So what is the biggest question facing the 2021 Naperville Central Redhawks this fall? Make sure to check back here daily for new teams and the biggest questions each day leading up to IHSA Fall Football Kickoff.
Team: Naperville Central Redhawks
Biggest Question?
Naperville Central is coming off a 6-0 record this past spring and the Redhawks no question finished on the field strong. Yet off the field little did we know in the spring that the entire athletic program would be under a self investigation and eventually admit fault in regards to violating several various IHSA violations in regards to incoming transfers. The Redhawks program also saw longtime head coach Mike Stine retire while Naperville Central had to forfeit several games as a penalty.
The Biggest Question? Can the Redhawks ignore the mistakes of the past and continue it's winning ways this fall?
In many ways the Naperville Central ordeal will play a major role in some regards, and very little if any impact on the team and the upcoming 2021 fall football season in my opinion. Longtime head coach Mike Stine is out, in steps longtime assistant coach Mike Ulreich who takes over the Redhawks football program. Ulreich, who was basically groomed to take over the program by Mike Stine is a well liked and respected coach inside and outside of the program, so I expect a relatively smooth transition.
The biggest issue will be the combination of graduation losses this past spring (6 offense 7 defense) along with the status of a handful of key starters who indeed transferred into Naperville Central. The unofficial word is the families and kids involved in the entire transfer ordeal have been informed they will not be allowed to attend Naperville Central this fall without showing proper proof of residency within the district. Word is so far more than a few names have already transferred out of Naperville Central and have headed back to other schools for the fall.
Yet even with all of the losses and transfer issues, this is still a pretty solid team for the fall. Naperville Central will look towards senior QB Owen Prucha plus four starters back on the offensive line. The Redhawks defense also welcomes back some experience in the secondary with senior Nolan Skarr and senior Ryan Wojcik, while senior DL Alec Noto and senior DL Ty Randle are also experienced names back this season. The Redhawks schedule is also no joke this season. Naperville Central opens up at home against Hinsdale Central and Lincoln Way East in Weeks 1 and 2 then travels to Michigan to take on Novi Catholic Central. Again regardless of the scandal or no scandal, the Redhawks have a very tough schedule week in and week out.
Regardless, Naperville Central no question will need to deal with the stares and snickers this season and that quite honestly will be harder for the parents and the supporters to deal with this fall than anyone associated on the team. The football program still has talent, still has numbers and still has a community support that is incredibly strong. Look for the new coaching staff to also come out and establish itself this fall and to rally the troops to begin a new era.
Will wee see any additional penalty/impact still to come from say the IHSA besides the forfeits of games? Again I'm hearing nothing else is coming but for now we can't discount that issue for now.
Impact? In some ways I can see some fallback but overall...no one will have any tag days for Naperville Central anytime soon.
Your thoughts on the biggest question facing Naperville Central?
Feel free to ask away here. I will also tease this out on the FREE Board as well....
Team: Naperville Central Redhawks
Biggest Question?
Naperville Central is coming off a 6-0 record this past spring and the Redhawks no question finished on the field strong. Yet off the field little did we know in the spring that the entire athletic program would be under a self investigation and eventually admit fault in regards to violating several various IHSA violations in regards to incoming transfers. The Redhawks program also saw longtime head coach Mike Stine retire while Naperville Central had to forfeit several games as a penalty.
The Biggest Question? Can the Redhawks ignore the mistakes of the past and continue it's winning ways this fall?
In many ways the Naperville Central ordeal will play a major role in some regards, and very little if any impact on the team and the upcoming 2021 fall football season in my opinion. Longtime head coach Mike Stine is out, in steps longtime assistant coach Mike Ulreich who takes over the Redhawks football program. Ulreich, who was basically groomed to take over the program by Mike Stine is a well liked and respected coach inside and outside of the program, so I expect a relatively smooth transition.
The biggest issue will be the combination of graduation losses this past spring (6 offense 7 defense) along with the status of a handful of key starters who indeed transferred into Naperville Central. The unofficial word is the families and kids involved in the entire transfer ordeal have been informed they will not be allowed to attend Naperville Central this fall without showing proper proof of residency within the district. Word is so far more than a few names have already transferred out of Naperville Central and have headed back to other schools for the fall.
Yet even with all of the losses and transfer issues, this is still a pretty solid team for the fall. Naperville Central will look towards senior QB Owen Prucha plus four starters back on the offensive line. The Redhawks defense also welcomes back some experience in the secondary with senior Nolan Skarr and senior Ryan Wojcik, while senior DL Alec Noto and senior DL Ty Randle are also experienced names back this season. The Redhawks schedule is also no joke this season. Naperville Central opens up at home against Hinsdale Central and Lincoln Way East in Weeks 1 and 2 then travels to Michigan to take on Novi Catholic Central. Again regardless of the scandal or no scandal, the Redhawks have a very tough schedule week in and week out.
Regardless, Naperville Central no question will need to deal with the stares and snickers this season and that quite honestly will be harder for the parents and the supporters to deal with this fall than anyone associated on the team. The football program still has talent, still has numbers and still has a community support that is incredibly strong. Look for the new coaching staff to also come out and establish itself this fall and to rally the troops to begin a new era.
Will wee see any additional penalty/impact still to come from say the IHSA besides the forfeits of games? Again I'm hearing nothing else is coming but for now we can't discount that issue for now.
Impact? In some ways I can see some fallback but overall...no one will have any tag days for Naperville Central anytime soon.
Your thoughts on the biggest question facing Naperville Central?
Feel free to ask away here. I will also tease this out on the FREE Board as well....
