July 17, 2025 • 28 mins
Steve Soucie and Josh Welge preview the 2025 IHSA high school football schedule, including games to watch and more in the latest Friday Night Drive podcast.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Hello everybody, and welcome to the Friday Night Drive Podcast.
I'm Josh well Gain here with Steve Susi. It's July
seventeenth as we tape. According to Edgy Tim, if his
math is correct, we're forty three days until the first
football Friday. How you feeling? This is a this is
a big week for us to this one. It starts
to get a little bit real.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Yeah, when those schedules finally pop up, when they're official,
they're locked in. They're basically giving us the roadmap to
the season. That's definitely a situation where you're like, hey,
it's going to be here before you know it. And
technically we're forty two days away because there are some
Thursday games in the opening week of the season, so
including an interesting one that unfortunately I won't be able
(00:45):
to watch live, but we'll get to that a little
bit later.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Yeah, definitely want to ask you about I know of
one Thursday night game, but I want to ask you
about any others that you know about, because you know,
I need to make I need to make my reservations
for a three day weekend in Covery football. If it
all Popps, and I'm sure you wouldn't mind that as well.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
So absolutely, yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Uh but yeah, like you said, this is a big
week with I just say, releasing the football schedules on Friday,
we're taping on Thursday here, Friday and Night Drive we're
having you know, full coverage with games to watch in
every market that we cover. Obviously, we're here taping one
of four podcasts that we're doing. UH I tape one
(01:25):
with Joel Bennett's where we look at the western suburbs,
and I'll see Steve taped with Mason Schweizer talking about
the kink Key area, and then Eddie Griffio, j T
Penalty and San Ramirez UH tape to look at the
the southwest area of our coverage. But a lot of
you know, good stuff covering. I encourage everyone to check
it out. And and and and Steve, you wrote a
(01:46):
couple of pieces for UH for for this week, and
you know, I kind of want to start with, you know,
some of the themes you touched on one of them.
And every year, and I feel like when we were
starting to talk about previews, one of the first quest who,
as they ask you, is okay, are the conference is
all the same because every year it seems like there's
always one or two or five that that there's not
(02:10):
so many jumps for whatever reason. And then you get
a new lead you never heard of, or a team
in a lead they didn't see before. It doesn't sound
like there's gonna be a lot of you know, it
sounds like it's a temporary thing. But this year it
sounds like we're a little stable that front.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Yeah, as far as I know, I may get surprised
by something tomorrow. There's not a single conference that has
either disbanded or enlarged in the entire state this year.
There have been a few small cosmetic changes in a
couple of situations, but nothing as sweeping as formulating a
new super conference, or taking two conferences and merging them together,
(02:50):
or a conference just completely disappearing. None of that has happened.
It's it's very strange because you hear this all the
time about all these conferences that are blowing up. However,
I should point out, to be fair, I think we're
only getting a one year respite from that, because in
twenty twenty six there are several things that are coming
(03:11):
on the horizon in regards to conference changes, most notably
the Southwest Valley, which was the merging of the Southwest
Suburban Suburban Conference and the du Page Valley. Their arrangement
that formed the Southwest Valley is going to end after
two years, so this is the final year of that
(03:32):
fifteen team conference. They will I don't know what the
solution is for all these schools as of yet, it
hasn't been sorted out, but I know it won't be
the Southwest Valley. So then you'll start to see some
more dominoes and some things moving around again, and all
of them aren't finalized, but for this year, remarkably stable.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
Yeah. Wow, Okay, Well that's I'm just gonna say that,
I'm okay with that. I'll take a little bit. I'll
take a little bit of stability. You had mentioned in
one of your stories that you had written. There's I
believe four hundred and ninety three play of eligible teams.
I know, notably, I think rack Alman is bringing back
varsity football, and so I think Lyle is at least
(04:15):
temporarily dropping varsity football. Where is that is that four
ninety three numbers? That also around where we've been.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
Yeah, it has been I mean the lowest we've dropped
us four ninety two. That was two years ago. Last
year we were at four ninety five when the season started,
so that number has kind of, I guess stabilized a
little bit too. That is always contingent on what the
Chicago Public League teams decides to do with their structure.
(04:45):
In the past, there's usually about twenty to twenty four
teams that are not playoff eligible, and once again, for
the first time in recent memory, they've seemingly stuck with
pretty much the same format if they had the year before.
They also tend to make why the sweeping changes, so
you don't know for sure, but they're utilizing the same
(05:05):
situation that they use before so they used last year,
So that's definitely something that has allowed that number to
kind of stay stable. We only had one team dropped
down to eight man football that was making Meridian, and
then we had, like like you mentioned already, Rock Island
Element is returning to the fold and Riverton, a school
(05:28):
down by Springfield, was one of those teams that took
a year out from varsity football and they're back again.
So basically, the membership group has pretty much stayed the same,
which leads to the conferences pretty much staying the same
because we have the same schools, so we haven't had
to fill you know, we haven't had to try to
figure out what's the answer for a team dropping out
(05:51):
of a conference or a team dropping to eight man
football only in a couple of circumstances.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
That being said, I understand, you know there's stability in
the conferences and things that you mentioned, but and there's
a big butt and I feel weird mentioning the playoffs
right now because we're sitting here in July. There's going
to be changes coming with the playo, the overall shape
of the playoffs. So maybe you could touch on that
a little bit.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Yeah, what you think you know about where teams are
going to be classified? Would I would really strongly encourage
you to check before you start saying that you think
this team is going to be in this class or
the other classes, because you know, last year we had
about fifteen teams that were subjected to the multiplier. That
number has jumped to almost forty five. So that's going
(06:42):
to change a lot of the levers. You're going to
find a lot of teams and different classifications than you're
used to. And it's not only going to affect the
schools that are non boundaries. It's going to affect some
of these schools that are that are our public schools,
because you know, as those teams that are non boundary
to get moved up, teams that are usually maybe a
(07:04):
small seven A school, well, those schools that are all
jumping up, they'd leap over them, and they're going to
start pushing schools like that down to where there are
big six. I think the most interesting case involving schools
that typically do very well in the playoffs, I think
Batavia is going to be a very interesting team to
monitor this year. I mean usually you think of them
as a small seven A school. Based on all of
(07:25):
these changes, I think it's highly likely they're going to
end up as a Big six.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
Yeah, that would sort of I kind of chuckle when
I saw that, because you know, with Patavia maybe moving
from seventy to six A, you know, Mount Carmel moves
up from seven eight to eight to A. So it's like, oh, well, well,
that familiar face we're not going to see. But hey,
Nazareth is going to be moving up to six A.
