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I'm old enough to remember where I was when Don Larsen pitched his perfect game in the World Series and President Kennedy was shot. And I was covering professional golf for the Chicago Daily News when Johnny Miller won the 1973 U.S. Open with a closing 63.
But I didn't see Red Grange play for Wheaton High School and I was a college student when Dick Butkus was terrorizing opponents at Chicago Vocational.
So who were the best high school football players I ever saw, my all-time team dating to 1957 when I was awed by Leroy Jackson and his unbeaten Bloom team, players I covered while working for 33 years at the Daily News and Sun-Times?
We can agree to disagree, of course. Everyone has his favorites. You might come up with 22 different players. But I doubt it. Before you are quick to nominate someone who you think belongs on the all-time team, however, think about it. Who do you drop to make room for him? Why?
The offense:
Receivers: Jimmy Smith, Blue Island Eisenhower, 1972; Dempsey Norman, Tilden, 1983; Jon Schweighardt, Wheaton Warrenville South, 1998.
Linemen: Dennis Lick, St. Rita, 1971; Mike Kenn, Evanston, 1973; Tom Thayer, Joliet Catholic, 1979; Jim Juriga, Wheaton North, 1982; Tim Grunhard, St. Laurence, 1985.
Quarterback: Mark Carlson, Deerfield, 1975.
Running backs: Billy Marek, St. Rita, 1971; Mike Alstott, Joliet Catholic, 1991.
The defense:
Linemen: Dave Butz, Maine South, 1968; Keena Turner, Vocational, 1975; Chris Boskey, St. Francis de Sales, 1978; Bryant Young, Bloom, 1989.
Linebackers: Tony Furjanic, Mount Carmel, 1981; John Foley, St. Rita, 1985; Clay Matthews, New Trier, 1973.
Backs: Jack Bastable, Wheeling, 1968; Dwayne Goodrich, Richards, 1995; Brian Wise, Tinley Park, 1987; Mike Prior, Marian Catholic, 1981.
Notable omissions include Marshall's Darryl Stingley, Farragut's Otis Armstrong, Thornton's Antwaan Randle El and Napoleon Harris, Weber's Tim Marshall, Whitney Young's Russell Maryland, Providence's Pete Bercich and Eric Steinbach, Vocational's Chris Zorich, Thornton Fractional North's Mike Tomczak, Mount Carmel's Donovan McNabb and Simeon Rice and West Chicago's Scott Dierking.
Some went on to enjoy outstanding careers in college and the NFL. Others suffered injuries and never realized their great potential. But my all-time selections are based on high school performance only. No consideration was given to what they accomplished afterward. Let the debate begin.
Cell Phone Alerts
The states best running back was Jimmy Smith of Westview High School in Kankakee Ill. 1979
Belville Altoff's Hickey Thompson was the best HS running back no comparison
Rich Weiss of NTE should be Honorable Mention at least
I WILL NEVER FORGET COREY ROGERS VS. MIKE ALSTOTT IN THE
STATE SEMI-FINALS IN 1990!
A GREAT LEO TEAM AGAINST JOLIET CATHOLIC!
BOTH OF THESE YOUNG MEN ATTENDED PURDUE UNIVERSITY!
THUNDER AND LIGHTNING!
THIS WAS THE SAME YEAR MR. ROGERS AND LEO HIGH SCHOOL
DEMOLISHED RICHARDS HIGH SCHOOL AT RICHARDS TO ADVANCE
IN THE STATE PLAY-OFFS!
COACH BOB FOSTER WAS AT THE HELM FOR THE LIONS!
THE LEO TEAM ONLY LOST TWO GAMES THE ENTIRE SEASON!
LEO HIGH SCHOOL WITH THOSE COLORS BLACK AND ORANGE WERE
A TEAM TO BE RECKONED WITH IN 1990 AND COREY ROGERS WAS
TRUELY REMARKABLE!
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS TEAM TAYLOR, THEY FOUGHT
TOOTH AND NAIL AGAINST JCA, WHOM BY THE WAY WON THE
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP!
