Incorrect. LF Academy does not play football and hasn’t fielded a team in several years.
What High Schools don’t have football but probably should?
- Thread starter crazylegs777
- Start date
Br. Rice due to a lack of facilities. No vis stands = no team!!!!
Why?
You don't think playing football is valuable unless you are a playoff contender?
Wow! You should stay away from high school sports if you truly beleive that.
If you don’t make the playoffs for 25 years something is wrong. Either the school doesn’t care or the area just doesn’t have enough kids or talent. In any case if they still want to play let them.
Or they are in the wrong conference.
Take Leo (last playoff appearance in 2013), for example. More power to Leo for sticking it out in the CCL, but getting pasted in CCL crossover games against Rita, Laurence, Naz, Montini, etc. every year keeps them from qualifying for the playoffs more often than they do.
Leo would be playoff qualifiers far more frequently if they played in a conference like the Chicagoland Christian or the Chicagoland Prairie.
This is one reason why I would like to see the CCL expand to include more small Catholic schools like Marian Central, St Edward, CTK, Ottawa Marquette, Mac, etc.
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You can put Stagg in that same category of wrong conference for public schools.
Made playoffs 6 out of 17 years in the old SICA (not a great %, but at least some hope), moved to the SWSC 20 years ago, have not made the playoffs and only have had 4 wins twice in that span.
I have not done the research, but Thornridge, formerly of the SWSC and now the Southland, must be at a similar level of futility, unfortunately.
Thornridge last made the playoffs in 2010 the year the school was supposed to close. It was only kept open by the fact that parent of the kids there were worried about sending their kids to Thornton or Thornwood with rival gang members I remember Stagg made the semi finals & there was some controversy that they had to play at Edwardsville & said according to IHSA rules they should have hosted
Correct, but at least TR is in a league for the last 7-8 years where it can "compete" with similar abilitty schools. Stagg has not won a conference game in the SWSC since TW, TT, and TR left.
I finally did some "homework" on the 4 seasons Thornridge has competed in the Southland Conference. They have won a total of 3 games, 1 by forfeit and not more than 1 win in a single season. That makes for a 3-29 record since joining.
As bad as Thornridge has been. The 0-9 Thornton team I saw last year rivaled any 0-9 suburban team I have seen in the last 25 years.
Speaking of the Southland, why was/is the Bloom AD listed as the football coach?
Leo would be in 1A. If they could just get in the playoffs they could make some noise because they do have some athletes and are battle tested with the schedule they play
Why would they be outstanding? What am I missing, just because of geographic location?
Your homework is incomplete.
TR/TT/TW joined the Southland in 2019, making that 6 seasons.
Regardless, I passed math to know that 0<3 in that same time frame.
I discounted the COVID season, but did miss one where TR went winless. So make the conference record 3-27 instead over 5 normal regular seasons. Also, that conference ranged in membership during that time from 5-9 schools at various times upon looking more closely.
They are a well-funded, thriving private school that has an excellent athletic program with modern facilities. That doesn't guarantee success in football, but it sure helps.
Sure, I guess I knew all that but starting a football program in that area is an uphill battle IMO. Hope I am wrong if they decide to pursue it, got nothing against TC. Getting the right coach off the bat is critical.
I think they have a fairly homogenous student body of mostly kids from Dutch Christian Reformed families. Kind of like Chicago Christian and Illiana Christian in that regard. They've been around for many years, so they probably grow most of their own students from within their faith and school community.
Year in and year out, I wonder how many kids from TC's 8th grade are transferring out to attend other high schools in order to play football. If not many, then it's just not a sport within that school community's tradition. If a bunch, then perhaps TCHS should consider giving football a try
@forlouann or @JackHaan could likely better weigh in here.
ramblinman. Thank you for the vote of confidence on this subject. However, I have very little insight on this subject in regards to Timothy Christian. The only chatter I've heard through the years is that there is just not a lot of interest in a football program there. They seem to be getting by just fine without one.
Illiana Christian is a different story. Intrest is high there, and have some serious financial backing for the program . I've seen renderings for the helmets and uniforms and they look great. Also a new field is in the works in the next few years
The superintendent at Timothy would like to add football but adding it would draw more students to the school. The school is currently at capacity and on a wait list of students. They just purchased surrounding properties/land around the school and will be expanding. Once this is done, they will be looking to add football.
Why I think they will be good?
The superintendent is a huge proponent of sports and specifically football.
They have deep pockets. A few families of note at the school: Portillo, Ozinga, Huizenga
They will go all out when/if they add football. Will certainly get a top notch coach.
Loads of talent all around.
Personally, I think there is a growing movement around Christian schools and the ones that are well runned, their enrollments reflect that.
Why I think they will be good?
The superintendent is a huge proponent of sports and specifically football.
They have deep pockets. A few families of note at the school: Portillo, Ozinga, Huizenga
They will go all out when/if they add football. Will certainly get a top notch coach.
Loads of talent all around.
Personally, I think there is a growing movement around Christian schools and the ones that are well runned, their enrollments reflect that.
They started tearing up/putting turf down already this summer.
I have no kowledge at all, but they must have some serious $ backing football.
Their field is only 5-ish years old.
To tear up a 5-6 year old field (installed sod, irrigation, time spent grading, etc. is expensive) to replace with turf, install goalposts, equipment etc is a huge $ finacial commitment.
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