By Woodrow Carroll
The media and concerned others were recently informed that Sandwich High School would not be fielding a varsity football team in the Fall. The stated reason was the poor turnout among junior and senior class students to leave the football program short of numbers.
In the past, sophomores and freshmen might have been added to the varsity to fill out a roster. There were gifted sophomores, we can all remember who made signal contributions to the success of the varsity. That was then; this is now.
Sandwich is a member of the Kishwaukee River/Interstate Eight (Blue) Conference. For the record, the Indians were 0-9 last season. Three of the Sandwich losses were forfeits. A 29-24 loss to Harvard was the closest Sandwich came to an on-field victory last season.
Enrollment figures present a tricky picture!
Illinois determines football champions in eight classes based largely on enrollment. Four of the eight champions, such as Lena-Winslow, enrollment 249, Wilmington (413), Byron (456) and Joliet Catholic Academy (616.5) 1A through 4A, have enrollment less than the 623 enrollment figure for Sandwich. That is for the traditional starting 11 alignment, not eight-man programs.
We might ask ‘what was the most southern school to win a State football championship last Fall? The answer is Wilmington, 15 miles south of Joliet. Previously, East St. Louis or Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin was likely to produce a State champion. Not last Fall! East St. Louis and Sacred Heart-Griffin both lost in championship games. Having Northern Illinois University in DeKalb as host to the championship games in eight classes last season worked out well in geographical location.
As you can surmise by the enrollment figure give for Joliet Catholic Academy, 616.5, there is a complex set of enrollment figures in place for non-public high schools. It breaks down a bit further after that!
The 1.65 multiplier for non-boundried schools, usually parochial schools, have their enrollment multiplied by 1.65 to cover the schools’ abilities to pull in students from a wide area.
How about a non-boundary public school? The vast majority of these schools are found in Chicago with schools with a specific aim or educational intention. However, one of this type is close at hand. IMSA (Illinois Math and Science Academy) in Aurora.
Be aware that there are many factors that can effect a school’s classification. Continued tournament success can bounce a school into a higher bracket. And, a school may elect to play up and move into a larger classification..
It was not so many years ago that Sandwich experienced a modicum of gridiron success.
Under coach Derek Avery, the Indians qualified for the playoffs in 2008.
Two years later in the Fall of 2010, Sandwich reached the semifinal round of the 4A Tournament before falling, 19-0 to Rock Island Alleman. Sandwich 11-2 that season. That victory total is the most in school history in what proved to be Avery’s final year as head football coach at the school.
Dusty Behringer followed Avery as the Sandwich head football coach.
Behringer’s three seasons at the school were good ones. The Indians were a combined 20-12 and qualified for postseason each of his three years as head coach.
The Fall of 2014 ended Behringer’s three-year run at Sandwich. It marked the last time the Indians made the playoffs.
And, for now? Questions abound! Taking a forfeit victory by a Sandwich opponent is not a desired result, although there may be little that can be done at this stage. Beyond that, what is to be done?