Q of the Week: So what's the fix?

[stl705]

I don’t understand why the Privates would ever want to separate. The upper half of CCL in of itself is basically a non-elimination “playoff” of playoff caliber teams. Winners don’t get a trophy they get into the State Playoffs. Seems like a Private-Only playoff would just be a Conference Tournament akin to the B1G tourney in college basketball, which is great, but it isn’t the Big Dance.

Some interesting takes and proposals, and I agree with most on a stronger multiplier format for Privates in larger metro areas (Chicagoland). I think keeping it simple is always going to be the way to make any significant changes though.

1-32
No waivers
Stronger or revised multiplier.

 

[SiuCubFan8]

Do that many school administrations/districts actually care to make a real change?

 

[Blacknight36]

After reading all this so far, and watching 8 games this past weekend that were mostly unwatchable I’d say:

Split public and private and go with 5-2 or 6-2

Or

Keep together but incorporate a better success factor. Multiplier or enrollment-based does NOT work. Ability to recruit negates impact of enrollment.

And

Refs should have some physical fitness metrics to meet to work past a certain point in the playoffs.

 

[doctor_d]

Look at 1A Althoff for example: week 9 they played 6A kaneland (playoff team) and beat them. That is the advantage of being able to recruit multiple D1 talent players overcoming enrollment size. CC good for them and they could of played in 4A and done well as most teams at that level don’t exclusively platoon players

Chicago Christian had multiple close games in 2A. Depending on draw they could’ve won games in 3A or 4A but no way they are close to winning either. If Wilmo wouldn’t have shifted to 3A, I think they beat Chicago Christian, although it might’ve been a tight game.

 

[ramblinman]

You like to talk about the publics whining however, you don't highlight that private whining that created the multiplier waiver that created the current mess. What do you think the results will be if Montini, Naz, JC had to play LA, MC, St Rita every year for a championship? Due you think there would be no whining and teams would just play? The same feeling Naz will have about having to play LA for the championship is the same exact feeling Lewin felt about playing Althoff this year.

There are valid concerns that should be address. To dismiss it as whining is a little hypocritical. (Not specifically you but the private supporter group).

Allow me to remind you in case you don't remember:

When the multiplier was put into play, it contained a waiver clause that exempted non boundaried schools smaller than 450 kids. But 37 private schools said not so fast and took the IHSA to court because the IHSA was so hell-bent to saddle the private schools with a multiplier that it failed to follow its own rules prior to instituting it. Both parties settled, and the IHSA agreed to follow its own rules and put it to a vote but the new proposal that was finally voted on DID NOT contain the waiver for small schools. Total revenge and retribution on the part of the public school-dominated IHSA.

It's hippocritical to dismiss public school whining because private schools whined to reinstate a multiplier that was there in the first place but got removed in an act of vengeance? Yeah, right.

Creating a multiplier waiver is what got us here in the first place? Really? Lemme clue you in on something: You can't have a multiplier waiver if there isn't a multiplier to waive.

 

[colin2229]

What’s wrong with two classes for private/non boundary? 32 qualifying

1A schools such Ottawa Marquette, Aurora Christian, Hope and Rockford Lutheran would be in the same class as Montini, Naz, SHG, Providence.

They’d get destroyed

 

[Cross Bones]

1A schools such Ottawa Marquette, Aurora Christian, Hope and Rockford Lutheran would be in the same class as Montini, Naz, SHG, Providence.

They’d get destroyed

Why would the private playoffs be enrollment based? Seems to me Montini, Naz, SHG, JCA would want to be in there with LA, MC, Marist because they want to challenge themselves.

 

[618FootballGuy]

Something I saw I’m gonna guess this is the prop that got shot down.

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[brucealmighy]

1A schools such Ottawa Marquette, Aurora Christian, Hope and Rockford Lutheran would be in the same class as Montini, Naz, SHG, Providence.

They’d get destroyed

Wouldn’t they just have to to train harder and coach better?

 

[colin2229]

Wouldn’t they just have to to train harder and coach better?

Theory doesn’t work when two private schools are involved. Both programs would already be elite and maxed out to their potential bc of their work ethic and coaching.

