Naz needs a damn rival
- Thread starter BretEpic
- Start date
The solution is obvious. The CCL and ESCC need to merge and create what we've all wanted for decades.
Naz has been fantastic the last few years, but they haven't always been that way. You weren't looking for a rival a few years ago.
Naz has been fantastic the last few years, but they haven't always been that way. You weren't looking for a rival a few years ago.
That's a good call epic.
The natural rival seems like it should be bronco, but who knows when that g a me will happen
The natural rival seems like it should be bronco, but who knows when that g a me will happen
Agreed. Montini would seem to be the logical choice. Doesn't seem to be any love lost between the fan groups on this board. Plus, with Racki's Driscoll roots, it seems natural. Naz' program has progressed to the point where they should upgrade their non-con schedule. As an objective fan, I'd love to see a Naz/Montini game happen.
wasn't it in 1996 that the ccl & escc merge to create the chicago metro conf? And if I'm not mistaken Naz and Marian central were the only two not to join. It ended with the -2002-2003 school year
Why would LT agree to play Naz? They have virtually nothing to gain and could lose good players to Naz.
Coach Racki on non-conference games and the ESCC;
" People always seem to hammer us about our non conference schedule but when you look at the conference we really don't have what some would call a soft week in the ESCC. I love it. Not once in the nine seasons I've been here have I ever had to worry about us looking past anyone. We've also gotten to the point in the conference where we've gained some respectability and we are no longer everyone's homecoming game. On the other end, when your trying to just get to 5-4 and become a playoff team that 's when you wish the conference wasn't so tough and so physically demanding. Three years ago we had an issue where we had a really good team but then had a few major injuries towards the end of the year and that really hurt our team and our chances."
https://edgytim.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1604921&PT=4&PR=2
As long as Coach Racki feels that way, Naz Fans, you should look for a rival in the ESSC or a lower level non-conference team.
" People always seem to hammer us about our non conference schedule but when you look at the conference we really don't have what some would call a soft week in the ESCC. I love it. Not once in the nine seasons I've been here have I ever had to worry about us looking past anyone. We've also gotten to the point in the conference where we've gained some respectability and we are no longer everyone's homecoming game. On the other end, when your trying to just get to 5-4 and become a playoff team that 's when you wish the conference wasn't so tough and so physically demanding. Three years ago we had an issue where we had a really good team but then had a few major injuries towards the end of the year and that really hurt our team and our chances."
https://edgytim.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1604921&PT=4&PR=2
As long as Coach Racki feels that way, Naz Fans, you should look for a rival in the ESSC or a lower level non-conference team.
St. joe needs to join the metro suburban and be with that other Catholic School Of Last Resort, Guerin.
Epic is right,
Jca has mc as a traditional rival,
Pc as a regional rival,
Com as a conference rival
Off topic, but someone should look into a tourney in a sport other than football featuring MC, JCA, COM and downstate Mount Carmel. At the D3 level there have been bball tournaments with multiple St. Joseph and St. Johns playing each other (like the 2 BRs earlier this year.
I want some kind of tournament (baseball? basketball? wrestling tri?) between the three NDs (Quincy, Peoria and Niles).
Used to be some fun rivalries. Naz -Walther Lutheran had some great matchups back in the day. Definitely miss the Naz RB rivalry, but even before Naz passed RB competitively, I think they really started competing for students a lot less as well.
Fenwick or Montini both seem like logical rivalries that could develop if the teams wanted to schedule each other regularly. MCC could actually become one as well at this point, and it goes back, with Naz's post seasons being ended quite a few times in the 90's by MCC, as well as the 08 playoff run.
Fenwick or Montini both seem like logical rivalries that could develop if the teams wanted to schedule each other regularly. MCC could actually become one as well at this point, and it goes back, with Naz's post seasons being ended quite a few times in the 90's by MCC, as well as the 08 playoff run.
I believe Carmel Crespi in Calif. is the only orher carmelite hs in the country besides mc, jca and Com
Geography is usually a major factor in high school rivalries. One of the problems I've always had with the ESCC is the lack of neighborhood rivalries because of the geographical size of the conference. In my opinion the only true rivalry in the conference is ND/SP.
Some non-con rivalry selections for every year could be ....
SHG
Rochester
East St. Louis
Batavia
Geneva
Sycamore
Addison Trail (get it, Racki's Driscoll was right next to it)
and for some reason I think Waubonsie Valley/Naz would be an interesting game every year.
SHG
Rochester
East St. Louis
Batavia
Geneva
Sycamore
Addison Trail (get it, Racki's Driscoll was right next to it)
and for some reason I think Waubonsie Valley/Naz would be an interesting game every year.
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Driscoll did schedule teams above their 4A level but never higher than 6A. Their next big step was to probably schedule a non-con game with JCA before they closed to test themselves on what they could do.
