Andy Bitto was at a loss to explain Carmel’s unfavorable position in the state playoffs, announced by the Illinois High School Association on Saturday night.
“I was told the new playoff format would be based on geographics,” said Bitto, who coached Carmel to a 9-0 record and a No. 1 seed in Class 6A. “So how did we end up in the same quadrant with Mt. Carmel (8-1)? We are 50 miles apart.”
IHSA Assistant Executive Director Dave Gannaway, who oversaw the pairings, defended the placement of Mt. Carmel, which won its ninth state title in 2000, second most in state history behind Joliet Catholic’s 10.
“If you look at the map, that’s right where Mt. Carmel should go,” Gannaway said. “It was based on geographics. That school is the furthest north of the southern schools. I thought the pairings came out very fair.”
In February 1995, Naperville North coach Larry McKeon and Morris coach Dan Darlington went to Bloomington with a proposal for a more equitable playoff format. What emerged was a system based solely on seeding teams by record and strength of schedule. That has changed this year to a quadrant system based on geography.
“It’s a sham, and every coach I’ve talked to is against the new format,” McKeon said. “There’s too much room for manipulating the placement of teams and interpreting what geographics means. With this system, you won’t get a true champion.”
According to the IHSA, the playoffs were changed to avoid having two teams in close proximity such as Joliet Catholic and Morris meet for the state championship. Last year Joliet Catholic edged Morris for the 5A title.
Another reason was to run the football playoffs like the postseason tournaments in all the other sports.
“There were complaints from coaches in the other sports that football had its own setup and that wasn’t fair,” said Downers Grove South coach John Belskis. “But football is different from every other sport in that teams must qualify for the postseason. In every other sport, every team makes it to the playoffs.”
Top-ranked Downers South (9-0) will open the playoffs against Moline without 6-foot-6-inch, 310-pound offensive tackle Kevin Gage, who sustained a left knee injury in last Friday’s victory over Morton.
“It doesn’t feel real good,” Gage said. “I was told there wasn’t any break in the bone. I’m going to see an orthopedic doctor on Monday to see if I can come back later in the playoffs.”
In 8A, the IHSA attempted to maintain a competitive balance within the four quadrants by placing top seeds Lane (9-0), Wheaton North (9-0), Hinsdale Central (9-0) and Downers South in separate sections. None could meet until the semifinals.
“To my knowledge, the football coaches advisory committee and the football coaches’ association were unanimous in their opposition to the new system,” said Hinsdale Central coach Ken Schreiner, whose Red Devils open against Homewood-Flossmoor. “It’s an insult that the IHSA didn’t listen to us.
“We don’t have a choice. Call this a bad system, but at least everybody will have to go through it.”
Look for Warren (8-1) or 16th-ranked Maine South (8-1) to emerge in 8A’s top quadrant to play Wheaton North in the semifinals. Hinsdale Central and No. 14 Lincoln-Way East (8-1) could meet in the quarterfinals with the winner facing Downers South or No. 13 Lockport (8-1) in the semis. Lockport’s lone loss was 7-3 to Downers South in the season opener.
In 5A, third-ranked Providence and No. 12 Joliet Catholic, two of the three greatest programs in state history, appear to be headed for a collision in the quarterfinals. Joliet Catholic (7-2) isn’t expected to have any difficulty with Ridgewood (5-4) in the first round or either Robeson (6-3) or Riverside-Brookfield (6-3) in the second round.
Likewise, Providence (9-0) should ease past Fenger (4-5) in the opener and either Bremen (6-3) or Rich Central (6-3) after that. Look for Providence to match up with No. 10 Morris (9-0) in the semifinals.
No. 5 Buffalo Grove (9-0) is positioned to make a run at the 7A title, beginning with its opener against Maine West (5-4). Only Prospect (7-2) should pose a serious challenge to the Bison in its quadrant.
In the bottom bracket in 7A, Stagg is clustered with five teams from the Public League and two from the Catholic Metro Conference.