At this point, and only at this point, does enrollment numbers/roster size factor into making a level playing field.

 

[colin2229]

Why would the private playoffs be enrollment based? Seems to me Montini, Naz, SHG, JCA would want to be in there with LA, MC, Marist because they want to challenge themselves.

How do you divide them up then?

Yes they want to challenge themselves but they will actually beat those schools every blue moon.

 

[godfthr53]

I have a hard time making teams play up that haven't played in the championship game.

They do it in every other sport. Only football championship game is considered a trophy. All other sports it's top 4.

 

[Cross Bones]

How do you divide them up then?

Yes they want to challenge themselves but they will actually beat those schools every blue moon.

JCA and Naz faired as well as anyone in the 7A playoffs against MC except Normal. Naz spanked 7A semi-finalist ST. SF actually beat the 8A champ Loyola convincingly which is better than anyone in 8A including LWE.

How do I split it up? I dont. I have a committee of private schools coaches and ADs split it up. Do they split it up competitively or do they throw some programs to the wolves 🤔

 

[mc140]

Chicago Christian had multiple close games in 2A. Depending on draw they could’ve won games in 3A or 4A but no way they are close to winning either. If Wilmo wouldn’t have shifted to 3A, I think they beat Chicago Christian, although it might’ve been a tight game.

Chicago Christian is what Ramblinman thinks all private schools are. A team filled with kids who chose to go to a school and happened to play football. Then had a group of seniors who were talented and got the coaching needed to succeed. Look at their roster and what comes back, unless they hit the portal hard (doubtful) it is going to be tough for them to win games next year.

 

[ramblinman]

Chicago Christian is what Ramblinman thinks all private schools are. A team filled with kids who chose to go to a school and happened to play football.

Correct. All football playing private schools have kids who happen to play football. Are they all like Chicago Christian? No. Some of them have kids who go there in order to play football, but that doesn't mean that all (or any) of those kids are four or five star recruits. AND, private schools aren't the only schools where kids choose to go in order to play football.

 

[mc140]

Correct. All football playing private schools have kids who happen to play football. Are they all like Chicago Christian? No. Some of them have kids who go there in order to play football, but that doesn't mean that all (or any) of those kids are four or five star recruits. AND, private schools aren't the only schools where kids choose to go in order to play football.

It is terrible logic. Especially when you like to harp on how many kids are in the school. When in actuality less kids in the school = better chance to win for private schools. The better athletes are still there but now they get to compete against smaller schools who don't have the same talent base.

 

[ramblinman]

It is terrible logic. Especially when you like to harp on how many kids are in the school. When in actuality less kids in the school = better chance to win for private schools. The better athletes are still there but now they get to compete against smaller schools who don't have the same talent base.

What a steaming crock of crap.

Is it also terrible logic to point out that, prior to last weekend, a private school had not won a 1A title in the previous 17 playoff years? Where was that better chance to win for private schools that you speak of during that time frame? It's not like there haven't been any private schools from larger urban markets in 1A during those years.

Why is it okay that public schools win 17 1A titles in a row but now you and public school apologists gnash your teeth and foam at the mouth when a private school finally wins one?

 

[sporthog9er]

Curious on everyone's thoughts on this. I love the ideas and proposals thrown around.

Do you think, if a solution does come up eventually for IHSA, that the changes will be football only? Or do you think the only way it gets done is if the changes apply to all sports?

I ask because I could picture schools that step in and say wait- it's not just football that has issues, it's x-y-z sports too. Once any changes are made to try and "fix" football issues, it could open the door for anything else with other sports.

I could see IHSA wanting a blanket approach that affects all IHSA sports. I'm guessing any proposals or solutions with changing multipliers/success factor, etc etc will need to have language that could be adjusted for different sports.

 

[HSFootballfan_007]

1A schools such Ottawa Marquette, Aurora Christian, Hope and Rockford Lutheran would be in the same class as Montini, Naz, SHG, Providence.

They’d get destroyed

They just have to work harder, isn't that the argument for publics that don't win?

 

[mc140]

They just have to work harder, isn't that the argument for publics that don't win?