You know, there's a little bit of a history there
with Potavia Nazareth as well, not saying they're going to
(07:51):
see each other in the playoffs, but the potential does
exist that they could see each other down the road.
And it sounds like, and I could be wrong, but
it sounds like could be potentially a pretty loaded bracket
this year.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
Well you add that, like you mentioned, you add Nazareth
up with moving up, you add you had Julie Katholick,
who's moving up, the potential for like a Batavia to
move down East Saint Louis. I'm sure they're probably still
planning to. Well, they actually have to. They are. They're
committed to six A. Six A just looks chock full
of really really strong programs. I think that's going to
(08:28):
be a deeper bracket than maybe six A has ever
seen potentially. And and conversely, I think this with Mount
Carmel going up to eight and some of these other
potential changes, I think this is probably going to be
a wide open seven A bracket. I look at it
right now and I don't see a team that I
think is head and shoulders above everyone else. And if
(08:49):
it was the way it was last year, that status
would obviously be reserved for Mount Carmel. But I think
seven A has the potential to be completely wide open.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Lastly, before I talk about distance, schedule and stuff, do
you know of any teams that are I know there's
been two or three that have you know, voluntarily, you
know they want to play up. I mean, is there
any any that you know about her? Are we at
that point in the timeline for.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
That that I believe they technically have until September one
to make that declaration. One thing that I did find
interesting in the off season with all of these multiplier changes,
two schools that applied for a waiver are applied to
go up. I've actually asked if they can have it
removed because those schools are Antioch and Glenbard East, who
(09:41):
had been petitioning up. Well, they said, well now now
it's where we think it should be, and they're like
they want out of that. The I has not ruled
on that yet. Typically, when you apply for one of
those situations, it is a two year standard that you're
expected to keep and then you have to reapply. We're
(10:01):
only in the second year. We're heading into the second
year of that last pocket. So for all intents and purposes,
by the letter of the law, those two schools should
still have to go up because that's what they requested,
unless the ISA grants them an exemption from something they requested.
So yeah, so it'll be interesting to see how that
(10:22):
will play our other schools. I've heard some rumors of
considering maybe doing it. Nothing official as of yet.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
Yeah, a play take back. Pretty pleased. We would like
to maybe.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
Move back down.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
That's that's interesting. Another story theme that you were touching
that you touched on another analysis piece that that you
wrote that I'd encourage people to look at, is you know,
it's kind of the difficulty for teams finding non conference
games in some cases. I know we've talked about there's
some matchups that we're kind of like, all right, we'll
(10:56):
play the other, you know, at the last minute. But
then there's pretty high profile teams defending state champions. They're
still looking for games and we're not talking week nine,
we're talking week one.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
In Week two. Yeah, I mean, it's been interesting with
Loyola particularly, they have been searching for a Week two
game for months. I mean, this has been something they
have not been able to line up for a while.
It was both Week one and Week two. They finally
got Maryville, Indiana to agree to play them in week one,
(11:30):
but as far as their week two vacancy, as far
as I know, has not been filled and I don't
know if they even have any leads at this point
to fill that game. So and it becomes a little
bit trickier because if you look at some of these
out of state things, a lot of them start a
week before Illinois does, so a week two vacancy in
(11:50):
Illinois is a week three vacancy, and a lot of
these out of state situations and a lot of those
out of state opponents, by week three they're in their
conference schedule, so they're in, they're in, you know, guaranteed
game type of situation in their schedule. They don't have
the ability to play Loyola even if they want to,
because they can't. So it becomes tricky to fill a
(12:13):
week too. It's much trickier to fill a week two
vacancy than a week one if you're willing and ready
to go out of state. That's just a logistics thing
that a lot of people don't know about.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
Yeah, I mean the other one that I mean it
was this week one, Montina, I believe it was week one.
There's still they're still trying to starch underneath rocks for
opponents and you know things like that, right that they're
they're in that situation as well.
Speaker 2 (12:38):
Yeah, it's been tricky for Montini as well. Like an
opponent that they've had for a couple of years, they
were not under contract to play them, but decided that
they did not want to continue playing them and actually
didn't let Montini know until fairly late in the process.
So by that point there is a very small list
of schools that were even available to play them in
(12:59):
ILLINOI and a lot of them look at the potential
of paying a defending state champion and they're like, no, thanks,
I think we'll look somewhere else. So it has been
a struggle for Montini. I think we're down to maybe
four or five teams in Week one that I'm not
sure who they're playing. Two of those schools are schools
(13:19):
that are technically entitled to a forfeit victory if they
choose to take it, so they may they may decide
that it's in their best interest to just take the
forfeit win and move on to Week two rather than
play Montini. And I don't blame them. I mean, these
are smaller schools that are in that situation. So but yeah,
I think it's going to be real tricky for them
(13:41):
to find a week one game. They may have to
take a simple bye week, and since they did not
have a scheduled opponent, they backed out on them. It's
not only a bye week, it's not a forfeit win either.
