New Conference - Chicago Prairie League

[stl705]

Finally found out why St Bede left TRAC and where they are headed:

New Chicago Prairie League - source is Steve Soucie’s twitter:

St. Bede
Ottawa Marquette
Dwight
Seneca
Westmont
Walther Christian
Ridgewood
Elmwood Park

Thoughts?

 

[StormFire]

Finally found out why St Bede left TRAC and where they are headed:

New Chicago Prairie League - source is Steve Soucie’s twitter:

St. Bede
Ottawa Marquette
Dwight
Seneca
Westmont
Walther Christian
Ridgewood
Elmwood Park

Thoughts?

It is interesting that Walther chose this conference versus the other new conference with a lot of the private schools. Anybody know why? Both are bad for distance, but this one off the top of my head may seem worse.

And where does this leave Riverside Brookfield?

 

[HRCJR]

Riverside-Brookfield?

 

[mc140]

Riverside-Brookfield?

Might want to call the SWS Red.

 

[mc140]

That leaves the Metro Suburban with…

Aurora Christian
Bishop McNamara
Chicago Christian
Riverside-Brookfield
St Edward
Wheaton Academy

With R-B being the only public, I foresee them finding a new conference.

Now would be time for this smaller private league to add Marian Central, Hope Academy and Christ the King.

I'm not sure where RB would go. The SSC and WSC have no interest in adding teams. Probably too small for DVC. Upstate 8 is locked.

 

[Fishwater41]

RB is an original West Suburban conference team. RB fits right in with the gold. Has more athletic programs and levels than Addison Trail, Proviso East, and Leyden. Geographically they are the dream team fit for the West Suburban.

 

[Fishwater41]

RB left the WS for the Des plaines Valley(Which is todays gold) in 81 or 82 when the enrollment dropped. I think at one point RB was down to 700 kids, now they are over 1600.

 

[ClownBaby]

I'm not sure where RB would go. The SSC and WSC have no interest in adding teams. Probably too small for DVC. Upstate 8 is locked.

If they could find one more school taking the Upstate 8 to 12 schools makes sense two divisions of six based on enrollment could 2 non con, 2 crossovers and 5 conference games. I’m not sure what school they could find to be the 12th.

 

[mc140]

RB is an original West Suburban conference team. RB fits right in with the gold. Has more athletic programs and levels than Addison Trail, Proviso East, and Leyden. Geographically they are the dream team fit for the West Suburban.

When was the last time the WSC added teams? The standings from 1996 have the exact same teams in the same divisions.

 

[ClownBaby]

When was the last time the WSC added teams? The standings from 1996 have the exact same teams in the same divisions.

Had to have been in the early/ mid 80’s there have been no changes that I know of since about ‘88.

 

[mc140]

If they could find one more school taking the Upstate 8 to 12 schools makes sense two divisions of six based on enrollment could 2 non con, 2 crossovers and 5 conference games. I’m not sure what school they could find to be the 12th.

That makes some sense. Who could be the 12th team though?

 

[ClownBaby]

That makes some sense. Who could be the 12th team though?

Dundee Crown would be a good candidate but I highly doubt they would leave the FVC or leave district school Hampshire behind.

 

[Fishwater41]

The West Suburban Conference is the fourth oldest Illinois League that is in existence today. It was formed in the winter of 1924 and was the direct successor league of the DuPage County Conference that expired the previous year. Old DuPage County members Hinsdale, Glenbard, York, Downers Grove, and West Chicago, joined with Maine to form a new league. In 1928, Riverside (now Riverside-Brookfield) left the disintegrating old Suburban League and joined the West Suburban League.

As the western suburbs grew during the 1920s the schools grew in size. In 1935, Lyons Township (LaGrange) joined the league, and the following year West Chicago dropped out.

The league membership stayed stable until 1951, when Arlington joined the league. When it withdrew from the conference in 1966, Proviso West took its place.[1] In 1972, charter member Maine East (which began as Maine) left the league. When the Suburban League broke up in the spring of 1975, two of those league members, Oak Park River Forest and Proviso East (which began as Proviso), joined the West Suburban League the following fall. In 1982, Riverside-Brookfield, with a declining enrollment that made the school increasingly noncompetitive, left the league.

The biggest change in the history of WSC occurred in the spring of 1986 with a major re-alignment. This took place between the conference and the Des Plaines Valley League with a vote of the Superintendents from the Inter-Suburban Association. This action combined the two leagues under one umbrella conference. The old West Suburban Conference became the Silver Division, and the DesPlaines Valley League became the Gold Division. Together the two divisions form the West Suburban Conference. In this reorganization Proviso East moved into the Gold Division. Each Division had seven teams. According to WSC folklore, the division names were finalized after many hours of deliberation, arguing and negotiation. Their final names were not arrived at with the intention of ranking one ahead of the other, but came from the color of hair of the athletic directors in each division. The Silver Division's athletic directors were primarily distinguished gray-haired professionals who all happened to have "silver hair locks", thus securing the name. Competition in the reorganized league began in the fall of 1986.

