Small school fans.....here is the preseason ICE discussion. With the release of the master schedule it's a little easier to get a feel for how things may shake out. The bad news is as myself and my contacts at other schools are becoming further removed from the football programs, so my information is becoming less and less each year. Feel free to add anything you have!
Braidwood - I look for RC to take a significant dip this year. It's inevitable, right? They were an extremely talented team that lost a lot of that talent. I think the recent success was enough to get gather some interest in playing football and keep them in the program, however I don't think the talent is there. The Comets won't be the perennial push-over that they were a few years ago, however I don't see the success of the last two seasons in the cards. I look for them to be a playoff contender and maybe even pick up a first round win against a cupcake. If they didn't make the playoffs and missed out with a 4-5 record it wouldn't be the news story of the century either. For this year I say they will be in the upper portion of that middle group in the ICE. Their non-con slate improves a little bit as they will have a tough opponent in Johnsburg. Not a world beater by any means, however it won't be a gimme like RC has had in their recent OOC games. If they can beat Johnsburg week 2 I think that will be a good indicator for the season. If they lose to Johnsburg the season isn't over, it just means they have to tighten it up in all their remaining games. I see them anywhere between 7-2 and 4-5. I'll still let them ride last year's momentum and predict them at 6-3.
Coal City - Should be a two team race between CC and Wilmo. Love the fact that they are still playing Morris and it's a renewed rivalry. Also love the fact that they aren't scared of playing a tough OOC game. Canton should be an easy win. I don't anticipate CC struggling with the rest of the conference outside of Wilmo. The middle of their schedule is brutal though with Lisle, Peotone, RC, and Wilmo all in a row. It could be possible they overlook any of those teams preparing for Wilmo. I see them 8-1 to 6-3. I'll go with 7-2.
Herscher- A team I have no intel on. I imagine they will still be at the bottom of the ICE. They lost some close ones last year and they got blown out in a few. Charleston could be a shot at a win and I think that could be be a gauge on the rest of the season. If they can beat them, then maybe they can slide past some of the ICE teams that are down. I like that they are playing Bishop Mac, however it would be cooler if Herscher had a shot at being god this year. Either way it's a cool area game and I wish Mac would try to play them or Manteno more often. I see Herscher toward the bottom of the ICE and I am clueless on their record. Could be 0-9 or could be 3-6. I'll say 1-8 just because the ICE has never seen a team with 0 wins (even back to the days with Westmont in the I-8, I went back quite a bit and still didn't see a winless record).
Lisle- Another team with no real intel. The Benedictine factor is real and they catch CC, RC, and Seneca at home. Their toughest string is going to be Seneca, Wilmo and CC in the first 4 weeks. Their OOC schedule is relatively easy with a win from Harvard. Seneca had an awesome year last year before running into Byron, but their schedule isn't the toughest. Seneca will b a great gauge for Lisle. I like seeing the old I-8 matchup. too. Lisle is always in the middle pack for me and it seems like they are always a 5-4 caliber team. I will predict them to do the same this year. 5-4
Manteno- I remember the days when Manteno was a damn fine team. They had some really talented groups. It seems as though they are not quite there again. I like their OOC schedule being totally old school I-8 and picking up Sandwich and Plano. It could be possible for them to be 4-0 (Sandwich is a gimme) to start the season. I think it'll be more like 3-1 but still not a bad start for a program that needs some positive momentum. The bad news is their schedule is backloaded so even if they go 4-5 I don't see a gimme on the backhalf of their schedule. I think they could go 1-8 all the way to 4-5. My gut tells me that 3-6 is the right number.
Peotone- Another middle of the pack team. Their OOC is basically 2 glorified scrimmages (Rantoul and Sandwich) , but it will be good to get that extra time before they play RC, Wilmo, and CC the next 3 weeks. After that it is time to coast into the playoffs again. 6-3 to 4-5 is the range here but I like Peotone to be 5-4 with a guaranteed berth to the postseason.
Streator- The OOC schedule could be two wins (east peoria and Ottawa). It should be at least 1 for sure. I'm not sure what else happens for some of the lower level teams in the ICE, but Streator is right there with them. For a larger school they need to figure out how to get the athletes out and how to maximize their potential. I don't know much about them but I don't expect much either. 0-9 to 4-5 is the range here. I'll go 2-7.
Wilmington - I can hear the Harleys in the woods now. Expect the Cats to be back on top of the ICE. Their OOC is fairly easy (Seneca and Aurora Christian). Seneca could be a little tough, but like I said their schedule last year was pretty easy. I hear Wilmo is deep at every position. I like them to finish undefeated and think their fate in the playoffs is totally up to them. My only concern is that they aren't battle tested come playoff time, however their last two games are pretty easy and gives them time to rest up.I don't know what the correct school of thought is on this. I'm sure everybody has differing opinions. 9-0.
ICE standings with record
Wilmo 9-0
CC 7-2
RC 6-3
Peotone 6-3
Lisle 5-4
Manteno 3-6
Streator 2-7
Herscher 1-8
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