Montini will be playing They'll be playing an eight game
schedule with meaning that they would have to go to
five and three in the regular season to get to
(14:02):
playoff qualification. The same thing applies to Loyola. They did
not have a scheduled opponent. They have an eight game schedule,
so unless they find someone to put in those slots,
their their challenge of getting to the playoffs gets a
little bit more murky because once again they've got to win.
They've got to win sixty five percent of their games
(14:22):
instead of instead of fifty five, And that's in there
and both of those school schedules. I'm not saying, I'm
not saying they're not going to make the playoffs. I'm
just saying it becomes their their margin for error becomes
a lot, a lot slimmer.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
No, I mean, I talked about this with Joe and
Arpatkaz and like you know, Mantini is one of those
teams that it's like, if we could just get through,
then man, look out. And that's what happened last year.
I mean they you know, they actually had a pretty
good you know they I think they they lost week
three or something and then they won the rest of
the games. But it's been the challenge for I mean,
(14:56):
I'm speaking for Montini. You know, Icy Catholics third a
similar situation, and it's just is just winning enough games
since they you know, in that league to get into
the playoffs, and then, like you said, you take one.
I'm not saying that they would win whoever they played
week one, but they might not even get the opportunity
to to to play a team week one and then
and then there's all the other thing that goes with
(15:18):
you always taught to coaches like you know, we get
so much better week one to week two. Well now
they're going week two to week three, you know what
I mean. So it's like you're finding one more week
to kind of learn about your who you have and
and where you need to improve on. So hopefully they
could find a game. I mean, nobody wants I mean,
it's it's not like nothing against like basketball baseball, but
nine games is a pretty short season.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
So yeah, I mean every one of them, every and
especially with the playoff situation the way that it is, right,
I mean, every one of those nine count for something.
I mean, it's it's strange to think about this, but
you look at those two teams, and while I don't
think that they're gonna, you know, they're gonna either one
of them are candidates to run the table, they couldn't
potentially run the table, and they're well, I mean, they
(16:02):
wouldn't even be seated at the top of the chart
for being undefeated because they be technically only an eight
win team, not a nine win team. So even in
that sense they would they're going to slide down the
seed charts simply because they don't have an opportunity to
play nine games. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
Yeah, well, like I said, hopefully they could find a game,
uh for those games, because you know, obviously, you know,
we wanted everybody to get the chance to play, to
play football. That's that's that's what they want to do.
So anyway, there that being said, there's a lot of
really interesting Week one games. I think we'll just kind
of focus on earlier in early you know, week one
type games for this podcast, the one that I know
(16:41):
I texted you about when I saw the sort of
little schedule thing that we had a new matchup. Uh,
you know Lions, Lion's going to Joy. I think it's
that Joy to Catholic if I'm not mistaken. But I
saw that, I'm like, oh, that's kind of a kind
of fun. I mean, Lions is a is a is
a team and a program. You know what John Butcher
has really been. I'm just gonna stay on to come
(17:04):
the last few years and you know last year getting
the nine and zero, getting to the quarterfinals and know
they're disappointed losing in April Central, but they had a
great year. He's really got it rolling. But man, can
Julie Catholic right off the bat's that's that's a nice
kind of like you know where these teams are in
Week one?
Speaker 2 (17:22):
Yeah. It was one of those things that, like I
talked about before, like just kind of the window kind
of closing on teams, you know, in the early spring,
when it was like, hey, we don't have a game,
and then eventually it became a game of chicken. It
was kind of like, well, you know, we don't really
want to play somebody too good off the bat, but
we also don't want to get ourselves into a situation
(17:44):
where everyone else pairs off for the dance and we
don't have a partner. And I think that was kind
of what happened with Lyon Juliett Catholic. I believe I
found about out about that game first and about April,
and it was after for several months of well, if
we get to the point where we can't find anybody,
(18:04):
let's do this, but let's keep looking around in case
we find a better situation for us. So I mean
that was a game that was booked up pretty late
in the process. I mean, for those that don't know,
most teams have their schedule pretty much in place at
the latest around the first of the year. So to
be in you know, March April and not have that
(18:25):
lockdown it can get a little worrisome for the teams
that are looking for games. And Joy Kavic has had
problems over the last couple of years finding willing opponents
for those non conference games. And it's understandable. It's quality program.
But like you had mentioned to me when we were
talking before this year kind of making a making a
(18:45):
little tour through the West Suburban Conference as they have
a Glenbard West game in Week two. So found some
schools willing to take on that challenge. And I think
ultimately probably both of those teams that are taking on
that joy A Catholic challenge will ultimate'll be better for it.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Glenbard West is another team that I mean,
their their their early season schedule last year was was
was quite a gauntlet and it really kind of set
I'm not gonna say it set him back. It put
them in a position where they were really facing uphill
client but you know what, they're gonna have another tough
early part of the year. Uh this year with with
Joliet Katholic and Batavia Week one another week one sort
(19:24):
of Week one Week two a team that I want
to kind of talk about for a minute. Kanky key,
my goodness. Uh, they got Nazdar with Week one and
then you know they play a little team called Lincoln
Way East in week two. Was that Lincoln We East
was that sort of a that, you know of kind
of a okay, we'll play them type of situation.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
Well, I think it's twofold with Lincoln Way East. Lincoln
Way East has had big time problems filling this week
to date. If you remember last year, they ended up
getting a forfeit win that week because they were supposed
to play a team out of Florida. They obviously did
not want to go that route again and potentially not
have the ability to play a game. Kanka Key is
(20:03):
kind of an interesting situation. You look at that non
conference schedule and you'd be like, why are they doing that? Well,
this is a program that has over the last five
to ten years, has absolutely dominated their conference, the South
Plan Conference. Really the only team that has really pushed
them at all at any point in time is Cretemone
and everyone else has kind of been a runaway for
(20:25):
them for several years. A lot of running clock games,
a lot of non competitive football games. So for kanki
Key to get tested, they've got to do it in
the non conference schedule, and good on them for recognizing that. So,
I mean, their non conference schedule is loaded. They play
three non con games, they play you know, they're playing
Nazareth for the fourth time. That's developed into a nice
(20:47):
little rivalry, challenging themselves by going to the big Mountain
that is Lincoln Way East, and then later in the
season they play Normal Community, which is absolutely no slouch either.
