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Thoughts after watching eight high school football games--and assorted other college and professional events--in two days while feasting on hot turkey sandwiches and other Thanksgiving Day leftovers:
* Anyone who argues that Maine South's Matt Perez wasn't the Player of the Year wasn't paying attention.
* Critics of the Illinois High School Association's television production of the state finals are reminded that the folks who provided the play-by-play and color commentary--Jim Spencer, Steve Moews, Lee Hall, Greg Bradshaw, Tom Stocker, Jim Covert, Dave Bernhard, Jack McInerney--do a very competent job and are so much better than the alternative. You want professonals? Remember Norm Van Lier? Better production? It looked very good from where I was sitting and, remember Heidi, ESPN, the commercial networks and the cable stations fumble the ball, too, with much larger budgets.
* Watch for Tuscola's Jud Wienke to emerge as a star, just as former Tuscola players Dusty Burk and John Wienke, his older brother.
* Another player to watch is sophomore quarterback Robert Gregory of Simeon. If he continues to develop as a junior and senior, he could emerge as one of the most talented and widely recruited players in the last 50 years.
* As Hall of Fame quarterback Bob Griese noted during the Illinois/Cincinnati game, Illini quarterback Juice Williams' running has improved since his spectacular sophomore season but not his passing. His NFL stock has landed in the basement.
* The atmosphere of playing the state finals in Memorial Stadium is electric, like Soldier Field used to be for the Public and Catholic League champions at the Prep Bowl. But the crowds are disappointing, only the participating communities and schools are represented at each game. It simply isn't the only game in town, as it once was.
* The Prep Bowl game between Simeon and St. Rita was very entertaining until the questionable pass interference penalty and subsequent unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Simeon's staff for arguing the decision turned it in St. Rita's favor. From where I saw, both players were going for the ball. The defensive back didn't go over the receiver's back or push him to get at the ball. But the official was closer to the play and saw it another way. That's football. It's too bad such a competitive game was decided on a controversial play.
* What happened to the Blackhawks since they beat the Sharks and were being touted as the NHL's new version of the Montreal Canadiens? Maybe those young kids are taking their press clippings too seriously?
* Just when I was about to start writing a commentary suggesting that the IHSA should revise its seeding procedure--in the same fashion as it tweaked its multiplier to try to level the playing field--after watching 36-14, 41-7 and 52-22 blowouts on Friday, the Saturday games came along and cooled me off.
* Still, blowouts in state finals, especially running clocks, should be avoided if at all possible. Until they prove otherwise, Chicago Public League teams should never be seeded No. 1 or No. 2 in any class. Look at their track record. Rather than relying on a computer to spit out seedings, how about selecting a panel of retired coaches and media who know the game to determine the seeds based on performance, strength of schedule and body of work?
* Maine South coach Dave Inserra has the highest winning percentage in state history. In nine years, his teams have won 104 of 112 games, or .897 percent. The highest winning percentage for all coaches with 10 years or more of experience is .879 by East St. Louis' Wirt Downing, who posted a 145-17-7 record in 16 years.
* Montini's dramatic 29-28 victory over heavily favored Joliet Catholic in the Class 5A final was the biggest upset in the state playoff since the inaugural event in 1974 when Glenbrook North stunned East St. Louis in overtime. The Broncos' 83-yard drive in the last three minutes to score with 32 seconds left and coach Chris Andriano's decision to go for the two-point conversion and the victory was stuff of legend.
* When a running team is forced to throw the ball, bad things usually happen. And they happened to Providence as Cary-Grove proved, as Lake Zurich did earlier, that the caliber of football in the Chicago area is spreading throughout the suburbs.
* Before you could stop talking about the Montini/Joliet Catholic game, along game Glenbard West/Wheaton Warrenville South. Another great finish with WW South rallying from a 15-yard roughing-the-kicker penalty that left the Tigers with a first-and-25 situation in the first overtime. WW South quarterback Reilly O'Toole, who engineered the 31-24 victory, projects as one of the top players in the class of 2011.
* Talk about a Hollywood ending. Matt Perez couldn't have written a more exciting script for his high school farewell, 316 yards rushing and five touchdowns in a 41-17 victory over Marist. Twenty-eight victories in a row.
