Can these boys matchup with the catholic schools in the Chicagoland? I am warning celtics fans that the Flyers fans reminds me of Raiders fans because they are very hard on any of the visiting fans. Shoot, a couple years ago, I had a little kid cuss me out and told me to take my a@# back to where I from. However, I have decided to go to the game on Friday night against my better judgement.
Well there is one thing I can say for sure, St. Rita isn't going to go into ESL and freak out because it's in a bad neighborhood. 79th & Western Ave, where Rita is, isn't the hood, but they only need to go a a little bit east to find some trouble.
__________________
Vincent Johnson/Editor-in-Chief
www.IHSFW.com
Somebody has to cover the entire state.
i'm an avid east st. louis fan, having graduated from east side in 1964, so i know the history and tradition of that sport there as a flyer supporter. it's a solid program, one of the best in the state. at one time, when bob shannon was coaching, it was one of the best in the nation. since i attended the school when there were no state playoffs, i often wonder what would have happened to those teams of the early years, such as when wirt downing and later fred cameron were coaching. when bob shannon resigned after turmoil with the school board in the 90's, the program went through some tough times. i remember attending a game where belleville west beat the flyers for the first time in years, and i looked at my friends and we all said "the dynasty is over." and it was.
this year's team is very good, with some outstanding players, an experienced team that can possibly win the state title. but i doubt it. darren sunkett is no bob shannon. and the players are quick but make too many mistakes with careless penalties. shannon's teams were disciplined and better-coached.
maxpreps shows east st. louis as the favorite to beat providence catholic 31-21. the chicago tribune (sakamoto, or something like that) says east side will win. in my opinion, despite being a staunch fan, i wouldn't be surprised to see PC defeat esl at all. true, the southwestern conference was a real bear this year in particular, but it in no way compares to the chicago catholic league. providence's losses were all incredibly close losses to very tough teams, including lincoln-way east, i believe. if the flyers should get by PC and have to face st. rita, it will probably take an act of divine "providence" for esl to get to the final game. the fact that PC pounded alton, the second place finisher in the swc, attests to the fact that they are underrated nationally. east st. louis was, i feel, lucky to beat alton 35-14.
i hope i am wrong! go flyers!
may the best teams win this weekend. i hope the refs are on their toes and call the games correctly.
i'm an avid east st. louis fan, having graduated from east side in 1964, so i know the history and tradition of that sport there as a flyer supporter. it's a solid program, one of the best in the state. at one time, when bob shannon was coaching, it was one of the best in the nation. since i attended the school when there were no state playoffs, i often wonder what would have happened to those teams of the early years, such as when wirt downing and later fred cameron were coaching. when bob shannon resigned after turmoil with the school board in the 90's, the program went through some tough times. i remember attending a game where belleville west beat the flyers for the first time in years, and i looked at my friends and we all said "the dynasty is over." and it was.
this year's team is very good, with some outstanding players, an experienced team that can possibly win the state title. but i doubt it. darren sunkett is no bob shannon. and the players are quick but make too many mistakes with careless penalties. shannon's teams were disciplined and better-coached.
maxpreps shows east st. louis as the favorite to beat providence catholic 31-21. the chicago tribune (sakamoto, or something like that) says east side will win. in my opinion, despite being a staunch fan, i wouldn't be surprised to see PC defeat esl at all. true, the southwestern conference was a real bear this year in particular, but it in no way compares to the chicago catholic league. providence's losses were all incredibly close losses to very tough teams, including lincoln-way east, i believe. if the flyers should get by PC and have to face st. rita, it will probably take an act of divine "providence" for esl to get to the final game. the fact that PC pounded alton, the second place finisher in the swc, attests to the fact that they are underrated nationally. east st. louis was, i feel, lucky to beat alton 35-14.
i hope i am wrong! go flyers!
may the best teams win this weekend. i hope the refs are on their toes and call the games correctly.
East st. Louis is a very good team. I have some good memories and some painful ones at Clyde Jordan stadium during my playing days. I love watching a game and playing in that stadium because it is great athmoshere for football. I really believe they will get past Providence, but they will be challenge. The Alton game could of been alot worse if the Flyers didn't commit so many penalties (14, I think) in the first half. I saw East side play about 4 times this season and could tell you how they can be beaten, but I am very sure you already know their weaknesses.
I haven't been able to see ESL play yet. I've heard very good things about them and that while they do have a tendancy to make mistakes, it's isn't as bad as it may have been in past season for the Flyers. I think that (and please don't hate me Alton coach) that Edwardsville was actually the 2nd best team in the Southwestern. Alton had talent and didn't beat Edwardsville by luck, but I'm sure they were just fine with only playing them once. Although they could just match up better against the Flyers, which is why they almost pulled out a victory both times they played.
__________________
Vincent Johnson/Editor-in-Chief
www.IHSFW.com
Somebody has to cover the entire state.