So that is a team that I tip my cap
to them for their non conference schedule.
Speaker 1 (21:01):
Yeah, no doubt. I mean there's some teams, you know,
like I just throw like Glenbard West in the example
where it's like they I bet you know, maybe they
would maybe rather not play both of the non conference
games to start with, given what they have on the
back end. But yeah, like you mentioned, I mean, you know,
tip tip rep to them, you know, stepping out the
(21:23):
way they are. Man, they're that nazmuth here has been
really nice. I mean I think wasn't it like three
or four years ago it was like a two to
Nunhon final or something wild like that. But but man,
those have been some really good games the last few years.
So you know that one should be a lot of fun.
You know. Obviously another one Batavia Glenbard West last year.
(21:43):
I'm just gonna say, arrive early, uh for that game.
I think it's on a Friday night in Batavia this time.
You know, what do you what do you think about that?
I Mean, that's gonna be an all eyes in a
Western suburb type game.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
Yeah, that's the kind of game that like that I
really like get played. I know that, especially in the
case of Well, I think in the case of both
of them, they have to be careful in their non
conference schedules because their conferences are usually pretty deep and
if something goes wrong, the margin of error is pretty slim.
(22:18):
And I know that. I know this non con ended
up hurting Glenbard West last year. I think they were
they were they were playoff caliber team whose schedule just
proved to be too much like ultimately when it came
right down to it, and there's evidence of that. I mean,
they ended up being one of that I think in
the top five teams in the state and playoff points accumulated.
(22:39):
That was a testament how strong that schedule was that
they played. But they're not backing down from it. They
recognized that, Hey, it's not going to be easy for
us to find an opponent. Let's go out there, let's
let's strap it up and see what happens. So you know,
that's that's a credit to them too for doing that.
They definitely didn't want to get themselves in a situation
that are looking at right now where they couldn't get
(23:03):
you know, a ninth game and eighth game something like that,
and it would have been a problem. They wouldn't have
been willing to do this type of thing because I
don't think there are a lot of programs lining up
to play Glenbard West. So that's that. It's a it's
it's one of the precarious things about the system that
I wish more teams would approach it like this, But
I also understand why they can't. Sure.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, no doubt no. They were definitely a
team that I mean they started up Zone four and
then I mean I think they played York to a
one score game in Week eight and obviously York went
on to take second in the stage. So I mean
they were they were playoff Calvary. It's just it caught
up with them a little bit. I think Week one games.
Any I think other games that kind of jump out,
(23:44):
you know, one of that kind of stood out that's
a little bit south of us. Is is glen Wood
playing Edwardsville? I believe is that a new Is that
a new matchup?
Speaker 2 (23:51):
That's it.
Speaker 1 (23:52):
That's the kind of an interesting one.
Speaker 2 (23:54):
Yeah, that is It's one of those situations that kind
of was unearthed out of the U the Central State
Eight kind of expanding at one point in time going
into two divisions. They had to line up some non
conference games, and some of them, some of those schools,
it's just simply not that easy for them to to
get non con games because they're pretty strong programs. So,
(24:16):
you know, that was that was one of those games
that kind of jumped off the page at me when
I was looking at it. You know, there are a
lot of really interesting games out there, I think more
because of the local tinge of them. Some smaller school
games that I find really interesting. In Week one, Princeton
at Newman Central Catholic, I think that's a really interesting
(24:39):
way to kick off the season. And one in my
neck of the woods that I feel like has been
talked about for years but it has never been played,
Wilmington Morris. I think that's a really fun one start
season as well. You know, it's it's just kind of
an interesting thing that has been bandied about. You know,
(25:00):
mpherence is a Morris alum. You know, they're really geographically
they're really not They're not that far apart. Morris is
a little bit bigger but Wilmington, I would be shocked
if they can't hold their own in that game. So
that's a really fun one in Week one too. So
there's a lot of them and I don't know if
(25:20):
we're gonna get there eventually. But the one of the
Thursday games that.
Speaker 1 (25:24):
I was I was hinting at was and obviously I
can't I can't see that game in person.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
East St. Louis is playing Bergen Catholic out of New
Jersey on a Thursday night to kick off the season.
If you don't know who Bergen is, uh, they are
a national powerhouse program. Uh. And it shouldn't surprise you
that East St. Louis is doing this. They're doing it
all the way through their non conference schedule. Uh. Not
(25:55):
only are they playing Bergen, they're also playing two other
teams in the non conference that were that finished the
season ranked nationally in the top twenty five last last
year according to max Preps. So that's uh, that's the
East Saint Louis scheduling way now they play their five
Southwestern Conference games and then they go play anyone who
(26:15):
will play them. And uh, and they've they've done and
they pushed IMG Academy to the hilt last year. They
will play them again this year in Week nine. That
that schedule is as robust a schedule as I've ever seen.
I mean, I have to give them major props for
(26:36):
doing what they're doing, because it could easily be argued
that they could potentially lose all four of those non
conference games and then put themselves in a situation where
they have to run the table in the Southwestern just
to get to the playoffs. If that were the situation,
and somehow maybe they lost one of those Southwestern games
and finished four and five, that would probably be one
(26:58):
of the best four and five team used to never
make them to not make the playoffs. The gist of
that schedule, it's incredible.
Speaker 1 (27:06):
Yeah, no doubt, But I have to think that that's
part of the you know, Alura playing at East Sint
Lewis now is to Lewis play with the best players
in the area, play the best schedule in the country
or one of or one of the best schedules in
the country.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
So, well, they're going to Las Vegas, so they're playing Bishops.