Notes​

 

[HRCJR]

That leaves the Metro Suburban with…

Aurora Christian
Bishop McNamara
Chicago Christian
Riverside-Brookfield
St Edward
Wheaton Academy

With R-B being the only public, I foresee them finding a new conference.

Now would be time for this smaller private league to add Marian Central, Hope Academy and Christ the King.

 

[3OrangeWhips]

View embedded media

Had no idea. Makes sense to me.

 

[ClownBaby]

View embedded media

Will Timothy Christian ever go the Wheaton Academy route and add football?

 

[colin2229]

It is interesting that Walther chose this conference versus the other new conference with a lot of the private schools. Anybody know why? Both are bad for distance, but this one off the top of my head may seem worse.

And where does this leave Riverside Brookfield?

Walther has fallen off the rails.

What a horrible conference this appears to be.

 

[UlbKA91]

I'm not sure where RB would go. The SSC and WSC have no interest in adding teams. Probably too small for DVC. Upstate 8 is locked.

Dundee Crown would be a good candidate but I highly doubt they would leave the FVC or leave district school Hampshire behind.

You mean Jacobs?

 

[ClownBaby]

You mean Jacobs?

It’s three schools DC, Hampshire and Jacobs so I was half right.

 

[UlbKA91]

The WSC could go 5/5/5 I'd put RB in the middle 5 with Willowbrook, H South, DG South and ____ (assuming PE, PW, AT, Leyden and Morton in one division and GW, HC, LY, and 2 of DGN/OPRF/Y in in the other)

 

[DavidRAdams]

The West Suburban Conference is the fourth oldest Illinois League that is in existence today. It was formed in the winter of 1924 and was the direct successor league of the DuPage County Conference that expired the previous year. Old DuPage County members Hinsdale, Glenbard, York, Downers Grove, and West Chicago, joined with Maine to form a new league. In 1928, Riverside (now Riverside-Brookfield) left the disintegrating old Suburban League and joined the West Suburban League.

As the western suburbs grew during the 1920s the schools grew in size. In 1935, Lyons Township (LaGrange) joined the league, and the following year West Chicago dropped out.

The league membership stayed stable until 1951, when Arlington joined the league. When it withdrew from the conference in 1966, Proviso West took its place.[1] In 1972, charter member Maine East (which began as Maine) left the league. When the Suburban League broke up in the spring of 1975, two of those league members, Oak Park River Forest and Proviso East (which began as Proviso), joined the West Suburban League the following fall. In 1982, Riverside-Brookfield, with a declining enrollment that made the school increasingly noncompetitive, left the league.

The biggest change in the history of WSC occurred in the spring of 1986 with a major re-alignment. This took place between the conference and the Des Plaines Valley League with a vote of the Superintendents from the Inter-Suburban Association. This action combined the two leagues under one umbrella conference. The old West Suburban Conference became the Silver Division, and the DesPlaines Valley League became the Gold Division. Together the two divisions form the West Suburban Conference. In this reorganization Proviso East moved into the Gold Division. Each Division had seven teams. According to WSC folklore, the division names were finalized after many hours of deliberation, arguing and negotiation. Their final names were not arrived at with the intention of ranking one ahead of the other, but came from the color of hair of the athletic directors in each division. The Silver Division's athletic directors were primarily distinguished gray-haired professionals who all happened to have "silver hair locks", thus securing the name. Competition in the reorganized league began in the fall of 1986.

Notes​

Jack Tosh was a part of that. Silver-maned from the age of 12, it all makes sense now.

 

[mc140]

The WSC could go 5/5/5 I'd put RB in the middle 5 with Willowbrook, H South, DG South and ____ (assuming PE, PW, AT, Leyden and Morton in one division and GW, HC, LY, and 2 of DGN/OPRF/Y in in the other)

They could but there is no indictation from history they would entertain that.

 

[WBWarriorWatcher]

This is a topic that comes around semi annually. The WSC won’t change , but this is my take on it.

My post from March of this year with one modification of swapping DGN and Leyden:


I’ve thrown this out there a few times before. WSC and DVC combine, RB comes over and that’s 21 total.

So new WSC divisions based on size and rough geography:

West:
Nequa
Waubonsie
Metea
Naperville N
Naperville Cent
DeKalb
DGS

East:
Morton
DGN
LT
HC
York
OPRF
GW

Central:
AT
RB
WB
HS
Proviso E
Proviso W
Leyden

7 teams per division allows for 2 non-con, and meets the threshold for division champ to get the automatic playoff bid.

