Better preparation for the playoffs so your not going one and done in the playoffs. I noticed Waubonsie and Neuqua didn’t fair well at all in the playoffs feasting on less capable teams during Upstate 8 conference play (except one year in 2012 when both were stacked and their starters only played 2 quarters most of the season). When they moved into the DVC for just those 3 years - they seemed to make deeper runs into 2nd round, quarters, and even one semi final run.
Granted it is a grind and injuries can pile up doing the grind so I can see it both ways. If they move to districts - it will be a grind for most of the 8A teams depending on how they break out the districts. WA and the Oswego’s could be in the same district as the Napers and Valleys. Or maybe Bolingbrook stays West and Oswego’s move north. Just don’t know.
I feel like you're better off getting some experience in the playoffs, as a program, and getting a taste of what that's like and what you need to do to win. Rather than only occassionally making playoffs when you have a really stellar group, and no one knows what to do in the playoffs and it feels like a victory just making it.
I thought the expansion to 8 classes, which would allow some 5-4 teams in the playoffs, might make the DVC viable for WA to succeed in football. But then even the years they went 5-4, they wouldn't have the playoff points to get in, even having played a tough DVC schedule. With the makeup of the conference most of the years WA was in it, we could usually chalk up 3 losses at the start to NC, NN, and WWS. They all had some killer teams more often than not those years. So then you're left hoping Wheaton North and Glenbard N and E are all having down years too, cause you can't afford to lose to any of them if you want to get in the playoffs. Can't afford to beef up the non conf either, for the same reason. Stuck on a path to nowhere.
A tougher schedule may prepare you for the playoffs better, but WA lost in the first round to the eventual champions two years in a row, and Naperville Central last year. They hung with Loyola for a half 3 years ago, took Maine South to the final seconds 2 years ago, and played well against NC last year for most of the game. I don't see any of those results going differently if they had played a DVC schedule, with the possible exception of the MS game.
You're right, if they go to a district system, there's no avoiding the tough teams. But there isn't already, you'll meet them eventually. There's no back door to a championship.