They're they're going to Las Vegas, so they're there. Let's
let's go to Vegas. Guys, you want to go play Vegas,
a game in Vegas and a non con against one
of the best programs in the nation. I'm sure that's
probably a selling point.
Speaker 1 (27:37):
Not bad. Yeah, uh, a lot we could talk about,
but you know what kind of save it till the
season starts. There will be a lot to talk about
when when we get there. Just reminder to everyone, uh,
check out. We have four podcasts coming your way this week.
We have full breakdowns of week to week matchups throughout
every market that we cover, and then previous will be
(27:59):
just around the corner. We will have our preview magazine
as well. Do you want to get your hands on?
Once August rolls around and then man Steve Steve another
six weeks will be back at it. Steve and I
will be doing this preview podcast during the week. Steven
Matt Rodewild will also be doing one, and then we'll
have others throughout and then Steve will be back on
(28:20):
Friday Night Live. You didn't get a new name for
any of they did.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
That's what we're doing.
Speaker 1 (28:26):
Very good, very good. So everyone want to want to
check that out. Steve before we get out of here,
any any parting comments.
Speaker 2 (28:33):
You know, I'm just really anxious to get going. It's
one of those things that yet, like you said before
earlier in the podcast, that that schedule is kind of
the the alarm bell that we're getting closer and uh
and definitely looking forward to some of those big matchups
right off the bat.
Speaker 1 (28:48):
Yep, it's gonna be a lot of fun. Can't wait
for Steve Susie, I'm Josh. Well, everyone, have a great weekend.
Hello everybody, and welcome to the Friday Night Drive Podcast.
I'm Josh well Gain here with Steve Susi. It's July
seventeenth as we tape. According to Edgy Tim, if his
math is correct, we're forty three days until the first
football Friday. How you feeling? This is a this is
a big week for us to this one. It starts
to get a little bit real.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Yeah, when those schedules finally pop up, when they're official,
they're locked in. They're basically giving us the roadmap to
the season. That's definitely a situation where you're like, hey,
it's going to be here before you know it. And
technically we're forty two days away because there are some
Thursday games in the opening week of the season, so
including an interesting one that unfortunately I won't be able
(00:45):
to watch live, but we'll get to that a little
bit later.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Yeah, definitely want to ask you about I know of
one Thursday night game, but I want to ask you
about any others that you know about, because you know,
I need to make I need to make my reservations
for a three day weekend in Covery football. If it
all Popps, and I'm sure you wouldn't mind that as well.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
So absolutely, yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Uh but yeah, like you said, this is a big
week with I just say, releasing the football schedules on Friday,
we're taping on Thursday here, Friday and Night Drive we're
having you know, full coverage with games to watch in
every market that we cover. Obviously, we're here taping one
of four podcasts that we're doing. UH I tape one
(01:25):
with Joel Bennett's where we look at the western suburbs,
and I'll see Steve taped with Mason Schweizer talking about
the kink Key area, and then Eddie Griffio, j T
Penalty and San Ramirez UH tape to look at the
the southwest area of our coverage. But a lot of
you know, good stuff covering. I encourage everyone to check
it out. And and and and Steve, you wrote a
(01:46):
couple of pieces for UH for for this week, and
you know, I kind of want to start with, you know,
some of the themes you touched on one of them.
And every year, and I feel like when we were
starting to talk about previews, one of the first quest who,
as they ask you, is okay, are the conference is
all the same because every year it seems like there's
always one or two or five that that there's not
(02:10):
so many jumps for whatever reason. And then you get
a new lead you never heard of, or a team
in a lead they didn't see before. It doesn't sound
like there's gonna be a lot of you know, it
sounds like it's a temporary thing. But this year it
sounds like we're a little stable that front.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Yeah, as far as I know, I may get surprised
by something tomorrow. There's not a single conference that has
either disbanded or enlarged in the entire state this year.
There have been a few small cosmetic changes in a
couple of situations, but nothing as sweeping as formulating a
new super conference, or taking two conferences and merging them together,
(02:50):
or a conference just completely disappearing. None of that has happened.
It's it's very strange because you hear this all the
time about all these conferences that are blowing up. However,
I should point out, to be fair, I think we're
only getting a one year respite from that, because in
twenty twenty six there are several things that are coming
(03:11):
on the horizon in regards to conference changes, most notably
the Southwest Valley, which was the merging of the Southwest
Suburban Suburban Conference and the du Page Valley. Their arrangement
that formed the Southwest Valley is going to end after
two years, so this is the final year of that
(03:32):
fifteen team conference. They will I don't know what the
solution is for all these schools as of yet, it
hasn't been sorted out, but I know it won't be
the Southwest Valley. So then you'll start to see some
more dominoes and some things moving around again, and all
of them aren't finalized, but for this year, remarkably stable.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
Yeah. Wow, Okay, Well that's I'm just gonna say that,
I'm okay with that. I'll take a little bit. I'll
take a little bit of stability. You had mentioned in
one of your stories that you had written. There's I
believe four hundred and ninety three play of eligible teams.
I know, notably, I think rack Alman is bringing back
varsity football, and so I think Lyle is at least
(04:15):
temporarily dropping varsity football. Where is that is that four
ninety three numbers? That also around where we've been.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
Yeah, it has been I mean the lowest we've dropped
us four ninety two. That was two years ago. Last
year we were at four ninety five when the season started,
so that number has kind of, I guess stabilized a
little bit too. That is always contingent on what the
Chicago Public League teams decides to do with their structure.
(04:45):
In the past, there's usually about twenty to twenty four
teams that are not playoff eligible, and once again, for
the first time in recent memory, they've seemingly stuck with
pretty much the same format if they had the year before.
They also tend to make why the sweeping changes, so
you don't know for sure, but they're utilizing the same
(05:05):
situation that they use before so they used last year,
So that's definitely something that has allowed that number to
kind of stay stable. We only had one team dropped
down to eight man football that was making Meridian, and
then we had, like like you mentioned already, Rock Island
Element is returning to the fold and Riverton, a school
(05:28):
down by Springfield, was one of those teams that took
a year out from varsity football and they're back again.
