree. I see the split happening in a few years. Anyone who thinks recruiting isn’t a huge advantage is just lying.
You really believe that “recruiting” 8th graders to attend a private school equates to some large advantage three to four years later when they are on Varsity? I think this argument would get more traction if there was rampant recruiting of Jrs and Srs, but everyone is claiming poor me because of 8th graders?
If private schools were crushing public’s at the freshman level then maybe. But go look at the TCYFL youth football league and see the advantage that all of these public schools have with feeder teams running their offense and wearing replica uniforms starting in 4th grade.
IHSA gave you the DEI state finals this year. The quarters and semis were more competitive in 1a through 4a so the arguments about the Championship games are hollow. The public administrators that posted they were the public school state champions shouldn’t have said when their counterparts in the quarters or semis played much closer games against the private schools and nearly won.
