IHSA Top 50 Programs

[JAYC14]

I love that the IHSA is releasing their top 50 programs to celebrate 50 years of the playoffs and state championships!

https://www.ihsa.org/Top50Football#3648255-programs-50---40

Any predictions on who the top programs will be?
I’m going with East St. Louis #3. Mount Carmel #2 and Joliet Catholic #1.
Catholic because of their 44 playoff appearances to Carmel’s 38.
Both programs have 20 trophies. (15 - 1st and 5 - 2nd).
Catholic also with an advantage by having a state title in all 6 decades.
Should be fun watching this countdown through the season.

 

[doctor_d]

This is great

 

[doctor_d]

Top 10

JCA
MC
ESL
Providence
Loyola
SHG
Morris
Maine South
WWS
Geneseo

 

[EdgyTim]

I love that the IHSA is releasing their top 50 programs to celebrate 50 years of the playoffs and state championships!

https://www.ihsa.org/Top50Football#3648255-programs-50---40

Any predictions on who the top programs will be?
I’m going with East St. Louis #3. Mount Carmel #2 and Joliet Catholic #1.
Catholic because of their 44 playoff appearances to Carmel’s 38.
Both programs have 20 trophies. (15 - 1st and 5 - 2nd).
Catholic also with an advantage by having a state title in all 6 decades.
Should be fun watching this countdown through the season.

I was very honored to be able to contribute to that list

 

[crusader_of_90]

ALTHOFF SHOULD BE HIGHER!!!

 

[Dave Brody]

Interesting to see where Rochester and Driscoll Catholic end up.

 

[4Afan]

ALTHOFF SHOULD BE HIGHER!!!

Hard to say that when you don't know who's higher yet.

 

[4Afan]

Interesting to see where Rochester and Driscoll Catholic end up.

it depends on the criteria. Both had amazing 10-15 year runs (Rochester still ongoing) but not sure if they're basing it purely on titles or consistency throughout the history of the IHSA playoffs which would hurt both schools. Same with schools like LWE who maybe haven't been around long enough.

Gonna be fun to see who is ranked where in the coming months.

Will there be different criteria for Catholic schools 😉

 

[crusader_of_90]

Hard to say that when you don't know who's higher yet.

Quite possibly. But I state my protest now at 41.

 

[4Afan]

Quite possibly. But I state my protest now at 41.

Appreciate your protest. Where should they be ranked?

 

[MC63]

.
Both programs have 20 trophies. (15 - 1st and 5 - 2nd).

Is this nonsense starting over again?

Boy, this is going to make me popular all over again.

Those of you who've been around for a few years know my position on any school in Illinois comparing their program history and titles to Mt. Carmel's.

Thais is really getting old.

 

[Kevin JCHS 81]

Is this nonsense starting over again?

Boy, this is going to make me popular all over again.

Those of you who've been around for a few years know my position on any school in Illinois comparing their program history and titles to Mt. Carmel's.

Thais is really getting old.

Like a team that plays mostly 8A power teams and then collects 7A trophies?

7A is probably the weakest class of 4A through 8A.

 

[Dave Brody]

it depends on the criteria. Both had amazing 10-15 year runs (Rochester still ongoing) but not sure if they're basing it purely on titles or consistency throughout the history of the IHSA playoffs which would hurt both schools. Same with schools like LWE who maybe haven't been around long enough.

Gonna be fun to see who is ranked where in the coming months.

Will there be different criteria for Catholic schools 😉

You also just described LA without mentioning them, which I agree with.

 

[pjjp]

Why do you take these dumb shots?

Childish cheap shots against respected rivals make all of us look immature.

You made these two posts in another thread. How about taking your own advice in this thread?

 

[JCHillmen]

It is an annoyance for anyone to dare compare their program's football to success to the esteemed MC!!

Looks like MC and JC are planning a nice pregame festivity to raise funds to help students in need at both Carmelite schools. I know most alums of these fine Carmelite schools are of similar mind in celebrating the other and not being so petty as to be counting trophies and trying to raise oneself up on a pedestal. It would be great if all alums and supporters of both schools showed the same grace, but there will always be some who don't fully understand or embrace the teachings of the programs that led to that wild level of success for both. Luckily it seems to be a loud minority of one who the others seem to roll their eyes at and move on.

When the position is that you "know my position on any school in Illinois comparing their program history and titles to Mt. Carmel" well then that just about sums it up. I can't fathom a stance where there is just absolutely no room for discussion or comparison. Especially when there is another program with more wins and another with an equal amount of titles.