 

[LakeCtyNewt]

Can’t we call the new league the Pure Prairie League? Thanks Quags. I’ll show myself out…..

 

[JCHillmen]

Finally found out why St Bede left TRAC and where they are headed:

New Chicago Prairie League - source is Steve Soucie’s twitter:

St. Bede
Ottawa Marquette
Dwight
Seneca
Westmont
Walther Christian
Ridgewood
Elmwood Park

Thoughts?

Seems pretty reasonable at the surface level. I think I like it for most of these schools.

I was originally critical of the new bishop mac, AC, and MCC league but now that those programs all appear to be shadows of their former selves, i think even that looks like it may be a decent landing spot for all but an Wheaton academy who will have to leave these schools behind if they have higher aspirations.

This is a topic that comes around semi annually. The WSC won’t change , but this is my take on it.

My post from March of this year with one modification of swapping DGN and Leyden:


I’ve thrown this out there a few times before. WSC and DVC combine, RB comes over and that’s 21 total.

So new WSC divisions based on size and rough geography:

West:
Nequa
Waubonsie
Metea
Naperville N
Naperville Cent
DeKalb
DGS

East:
Morton
DGN
LT
HC
York
OPRF
GW

Central:
AT
RB
WB
HS
Proviso E
Proviso W
Leyden

7 teams per division allows for 2 non-con, and meets the threshold for division champ to get the automatic playoff bid.

problem with three divisions of 7 is that one team is always going to be “off” and need to find a non conference game every single week of the season.

getting that 21 number to 20 or 22 is very helpful.

 

[WBWarriorWatcher]

Seems pretty reasonable at the surface level. I think I like it for most of these schools.

I was originally critical of the new bishop mac, AC, and MCC league but now that those programs all appear to be shadows of their former selves, i think even that looks like it may be a decent landing spot for all but an Wheaton academy who will have to leave these schools behind if they have higher aspirations.

problem with three divisions of 7 is that one team is always going to be “off” and need to find a non conference game every single week of the season.

getting that 21 number to 20 or 22 is very helpful.

Yeah, left off the part that says there will be at least one crossover per season for each team. Gets each team to 6 conference games and a crossover so leaves room for 2 non-cons.

forgot to never “assume” (🍑 - U - Me) lol!!

 

[UlbKA91]

That makes some sense. Who could be the 12th team though?

Stagg...if they're promised a division with somewhat less distant RB, GS, GE, FT? The other division would be the U46s + ether EA or WC

 

[Quags57]

Can’t we call the new league the Pure Prairie League? Thanks Quags. I’ll show myself out…..

Love old album covers. This probably would be a good logo for the conference

 

[RD_Watcher]

Seems pretty reasonable at the surface level. I think I like it for most of these schools.

I was originally critical of the new bishop mac, AC, and MCC league but now that those programs all appear to be shadows of their former selves, i think even that looks like it may be a decent landing spot for all but an Wheaton academy who will have to leave these schools behind if they have higher aspirations.

problem with three divisions of 7 is that one team is always going to be “off” and need to find a non conference game every single week of the season.

getting that 21 number to 20 or 22 is very helpful.

WSC currently has 1 cross over game per week. The only potential issue I see with the 21 team - 3 division model is administrators mandating 1 mandatory cross over with each division (Every Gold has to play a Silver and Platinum per season). WSC just got out of the 2nd mandatory crossover, allowing for 2 non-con games per season. I'd hate to see it go back.

 

[ramblinman]

Can’t we call the new league the Pure Prairie League? Thanks Quags. I’ll show myself out…..

...and can the new league mandate that all schools must adopt Amie as their new fight song?

 

[WBWarriorWatcher]

WSC currently has 1 cross over game per week. The only potential issue I see with the 21 team - 3 division model is administrators mandating 1 mandatory cross over with each division (Every Gold has to play a Silver and Platinum per season). WSC just got out of the 2nd mandatory crossover, allowing for 2 non-con games per season. I'd hate to see it go back.

I think the leads on has been learned that 2 crossovers does the conference no good for strengthening teams and gathering playoff points. The days of two are dead and good riddance!!

 

[SouthofI80FootballFan]

I can see 3 teams (Seneca, Dwight, Westmont) not being far from going to 8 Man Football. Will this conference exist on 3 years?

 

[stl705]

I can see 3 teams (Seneca, Dwight, Westmont) not being far from going to 8 Man Football. Will this conference exist on 3 years?

I’d wonder if 2 of the privates: St Bede and Ottawa Marquette could make the move to 8-man as well. Both schools had very good seasons in 11-man this year, but you just wonder if it makes sense in a few years as 8-man continues to grow in this state.