Put more money into your programs and recruit better.

 

[SiuCubFan8]

I have no data to back this up, but it seems the merger of CCL/ESCC/IC and SF has only strengthened the Chicago area private schools.
Agree/disagree?

 

[godfthr53]

A separate playoff would just be an extension of the CCL regular season. Play all the same teams again and again. Part of the fun of the current system is going to new stadiums and playing teams you wouldn't otherwise play.

 

[Graz74]

Establishing a competitive balance between public and non-public (private and public non-boundary) schools in Illinois, particularly for 1A to 5A high school football classes, is a complex issue. However, implementing several strategic changes to current policies can provide a reasonable solution. This proposal aims to maintain competition while addressing perceived concerns about fairness and recruitment advantages. Personally, I don't have an issue with the status quo (even with my sons competing with and losing to Loyola Academy the last three years) but here is my best stab at how to fix the system to "level" the field for the smaller schools.

1. Adjusted Enrollment Multiplier

• Enhanced Multiplier Calculation: Instead of applying a flat multiplier across all non-boundary schools, use a dynamic multiplier that adjusts based on a combination of factors, including past performance, the number of championships won in recent years, and the geographic diversity of the student body. This accurately reflects the competitive advantage gained from broader student recruitment capabilities.

2. Competitive Balance Lottery

• Introduction of a Lottery System: For schools competing in classes 1A to 5A, introduce a competitive balance lottery that periodically reevaluates and reassigns schools to different classes based on their performance metrics and recruitment patterns. This lottery uses data from the adjusted enrollment multiplier and other success factors to place large private schools in classes 6a - 8a to help balance competitive strengths across classes dynamically.

3. Establishment of a Monitoring Committee

• Oversight Committee: Establish an oversight committee composed of representatives from public and non-public schools and IHSA representatives. This committee would oversee the implementation of the new rules, monitor their effectiveness, and suggest adjustments as needed. This committee would also be the annual decision-maker about waivers to play in a smaller class than the multiplier assigns.

4. Annual Review and Reclassification

• Regular Policy Review: Establish a policy for annual adjustments to the rules, ensuring they promote competitive balance. Factors such as prior year success—winning the conference, total number of wins, and playoff performance—should be considered when determining classifications for the following year. This process will include feedback from all stakeholders to facilitate informed decision-making.

 

[ramblinman]

Establishing a competitive balance between public and non-public (private and public non-boundary) schools in Illinois, particularly for 1A to 5A high school football classes, is a complex issue. However, implementing several strategic changes to current policies can provide a reasonable solution. This proposal aims to maintain competition while addressing perceived concerns about fairness and recruitment advantages. Personally, I don't have an issue with the status quo (even with my sons competing with and losing to Loyola Academy the last three years) but here is my best stab at how to fix the system to "level" the field for the smaller schools.

1. Adjusted Enrollment Multiplier

• Enhanced Multiplier Calculation: Instead of applying a flat multiplier across all non-boundary schools, use a dynamic multiplier that adjusts based on a combination of factors, including past performance, the number of championships won in recent years, and the geographic diversity of the student body. This accurately reflects the competitive advantage gained from broader student recruitment capabilities.

2. Competitive Balance Lottery

• Introduction of a Lottery System: For schools competing in classes 1A to 5A, introduce a competitive balance lottery that periodically reevaluates and reassigns schools to different classes based on their performance metrics and recruitment patterns. This lottery uses data from the adjusted enrollment multiplier and other success factors to place large private schools in classes 6a - 8a to help balance competitive strengths across classes dynamically.

3. Establishment of a Monitoring Committee

• Oversight Committee: Establish an oversight committee composed of representatives from public and non-public schools and IHSA representatives. This committee would oversee the implementation of the new rules, monitor their effectiveness, and suggest adjustments as needed. This committee would also be the annual decision-maker about waivers to play in a smaller class than the multiplier assigns.

4. Annual Review and Reclassification

• Regular Policy Review: Establish a policy for annual adjustments to the rules, ensuring they promote competitive balance. Factors such as prior year success—winning the conference, total number of wins, and playoff performance—should be considered when determining classifications for the following year. This process will include feedback from all stakeholders to facilitate informed decision-making.