 

[Dave Brody]

It is an annoyance for anyone to dare compare their program's football to success to the esteemed MC!!

Looks like MC and JC are planning a nice pregame festivity to raise funds to help students in need at both Carmelite schools. I know most alums of these fine Carmelite schools are of similar mind in celebrating the other and not being so petty as to be counting trophies and trying to raise oneself up on a pedestal. It would be great if all alums and supporters of both schools showed the same grace, but there will always be some who don't fully understand or embrace the teachings of the programs that led to that wild level of success for both. Luckily it seems to be a loud minority of one who the others seem to roll their eyes at and move on.

When the position is that you "know my position on any school in Illinois comparing their program history and titles to Mt. Carmel" well then that just about sums it up. I can't fathom a stance where there is just absolutely no room for discussion or comparison. Especially when there is another program with more wins and another with an equal amount of titles.

Well said

 

[crusader_of_90]

Appreciate your protest. Where should they be ranked?

Top 25. From 1-5A, with rules written specifically for them, Althoff finds a way to get back to the top.

As the ihsa recap notes, our 89 and 90 schedules were mostly 6A and we were filled with D1 athletes. Football enrollment was referred to as the Althoff rule when it was first being developed and implemented. Schools like Harrisburg flipped their 💩 when we beat them twice in the quarters and semis in football, then beat them again in the finals for baseball. DiQuoin was another, Princeton pitched a fit too. Monitcello twice too.

We have done it by ground and pound and through the air. We have arguably three of the best ever running backs in IHsa history. Hickey Dale Thompson, Jason Ford, and Dierre Hill.

 

[crusader_of_90]

Thais is really getting old.

Is this your waking thought every day?

When I saw this video, I thought about you.

 

[MC63]

Like a team that plays mostly 8A power teams and then collects 7A trophies?


Other than LA, which 8A powers are you talking about? I honestly can't think of any others we play.

 

[MC63]

You made these two posts in another thread. How about taking your own advice in this thread?

I took no cheap shots at anyone, Period.

 

[MC63]

es?

7A is probably the weakest class of 4A through 8A.

C'mon Kevin

 

[MC63]

there is another program with more wins and another with an equal amount of titles.

Both are certainly open to analysis -- which I have over the years

The majority of our wins were in the CCL - certainly the toughest league in the state's history.

are titles, we compete in the playoffs against teams within our ststure, No CCL or ESCC team z9except for the very tiny schools) should compete below 6A.

BTW, your guy was did the trophy counting.

 

[SiuCubFan8]

C'mon Kevin

It's an interesting discussion. I do not agree or disagree but to blatantly brush it off seems silly.

 

[RameyJacoby]

Like a team that plays mostly 8A power teams and then collects 7A trophies?

7A is probably the weakest class of 4A through 8A.

I knew this was coming, 7A never impress me, and I actually go to the title game.

 

[wickerpark wildcat]

I love that the IHSA is releasing their top 50 programs to celebrate 50 years of the playoffs and state championships!

https://www.ihsa.org/Top50Football#3648255-programs-50---40

Any predictions on who the top programs will be?
I’m going with East St. Louis #3. Mount Carmel #2 and Joliet Catholic #1.
Catholic because of their 44 playoff appearances to Carmel’s 38.
Both programs have 20 trophies. (15 - 1st and 5 - 2nd).
Catholic also with an advantage by having a state title in all 6 decades.
Should be fun watching this countdown through the season.

Obviously no agreed way to weight Champ vs Runner Up, so I just made up 3 pts for Champs, 1 for Runner Up and came up with these rankings (54 teams because of ties at 49):

