Litchfield Will Not Play Varsity FB in '26

[rocketnation]

Litchfield of the South Central Conference announced today they will not play a varsity schedule this season, due to a low number of upperclassmen.

They will play a JV schedule and hope to resume Varsity play in the future.

They were 0-9 last year.

 

[cornerrat#1]

All.... Here is an article on this. Their schedule before the announcement. (below) Hillsboro and Pana already up on the Ihsa open dates list looking for a game.

8-20 (A) Gillespie
8-28 (H) Greenville
9-4 (A) Staunton
9-11 (H) Virden (North Mac)
9-18 (H) Piasa (Southwestern)
9-25 (A) Carlinville
10-2 (H) Hillsboro
10-9 (A) Pana
10-16 (H) Vandalia

Litchfield Purple Panthers cancel 2026 varsity season, will play JV schedule | Sports | newschannel20.com

 

[Anon430504]

What’s the rules on transferring to another school when this happens? Also if a school can’t get a replacement game especially if they were supposed to host are they compensated for lost revenue? Or are they sool? Gate,concessions,souvenirs could be $$$

 

[Patrick Devitt]

What’s the rules on transferring to another school when this happens? Also if a school can’t get a replacement game especially if they were supposed to host are they compensated for lost revenue? Or are they sool? Gate,concessions,souvenirs could be $$$

I'd guess you'd be ineligible since that would be considered transferring for athletic purposes.

 

[Still Missing34]

I'd guess you'd be ineligible since that would be considered transferring for athletic purposes.

That is so IHSA.

 

[Anon430504]

I'd guess you'd be ineligible since that would be considered transferring for athletic purposes.

I would be livid. I’m not trying to sound stupid but imagine you’re a SR & have colleges looking at you. You gonna play JV? Or sit the season out? Total BS

 

[Roamin' Catholic]

I would be livid. I’m not trying to sound stupid but imagine you’re a SR & have colleges looking at you. You gonna play JV? Or sit the season out? Total BS

I agree, it sucks for sure. A trend we'll see continue to see in the Southern Illinois area I would imagine. Until programs make the ultimate jump to 8-man or just toss in the towel and fold all together. Or, you know, we consolidate public districts in this state like we probably should have decades ago, most especially down south. Just an opinion on that last part. Idk if it'd actually help. I think the reality is football just isn't as big a draw as it was the last 30-40 years. Science has shed light on some things. Rules have changed. Options for kids has changed. Many many factors at play unfortunately.

 

[4Afan]

I would be livid. I’m not trying to sound stupid but imagine you’re a SR & have colleges looking at you. You gonna play JV? Or sit the season out? Total BS

Litchfield is 10-72 over the last 10 years and had a 45 game losing streak from 2016-2021. I don't think there's too many prospects in the building.

 

[Roamin' Catholic]

Litchfield is 10-72 over the last 10 years and had a 45 game losing streak from 2016-2021. I don't think there's too many prospects in the building.

lol that was the quiet part I was trying to avoid with my response. Trying to be a lil nicer... trying.

Losing programs aren't pumping out much college talent. I thought it was obvious as well, glad I wasn't alone.

 

[AlabamaTimberwolf]

Litchfield of the South Central Conference announced today they will not play a varsity schedule this season, due to a low number of upperclassmen.

They will play a JV schedule and hope to resume Varsity play in the future.

They were 0-9 last year.

I keep hearing about player safety but it will okay for a 2 win team to play a 9 win team. Anyway way back in 1991 we started 9 freshman at Kincaid... YES we got our asses handed to us but we never had any injuries... We started them in 92 and lost every game, 93 we saw progress losing 7 one score games... 94 we destroyed the MSM... We never had injuries with all the contact drill and full pad tackling, chutes and the such so why are school afraid of starting freshmen and sophs?