This is interesting and would be even more interesting if your regs didn't single out private schools for the field leveling.

It is not right that a private school experiencing extraordinary athletic success would get moved up at the same time that a school like Rochester wins 8 out of 10 titles and doesn't move up as a result.

Why are folks ok for Rochester to do that, but get their knickers in a twist when a private school stops a 17-year public school streak of 1A titles?

 

[Graz74]

This is interesting and would be even more interesting if your regs didn't single out private schools for the field leveling.

It is not right that a private school experiencing extraordinary athletic success would get moved up at the same time that a school like Rochester wins 8 out of 10 titles and doesn't move up as a result.

Why are folks ok for Rochester to do that, but get their knickers in a twist when a private school stops a 17-year public school streak of 1A titles?

Honestly, I think it can be applied for both public and private. Do you want to be great or are you happy being a big fish in a small pond. My buddy Jeff doesn't shy away from playing Notre Dame (or Florida when he was at Georgia Southern), he uses ND as a measuring stick. I guess that is why an "Open Division" or "All-Class Division" is so intriguing. This type of classification would allow for the highest level of competition by enabling the most competitive schools to compete directly, irrespective of their student population sizes. This setup would ensure that the focus is on the quality and competitive nature of the teams rather than their enrollment categories. However, I do not believe the IHSA, Superintendents, or Private School Presidents would ever go for it.

 

[SiuCubFan8]

However, I do not believe the IHSA, Superintendents, or Private School Presidents would ever go for it.

I have come to the conclusion that most don't care...

 

[brucealmighy]

A separate playoff would just be an extension of the CCL regular season. Play all the same teams again and again. Part of the fun of the current system is going to new stadiums and playing teams you wouldn't otherwise play.

There are private schools spread out all over the state.

 

[SouthofI80FootballFan]

This is interesting and would be even more interesting if your regs didn't single out private schools for the field leveling.

It is not right that a private school experiencing extraordinary athletic success would get moved up at the same time that a school like Rochester wins 8 out of 10 titles and doesn't move up as a result.

Why are folks ok for Rochester to do that, but get their knickers in a twist when a private school stops a 17-year public school streak of 1A titles?

Really going to stay on this 17 year run of public winning 1A?

Althoff had 10+ new players who were not on the roster last season.

People are not griping that a private won 1A, they are griping because a team in a metro/surburban area, that has 100,000s of thousands of people in 2 states to recruit from, and had 10+ new players who just "happen" to play football. I am sure their decision to attend Althoff was 100% based on education and were not contacted at all by any staff or boosters.

I guess AC, Hope, Rockford Lutheran, Sterling Newman, Routt should hire better coaches who get the players to work harder so they don't have another 17 year drought.

 

[Wittymoniker1]

Splitting the Public and Private schools is basically the Public schools waiving the white flag saying "We can't win" when they have won so many times. I don't think schools like LWE, Maine South, and for sure ESL want to win a State Title knowing they might not have beaten the best. I would put Batavia in that group but many of their supporters are very vocal that they think it's unfair that Private schools recruit, but they pick and choose when they want to complain about it. They blew out Br. Rice, a CCL Blue team last season and all was fine. They struggle with MC and that's when it becomes not fair.

Does LWE, Swagger or ESL or any other school want to win a State Title when they know they possibly didn't face the best in the State? Could we have beaten LA or MC this year? Yeah we won the Public School State but were we the best? If that's what you want then your playing for a Ring that you'll wear outside the house twice, a trophy that will sit in your schools trophy case that you will see at the reunion, and a State Hat and Hoody that you will wear until your go to College and realize that you look like an idiot walking around campus wearing a High School shirt (don't worry you can wear these again when your in your 40's with little push back).

The Private side State Championship will be a snooze fest. Do they break that up by size? "We are the Private League Level 2 State Champions!!! We are the best mid level private school College Team in IL!!!" You would have to because if you don't teams like Laurence, Montini, Providence and DePaul will never be able to hang with LA, MC, SR, BR, Marist, JCA and Naz on a yearly basis, St. Francis will have a hard time too. All that will be is a redue and rematch of the Conference play.

