Q: So who's the next up and coming program to watch?

Anon1754760634

All-American
May 29, 2001
76,845
9,142
113
Up and coming program to watch?

Programs that have been say middle tier or so at best but who are ready to make a potential breakout/deeper playoff run.

Examples from 2018? Brother Rice/Wheaton South/Niles ND...
 

ClownBaby

Heisman
Oct 26, 2006
22,232
76,548
113
I’ll take Wheaton North they return a ton of talent from a 4-5 team that was pretty good, Xander Mueller was the best defensive player I saw last year and should dominate next year. I see them in the 7-2/ 8-1 range and as a really tough out in the playoffs.

The DuKane should have 4 really good teams next year with Batavia, WWS, WN and SCN.
 

micahjones

Senior
Jul 22, 2014
468
641
93
Warren Township. There are 8A schools up North not name LZ, Steve or Loyola. The last 2 years Warren has sent more kids to the next level than those schools .... Power 5 coaches, FCS and D2-D3 cosches now make thier pilgrimage to land of Six Flags !
 

JCHillmen

All-Conference
Nov 30, 2001
3,377
1,350
0
Minooka. Could be a break out year for the Indians
Been hearing that too. Lot of youth last year. 8a will do them no favors.

Really a school that I can't understand the lack of success in the three big male sports over the last several decades. Eventually they will crack through. It's my home district. Would like to see then turn a corner but I also understand nobody benefits more from their irrelevance than my alma mater.

Will be interesting to see how they do next year. They are my pick to win at least 7 next year and then win at least a few 8a playoff games
 

PowerI66_

All-Conference
Oct 11, 2012
3,943
2,894
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Been hearing that too. Lot of youth last year. 8a will do them no favors.

Really a school that I can't understand the lack of success in the three big male sports over the last several decades. Eventually they will crack through. It's my home district. Would like to see then turn a corner but I also understand nobody benefits more from their irrelevance than my alma mater.

Will be interesting to see how they do next year. They are my pick to win at least 7 next year and then win at least a few 8a playoff games
The upcoming senior class was dominate freshmen year, got caught up to their soph year, regained some dominance last year. Definitely capable of breaking through.
 

atsirabb

Redshirt
Jun 22, 2015
19
4
0
I’ll take Wheaton North they return a ton of talent from a 4-5 team that was pretty good, Xander Mueller was the best defensive player I saw last year and should dominate next year. I see them in the 7-2/ 8-1 range and as a really tough out in the playoffs.

The DuKane should have 4 really good teams next year with Batavia, WWS, WN and SCN.

Mueller is really good. But how was he better than Jack Kelly last season at WWS? He was voted, IHSA 7A 1st Team All-State & Top Def Player in The DuKane. He dominated every game - no one could block him. imo
 
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ClownBaby

Heisman
Oct 26, 2006
22,232
76,548
113
Mueller is really good. But how was he better than Jack Kelly at WWS voted, IHSA 7A 1st Team All-State & Top Def Player in The DuKane ??? He dominated every game - no one could block him.

Kelly was great, I think he had 10 tacklers or so against WN but the Mueller was a true sideline to sideline player. Mueller was also unanimous all conference, plus its easier to be a more impactful player at MLB then at DT.
 
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McCaravan

All-American
Feb 1, 2016
4,725
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I’ll say MC opening game against Curie is going to be a good game. Arthur Ray has developed a lot of talent over on Archer and Pulaski, couple D1 players. Watch for them this year.
 
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mc140

All-Conference
May 29, 2001
8,781
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I’ll say MC opening game against Curie is going to be a tough game. Arthur Ray has developed a lot of talent over on Archer and Pulaski, couple D1 players. Watch for them this year.

He has been there exactly one year and they failed to qualify for the playoffs after making it the previous four seasons. Cupboard may have been bare when he took over, but unless he has a Phillips level of transfers coming in, he over scheduled his first two weeks in 2019.
 
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McCaravan

All-American
Feb 1, 2016
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He has been there exactly one year and they failed to qualify for the playoffs after making it the previous four seasons. Cupboard may have been bare when he took over, but unless he has a Phillips level of transfers coming in, he over scheduled his first two weeks in 2019.
He went with a real young team and developed them. They have a 6’5 Dline with numerous D1 offers and a lightening quick QB returning. They’ll be tough.
 

MSLguy05

Redshirt
Sep 18, 2018
62
31
0
Palatine should have a strong bounce back year. Lotta young guys got good varsity experience and they were in a lot of games last year.
 
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ClownBaby

Heisman
Oct 26, 2006
22,232
76,548
113
He went with a real young team and developed them. They have a 6’5 Dline with numerous D1 offers and a lightening quick QB returning. They’ll be tough.

MC will running clock then they may have been young but they played a fairly soft schedule and struggled big time.
 

kpjasion

Senior
Oct 12, 2014
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Palatine should have a strong bounce back year. Lotta young guys got good varsity experience and they were in a lot of games last year.

Palatine is a 6-3 or 7-2 type team next year. Next year's crop of juniors is another loaded "pitbull in a python" type class that I think is comparable to the 2016 seniors. Flying under the radar due to last year's defensive debacle..but I could easily see getting them back to the 8A semis again in 2020 barring any significant injuries.
 

McCaravan

All-American
Feb 1, 2016
4,725
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Wish this was the case but we have heard that they are on the way up for the past few years and it never seems to translate to on field success.
I have seen their lower levels play the the past few years and they have been rolling clocks by halftime....they couldn't field a Freshman team last season. I actually thought this was a program on the steep decline.