No doubt LA, ESL, and SR are doing it because they like to play up as much as possible. LA benefitted a few times just by happenstance, but they weren't avoiding MC. It is just unfortunate that it gave both teams a "lighter" route the last few years, though there was certainly no avoidance intended. ESL we know will play anyone. SR is the headscratcher in that they petition up, but would seem to be perfectly competitive in 5A and 6A most years. So props to them for wanting to stretch beyond that.
Q of the Week: So who is the Preseason #1 ranked IHSA Football Team in Illinois?
- Thread starter EdgyTim
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I've noticed the same and have wondered if this could be the result of a growing DePaul Prep, as Loyola has traditionally drawn students from all across the northside of the city.
DePaul Prep's enrollment of around 1,350 is double what it was when they moved to their new campus five years ago. While I think that Loyola's enrollment has remained stable, it wouldn't surprise me at all if some student athletes who, up until DePaul's resurgence would have gone to Loyola, are now choosing to study and participate in athletics closer to home at DePaul Prep.
I couldn't be happier for Pat Mahoney, the current DePaul Prep AD. Pat was the former Loyola AD who went to DePaul Prep after being made the fall guy for something out of his control at Loyola. I believe that the successful athletics program he has built since being hired at DPP in 2018 has been a key driver of enrollment growth for the school.
A kid that "might" only have realistic upside of a one year starter at Loyola but maybe 2 year starter at DePaul and stay closer to home would for sure be appealing, I would think.
No specific reasons were given for Mahoney's departure in either the school's press release nor the Aug. 8 letter to the Loyola community.
School officials only said that he was going "to pursue other professional opportunities"
True, they had a few letdowns, but most of the starters were freshmen, sophs, and juniors. This year, they'll be much better. Should handle East with ease.
Remember, you are the guy who said last August that MC's receiving corps was depleted. Turned out to be a major strength.
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Pat Mahoney-great guy and great AD.
I watched a few game and was really impressed with the young receivers
Or a kid who would realistically never be a starter at Loyola but a 1st or 2nd teamer at DePaul might also find it more appealing to stay closer to home. Although, in recent years, LA's 2nd and 3rd teams see plenty of action in the regular season and early round playoffs (but it's tough to convince a kid on that).
It has been a primary ingredient in LA's secret sauce for around 15 years or so.
Wondering how Tom Zbikowski arrival at Pats will be with recruiting players. It won't be instant success but I have a feeling he will do really well there
One thing they should have in their favor the next (at least) 3 years will be scheduling. Does the name carry weight with the players or the players’ parents? He was an All American in ‘06 while the incoming frosh class would have been born in ‘11-‘12.
DePaul is set to be a player going forward. It has an awesome campus and great amenities. Moreso, it's location. Academically, I understand it is bordering elite. Local families can save the commute to LA or Iggy and get the same/better education, plus extracurriculars, in a nice neighborhood.
Any Notre Dame All Americans carry weight with most football fan Dads of the kids. While the kids will have never heard of him a a quick Google search will reveal an outstanding College career and 5 year NFL career. Plus a collegiate coaching stint in recent years. He's a great football mind, I think he will recruit well.
The campus is pretty cool. They have a good thing going sports wise.
Definitely not. The sponsor congregation (Congregation of the Resurrection) was having trouble keeping the doors open financially and they needed a new religious org with deeper pockets to come in a support it (DePaul). If you look at Catholic schools across the US, in addition to a bunch closing over the last 2 decades, there has been a ton of consolidation on the sponsor side to larger religious congregations who can better support schools financially.
They are all retired from the NFL.
All.... Don't shoot the messenger. ✌️ Calpreps "Sneak Peak" for Illinois. Much based on last years results with little updating. Ratsy
1. Mount Carmel
2. Lincon-Way East
3. Nazareth
4. Loyola
5. ESTL
6. St. Francis
7. St. Rita
8. JCA
9. Brother Rice
10. Montini
1. Mount Carmel
2. Lincon-Way East
3. Nazareth
4. Loyola
5. ESTL
6. St. Francis
7. St. Rita
8. JCA
9. Brother Rice
10. Montini
In no particular order, that has been the consensus top 5 of recent years. I think LWE will get the nod at 1 with the QB back while MC, LA have to replace theirs.
I think that next year there is a lot of talented teams
With DePaul showing that they are here to stay, will Loyola have a noticeable dip in talent?
With DePaul showing that they are here to stay, will Loyola have a noticeable dip in talent?
Hard to favor the Caravan based on last year's showing. However, based on the number of offers flowing into this year's class, the projection may be accurate. But it won't be easy to run the table. East will be as good as ever, and Loyola is ranked too low at #4. Counting Maine South in the top ten, not to mention Warren, 8A will be a bloodbath.
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I love the CCL, but this is a bit much😂 St. Francis and Montini lose a lot. Not sure if they belong in the Top 10 yet. I’d put DGN and Batavia in the mix. 8A playoffs are going to be fun to watch next year.
JCA is not a top 10 team! They will struggle to be a playoff team.
All.... The next 10. Ratsy
11. Batavia
12. Marist
13. DGN
14. York
15. Fremd
16. Libertyville
17. Fenwick
18. Geneva
19. Prospect
20. Maine South
Yep. They have interesting pieces. Great to have a returning QB who showed some ability to make plays, a standout DE, and a LB type who I believe can help out at FB/RB as well. But the sheer volume of needing to replace just under 20 starters puts a strain on a school of around 300 boys.
That schedule is absolutely brutal. They almost didn't make the playoffs last year with a senior laden team and owe their playoff berth to narrow escapes over Fenwick and Marist. PC was close as well.
Replacing Oswego with Glenbard West doesn't seem great to me. That's another game we are likely the underdog, which would be great if the playoffs were already in hand. But with this schedule they're not. Week 1 needs to be an absolute cream puff. So far the only game you circle and say JC is definitely favored is DLS. ND the only other one we may be favored in. Fenwick and PC are tossups at best, but I have to assume they enter the season as favored over JC given how little JC has returning. Really need a soft week 1.