So no, absolutely not, I don't want to see a split. I'm happy MC is moving to 8A, I'd love to see them play LWE and Maine South who will have the two top QBs in the State next year, while MC and LA reload at that position. It will be an awesome game. As Edgy suggested, start with seeding, FACTOR IN STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE, make sure that the #1 seed in the second largest conference isn't a school from the third tier of competitiveness in the CPS while the 2 two defending State Champion is seeded 19th. Baby steps....splitting the Private/Publics would be a monster step.

+10!

 

[ramblinman]

Really going to stay on this 17 year run of public winning 1A?

Althoff had 10+ new players who were not on the roster last season.

People are not griping that a private won 1A, they are griping because a team in a metro/surburban area, that has 100,000s of thousands of people in 2 states to recruit from, and had 10+ new players who just "happen" to play football. I am sure their decision to attend Althoff was 100% based on education and were not contacted at all by any staff or boosters.

I guess AC, Hope, Rockford Lutheran, Sterling Newman, Routt should hire better coaches who get the players to work harder so they don't have another 17 year drought.

Yeah, I'm gonna stay on that 17-year 1A argument. It works for me.

After a while, I feel like the list of private schools from metro areas in the 1A playoffs pretty much every year blows your argument out of the water. As if that isn't enough to sink your ship, the last private school to win 1A before Althoff was Aquin from the bustling metropolitan area of Freeport, the 102nd largest community in Illinois. https://www.illinois-demographics.com/cities_by_population

Nice list of private schools, though. Don't forget to add CCL schools like Leo and the defunct Hales Franciscan from Chicago that not just have hundreds of thousands people to recruit from, but millions of people from two states within their 30 mile radii...and yet they have never been able to win it all.

 

[Snetsrak61]

They just have to work harder, isn't that the argument for publics that don't win?

I've never been a fan of that particular argument because I think it's a petty shot at hard working kids and coaches.

But I'll grant that the times it is used, it's usually reserved for large schools with plenty of resources and a clear path to be able to step up their competition level if they prioritize it. You could have directed it a York program several years ago and I guess you can say they have - best 3 year run in program history. Rarely have I seen it directed at small public schools or ones without clear resource capabilities.

For most of those tiny privates there is a clear resource constraint that they will probably never be able to close.

Speaking for Naz, they were in a spot with obvious ability to step up about 20 years ago. But even before they made that decision to up their game (first by upping their competition level) they were like 4-5x the size of those small private schools and were in a really stable position. That isn't a reality for most small private schools as we've seen them close over and over in the past 20-30 years. They're never gonna prioritize it to that level nor would it likely be smart to try.

MOST of the small private schools (or really all private schools) are really well aligned to their ability.

 

[618FootballGuy]

Another idea
The Multiplier Tier System or MTS for short

Base multiplier:
In this system all non-boundaried schools would start off with a smaller base multiplier of 1.5. As a school sees success, the multiplier increases. I personally like the idea of raising the multiplier by 0.05 per playoff win but this number can be discussed. A team that wins a state title would have their multiplier increase by a minimum of 0.25 for the next cycle. A team that wins two titles back to back would have their title increased by 0.50 for the next cycle, this would put their multiplier at 2.0 after back to back title wins.

Multiplier increase/decrease:
If a team with a 2.0 multiplier fails to win a quarterfinal game in a 2 year cycle, said team can petition to have their multiplier LOWERED but not removed. I personally like the idea of lowering the multiplier by up to 0.25 per two year cycle but that number is also up for discussion.

Multiplier waivers:
A team that has been at the base multiplier of 1.5 for 4 years can petition to waive their multiplier completely.

Disclaimer: I am not and do not claim to be an expert on this matter but I’ve followed IHSA football for several years. All numbers in regard to the base multiplier and how much a multiplier should increase/decrease are up for discussion as well as the requirements to petition for a waiver. My goal is to find a system that is fair to ALL schools across ALL classes.

Discuss it. Critique it. Laugh at it. Whatever it takes to find a solution.

Have a blessed day.

Thoughts on this system?