So basically, the membership group has pretty much stayed the same,
which leads to the conferences pretty much staying the same
because we have the same schools, so we haven't had
to fill you know, we haven't had to try to
figure out what's the answer for a team dropping out
(05:51):
of a conference or a team dropping to eight man
football only in a couple of circumstances.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
That being said, I understand, you know there's stability in
the conferences and things that you mentioned, but and there's
a big butt and I feel weird mentioning the playoffs
right now because we're sitting here in July. There's going
to be changes coming with the playo, the overall shape
of the playoffs. So maybe you could touch on that
a little bit.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Yeah, what you think you know about where teams are
going to be classified? Would I would really strongly encourage
you to check before you start saying that you think
this team is going to be in this class or
the other classes, because you know, last year we had
about fifteen teams that were subjected to the multiplier. That
number has jumped to almost forty five. So that's going
(06:42):
to change a lot of the levers. You're going to
find a lot of teams and different classifications than you're
used to. And it's not only going to affect the
schools that are non boundaries. It's going to affect some
of these schools that are that are our public schools,
because you know, as those teams that are non boundary
to get moved up, teams that are usually maybe a
(07:04):
small seven A school, well, those schools that are all
jumping up, they'd leap over them, and they're going to
start pushing schools like that down to where there are
big six. I think the most interesting case involving schools
that typically do very well in the playoffs, I think
Batavia is going to be a very interesting team to
monitor this year. I mean usually you think of them
as a small seven A school. Based on all of
(07:25):
these changes, I think it's highly likely they're going to
end up as a Big six.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
Yeah, that would sort of I kind of chuckle when
I saw that, because you know, with Patavia maybe moving
from seventy to six A, you know, Mount Carmel moves
up from seven eight to eight to A. So it's like, oh, well, well,
that familiar face we're not going to see. But hey,
Nazareth is going to be moving up to six A.
You know, there's a little bit of a history there
with Potavia Nazareth as well, not saying they're going to
(07:51):
see each other in the playoffs, but the potential does
exist that they could see each other down the road.
And it sounds like, and I could be wrong, but
it sounds like could be potentially a pretty loaded bracket
this year.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
Well you add that, like you mentioned, you add Nazareth
up with moving up, you add you had Julie Katholick,
who's moving up, the potential for like a Batavia to
move down East Saint Louis. I'm sure they're probably still
planning to. Well, they actually have to. They are. They're
committed to six A. Six A just looks chock full
of really really strong programs. I think that's going to
(08:28):
be a deeper bracket than maybe six A has ever
seen potentially. And and conversely, I think this with Mount
Carmel going up to eight and some of these other
potential changes, I think this is probably going to be
a wide open seven A bracket. I look at it
right now and I don't see a team that I
think is head and shoulders above everyone else. And if
(08:49):
it was the way it was last year, that status
would obviously be reserved for Mount Carmel. But I think
seven A has the potential to be completely wide open.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Lastly, before I talk about distance, schedule and stuff, do
you know of any teams that are I know there's
been two or three that have you know, voluntarily, you
know they want to play up. I mean, is there
any any that you know about her? Are we at
that point in the timeline for.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
That that I believe they technically have until September one
to make that declaration. One thing that I did find
interesting in the off season with all of these multiplier changes,
two schools that applied for a waiver are applied to
go up. I've actually asked if they can have it
removed because those schools are Antioch and Glenbard East, who
(09:41):
had been petitioning up. Well, they said, well now now
it's where we think it should be, and they're like
they want out of that. The I has not ruled
on that yet. Typically, when you apply for one of
those situations, it is a two year standard that you're
expected to keep and then you have to reapply. We're
(10:01):
only in the second year. We're heading into the second
year of that last pocket. So for all intents and purposes,
by the letter of the law, those two schools should
still have to go up because that's what they requested,
unless the ISA grants them an exemption from something they requested.
So yeah, so it'll be interesting to see how that
(10:22):
will play our other schools. I've heard some rumors of
considering maybe doing it. Nothing official as of yet.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
Yeah, a play take back. Pretty pleased. We would like
to maybe.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
Move back down.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
That's that's interesting. Another story theme that you were touching
that you touched on another analysis piece that that you
wrote that I'd encourage people to look at, is you know,
it's kind of the difficulty for teams finding non conference
games in some cases. I know we've talked about there's
some matchups that we're kind of like, all right, we'll
(10:56):
play the other, you know, at the last minute. But
then there's pretty high profile teams defending state champions. They're
still looking for games and we're not talking week nine,
we're talking week one.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
In Week two. Yeah, I mean, it's been interesting with
Loyola particularly, they have been searching for a Week two
game for months. I mean, this has been something they
have not been able to line up for a while.
It was both Week one and Week two. They finally
got Maryville, Indiana to agree to play them in week one,
(11:30):
but as far as their week two vacancy, as far
as I know, has not been filled and I don't
know if they even have any leads at this point
to fill that game. So and it becomes a little
bit trickier because if you look at some of these
out of state things, a lot of them start a
week before Illinois does, so a week two vacancy in
(11:50):
Illinois is a week three vacancy, and a lot of
these out of state situations and a lot of those
out of state opponents, by week three they're in their
conference schedule, so they're in, they're in, you know, guaranteed
game type of situation in their schedule. They don't have
the ability to play Loyola even if they want to,
because they can't. So it becomes tricky to fill a
(12:13):
week too. It's much trickier to fill a week two
vacancy than a week one if you're willing and ready
to go out of state. That's just a logistics thing
that a lot of people don't know about.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
Yeah, I mean the other one that I mean it
was this week one, Montina, I believe it was week one.
