I think this makes for interesting speculation.
IF the IHSA creates separate classes, do they do so for private schools only? Or do they do it for all non-boundaried schools?
If for private schools only, then I say the private schools should leave entirely. Or at least those in northeastern Illinois should leave and form the NIPL. Why should those schools be forced into their own playoffs that would be governed by the public school dominated IHSA? Would private schools accept the public school Cobden High School Appleknockers representative from far southern Illinois voting on matters affecting their playoffs? Do the private schools voluntarily accept all the rules and regulations whined for by the public schools over the years and designed to "even the playing field" when it's their own playing field?
If for all non-boundaried schools, then the same questions as above still apply but perhaps to a lesser extent.
Perhaps their post season would be more appealing with each of those two facing off against each other in the playoffs...
It is a fascinating question of how appealing an all private postseason would be. I agree MC and LA would like the chance to play each other in an elimination game, which they are not always afforded now.
However, it all comes down to constituencies. If they remain substantially elevated from their peers, I don't see the appetite for Rice, Rita, Marist, Carmel, Viator, Ignatius, etc to get beat by 30 often in the postseason to last more than a year or two. That would be unsatisfying to the Big 2 and unsatisfying to the schools getting beaten.
And that's where the intrigue lies. Would a NIPL operate best with an open class of 8 schools? 4 schools?
And then 2 enrollment classifications?
If it's just 2 enrollment classifications alone, I don't see a 5-4/4-5 St. Francis, Marist, Carmel, ND, or Fenwick wanting to be the 8 seed against 9-0 Loyola each year.
I know, I know, every conference needs cannon fodder (Vandy in the SEC, etc.) But in setting up constituencies for a brand new postseason format, I believe those that would be candidates for the open class (MC, LA, Rice, Naz, etc) would be thoroughly outnumbered by the number of schools that would want to segregate them from their own institutions. As has been mentioned in this thread, banners are forever and every school wants a reasonable chance to compete. Marian Catholic knows they have no chance in a playoff with MC or Loyola or probably even Rice.
But if there can be a 4 team or 8 team open class, perhaps Marian can make a somewhat deep run against the likes of Laurence and Fenwick in the "large school class" underneath the open class.
It's just an intriguing question about the voting interests. The mid and small sized private schools would seemingly be heavily invested in keeping an open or large school classification of the smallest amount possible to keep them insulated from having to play the bigger schools.
Look no further than IC and Rochester (who had recently defeated Rita) going up against Loyola in recent years and realizing it's a whole different beast than they are capable of playing. If IC is feeling that way, then we know Leo and DePaul and St. Pat's and Benet and Laurence are likely feeling similar things.
And that's all that matters. Not what is right or best, but what would these institutions push for in a real world scenario. And it's not two 16 team classes where St. Francis gets crushed by Loyola in the large class and Leo gets crushed by Montini in the small class.
I just believe the constituents would demand at least 3 classifications and the largest/open class would have a lot of advocates calling for the smallest possible grouping to separate the two perceived juggernauts from most other institutions.