Rank	Team	Champ	Runner Up	Pts
1​	Joliet (Catholic Academy)	15​	5​	50​
1​	Chicago (Mt. Carmel)	15​	5​	50​
3​	East St. Louis (Sr.)	10​	5​	35​
4​	New Lenox (Providence Catholic)	10​	4​	34​
5​	Rochester	9​	0​	27​
6​	Addison (Driscoll)	8​	0​	24​
7​	Wheaton (W. Warrenville South)	7​	2​	23​
8​	Park Ridge (Maine South)	6​	4​	22​
8​	Springfield (Sacred Heart-Griffin)	6​	4​	22​
10​	Lombard (Montini)	6​	3​	21​
11​	Sterling (Newman Central Catholic)	6​	2​	20​
11​	Wilmette (Loyola Academy)	5​	5​	20​
13​	Kankakee (McNamara)	5​	4​	19​
13​	Lena (L.-Winslow)	6​	1​	19​
15​	Morris	3​	8​	17​
15​	LaGrange Park (Nazareth Academy)	5​	2​	17​
18​	Metamora	3​	7​	16​
18​	Geneseo (Darnall)	4​	4​	16​
18​	Stillman Valley	5​	1​	16​
21​	Arcola	4​	3​	15​
21​	Bloomington (Central Catholic)	4​	3​	15​
21​	Carthage	4​	3​	15​
21​	Cary (C.-Grove)	4​	3​	15​
25​	Decatur (St. Teresa)	4​	2​	14​
25​	Woodstock (Marian)	4​	2​	14​
25​	Maroa (M.-Forsyth)	2​	8​	14​
28​	Wheaton (North)	4​	0​	12​
28​	Aledo	3​	3​	12​
28​	Frankfort (Lincoln-Way East)	3​	3​	12​
28​	Elmhurst (IC Catholic)	4​	0​	12​
33​	Belleville (Althoff Catholic)	3​	2​	11​
33​	Glen Ellyn (Glenbard West)	3​	2​	11​
33​	DuQuoin (H.S.)	2​	5​	11​
33​	Byron	3​	2​	11​
33​	Crystal Lake (Prairie Ridge)	3​	2​	11​
38​	Hampshire	3​	1​	10​
38​	Stockton	2​	4​	10​
38​	Galena (H.S.)	3​	1​	10​
38​	Tuscola	2​	4​	10​
38​	Wilmington	3​	1​	10​
43​	Freeport (Aquin)	3​	0​	9​
43​	Mt. Prospect (Prospect)	3​	0​	9​
43​	Lockport (Twp.)	3​	0​	9​
43​	Dakota	3​	0​	9​
43​	Forreston	3​	0​	9​
49​	Concord (Triopia)	2​	2​	8​
49​	Chicago (St. Rita)	2​	2​	8​
49​	Mt. Carmel	1​	5​	8​
49​	Peoria (Richwoods)	2​	2​	8​
49​	Oak Lawn (Richards)	2​	2​	8​
49​	Moweaqua (Central A & M)	1​	5​	8​
49​	Naperville (Central)	2​	2​	8​
49​	Batavia	2​	2​	8​

 

[LHSTigers94]

Both are certainly open to analysis -- which I have over the years

The majority of our wins were in the CCL - certainly the toughest league in the state's history.

are titles, we compete in the playoffs against teams within our ststure, No CCL or ESCC team z9except for the very tiny schools) should compete below 6A.

BTW, your guy was did the trophy counting.

The only team in the CCL that can brag is MC as ESL has beaten all others including MC once. The notion that somehow winning in the CCL is something superior is a laughable argument. A win is a win period.

 

[Kevin JCHS 81]

Like a team that plays mostly 8A power teams and then collects 7A trophies?

7A is probably the weakest class of 4A through 8A.

To the rest of the board.: Thank you for not totally bashing my semi ridiculous reply to MC63.

To MC63.: It's not MC's fault that they keep falling into the easiest class for padding the old trophy case.

 

[MC63]

The only team in the CCL that can brag is MC as ESL has beaten all others including MC once. The notion that somehow winning in the CCL is something superior is a laughable argument. A win is a win period.

That's rich.

 

[MC63]

To the rest of the board.: Thank you for not totally bashing my semi ridiculous reply to MC63.

To MC63.: It's not MC's fault that they keep falling into the easiest class for padding the old trophy case.

We were getting along so well.

 

[SiuCubFan8]

The only team in the CCL that can brag is MC as ESL has beaten all others including MC once. The notion that somehow winning in the CCL is something superior is a laughable argument. A win is a win period.

I thought you get 1.65 wins if you beat a private school, I must not understand the multiplier.