 

[SiuCubFan8]

I've never been a fan of that particular argument because I think it's a petty shot at hard working kids and coaches.

But I'll grant that the times it is used, it's usually reserved for large schools with plenty of resources and a clear path to be able to step up their competition level if they prioritize it. You could have directed it a York program several years ago and I guess you can say they have - best 3 year run in program history. Rarely have I seen it directed at small public schools or ones without clear resource capabilities.

For most of those tiny privates there is a clear resource constraint that they will probably never be able to close.

Speaking for Naz, they were in a spot with obvious ability to step up about 20 years ago. But even before they made that decision to up their game (first by upping their competition level) they were like 4-5x the size of those small private schools and were in a really stable position. That isn't a reality for most small private schools as we've seen them close over and over in the past 20-30 years. They're never gonna prioritize it to that level nor would it likely be smart to try.

MOST of the small private schools (or really all private schools) are really well aligned to their ability.

I think a lot of people on here forget Naz had a long climb to their current seat at the table, kudos to them for investing resources to the program.

 

[colin2229]

Really going to stay on this 17 year run of public winning 1A?

Althoff had 10+ new players who were not on the roster last season.

People are not griping that a private won 1A, they are griping because a team in a metro/surburban area, that has 100,000s of thousands of people in 2 states to recruit from, and had 10+ new players who just "happen" to play football. I am sure their decision to attend Althoff was 100% based on education and were not contacted at all by any staff or boosters.

I guess AC, Hope, Rockford Lutheran, Sterling Newman, Routt should hire better coaches who get the players to work harder so they don't have another 17 year drought.

I realize your being sarcastic here but its actually true.

Look at the success AC had with Don Beebe.
Look at the success Newman had with Papoccia.

 

[Graz74]

I've never been a fan of that particular argument because I think it's a petty shot at hard working kids and coaches.

But I'll grant that the times it is used, it's usually reserved for large schools with plenty of resources and a clear path to be able to step up their competition level if they prioritize it. You could have directed it a York program several years ago and I guess you can say they have - best 3 year run in program history. Rarely have I seen it directed at small public schools or ones without clear resource capabilities.

For most of those tiny privates there is a clear resource constraint that they will probably never be able to close.

Speaking for Naz, they were in a spot with obvious ability to step up about 20 years ago. But even before they made that decision to up their game (first by upping their competition level) they were like 4-5x the size of those small private schools and were in a really stable position. That isn't a reality for most small private schools as we've seen them close over and over in the past 20-30 years. They're never gonna prioritize it to that level nor would it likely be smart to try.

MOST of the small private schools (or really all private schools) are really well aligned to their ability.

The True Value of Coaching Over Resources in School Athletics
While resources are often cited as a crucial factor in building successful school sports programs, they pale in comparison to the impact of quality coaching. Consider the cases of high-resource schools like Oak Park-River Forest (OPRF) and Morton High School. These schools have deep talent pools and extensive resources, yet they consistently underperform in football compared to their potential. The issue? A massive culture shift is necessary.

Schools like Lincoln-Way East (LWE) illustrate how aligned efforts and prioritization of athletics can breed success not just in sports, but in nurturing championship-caliber students as well. Everything at LWE points towards excellence, creating a culture where winning is not just hoped for but expected across all areas.

On the other hand, schools like Morton and Oak Park have all the ingredients for a top-tier football program—big communities, deep talent pools, successful feeder programs, and achievements in other sports. However, football doesn’t seem to be a priority. The focus often leans towards ensuring everyone has nice experience rather than striving for excellence. This mindset of "good enough is good enough" overlooks the broader impact that success in football can have on the community's spirit and pride.

The path to elevating their football programs is clear, but it requires commitment from the top down. School boards, superintendents, and principals must prioritize athletic success as a significant component of their district’s ethos. Crucially, hiring the right head coach and empowering them to choose their assistants is key. Unfortunate, more often than not, schools change the head coach but fail to address the underlying issues, leaving a losing infrastructure in place.

To truly transform, these schools need to adopt a culture where excellence is the baseline, not just an aspiration. Only then can they step up their game to match their potential.

