80's, 90's, into the mid 2000's things were different. Suburban Public schools were favored to win most classes or at least legitimate Contenders....Rock Island knocked out MC in 1997 and then Woodstock beat them for State.....Yes MC was always a threat, along with JCA and Providence. Rita was consistent. Loyola had a couple good years in the early 90's but then were a decent at best team until the mid 2000's when Holecek turned it around....But Rice and Marist was below average and Laurence was flat out dormant. Marian Catholic had a couple pop up years but the field was very strong with Suburban Public Schools....WWS was the powerhouse, Richards!!! Huge Powerhouse!!! Maine South, Prospect, HF, Bolingbrook, Morris, Metamora, LWC with the Paus Brothers, Thorton, Palatine, and just many more......and you know what? The boundaries that many of you piss on the CCL were all the same as they are now, but all those schools still dominated year after year....
What really started changing things was the transfers. Back then it was an automatic sit for a year unless a legit move was made. Then loop holes were found many more followed, now it's a free for all.
As discussed the fan experience, outside of a couple games, is relatively weak.....remember "The Cube?" That started it....it was made and made NFHS streams look good but it started the trend...then social media. I used to have to wait until the morning after and get the paper to see is MC won if I missed a game
. Then in 1998 I came across the Tribune message boards on my AOL dial up....then a year later I stumbled on this site Edgy Tim
.
The game is still great, but the experience many of us had and were lucky enough to be apart of will never be what it was. Nothing Gold can Stay.....yeah I used The Outsiders reference....
