Post by doctorwho on Oct 29, 2008 11:33:36 GMT -6
October 29, 2008By PAUL LATOUR Staff writer
Whatever it was, it elicited a loud cheer among the Warriors players, who were wrapping up their first postseason practice.
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Going through Naperville
According to the IHSA, Naperville Central, Naperville North and Neuqua Valley had all qualified for the 8A field in each of the last five seasons, a streak snapped this year by the Wildcats. Of the three schools, at least two have been part of every 8A playoff class since the field was expanded in 2001.
The Number: 11
With Naperville North's 7-0 run through the DuPage Valley Conference, it's now 11 consecutive seasons that the DVC champion has gone undefeated in conference. In 1997 North, Naperville Central and Wheaton Warrenville South all went 6-1 in DVC play.
"Shoot, it's football weather - we're glad to be practicing this late in the season," defensive back Perry Levin said, summarizing how a common meteorological event in these parts can bring such excitement.
As Waubonsie prepares for its fourth playoff trip in five years, the players' enthusiasm isn't surprising. But to many observers, the Warriors face the same doubts and questions that often haunt teams from the Upstate Eight Conference: are they good enough to go on an extended run?
No UEC team has done that since 2003, when Lake Park reached the Class 8A semifinals. Since then only St. Charles East has advanced beyond the second round, which the Saints did in the 2005 7A bracket.
"We're not looked at as a strong football conference," Waubonsie coach Paul Murphy said. "We're all working hard to change that. At some point we're going to have a breakthrough because there are a bunch of good coaches in this conference and a bunch of good players.
"It's about time we start winning a few of these playoff games instead of being one and done."
That's been the case for many UEC teams in recent years. The conference has gone 7-20 since Lake Park's run, including 3-11 the last two postseasons. Waubonsie hasn't won a playoff game since 2001, going 0-3 in that stretch.
This year only four UEC teams - Waubonsie and Bartlett in 8A, St. Charles East and St. Charles North in 7A - qualified, the lowest turnout since 2004. Since the split to eight classes in 2001, the UEC has averaged more than five entrants a season, including six in both 2006 and 2002.
But this year is unique in a positive way for the UEC. It's the first time one of its teams earned a No. 1 seed - that distinction going to unbeaten Bartlett (9-0). The highest previous seed was Neuqua in 2006. The Wildcats earned a No. 2 seed that year but lost to Hinsdale Central in the opening round.
Wildcats coach Bryan Wells said he hopes the Hawks are able to go on similar run as the '03 Lancers, and the Waubonsie teams from the 1990s.
"It's going to take a few runs like that from different teams to change the perception (of the UEC being weak)," said Wells, whose team was the only one to face all of the UEC playoff qualifiers this season.
The league's image takes a big hit when compared with its neighbor, the DuPage Valley Conference. Last year three DVC teams played for state titles as Naperville North beat Glenbard North in the 8A final and Wheaton Warrenville South lost in the 7A final.
"I look at the DVC and I think it's a confidence thing, it's an expectation thing," Wells said. "It's going to take a while for all the schools to get there for us."
Murphy is hoping that starts Friday, when the Warriors face Lincoln-Way East, a perennial contender and 2005 state champion. A victory for Waubonsie, and an extended run from Bartlett, would go a long way toward legitimizing the UEC in the minds of others.
"Every win our conference gets makes our conference that much better," Murphy said. "The farther we go, the better the conference looks."
On the front lines, the players said they feel some loyalty to the UEC. But the majority of their emotions are geared toward pride in their own team.
"I think we represent ourselves for the most part because nobody really expects us to do anything," defensive lineman Sherrod Stancil said. "We're kind of just playing for ourselves right now."
Levin, one of the Warriors showing the most excitement over Monday's brief snowfall, also showed he's brimming with confidence, the UEC track record be darned.
"A lot of people underestimate our conference and focus on the DVC," Levin said. "But they really need to watch out for us. We're one of those teams that is going to sneak up on them."