 

[Snetsrak61]

I realize your being sarcastic here but its actually true.

Look at the success AC had with Don Beebe.
Look at the success Newman had with Papoccia.

What were those schools enrollments when that was the case? If they're like most private schools I doubt they have the enrollment base to go out and pump resources into the program.

 

[colin2229]

I have no data to back this up, but it seems the merger of CCL/ESCC/IC and SF has only strengthened the Chicago area private schools.
Agree/disagree?

100% agree with this.

"Competition breeds excellence"

This is why I could care less about adding additional multipliers/success factors/Etc to private schools. The elite programs will rise to the occasion.

 

[Snetsrak61]

The True Value of Coaching Over Resources in School Athletics
While resources are often cited as a crucial factor in building successful school sports programs, they pale in comparison to the impact of quality coaching. Consider the cases of high-resource schools like Oak Park-River Forest (OPRF) and Morton High School. These schools have deep talent pools and extensive resources, yet they consistently underperform in football compared to their potential. The issue? A massive culture shift is necessary.

Schools like Lincoln-Way East (LWE) illustrate how aligned efforts and prioritization of athletics can breed success not just in sports, but in nurturing championship-caliber students as well. Everything at LWE points towards excellence, creating a culture where winning is not just hoped for but expected across all areas.

On the other hand, schools like Morton and Oak Park have all the ingredients for a top-tier football program—big communities, deep talent pools, successful feeder programs, and achievements in other sports. However, football doesn’t seem to be a priority. The focus often leans towards ensuring everyone has nice experience rather than striving for excellence. This mindset of "good enough is good enough" overlooks the broader impact that success in football can have on the community's spirit and pride.

The path to elevating their football programs is clear, but it requires commitment from the top down. School boards, superintendents, and principals must prioritize athletic success as a significant component of their district’s ethos. Crucially, hiring the right head coach and empowering them to choose their assistants is key. Unfortunate, more often than not, schools change the head coach but fail to address the underlying issues, leaving a losing infrastructure in place.

To truly transform, these schools need to adopt a culture where excellence is the baseline, not just an aspiration. Only then can they step up their game to match their potential.

Yes it's a combination of resources and commitment. If resources are comparable and one school invests in one area and the other a different area... great.

I think the bolded is key though. There's a lot of politicking and consensus building in most public school districts. My wife has been a public school teacher/Admin for nearly 15 years and I hear about it all the time. Not that private schools don't have their own politicking (depends on structure of which religious order runs them, and they may be at mercy of deep pocket donors too). But I imagine your average private school president has a lot more latitude to run top-down priorities than your average public superintendent, who ultimately answers to a much larger public via school board and budget laws and the like. I think it why the very best private schools operate at a higher level longer than public school school. Too much change at public schools. Eventually they go through up turns and down turns while an MC is still MC.

 

[colin2229]

What were those schools enrollments when that was the case? If they're like most private schools I doubt they have the enrollment base to go out and pump resources into the program.

AC was around 400. Today they are at 200. If they had better leadership, they would still be around 400.

 

[SouthofI80FootballFan]

Yeah, I'm gonna stay on that 17-year 1A argument. It works for me.

After a while, I feel like the list of private schools from metro areas in the 1A playoffs pretty much every year blows your argument out of the water. As if that isn't enough to sink your ship, the last private school to win 1A before Althoff was Aquin from the bustling metropolitan area of Freeport, the 102nd largest community in Illinois. https://www.illinois-demographics.com/cities_by_population

Nice list of private schools, though. Don't forget to add CCL schools like Leo and the defunct Hales Franciscan from Chicago that not just have hundreds of thousands people to recruit from, but millions of people from two states within their 30 mile radii...and yet they have never been able to win it all.

Maybe Leo and Hales should have had better coaches.

Aquin won with students who attend the school for 4 years, like Chicago Christian, because they don't have 100,000s of people to pick from. And I don't remember anyone complaining about them or Decatur St. Teresa, or Sterling Newman, or any other rural private winning. Because they recruit 8th graders that stay for 4 years, not 11th graders with interest from D1 schools. Highly doubt that Freeport has many of those.