 

[4Afan]

I keep hearing about player safety but it will okay for a 2 win team to play a 9 win team. Anyway way back in 1991 we started 9 freshman at Kincaid... YES we got our asses handed to us but we never had any injuries... We started them in 92 and lost every game, 93 we saw progress losing 7 one score games... 94 we destroyed the MSM... We never had injuries with all the contact drill and full pad tackling, chutes and the such so why are school afraid of starting freshmen and sophs?

Cool...

When a school can't field a team due to low numbers safety comes up because of those numbers not because it's a bad team against a good team. If Litchfield only had 20-25 players go out for varsity football regardless of class most of them would likely need to play both ways, which would increase the possibility of injury, no matter how many drills or full contact practices they have.

Litchfield has been awful over the years so that's not exactly going to motivate boys to go out for the team, similar to your school who no longer fields an 11 man team.

 

[AlabamaTimberwolf]

Cool...

When a school can't field a team due to low numbers safety comes up because of those numbers not because it's a bad team against a good team. If Litchfield only had 20-25 players go out for varsity football regardless of class most of them would likely need to play both ways, which would increase the possibility of injury, no matter how many drills or full contact practices they have.

Litchfield has been awful over the years so that's not exactly going to motivate boys to go out for the team, similar to your school who no longer fields an 11 man team.

From 90-93 we went 0-27 with zero injuries... We had 27 varsity players and still had a JV schedule. Sounds like you're saying kids today are weaker than those of the 80-90s? I will agree with you on that!~

 

[4Afan]

From 90-93 we went 0-27 with zero injuries... We had 27 varsity players and still had a JV schedule. Sounds like you're saying kids today are weaker than those of the 80-90s? I will agree with you on that!~

Cool, your class was awful until your senior year when they made the playoffs and then proceeded to get stomped in round 1. For some reason you still cling to that, but most boys don't want to live through a 27 or 45 game losing streak.

Why do you constantly assume that high school football stopped evolving 30 years ago? News flash, the game is different now. The game is much faster, players are bigger, stronger, and faster. As a big, bad lineman think back to your size in HS and compare it to linemen today. Kids also have far more options outside of football to choose from for extra circulars. Small schools are losing enrollment too.

Injuries happening has nothing to do with you perceiving them as weak. Bone density hasn't changed just because you think kids are weak. How many more injuries such as torn ACLs do we see now versus the early 90's? Did all those kids get hurt because they're weaker than you were in the early 90's?

Not sure why you take it so personally whenever a team announces they don't have the numbers to play a varsity schedule. Maybe you should focus your energy into figuring out why your alma mater is so weak and feeble that they gave up on 11 man football. Why don't you get in the ear of the administrators and coaches and find out why they can't develop the hardened, tough nose players that existed there 30 years ago?

 

[SouthofI80Fan]

I keep hearing about player safety but it will okay for a 2 win team to play a 9 win team. Anyway way back in 1991 we started 9 freshman at Kincaid... YES we got our asses handed to us but we never had any injuries... We started them in 92 and lost every game, 93 we saw progress losing 7 one score games... 94 we destroyed the MSM... We never had injuries with all the contact drill and full pad tackling, chutes and the such so why are school afraid of starting freshmen and sophs?

You have to take into account the size, abily, and skill of the younger players. Kids aren't as active and don't have the perseverance your group in Kincaid. Why go out and get pounded every week by kids who are 3-4 years older than you? How will that benefit these kids? Then next summer rolls around, and the kids 2nd guess their decision to play and decide to do another sport or not.

To keep the kids interested, play JB, improve skills, get bigger, faster, stronger, see some small successes and come next summer...they have the drive to play.

 

[AlabamaTimberwolf]

Cool, your class was awful until your senior year when they made the playoffs and then proceeded to get stomped in round 1. For some reason you still cling to that, but most boys don't want to live through a 27 or 45 game losing streak.