There's still they're still trying to starch underneath rocks for
opponents and you know things like that, right that they're
they're in that situation as well.
Speaker 2 (12:38):
Yeah, it's been tricky for Montini as well. Like an
opponent that they've had for a couple of years, they
were not under contract to play them, but decided that
they did not want to continue playing them and actually
didn't let Montini know until fairly late in the process.
So by that point there is a very small list
of schools that were even available to play them in
(12:59):
ILLINOI and a lot of them look at the potential
of paying a defending state champion and they're like, no, thanks,
I think we'll look somewhere else. So it has been
a struggle for Montini. I think we're down to maybe
four or five teams in Week one that I'm not
sure who they're playing. Two of those schools are schools
(13:19):
that are technically entitled to a forfeit victory if they
choose to take it, so they may they may decide
that it's in their best interest to just take the
forfeit win and move on to Week two rather than
play Montini. And I don't blame them. I mean, these
are smaller schools that are in that situation. So but yeah,
I think it's going to be real tricky for them
(13:41):
to find a week one game. They may have to
take a simple bye week, and since they did not
have a scheduled opponent, they backed out on them. It's
not only a bye week, it's not a forfeit win either.
Montini will be playing They'll be playing an eight game
schedule with meaning that they would have to go to
five and three in the regular season to get to
(14:02):
playoff qualification. The same thing applies to Loyola. They did
not have a scheduled opponent. They have an eight game schedule,
so unless they find someone to put in those slots,
their their challenge of getting to the playoffs gets a
little bit more murky because once again they've got to win.
They've got to win sixty five percent of their games
(14:22):
instead of instead of fifty five, And that's in there
and both of those school schedules. I'm not saying, I'm
not saying they're not going to make the playoffs. I'm
just saying it becomes their their margin for error becomes
a lot, a lot slimmer.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
No, I mean, I talked about this with Joe and
Arpatkaz and like you know, Mantini is one of those
teams that it's like, if we could just get through,
then man, look out. And that's what happened last year.
I mean they you know, they actually had a pretty
good you know they I think they they lost week
three or something and then they won the rest of
the games. But it's been the challenge for I mean,
(14:56):
I'm speaking for Montini. You know, Icy Catholics third a
similar situation, and it's just is just winning enough games
since they you know, in that league to get into
the playoffs, and then, like you said, you take one.
I'm not saying that they would win whoever they played
week one, but they might not even get the opportunity
to to to play a team week one and then
and then there's all the other thing that goes with
(15:18):
you always taught to coaches like you know, we get
so much better week one to week two. Well now
they're going week two to week three, you know what
I mean. So it's like you're finding one more week
to kind of learn about your who you have and
and where you need to improve on. So hopefully they
could find a game. I mean, nobody wants I mean,
it's it's not like nothing against like basketball baseball, but
nine games is a pretty short season.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
So yeah, I mean every one of them, every and
especially with the playoff situation the way that it is, right,
I mean, every one of those nine count for something.
I mean, it's it's strange to think about this, but
you look at those two teams, and while I don't
think that they're gonna, you know, they're gonna either one
of them are candidates to run the table, they couldn't
potentially run the table, and they're well, I mean, they
(16:02):
wouldn't even be seated at the top of the chart
for being undefeated because they be technically only an eight
win team, not a nine win team. So even in
that sense they would they're going to slide down the
seed charts simply because they don't have an opportunity to
play nine games. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
Yeah, well, like I said, hopefully they could find a game,
uh for those games, because you know, obviously, you know,
we wanted everybody to get the chance to play, to
play football. That's that's that's what they want to do.
So anyway, there that being said, there's a lot of
really interesting Week one games. I think we'll just kind
of focus on earlier in early you know, week one
type games for this podcast, the one that I know
(16:41):
I texted you about when I saw the sort of
little schedule thing that we had a new matchup. Uh,
you know Lions, Lion's going to Joy. I think it's
that Joy to Catholic if I'm not mistaken. But I
saw that, I'm like, oh, that's kind of a kind
of fun. I mean, Lions is a is a is
a team and a program. You know what John Butcher
has really been. I'm just gonna stay on to come
(17:04):
the last few years and you know last year getting
the nine and zero, getting to the quarterfinals and know
they're disappointed losing in April Central, but they had a
great year. He's really got it rolling. But man, can
Julie Catholic right off the bat's that's that's a nice
kind of like you know where these teams are in
Week one?
Speaker 2 (17:22):
Yeah. It was one of those things that, like I
talked about before, like just kind of the window kind
of closing on teams, you know, in the early spring,
when it was like, hey, we don't have a game,
and then eventually it became a game of chicken. It
was kind of like, well, you know, we don't really
want to play somebody too good off the bat, but
we also don't want to get ourselves into a situation
(17:44):
where everyone else pairs off for the dance and we
don't have a partner. And I think that was kind
of what happened with Lyon Juliett Catholic. I believe I
found about out about that game first and about April,
and it was after for several months of well, if
we get to the point where we can't find anybody,
(18:04):
let's do this, but let's keep looking around in case
we find a better situation for us. So I mean
that was a game that was booked up pretty late
in the process. I mean, for those that don't know,
most teams have their schedule pretty much in place at
the latest around the first of the year. So to
be in you know, March April and not have that
(18:25):
lockdown it can get a little worrisome for the teams
that are looking for games. And Joy Kavic has had
problems over the last couple of years finding willing opponents
for those non conference games. And it's understandable. It's quality program.
