Here we go....it's the Week 4 edition of EDGYcation.
Friday in St. Charles
I seldom will repeat seeing the same two teams play each other in back to back years....but outside of say the Bolingbrook H-F game (which WCIU TV showed live so I avoid going to games I can DVR for obvious reasons) I really enjoyed St. Charles and St. Charles for the second straight season...this time at East. Both school just come out and support and the overall crowd, overflowing student sections (a dying breed no question) and passion is pretty awesome to say the least.
Both the North Stars and the Saints are pretty solid teams. East was ranked too high (you happy Bones?) and North is also a pretty solid playoff capable team again in 2017 and proved it here. More to follow on both teams in the scouting reports in a few days.
Mascot Madness?
Per one local writer regarding the really creepy St. Charles East mascot? "If you wanted to make a slasher movie staring the Burger King mascot but can't use the exact BK mascot....that's the St. Charles East mascot right there."
Saturday in Hinsdale
Homecoming in Hinsdale (seems like I'm at HC every homecoming) and even thought the game didn't draw well I wish everyone would play a noon kickoff on Saturdays. The Red Devils are again pretty slid and showed pretty well for the most part in this 33-3 win. DGN? Better than the score indicates and the Trojans could very well battle for a state playoff spot. More to follow.
This week's Rankings thoughts.
Week 5 polls seemed pretty cut and dry. Most of the favorites won didn't see much room to add much or move around too much. I dropped St. Charles East out (still a playoff caliber teams) along with Plainfield North (I hate the SW Prairie) and Bolingbrook )still a playoff teamI feel). I almost left Bolingbrook in but after watching the game on Saturday night...naw. Out for now. I added in OPRF (Only loss to Hins C) and Morris (4-0 team very solid) this week.
Class 8A thru 5A?
Class 8A? No changes too easy.
Class 7A? Rita out Rita in....Rita out Rita in? And AP is way off on Hoffman. And they hate Rockford.
Class 6A? Lemont still bothers me a bit so what the heck I'll put them in. Not sold on Danville this week against NCHS will tell us more.
Class 5A? I hate having MCC still in this poll...yet they are. Should tell you everything you need to know about my feelings on 5A in 2017.
So who is the next team in? Today I would say either Bolingbrook or maybe West Aurora? Brook looked like a world beater for a half and then ran into a buzzsaw in H-F. And one of these days West Aurora just needs to be in....yet the schedule just holds me back for now. It would make my life a lot easier to include the Blackhawks and be done with them...but again the schedule just doesn't do it for me just yet. I also will need to look harder starting this week at Providence/St. Rita along with a few others.
So how is IHSA football overall so far in 2017???
My opinion so far on the state of high school football here? I feel that the best overall team in the state right now is in the St. Louis burbs (East St. Louis) but to be fair I still need to see a few more play live or on DVR (LWE/Marist/Naper C to name a few). The overall competition level I feel is down and even considerably down from say 5-7 years ago. Overall drop in overall numbers have no question had an impact on all levels. When was the last time we saw 8A sized schools and several power programs need to play more kids two ways? The two-way starter is becoming a "thing" again and trust me it's not by choice.
A letter grade? Let's say a C to a C-
Now the fun part of all of this? We might end up having a GREAT playoffs in all classes. Limited numbers and limited depth on many rosters mean injuries and various other issues will play an even bigger role come post-season time. Sure that sounds sad but hey I'm trying.
Note to WCIU U Too broadcast
When you have drone footage (which was awesome FYI) and you keep telling us that H-F had an overflow crowd yet I see a half filled visitors stands and a big opening on the home side near the upper part of the North end zone stands....well....hard to not notice those things. And don't get everyone started on the H-F sold out games again....
Also a note to CN 100
I got a bit EDGY on Friday night with two CN100 people after the St. Charles North win...please CN100 people...I fully understand that you are trying to get your work in and go home like everyone else...but when your deadline is like Tuesday and your asking a kid like 17 questions with everyone else waiting/working on a real deadline (game ended at 10:15PM High School Lites starts at 11PM so I was on a big time rush) along with the newspaper guys...just maybe be cool? Please? Trust me I more than allow CN100 when they are live to do whatever they need to do first.