OH WHEN THOSE LEO LIONS HIT THE LINE AND THOSE COLORS
BLACK AND ORANGE ARE UNFURLED, A GREAT TEAM OF 1990 WITH
COREY ROGERS AND COMPANY!
Taylor,
It has been 40 years since Jack Bastable of Wheeling HS and Dave Butz of Maine South graduated from High School. To still see their names on someone's "All Time Best" list is remarkable.... but not surprising.
Jack Bastable is still recognized after 4 decades as the greatest athlete to ever come out of the Mid Suburban League. A two time All State football performer that was recruited by everyone from Yale to UCLA. Oklahoma wanted him to be its Wishbone Quarterback, Notre Dame and Michigan both thought he could be a do everything triple threat tailback, Alabama wanted him to handle kicking field goals and punting. As a high school tailback he broke through defenses with the grace of a ballet dancer. As a field goal kicker he had no piers. In an era when high school game field goals were a rarity, Jack was accurate up to 45 yards. Playing for the Univ. of Missouri he once held the Big Eight record for most field goals in a game. As a punter he was blessed with a big "NFL" leg. Jack averaged over 40 yards per kick at Wheeling HS and Mizzou. As a defensive back he once returned an interception 103 yards. Nothing got by him.
As a baseball player he became an All American catcher while at the Univ. of Missouri and played in the Philadelpha Phillies organization for 6 years.
Today at the age of 57 he is a ranked "Masters" level tennis player.
Dave Butz was one of the first jumbo sized lineman (6'6" 265 lbs) that was a true athlete. A two time All Stater and an All-American his senior year. Dave was a nightmare for any opposition. He had great footwork and played with the speed of a swift linebacker. He became the most sought after lineman in the nation his senior year at Maine South. He was an All American at Purdue and played in the NFL for 13 seasons. Dave is still recognized as the best lineman to ever come out of Purdue.
As a track performer he won the state title in the discus setting a state record his junior year.
Both Jack and Dave were two time All Conference basketball players as well.
WHAT ABOUT LARRY MURRAY FROM WENDELL PHILLIPS HIGH SCHOOL,
HE PLAYED FOR CARL BONNER, HE WAS AN ABSOLUTE PHENOM ON
THE FOOTBALL FIELD!
HE ALSO WAS DRAFTED BY THE OAKLAND A'S AND HE MADE IT TO
THE BIG TEAM, HIS BROTHER MARTY MURRAY WAS A FANTASTIC
3 SPORT ATHLETE AT PHILLIPS AS WELL!
I BELIEVE LARRY MURRAY RESIDES IN CALIFORNIA, I WONDER WAS
HE EVER INDUCTED IN THE CHICAGO PUBLIC LEAGUE HALL OF FAME?
Tony Furjanic was indeed a tough linebacker and he got top prep honors;BUT, MY linebacker choice would be the"under the radar" John Balourdos #51 of Mather HighSchool! He graduated in 1983 but if time lines were parallel; John Balourdos would be my vote! He also played offensive guard and accounted for many of my yards. Tony Furjanic although a good linebacker couldn't hold a candle to John; he just went to Mount Carmel. GO MATHER RANGERS! A.J (Seabuck sux!)
Dempsey Norman was awesome! even that's an understatement. i remember years ago one of the news channels at the time was showing some actual game footage of Dempsey in action. i think they were playing against one of the Thorton schools; well, Jamie Barton miffed the hand off to Dempsey and the ball took a negative bounce. the refs didn't call it dead; Dempsey instead ran back to get retrieve it and used his incredible speed,ran towards the left side line as the opposing team surged right to tackle him and took it like 40 yards into the end-zone thus winning that game! i've NEVER seen that sort of play in my life!!!!! AJ
I'm an Leo Catholic H.S alum class of '03. I played football and track for Leo but didn't have the same success as the 1990 team in football. i remember talking to Mr. Foster, who was the school president when I was there, about that about that team and he lite up like a xmas tree. I'm always going to be proud of where i come from. The tradition and history is rich and i am a Leo man 4 life... DEEDS NOT WORDS!!!!!
Member of the 02' AND 03' Class A Track and Field CHAMPS!!!
BEst all time HS running back is Jimmy Smith Westview HS. kankakee