Whatever it was, it elicited a loud cheer among the Warriors players, who were wrapping up their first postseason practice.
RELATED STORIES
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
THE SIDELINE
Going through Naperville
According to the IHSA, Naperville Central, Naperville North and Neuqua Valley had all qualified for the 8A field in each of the last five seasons, a streak snapped this year by the Wildcats. Of the three schools, at least two have been part of every 8A playoff class since the field was expanded in 2001.
The Number: 11
With Naperville North's 7-0 run through the DuPage Valley Conference, it's now 11 consecutive seasons that the DVC champion has gone undefeated in conference. In 1997 North, Naperville Central and Wheaton Warrenville South all went 6-1 in DVC play.
"Shoot, it's football weather - we're glad to be practicing this late in the season," defensive back Perry Levin said, summarizing how a common meteorological event in these parts can bring such excitement.
As Waubonsie prepares for its fourth playoff trip in five years, the players' enthusiasm isn't surprising. But to many observers, the Warriors face the same doubts and questions that often haunt teams from the Upstate Eight Conference: are they good enough to go on an extended run?
No UEC team has done that since 2003, when Lake Park reached the Class 8A semifinals. Since then only St. Charles East has advanced beyond the second round, which the Saints did in the 2005 7A bracket.
"We're not looked at as a strong football conference," Waubonsie coach Paul Murphy said. "We're all working hard to change that. At some point we're going to have a breakthrough because there are a bunch of good coaches in this conference and a bunch of good players.
"It's about time we start winning a few of these playoff games instead of being one and done."
That's been the case for many UEC teams in recent years. The conference has gone 7-20 since Lake Park's run, including 3-11 the last two postseasons. Waubonsie hasn't won a playoff game since 2001, going 0-3 in that stretch.
This year only four UEC teams - Waubonsie and Bartlett in 8A, St. Charles East and St. Charles North in 7A - qualified, the lowest turnout since 2004. Since the split to eight classes in 2001, the UEC has averaged more than five entrants a season, including six in both 2006 and 2002.
But this year is unique in a positive way for the UEC. It's the first time one of its teams earned a No. 1 seed - that distinction going to unbeaten Bartlett (9-0). The highest previous seed was Neuqua in 2006. The Wildcats earned a No. 2 seed that year but lost to Hinsdale Central in the opening round.
Wildcats coach Bryan Wells said he hopes the Hawks are able to go on similar run as the '03 Lancers, and the Waubonsie teams from the 1990s.
"It's going to take a few runs like that from different teams to change the perception (of the UEC being weak)," said Wells, whose team was the only one to face all of the UEC playoff qualifiers this season.
The league's image takes a big hit when compared with its neighbor, the DuPage Valley Conference. Last year three DVC teams played for state titles as Naperville North beat Glenbard North in the 8A final and Wheaton Warrenville South lost in the 7A final.
"I look at the DVC and I think it's a confidence thing, it's an expectation thing," Wells said. "It's going to take a while for all the schools to get there for us."
Murphy is hoping that starts Friday, when the Warriors face Lincoln-Way East, a perennial contender and 2005 state champion. A victory for Waubonsie, and an extended run from Bartlett, would go a long way toward legitimizing the UEC in the minds of others.
"Every win our conference gets makes our conference that much better," Murphy said. "The farther we go, the better the conference looks."
On the front lines, the players said they feel some loyalty to the UEC. But the majority of their emotions are geared toward pride in their own team.
"I think we represent ourselves for the most part because nobody really expects us to do anything," defensive lineman Sherrod Stancil said. "We're kind of just playing for ourselves right now."
Levin, one of the Warriors showing the most excitement over Monday's brief snowfall, also showed he's brimming with confidence, the UEC track record be darned.
"A lot of people underestimate our conference and focus on the DVC," Levin said. "But they really need to watch out for us. We're one of those teams that is going to sneak up on them."