College football
NIU
How can anyone living in this state and being a college football fan not be happy for NIU beating Nebraska in Nebraska? Unless you are a Nebraska fan and all....The Huskies just seem to find a way of getting up for and beating some of the bigger boys. While NIU has been a bit down the past year or two...and while this is still pretty early in the season and while I still have questions and issues about NIU this year....again things seem to be pointing in the right direction.
Throw in what I feel might be one of the better in state classes for 2018 verbally committed (for now anyways) and NIU is looking up again.
Illinois shouldn't play on Friday Nights
Illinois? Didn't want to get all political on this but more than a few HS coaches are still more than a bit pissed that Illinois chose to play last Friday night and lost to South Florida. So here is my thoughts on this subject...
College football is a big time business. Teams want to play on TV whenever they can. I get it. Yet Friday night is high school football's night. I say try to avoid playing on Friday nights if at all possible.
I just guess I don't get Illinois and new HC Lovie Smith. I know he was the Bears coach and all of that....but I would think that ay least pretending to care about HS football and your in state base would be somewhat important...especially since you are still trying to at least attempt to try to win over the HS coaches here? In the end all that really matters is if Illinois wins. If they win Lovie is a genius and everyone will go along with him.
Northwestern? Loved the fact that Fitz came out strong against playing on Friday nights....again not a huge reach but it was the right play in my opinion...
Give FCS football here in Illinois a chance
The in-state FCS teams (ISU/WIU/SIU/EIU) offer some pretty good football and 2017 could be a banner year. ISU and WIU are nationally ranked....SIU is off to a 2-0 start and all three play in arguably the nation's top FCS conference in the Missouri Valley. EIU plays in the very solid Ohio Valley, are off to a 1-2 start (losses to NIU and ISU) but trust em EIU will wins some games in 2017.
This week?
Wednesday- Make sure to check out CSN Chicago Facebook Page for it's Facebook Live live around 12PM (usually...sometimes). I get to play with the big boy toys in the CSN studios.
Thursday- Pigskin Preview Live Remote in New Lenox from 6-8PM click the link for details big party come us us live.
Friday- I'm covering LWE ay LWC
Saturday- West Auroras at South Elgin. I think. For now.
Friday in St. Charles
I seldom will repeat seeing the same two teams play each other in back to back years....but outside of say the Bolingbrook H-F game (which WCIU TV showed live so I avoid going to games I can DVR for obvious reasons) I really enjoyed St. Charles and St. Charles for the second straight season...this time at East. Both school just come out and support and the overall crowd, overflowing student sections (a dying breed no question) and passion is pretty awesome to say the least.
Both the North Stars and the Saints are pretty solid teams. East was ranked too high (you happy Bones?) and North is also a pretty solid playoff capable team again in 2017 and proved it here. More to follow on both teams in the scouting reports in a few days.
Mascot Madness?
Per one local writer regarding the really creepy St. Charles East mascot? "If you wanted to make a slasher movie staring the Burger King mascot but can't use the exact BK mascot....that's the St. Charles East mascot right there."
Saturday in Hinsdale
Homecoming in Hinsdale (seems like I'm at HC every homecoming) and even thought the game didn't draw well I wish everyone would play a noon kickoff on Saturdays. The Red Devils are again pretty slid and showed pretty well for the most part in this 33-3 win. DGN? Better than the score indicates and the Trojans could very well battle for a state playoff spot. More to follow.
This week's Rankings thoughts.
Week 5 polls seemed pretty cut and dry. Most of the favorites won didn't see much room to add much or move around too much. I dropped St. Charles East out (still a playoff caliber teams) along with Plainfield North (I hate the SW Prairie) and Bolingbrook )still a playoff teamI feel). I almost left Bolingbrook in but after watching the game on Saturday night...naw. Out for now. I added in OPRF (Only loss to Hins C) and Morris (4-0 team very solid) this week.
Class 8A thru 5A?
Class 8A? No changes too easy.
Class 7A? Rita out Rita in....Rita out Rita in? And AP is way off on Hoffman. And they hate Rockford.
Class 6A? Lemont still bothers me a bit so what the heck I'll put them in. Not sold on Danville this week against NCHS will tell us more.
Class 5A? I hate having MCC still in this poll...yet they are. Should tell you everything you need to know about my feelings on 5A in 2017.
