I am not talking about the Championship or bust group. You can pound your chest how anything short of a championship is a failed season but that group is maybe 1 or 2% of all teams in Illinois. What do the vast majority of teams feel is a successful season? I also am aware that some schools view winning 3 games as a good season, but that group is also very small.
I will say, the state championship or bust group is much smaller than the 3 wins is a good season group... Programs like Hoopeston Area, which haven't made the playoffs since 1993, and only won 4 games twice since '93, missed a season for lack of players and another season cut short by too many injuries leaving them without enough players, have a good - maybe even a great - year with 3 wins. Maybe the question would be better split into classes...probably more 8A schools find just making the playoffs to be disappointing, while more 1A schools find making the playoffs a good season. And a lot of smaller schools look at their talent to decide if they had a good season. 2A Westville, for example, was 1-8 in '14, 7-3 in '15, 10-1 in '16, 11-1 in '17, 0-9 in '18, 4-5 in '19...but the '19 team lost to 4 teams that won a total of 41 games (non-con games with 13-1 1A runner up and 11-1 2A quarterfinalist, 9-2 conference champ, 8-3 conference runner up) and a 5-5...I suspect they hoped to make the playoffs this year, and will be disappointed if they miss next year...I highly doubt that the bigger classes get the huge whipsaw years that many smaller class teams get - like 11-1 to 0-9.
I can't speak for other teams. And I don't think anyone else can with a high degree of accuracy. But here, I think at this point, a playoff appearance and a first round win would be a good place to start and build from.
Hard for me to call the season my sons team had anything but successful. Yah they lost the state title game, but since they’ve never been there, and they broke countless school and conference records, this is a successful year in many ways.
At MS of course the ultimate goal is a title. But realistically I feel like at the very least we should be a quarterfinal team yearly.
It really depends on the school. Personally I think making the playoffs is a successful season. But not at MC. I’ve been at many schools where they display their quarterfinal and semifinal plaques their given proudly in their trophy cases and rightfully so, but at MC those are in a box somewhere in a closet. State Finalist and State Championship trophies are displayed only. Win Conference then Win State.
really conference matters over there? I wouldn't have thought so. Just for South Side bragging rights and recruiting ?
I think success is defined by the preseason goals. If you achieve them, you were successful. State Championship isn't a realistic goal for most teams. In ESL with over 40 state titles in Football, Basketball and Track, it's hard to display anything other than a state championship trophy. On the flip side, if we win a playoff game is Baseball, Tennis or a Regional Championship in Volleyball, we are super excited.
CCL Blue titles are important to coaches, players, and alumni. Most coaches who coach there now grew up in the division and understand how difficult winning the league is. The south side schools (MC,BR,SR,Marist) grow up playing against each other and are still close friends. Not just, "we played 7on7 with each other last off season" but we grew up in kindergarten and grammar school together. Families have long friendships and loyalties. I wouldn't be shocked if the CCL Blue has 4 of the top 6 teams ranked in the preseason polls next season. (ESL with macon and LWE would be my guess on the other 2.)
Great post, and 100% true, it starts with Southside Catholic Conference and grows from there...then basketball...then baseball with RB, MP, EPAA, and EPBC playing against each other, then that leads right back into football!
Thanks for the post and clarifying. The Naz staff is full of former Blue players 1 Loyola, 1 MC, 2 SR, 1 BR and they don't really talk about it.
If you are talking about the current CCL Blue, I do not see either Marist or Rice being a preseason top 6 team. If you are talking about the old CCL Blue, the only two teams that may be ranked that high are MC and LA. Rita, Providence and Rice will not be pre-season top 6 teams.
At Oswego, winning the conference and getting to at least the quarters is a goal and expectation. Next year I think the goals will be a little loftier, but the expectation the same.
You are entitled your opinion. Marist and BR will be more talented and have more depth than this years teams. I understand why anyone who saw BR play before the QB switch would question a high ranking going into next season. Their QB is not only talented but from what I hear he has the it factor that has the whole neighborhood talking. Very rarely you see SR and MC fans speak highly of a kid from a rival school. All I hear is that Jack Lausch is special and he is loaded with talent around him.
Fixed for you. And I can see why south siders wouldn't discuss rivalries with you. You're a little prissy man.