 

[ClownBaby]

Obviously no agreed way to weight Champ vs Runner Up, so I just made up 3 pts for Champs, 1 for Runner Up and came up with these rankings (54 teams because of ties at 49):

Rank	Team	Champ	Runner Up	Pts
1​	Joliet (Catholic Academy)	15​	5​	50​
1​	Chicago (Mt. Carmel)	15​	5​	50​
3​	East St. Louis (Sr.)	10​	5​	35​
4​	New Lenox (Providence Catholic)	10​	4​	34​
5​	Rochester	9​	0​	27​
6​	Addison (Driscoll)	8​	0​	24​
7​	Wheaton (W. Warrenville South)	7​	2​	23​
8​	Park Ridge (Maine South)	6​	4​	22​
8​	Springfield (Sacred Heart-Griffin)	6​	4​	22​
10​	Lombard (Montini)	6​	3​	21​
11​	Sterling (Newman Central Catholic)	6​	2​	20​
11​	Wilmette (Loyola Academy)	5​	5​	20​
13​	Kankakee (McNamara)	5​	4​	19​
13​	Lena (L.-Winslow)	6​	1​	19​
15​	Morris	3​	8​	17​
15​	LaGrange Park (Nazareth Academy)	5​	2​	17​
18​	Metamora	3​	7​	16​
18​	Geneseo (Darnall)	4​	4​	16​
18​	Stillman Valley	5​	1​	16​
21​	Arcola	4​	3​	15​
21​	Bloomington (Central Catholic)	4​	3​	15​
21​	Carthage	4​	3​	15​
21​	Cary (C.-Grove)	4​	3​	15​
25​	Decatur (St. Teresa)	4​	2​	14​
25​	Woodstock (Marian)	4​	2​	14​
25​	Maroa (M.-Forsyth)	2​	8​	14​
28​	Wheaton (North)	4​	0​	12​
28​	Aledo	3​	3​	12​
28​	Frankfort (Lincoln-Way East)	3​	3​	12​
28​	Elmhurst (IC Catholic)	4​	0​	12​
33​	Belleville (Althoff Catholic)	3​	2​	11​
33​	Glen Ellyn (Glenbard West)	3​	2​	11​
33​	DuQuoin (H.S.)	2​	5​	11​
33​	Byron	3​	2​	11​
33​	Crystal Lake (Prairie Ridge)	3​	2​	11​
38​	Hampshire	3​	1​	10​
38​	Stockton	2​	4​	10​
38​	Galena (H.S.)	3​	1​	10​
38​	Tuscola	2​	4​	10​
38​	Wilmington	3​	1​	10​
43​	Freeport (Aquin)	3​	0​	9​
43​	Mt. Prospect (Prospect)	3​	0​	9​
43​	Lockport (Twp.)	3​	0​	9​
43​	Dakota	3​	0​	9​
43​	Forreston	3​	0​	9​
49​	Concord (Triopia)	2​	2​	8​
49​	Chicago (St. Rita)	2​	2​	8​
49​	Mt. Carmel	1​	5​	8​
49​	Peoria (Richwoods)	2​	2​	8​
49​	Oak Lawn (Richards)	2​	2​	8​
49​	Moweaqua (Central A & M)	1​	5​	8​
49​	Naperville (Central)	2​	2​	8​
49​	Batavia	2​	2​	8​

The IHSA includes Wheaton Central with WWS basically it’s the same students in a different building. The 91 WC and 92 WWS teams had the same coaches and kids, so it should be 7 titles and 4 Runner ups.

 

[USD24]

The only team in the CCL that can brag is MC as ESL has beaten all others including MC once. The notion that somehow winning in the CCL is something superior is a laughable argument. A win is a win period.

False. Joliet Catholic is 1-0 vs ESL in the playoff era having defeated the Flyers in the IHSA 5A playoffs 45-8 in 1996.

 

[cornerrat]

Obviously no agreed way to weight Champ vs Runner Up, so I just made up 3 pts for Champs, 1 for Runner Up and came up with these rankings (54 teams because of ties at 49):

