Best way to view this is through the experience of Marmion in the CCL. Let’s face it, Marmion and St Francis football is kind of the same thing. Marmion has about 100 more boys but they are quite similar.
With Marmion’s loss to Fenwick, Cadet will go 2-7 this year. Look at their schedule and plug in St Francis. Sparta would finish about the same IMO.
If Marmion wanted in the Suburban Metro everyone would (rightly) think they were weak sauce under achievers for quitting the CCL and seeking out a lighter conference schedule.
Whether you remain in the CCL or join a weaker conference to stack up wins, the bottom line is, both programs need work and must improve. GM got a government bailout while Ford recovered without the government handout. You gotta respect Ford for gutting it out.
Francis (or Marmion) has potential to be the perennial big dog in the Metro but everyone would say - of course, and they should be the big dog with 800 students.
I agree with others. Too bad the SCC broke up. That was a good fit.
Perhaps in the near future there will be a right sized division within the new CCL/ESCC that will be a good home for Francis (or Marmion).