Yes! Completely forgot about ND/PATS now there's an old rivalry 2 schools that absolutely hate each other and that will take it to the parking lot after each game including some of the parents as well.
Sustained success like what's going in now and deep playoff runs will produce a rival. These things can't be forced.
Going back a few years, St. Pats-Holy Cross, that was a rivalry that had the geography factor nailed down. 5900 W Belmont, 8000 W Belmont, same conference, both schools had students from the same parishes and neighborhoods. Those were the ingredients for a rivalry.
And then you have the natural rivalries that never happened.
Aurora Christian (3A) vs. Aurora Central Catholic (4A)
The schools are literally 2 blocks from each other yet they have only played each other once in football. The Chargers walked to the game - how cool is that. That game produced a 49-6 victory for the Eagles. Fun to watch Maddie and Beebe hooking up for 3 TDs in this game...
highlight video -
Good news, I've been told the athletic directors set up a 1 and 1 beginning next season. Hopefully these two schools can make it a regular thing even though they are no longer in the same conference.
Aurora Christian (3A) vs. Aurora Central Catholic (4A)
The schools are literally 2 blocks from each other yet they have only played each other once in football. The Chargers walked to the game - how cool is that. That game produced a 49-6 victory for the Eagles. Fun to watch Maddie and Beebe hooking up for 3 TDs in this game...
highlight video -
Good news, I've been told the athletic directors set up a 1 and 1 beginning next season. Hopefully these two schools can make it a regular thing even though they are no longer in the same conference.
LT - Has nothing to gain and everything to lose
Fenwick - Tomato cans, they brag how they are in the CCL, but are too scared to join the blue and for the same reason as LT wouldnt play naz.
RB - maybe if this was 2001 it be an awesome rivalry
Montini and St. Francis I see as the only logical choices.
Fenwick - Tomato cans, they brag how they are in the CCL, but are too scared to join the blue and for the same reason as LT wouldnt play naz.
RB - maybe if this was 2001 it be an awesome rivalry
Montini and St. Francis I see as the only logical choices.
The idea of a Montini Nazareth series is intriguing. I don't understand why Epic did not consider Montini on his quest for a rival.
I have no idea why Montini and Nazareth do not play each other in football. Montini is approx. 5 miles away from Nazareth. My recollection, which may be faulty, is that the last time Montini played Nazareth in football was in 1995. In the fall of 1995 Montini's freshman played Nazareth's freshman at Nazareth on a weekday. I do not recall Montini playing Nazareth in a Varsity game.
I don't want to put it on Naz, but the only clue as to why Montini-Nazareth do not play is Coach Racki's philosophy on non-conference games as stated in the interview he gave Edgy Tim prior to the 2014 season. It is certainly possible that Montini does not want to play Naz.
I don't think Montini/Naz is a good idea. The schools are not far apart but with Montini being in the CCL and Naz in the ESCC it gives incoming Freshman a choice of which conference they want to play in and what teams they want to play against.
There is the non-conference game schedule factor here. Montini wants to schedule the toughest 7A & 8A football teams they can during week 1 and 2 during the season. Their philosophy is whether they win or lose, they win. They win because they find out their weaknesses and can work on them the rest of the season. They figure they will have two easier games during the CCL season.
Naz does not want to play top competition for non-con games. They feel their competition week after week in the ESCC is tough enough and there really is no break once the ESCC schedule begins. They just want 2 wins for non-con games. Racki never wanted to schedule 7A, 8A schools, and maybe a strong Morris or JCA team for non-con games even while he was at Driscoll. Even though I think the program (Driscoll) could have won on another level, we will never know because Racki did not want to put the team to the test. The goal was winning state titles.
Naz and Montini will only become a rivalry if one of the teams changes conferences or they meet each other in the playoffs. I think a great non-con game for Naz would be SHG. They are 6A and both teams are awesome! I would really like to see a Naz/SHG matchup every year.
Wassup
There is the non-conference game schedule factor here. Montini wants to schedule the toughest 7A & 8A football teams they can during week 1 and 2 during the season. Their philosophy is whether they win or lose, they win. They win because they find out their weaknesses and can work on them the rest of the season. They figure they will have two easier games during the CCL season.
Naz does not want to play top competition for non-con games. They feel their competition week after week in the ESCC is tough enough and there really is no break once the ESCC schedule begins. They just want 2 wins for non-con games. Racki never wanted to schedule 7A, 8A schools, and maybe a strong Morris or JCA team for non-con games even while he was at Driscoll. Even though I think the program (Driscoll) could have won on another level, we will never know because Racki did not want to put the team to the test. The goal was winning state titles.
Naz and Montini will only become a rivalry if one of the teams changes conferences or they meet each other in the playoffs. I think a great non-con game for Naz would be SHG. They are 6A and both teams are awesome! I would really like to see a Naz/SHG matchup every year.
Wassup
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