Why do you constantly assume that high school football stopped evolving 30 years ago? News flash, the game is different now. The game is much faster, players are bigger, stronger, and faster. As a big, bad lineman think back to your size in HS and compare it to linemen today. Kids also have far more options outside of football to choose from for extra circulars. Small schools are losing enrollment too.

Injuries happening has nothing to do with you perceiving them as weak. Bone density hasn't changed just because you think kids are weak. How many more injuries such as torn ACLs do we see now versus the early 90's? Did all those kids get hurt because they're weaker than you were in the early 90's?

Not sure why you take it so personally whenever a team announces they don't have the numbers to play a varsity schedule. Maybe you should focus your energy into figuring out why your alma mater is so weak and feeble that they gave up on 11 man football. Why don't you get in the ear of the administrators and coaches and find out why they can't develop the hardened, tough nose players that existed there 30 years ago?

I

Cool, your class was awful until your senior year when they made the playoffs and then proceeded to get stomped in round 1. For some reason you still cling to that, but most boys don't want to live through a 27 or 45 game losing streak.

Why do you constantly assume that high school football stopped evolving 30 years ago? News flash, the game is different now. The game is much faster, players are bigger, stronger, and faster. As a big, bad lineman think back to your size in HS and compare it to linemen today. Kids also have far more options outside of football to choose from for extra circulars. Small schools are losing enrollment too.

Injuries happening has nothing to do with you perceiving them as weak. Bone density hasn't changed just because you think kids are weak. How many more injuries such as torn ACLs do we see now versus the early 90's? Did all those kids get hurt because they're weaker than you were in the early 90's?

Not sure why you take it so personally whenever a team announces they don't have the numbers to play a varsity schedule. Maybe you should focus your energy into figuring out why your alma mater is so weak and feeble that they gave up on 11 man football. Why don't you get in the ear of the administrators and coaches and find out why they can't develop the hardened, tough nose players that existed there 30 years ago?

LOL I graduated in 82... I was coaching then... YA know, where real football was played and the first round was the Wednesday after the Friday game!

Im sorry but the mentality and guts of my generation (Boomer) and the Gen X were just ******* tougher and we were not entitled brats... As far as developing tougher kids... That requires a culling of the masses and going back to corporal punishment like Pavlov taught us!~~~~~~ Treating kids tenderly does them zero favors!~

 

[AlabamaTimberwolf]

You have to take into account the size, abily, and skill of the younger players. Kids aren't as active and don't have the perseverance your group in Kincaid. Why go out and get pounded every week by kids who are 3-4 years older than you? How will that benefit these kids? Then next summer rolls around, and the kids 2nd guess their decision to play and decide to do another sport or not.

To keep the kids interested, play JB, improve skills, get bigger, faster, stronger, see some small successes and come next summer...they have the drive to play.

True... Kids over the last 20-30 years are not as active and thats parenting 101... Get lil Johnny and Tammy off their asses and outside playing!~ It amazes me that, as a kid, we played pick up ball... Be it football, basketball or baseball. You could drive through Kincaid in the summers back in the 70s and see pick up baseball all day long. We had open gym Saturday mornings, Sunday nights, and Wednesday night. Our lil town had 4 Jr football teams... That was a town of 2000! Naw today is just shameful!

As far as age differences, Our coached separated my Freshman team from the JV and Varsity. We did our own contact, chutes and pounding each other into the dirt but schools today can't do that... I would like to see a Lena-Winslow practice. I know Ramsey at Moweaqua A&M coached just like I was coached. They hit the hell out of each other even game day warm-ups was brutal!~ It a town mentality... Im sure Byron has it. Im sure Hardin Calhoun still has it. Not sure about Greenfield but most are less physical.

Americans are just not as tough as they once were and its shows throught society!

 

[PowerI66]

True... Kids over the last 20-30 years are not as active and thats parenting 101... Get lil Johnny and Tammy off their asses and outside playing!~ It amazes me that, as a kid, we played pick up ball... Be it football, basketball or baseball. You could drive through Kincaid in the summers back in the 70s and see pick up baseball all day long. We had open gym Saturday mornings, Sunday nights, and Wednesday night. Our lil town had 4 Jr football teams... That was a town of 2000! Naw today is just shameful!