Please pass the drumstick.
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I said last week Maine South Back to Back State Champs 28 in a row. Book It. And Perez is the best back since Rashard Mendenhall.
THERE THIS KID WHO GOES TO LAKES HIGH SCHOOL IN LAKE VILLA AND HIS NAME IS DIRELL CLARK HE PLAY FOOTBALL AND HIS PLAY BASKETBALL AND BASEBALL THIS KID IS ONLY IN 9 GRADE AND HE IS SO GOOD THAT HE CAN LEAD ANY TEAM TO THE PLAYOFF...
I think Dan Dierking might have something to say about Perez being the best RB since Mendenhall.
Mr.Bell: If you are going to bring attention to to controversial pass interferance call you should also bring attention to the fact that earlier in the Prep Bowl contest Simeon fumbled inside the 5 yard line and St.Rita recovered. The refs awarded the ball to Simeon and they scored a T.D. two plays later. When this occured the St.Rita staff acted appropriatly and kept their composure.
I would argue that overcomming questionable calls by officials is sometimes part of the game. The refs did not beat Simeon. The Simeon coaching staff lost their cool and contributed greatly to their teams loss.
How do the playoff results affect the discussion about the Catholic Blue and the DuPage Valley?
Until they prove otherwise, Chicago Public League teams should never be seeded No. 1 or No. 2 in any class.
You couldn't be more right about this.
Critics of the Illinois High School Association's television production of the state finals are reminded that the folks who provided the play-by-play and color commentary--Jim Spencer, Steve Moews, Lee Hall, Greg Bradshaw, Tom Stocker, Jim Covert, Dave Bernhard, Jack McInerney--do a very competent job and are so much better than the alternative.
If the alternative is muting the television then they aren't better than the alternative. Depends on what the alternative is. The guys on the radio do a fine job. We were treated to "Matt Perez's favorite thing is to get a sack." "Sack of the quarterback or a sack lunch?" Wow.
For Tim from Evanston .... FYI, Rashard Mendenhall played at Niles West, in the same conference, he NEVER beat Maine South. He never even gained over 100 yards in either his junior or senior year against MS. Perez is perhaps the very best running back in ISHS history.
Mr. Bell,
Please reconsider your position about the seeding process. To me, it's a shame that St. Rita, Wheaton-Warrenville South, East St. Louis, Glenbard West and Geneva are basically in the same quad in 7A. If the 1 - 32 seeding was in effect and the aforementioned teams played each other often and early, then I'd accept that, because was under the most fair system.
The players play hard all year to earn a higher seed, which usually means playing lower seeded teams in the playoffs. Those kids EARNED this.
Unfortunately, because schools are in the same "geographical region," this does not happen.
Are you aware if Libertyville would've have made the playoffs (missed by one game), that Glenbard West probably would've ended up in the WWS/SR/East St. Louis/Geneva quad?? Just imagine, the WWS/Glenbard West matchup would not have occurred.
The Cary Grove victory was yet another in an overwhelming flow of major victoies by suburban schools in state play-off competition.In 1987, Cary Grove defeated the unbeaten Chicago Catholic Chaopions,Leo, 19-13 and ten years later Woodstock defeated Bishop McNamara 49-14 when they were the 2nd place team in the CCL.Many other Fox,Central, West, and DuPage Valley teams as well as teams from other conferences have been defeating the city teams---public and Catholic--for years. In fact,the last 16 largest class--6A until 2001 and 8A thereafter---have been won by suburban public schools except for two by East ST Louis---none have been won by Catholic schools.
Marist?
CONGRATS TO ALL OF THE STATE CHAMPS!
FROM 1A TO 8A!
TO THE CHEERLEADING TEAMS AS WELL!
TO ALL OF THE COACHES, TRAINERS, PARENTS OF ALL PLAYERS AND CHEERLEADERS!
TO LIFT THE WEIGHTS, RUN THE HILLS, THE SPRINTS, THE SACRIFICE YOU HAVE PUT FORTH TO BE CHAMPIONS!
THANK YOU FOR BEING CHAMPIONS AND CONTINUED SUCCESS!