Can they play with the Big Boys?

I expected the outrage the minute I added my third Suburban Catholic school to my weekly EDGYTIM.com Chicagoland Top 25 poll.

I knew it was coming.

I knew that throngs of fans of larger enrollment schools would be very vocal once I added Driscoll Catholic into my weekly poll. I'm also expecting that our buddy and Sun Times prep editor Steve Tucker is also experiencing the same responses with his weekly Top 25 poll.

So, the question on the table or blog if you will is can the smaller guys play with the bigger boys?

It's a good question, a really good question.

So why would I dare include three smaller enrollment schools from the Suburban Catholic conference into my Chicagoland Top 25 poll? Why would anyone for that matter?

So far this fall, I've had a chance to see in person Lincoln-Way East, Providence Catholic, Montini, Springfield Sacred Heart Griffin, Bolingbrook, Downers Grove South, Joliet Catholic, Chicago Mount Carmel, Hubbard, Fenwick, Simeon, St. Rita, Wheaton South, Waubonsie Valley, Oak Lawn Richards, Morgan Park, Lincoln-Way Central, Driscoll, Marmion along with a handful of other teams via television (yes, EDGY does DVR very well).

I feel that I've been able to see some great teams in person and up close, and hopefully you'll agree that at least I'm getting out there again this fall.

Marian Central Catholic? Montini Catholic? Driscoll Catholic? Are all three schools really Top 25 worthy?

In short, yes they are for now in my humble opinion.

Marian Central Catholic? Last time I looked this team was playing last Thanksgiving weekend in the Class 5a state title game and has yet to lose a game this fall. How many teams regardless of enrollment size can boast players the caliber of say junior QB Jon Budmayr (he of a handful of early Big Ten scholarship offers) or Notre Dame bound senior DL Sean Cwynar?

Montini? Can someone really tell me that the Broncos wouldn't give several bigger enrollment school teams at least a decent game? That the Broncos revised Dink and Dunk spread passing game would be any easier to defend this fall than the same attack being run all over the state? Talent? How many schools this fall can boast about at least 3 major D-1 prospects on the roster? Montini can.

Driscoll? The Highlanders, the defending Class 4A state title winners and winners of six straight state titles, who look to me like they have a great shot at a seventh state title in a row? Not good enough? That Driscoll senior QB David Schwabe couldn't be a major impact player at a bigger school? Or that the Highlanders defense would get rolled by any school with more kids in the building? Please.

The main issue and argument has always been if these schools played in the Chicagoland area's Enormous Conferences that week in and week out they would wear down. Yes they would? Maybe? No?

In short, we'll never know that answer and that's what makes these polls fun on so many levels.

If the bigger schools want a piece of these smaller school powers, then by all means give them a call.

Have schools like Montini ever ducked anyone on it's non conference schedule over the years under Chris Andriano? Don't think that any Hurricane or Highlander fan worth their salt wouldn't love a chance to play a few of the big bigger boys just once?

If you play in the smaller enrollment conferences, does it mean that your coaches aren't capable of figuring out and beating larger schools? Does it mean that MCC's veteran Ed Brucker, Montini's Chris Andriano and Driscoll's Mike "Buzz" Burzawa aren't as good as the larger school coaches? Now your just being silly.

The main question there remains would any of the bigger boys want to schedule these smaller school powers? I have my doubts.

A home and home? Naw, I seriously doubt that the big boys would want anything to do with a road game at the very small schools. Also, what would the bigger boys really have to gain by beating one of these schools? Not much.

Another argument for this cause if I may?

Appalachian State, or in state D-1AA Southern Illinois or say NAIA local football power St. Xavier to name a few.

Haven't we learned by now that anyone on any given day can beat another team regardless of the "size" of the opponent?

I didn't see Appy State back down at all from mighty Michigan.

Think the NIU fans and coaches are feeling good today after losing to the SIU Salukis last Saturday night?

I had a chance to call the game on WJOL AM 1340 in Joliet last Saturday night between St. Xavier and the University of St. Francis, as the Cougars rolled to an impressive 52-8 win at Joliet Memorial Stadium.

Could someone not convince me that the Cougars couldn't go toe to toe with say several of the in-state Football Championship Subdivision schools (D1-AA) for four quarters?

So for at least this week anyways, the smaller schools will have it's day in the polls.

Like I always have for the past 11 years of publishing, if I see a team that I feel is Top 25 worthy regardless of class size, they will get ranked. It's as simple as that kids.

Thanks to technology however, you can always have a say and feel free to comment and to express your thoughts on this subject.

Hooray for technology and for the smaller guys.