As far as age differences, Our coached separated my Freshman team from the JV and Varsity. We did our own contact, chutes and pounding each other into the dirt but schools today can't do that... I would like to see a Lena-Winslow practice. I know Ramsey at Moweaqua A&M coached just like I was coached. They hit the hell out of each other even game day warm-ups was brutal!~ It a town mentality... Im sure Byron has it. Im sure Hardin Calhoun still has it. Not sure about Greenfield but most are less physical.

Americans are just not as tough as they once were and its shows throught society!

 

[SiuCubFan8]

Hilarious posts…

For the sake of trying to save the program, JV is the right move, IMO.

 

[4Afan]

Hilarious posts…

For the sake of trying to save the program, JV is the right move, IMO.

I wonder how many of these schools that are foregoing varsity seasons are seeing it as a one off season and will get back to varsity next year or if they are looking long term and considering going to 8 man.

Any of the ICE contingent know if Lisle is fielding a varsity team this year? I see they have a full schedule as of now.

 

[Doctor_D]

I wonder how many of these schools that are foregoing varsity seasons are seeing it as a one off season and will get back to varsity next year or if they are looking long term and considering going to 8 man.

Any of the ICE contingent know if Lisle is fielding a varsity team this year? I see they have a full schedule as of now.

By all accounts, Lisle is playing varsity this year.

 

[Anon430504]

I

LOL I graduated in 82... I was coaching then... YA know, where real football was played and the first round was the Wednesday after the Friday game!

Im sorry but the mentality and guts of my generation (Boomer) and the Gen X were just ******* tougher and we were not entitled brats... As far as developing tougher kids... That requires a culling of the masses and going back to corporal punishment like Pavlov taught us!~~~~~~ Treating kids tenderly does them zero favors!~

Sometimes teams would play Saturday then Wednesday then Saturday. I loved it. Many on here cry about that though Florida had a hurricane years ago in Orlando & surrounding areas. They played a similar setup to make all the games up. I mentioned to them that’s how they did it in Illinois back in the day & how ppl on here cried about how they can’t do that now. They laughed & talked how weak ppl were.

 

[Anon430504]

Hilarious posts…

For the sake of trying to save the program, JV is the right move, IMO.

Yes bc it sure has worked at Alleman & SFDS

 

[SiuCubFan8]

Yes bc it sure has worked at Alleman & SFDS

Every situation is independent of one another…

 

[Colin2299]

From 90-93 we went 0-27 with zero injuries... We had 27 varsity players and still had a JV schedule. Sounds like you're saying kids today are weaker than those of the 80-90s? I will agree with you on that!~

4A is woke. Thats all you need to know.

 

[4Afan]

Every situation is independent of one another…

Crazy how people think that every school operates in a vacuum and all have the exact same issues.

 

[Anon430504]

Crazy how people think that every school operates in a vacuum and all have the exact same issues.

Each situation is different but here lately the drop varsity football & do JV until we can build back up simply isn’t working is all I’m saying

 

[4Afan]

Each situation is different but here lately the drop varsity football & do JV until we can build back up simply isn’t working is all I’m saying

And there is no one size fits all solution. Going away from varsity and bringing back didn't work for Alleman, but who knows, Lisle could come back this year and be a playoff team since only 2-3 wins will be needed.

I think going forward over the next handful of years it's going to be a lot of trial and error for these small schools that teeter on the line between having classes where they can field a varsity team and classes where they can't. Some will do all they can to bring it back, while others will look at the big picture and determine whether or not they would benefit from dropping down to 8 man.

 

[BobbyBoucher9]

Carlinville will be hosting Clifton Central on Saturday Sept 26th in place of Litchfield. I think Morrison and Gillespie might be talking about a game as well week 1.