Day 1 of the 2024 Season

How did Day 1 go for all of you that are still coaching?

Pretty good here in southeast Iowa. We're a school of 600 and had 55 show up. This is down from the last year's but better than I anticipated based on summer numbers.

Problem is, we couldn't get anyone to even apply for our openings this summer so we have four total coaches for the whole program.

I'm so far out of the loop, I didn't realize that yesterday started the season until I saw this after work.

Day 1 - 2003
School Enrollment 430
Number of Kids out for Football 80


Day 1 - 2024
School Enrollment 290 and dropping
Number of Kids out for Football 32

Bighitter11 wrote:Day 1 - 2003
School Enrollment 430
Number of Kids out for Football 80


Day 1 - 2024
School Enrollment 290 and dropping
Number of Kids out for Football 32

how or why did your enrollment drop so fast?

I wish I knew that answer. We were pretty excited last year when we started off with 51 Kid in the program including 21 Freshman. Even played a Freshman schedule for first time in years. 12 months later I think we are done to 10 of those kids as sophs. Ive got 4 former teammates that have planted roots outside the district and their kids all play for Bishop Mac. Those kids will all def help us for sure.

That's a pretty crazy decline Hitter. Are the communities/towns feeding into Clifton Central hurting?

guerin wrote:That's a pretty crazy decline Hitter. Are the communities/towns feeding into Clifton Central hurting?

All the small schools in the Kankakee area are way down in enrollment.. Herscher has went from around 720 to below 500

HHSTigerFan2 wrote:

guerin wrote:That's a pretty crazy decline Hitter. Are the communities/towns feeding into Clifton Central hurting?

All the small schools in the Kankakee area are way down in enrollment.. Herscher has went from around 720 to below 500

Nearly every small school in Illinois is shrinking. Unless you're a bedroom community near a bigger city (Maroa, Tolono, Rochester, Williamsville, Downs, Dunlap, Mahomet etc), you're hurting. Cerro Gordo is down 80-90 since I started there in 2010 (240-160ish). Clinton has dropped from 666 kids in 2000 (a number I'll never forget) to 475. Warrensburg (where my son goes) has dropped almost 100 kids in the last dozenish years.

Even schools right outside of the Chicago area.. Peotone, Wilmington, Coal City and Reed-Custer are losing enrollment.. these are schools that were projected to have high growth 20 years ago are now watching enrollment dip by 10-20%

HHSTigerFan2 wrote:Even schools right outside of the Chicago area.. Peotone, Wilmington, Coal City and Reed-Custer are losing enrollment.. these are schools that were projected to have high growth 20 years ago are now watching enrollment dip by 10-20%

Yeah over the past 20 years, Wilmo’s listed city population has gone up slightly, but the high school enrollment has gone way down.  Low 400s now, used to be 550.

For those still in, is there any truth to this scrimmage game stuff being a trial run at adding a 10th regular season game?

Head Idiot wrote:For those still in, is there any truth to this scrimmage game stuff being a trial run at adding a 10th regular season game?

I havent heard that but Im sure Im not on the need to know list.

Here is Tennessee we have a 12 week season... preseason game was last weekend.. this weekend regular season starts, 10 games over 11 weeks with a bye week.. state finals the first weekend in December..

I went from being AD/teacher at a school that lost in the 3A title game the last 3 years to Alcoa... to just teaching at one of the worst football programs in the Nashville area.. going have a lot of free Fridays this fall ha

Bighitter11 wrote:

Head Idiot wrote:For those still in, is there any truth to this scrimmage game stuff being a trial run at adding a 10th regular season game?

I havent heard that but Im sure Im not on the need to know list.

Does Herscher have their facilities ready to go for tomorrow night?? You have a locker room to use???

HHSTigerFan2 wrote:

Bighitter11 wrote:

Head Idiot wrote:For those still in, is there any truth to this scrimmage game stuff being a trial run at adding a 10th regular season game?

I havent heard that but Im sure Im not on the need to know list.

Does Herscher have their facilities ready to go for tomorrow night?? You have a locker room to use???

Yeah inspection was completed yesterday facilities are ready to go.

Head Idiot wrote:For those still in, is there any truth to this scrimmage game stuff being a trial run at adding a 10th regular season game?

You're only supposed to be playing 48 plays, so it doesn't seem like a whole additional game would be the next logical step to me. But who knows with the IHSA.

Ghengis Khan wrote:

Head Idiot wrote:For those still in, is there any truth to this scrimmage game stuff being a trial run at adding a 10th regular season game?

You're only supposed to be playing 48 plays, so it doesn't seem like a whole additional game would be the next logical step to me. But who knows with the IHSA.

I just ask because I've seen the notion thrown around as if it's happening online. Seems unlikely to me, but as you said, who knows with the IH$A.

I’m back coaching high school ball for the first time since 2009. Having a great time and really appreciating the opportunity!

19delta wrote:I’m back coaching high school ball for the first time since 2009. Having a great time and really appreciating the opportunity!

Where are you at?

Head Idiot wrote:

19delta wrote:I’m back coaching high school ball for the first time since 2009. Having a great time and really appreciating the opportunity!

Where are you at?

EPC. OL/DL. HFC gave me a chance and hired me last fall. It’s been great. My son, Eli, graduated from college this past May and he’s working in the area so he’s a volunteer coach. It’s been great getting to coach with him!

19delta wrote:

Head Idiot wrote:

19delta wrote:I’m back coaching high school ball for the first time since 2009. Having a great time and really appreciating the opportunity!

Where are you at?

EPC. OL/DL. HFC gave me a chance and hired me last fall. It’s been great. My son, Eli, graduated from college this past May and he’s working in the area so he’s a volunteer coach. It’s been great getting to coach with him!

That's cool. I'm glad to hear you're back. Good luck this year!

Congrats, Delta!