So who is the next team in? Today I would say either Bolingbrook or maybe West Aurora? Brook looked like a world beater for a half and then ran into a buzzsaw in H-F. And one of these days West Aurora just needs to be in....yet the schedule just holds me back for now. It would make my life a lot easier to include the Blackhawks and be done with them...but again the schedule just doesn't do it for me just yet. I also will need to look harder starting this week at Providence/St. Rita along with a few others.
So how is IHSA football overall so far in 2017???
My opinion so far on the state of high school football here? I feel that the best overall team in the state right now is in the St. Louis burbs (East St. Louis) but to be fair I still need to see a few more play live or on DVR (LWE/Marist/Naper C to name a few). The overall competition level I feel is down and even considerably down from say 5-7 years ago. Overall drop in overall numbers have no question had an impact on all levels. When was the last time we saw 8A sized schools and several power programs need to play more kids two ways? The two-way starter is becoming a "thing" again and trust me it's not by choice.
A letter grade? Let's say a C to a C-
Now the fun part of all of this? We might end up having a GREAT playoffs in all classes. Limited numbers and limited depth on many rosters mean injuries and various other issues will play an even bigger role come post-season time. Sure that sounds sad but hey I'm trying.
Note to WCIU U Too broadcast
When you have drone footage (which was awesome FYI) and you keep telling us that H-F had an overflow crowd yet I see a half filled visitors stands and a big opening on the home side near the upper part of the North end zone stands....well....hard to not notice those things. And don't get everyone started on the H-F sold out games again....
Also a note to CN 100
I got a bit EDGY on Friday night with two CN100 people after the St. Charles North win...please CN100 people...I fully understand that you are trying to get your work in and go home like everyone else...but when your deadline is like Tuesday and your asking a kid like 17 questions with everyone else waiting/working on a real deadline (game ended at 10:15PM High School Lites starts at 11PM so I was on a big time rush) along with the newspaper guys...just maybe be cool? Please? Trust me I more than allow CN100 when they are live to do whatever they need to do first.
College football
NIU
How can anyone living in this state and being a college football fan not be happy for NIU beating Nebraska in Nebraska? Unless you are a Nebraska fan and all....The Huskies just seem to find a way of getting up for and beating some of the bigger boys. While NIU has been a bit down the past year or two...and while this is still pretty early in the season and while I still have questions and issues about NIU this year....again things seem to be pointing in the right direction.
Throw in what I feel might be one of the better in state classes for 2018 verbally committed (for now anyways) and NIU is looking up again.
Illinois shouldn't play on Friday Nights
Illinois? Didn't want to get all political on this but more than a few HS coaches are still more than a bit pissed that Illinois chose to play last Friday night and lost to South Florida. So here is my thoughts on this subject...
College football is a big time business. Teams want to play on TV whenever they can. I get it. Yet Friday night is high school football's night. I say try to avoid playing on Friday nights if at all possible.
I just guess I don't get Illinois and new HC Lovie Smith. I know he was the Bears coach and all of that....but I would think that ay least pretending to care about HS football and your in state base would be somewhat important...especially since you are still trying to at least attempt to try to win over the HS coaches here? In the end all that really matters is if Illinois wins. If they win Lovie is a genius and everyone will go along with him.
Northwestern? Loved the fact that Fitz came out strong against playing on Friday nights....again not a huge reach but it was the right play in my opinion...
Give FCS football here in Illinois a chance
The in-state FCS teams (ISU/WIU/SIU/EIU) offer some pretty good football and 2017 could be a banner year. ISU and WIU are nationally ranked....SIU is off to a 2-0 start and all three play in arguably the nation's top FCS conference in the Missouri Valley. EIU plays in the very solid Ohio Valley, are off to a 1-2 start (losses to NIU and ISU) but trust em EIU will wins some games in 2017.
This week?
Wednesday- Make sure to check out CSN Chicago Facebook Page for it's Facebook Live live around 12PM (usually...sometimes). I get to play with the big boy toys in the CSN studios.
Thursday- Pigskin Preview Live Remote in New Lenox from 6-8PM click the link for details big party come us us live.
Friday- I'm covering LWE ay LWC
Saturday- West Auroras at South Elgin. I think. For now.
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