Rank	Team	Champ	Runner Up	Pts
1​	Joliet (Catholic Academy)	15​	5​	50​
1​	Chicago (Mt. Carmel)	15​	5​	50​
3​	East St. Louis (Sr.)	10​	5​	35​
4​	New Lenox (Providence Catholic)	10​	4​	34​
5​	Rochester	9​	0​	27​
6​	Addison (Driscoll)	8​	0​	24​
7​	Wheaton (W. Warrenville South)	7​	2​	23​
8​	Park Ridge (Maine South)	6​	4​	22​
8​	Springfield (Sacred Heart-Griffin)	6​	4​	22​
10​	Lombard (Montini)	6​	3​	21​
11​	Sterling (Newman Central Catholic)	6​	2​	20​
11​	Wilmette (Loyola Academy)	5​	5​	20​
13​	Kankakee (McNamara)	5​	4​	19​
13​	Lena (L.-Winslow)	6​	1​	19​
15​	Morris	3​	8​	17​
15​	LaGrange Park (Nazareth Academy)	5​	2​	17​
18​	Metamora	3​	7​	16​
18​	Geneseo (Darnall)	4​	4​	16​
18​	Stillman Valley	5​	1​	16​
21​	Arcola	4​	3​	15​
21​	Bloomington (Central Catholic)	4​	3​	15​
21​	Carthage	4​	3​	15​
21​	Cary (C.-Grove)	4​	3​	15​
25​	Decatur (St. Teresa)	4​	2​	14​
25​	Woodstock (Marian)	4​	2​	14​
25​	Maroa (M.-Forsyth)	2​	8​	14​
28​	Wheaton (North)	4​	0​	12​
28​	Aledo	3​	3​	12​
28​	Frankfort (Lincoln-Way East)	3​	3​	12​
28​	Elmhurst (IC Catholic)	4​	0​	12​
33​	Belleville (Althoff Catholic)	3​	2​	11​
33​	Glen Ellyn (Glenbard West)	3​	2​	11​
33​	DuQuoin (H.S.)	2​	5​	11​
33​	Byron	3​	2​	11​
33​	Crystal Lake (Prairie Ridge)	3​	2​	11​
38​	Hampshire	3​	1​	10​
38​	Stockton	2​	4​	10​
38​	Galena (H.S.)	3​	1​	10​
38​	Tuscola	2​	4​	10​
38​	Wilmington	3​	1​	10​
43​	Freeport (Aquin)	3​	0​	9​
43​	Mt. Prospect (Prospect)	3​	0​	9​
43​	Lockport (Twp.)	3​	0​	9​
43​	Dakota	3​	0​	9​
43​	Forreston	3​	0​	9​
49​	Concord (Triopia)	2​	2​	8​
49​	Chicago (St. Rita)	2​	2​	8​
49​	Mt. Carmel	1​	5​	8​
49​	Peoria (Richwoods)	2​	2​	8​
49​	Oak Lawn (Richards)	2​	2​	8​
49​	Moweaqua (Central A & M)	1​	5​	8​
49​	Naperville (Central)	2​	2​	8​
49​	Batavia	2​	2​	8​

All.... Fwiw the Cyclones are at 6-6. Two 2nd place finishes before the nuns at Sacred Heart allowed the boys to join the girls . Alumni fought hard to call it Griffin-Sacred Heart but the nuns controlled the purse strings. (still do) I heard that first year the school went co-ed was lots of fun. Especially for the lads. Ratsy

 

[LHSTigers94]

False. Joliet Catholic is 1-0 vs ESL in the playoff era having defeated the Flyers in the IHSA 5A playoffs 45-8 in 1996.

JC is ESCC not CCL. I can edit my original response if that helps. I know what his post was referring to. I am good with pointing that out the L to JC. Again a loss is a loss just like a win is a win.

 

[MC63]

The only team in the CCL that can brag is MC as ESL has beaten all others including MC once. The notion that somehow winning in the CCL is something superior is a laughable argument. A win is a win period.

in four or five tries

 

[zoocp67]

Top 25. From 1-5A, with rules written specifically for them, Althoff finds a way to get back to the top.

As the ihsa recap notes, our 89 and 90 schedules were mostly 6A and we were filled with D1 athletes. Football enrollment was referred to as the Althoff rule when it was first being developed and implemented. Schools like Harrisburg flipped their 💩 when we beat them twice in the quarters and semis in football, then beat them again in the finals for baseball. DiQuoin was another, Princeton pitched a fit too.

We have done it by ground and pound and through the air. We have arguably three of the best ever running backs in IHsa history. Hickey Dale Thompson, Jason, Ford, and Dierre Hill.

I'm getting close to calling Dierre the best now, at Althoff. Hickey had a better run blocking line, but played better overall competition, so I'm still unsure in an opinion . Also, I think Bester was every bit as good as Ford. Just a different type of back. Ford was a specimen though!

 

[crusader_of_90]

I'm getting close to calling Dierre the best now, at Althoff. Hickey had a better run blocking line, but played better overall competition, so I'm still unsure in an opinion . Also, I think Bester was every bit as good as Ford. Just a different type of back. Ford was a specimen though!

Ford trucked dudes as a freshman! He was a man among boys at 14.

 

[crusader_of_90]

Hickey had a better run blocking line, but played better overall competition.

I remember coming in at guard due to a helmet issue with the starter, 25 slant trap, he skimmed off my backside and bulldoezed All-American Linebacker Emerson Wells from Paducah Tilghman and took it to the house. Dierre will not play anyone like we did.