But like you had mentioned to me when we were
talking before this year kind of making a making a
(18:45):
little tour through the West Suburban Conference as they have
a Glenbard West game in Week two. So found some
schools willing to take on that challenge. And I think
ultimately probably both of those teams that are taking on
that joy A Catholic challenge will ultimate'll be better for it.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Glenbard West is another team that I mean,
their their their early season schedule last year was was
was quite a gauntlet and it really kind of set
I'm not gonna say it set him back. It put
them in a position where they were really facing uphill
client but you know what, they're gonna have another tough
early part of the year. Uh this year with with
Joliet Katholic and Batavia Week one another week one sort
(19:24):
of Week one Week two a team that I want
to kind of talk about for a minute. Kanky key,
my goodness. Uh, they got Nazdar with Week one and
then you know they play a little team called Lincoln
Way East in week two. Was that Lincoln We East
was that sort of a that, you know of kind
of a okay, we'll play them type of situation.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
Well, I think it's twofold with Lincoln Way East. Lincoln
Way East has had big time problems filling this week
to date. If you remember last year, they ended up
getting a forfeit win that week because they were supposed
to play a team out of Florida. They obviously did
not want to go that route again and potentially not
have the ability to play a game. Kanka Key is
(20:03):
kind of an interesting situation. You look at that non
conference schedule and you'd be like, why are they doing that? Well,
this is a program that has over the last five
to ten years, has absolutely dominated their conference, the South
Plan Conference. Really the only team that has really pushed
them at all at any point in time is Cretemone
and everyone else has kind of been a runaway for
(20:25):
them for several years. A lot of running clock games,
a lot of non competitive football games. So for kanki
Key to get tested, they've got to do it in
the non conference schedule, and good on them for recognizing that. So,
I mean, their non conference schedule is loaded. They play
three non con games, they play you know, they're playing
Nazareth for the fourth time. That's developed into a nice
(20:47):
little rivalry, challenging themselves by going to the big Mountain
that is Lincoln Way East, and then later in the
season they play Normal Community, which is absolutely no slouch either.
So that is a team that I tip my cap
to them for their non conference schedule.
Speaker 1 (21:01):
Yeah, no doubt. I mean there's some teams, you know,
like I just throw like Glenbard West in the example
where it's like they I bet you know, maybe they
would maybe rather not play both of the non conference
games to start with, given what they have on the
back end. But yeah, like you mentioned, I mean, you know,
tip tip rep to them, you know, stepping out the
(21:23):
way they are. Man, they're that nazmuth here has been
really nice. I mean I think wasn't it like three
or four years ago it was like a two to
Nunhon final or something wild like that. But but man,
those have been some really good games the last few years.
So you know that one should be a lot of fun.
You know. Obviously another one Batavia Glenbard West last year.
(21:43):
I'm just gonna say, arrive early, uh for that game.
I think it's on a Friday night in Batavia this time.
You know, what do you what do you think about that?
I Mean, that's gonna be an all eyes in a
Western suburb type game.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
Yeah, that's the kind of game that like that I
really like get played. I know that, especially in the
case of Well, I think in the case of both
of them, they have to be careful in their non
conference schedules because their conferences are usually pretty deep and
if something goes wrong, the margin of error is pretty slim.
(22:18):
And I know that. I know this non con ended
up hurting Glenbard West last year. I think they were
they were they were playoff caliber team whose schedule just
proved to be too much like ultimately when it came
right down to it, and there's evidence of that. I mean,
they ended up being one of that I think in
the top five teams in the state and playoff points accumulated.
(22:39):
That was a testament how strong that schedule was that
they played. But they're not backing down from it. They
recognized that, Hey, it's not going to be easy for
us to find an opponent. Let's go out there, let's
let's strap it up and see what happens. So you know,
that's that's a credit to them too for doing that.
They definitely didn't want to get themselves in a situation
that are looking at right now where they couldn't get
(23:03):
you know, a ninth game and eighth game something like that,
and it would have been a problem. They wouldn't have
been willing to do this type of thing because I
don't think there are a lot of programs lining up
to play Glenbard West. So that's that. It's a it's
it's one of the precarious things about the system that
I wish more teams would approach it like this, But
I also understand why they can't. Sure.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, no doubt no. They were definitely a
team that I mean they started up Zone four and
then I mean I think they played York to a
one score game in Week eight and obviously York went
on to take second in the stage. So I mean
they were they were playoff Calvary. It's just it caught
up with them a little bit. I think Week one games.
Any I think other games that kind of jump out,
(23:44):
you know, one of that kind of stood out that's
a little bit south of us. Is is glen Wood
playing Edwardsville? I believe is that a new Is that
a new matchup?
Speaker 2 (23:51):
That's it.
Speaker 1 (23:52):
That's the kind of an interesting one.
Speaker 2 (23:54):
Yeah, that is It's one of those situations that kind
of was unearthed out of the U the Central State
Eight kind of expanding at one point in time going
into two divisions. They had to line up some non
conference games, and some of them, some of those schools,
it's just simply not that easy for them to to
get non con games because they're pretty strong programs. So,
(24:16):
you know, that was that was one of those games
that kind of jumped off the page at me when
I was looking at it. You know, there are a
lot of really interesting games out there, I think more
because of the local tinge of them. Some smaller school
games that I find really interesting. In Week one, Princeton
at Newman Central Catholic, I think that's a really interesting
(24:39):
way to kick off the season. And one in my
neck of the woods that I feel like has been
talked about for years but it has never been played,
Wilmington Morris. I think that's a really fun one start
season as well. You know, it's it's just kind of
an interesting thing that has been bandied about. You know,
(25:00):
mpherence is a Morris alum. You know, they're really geographically
they're really not They're not that far apart. Morris is
a little bit bigger but Wilmington, I would be shocked
if they can't hold their own in that game. So
that's a really fun one in Week one too. So
there's a lot of them and I don't know if
(25:20):
we're gonna get there eventually. But the one of the
Thursday games that.
Speaker 1 (25:24):
I was I was hinting at was and obviously I
can't I can't see that game in person.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
East St. Louis is playing Bergen Catholic out of New
Jersey on a Thursday night to kick off the season.
If you don't know who Bergen is, uh, they are
a national powerhouse program. Uh. And it shouldn't surprise you
that East St. Louis is doing this. They're doing it
all the way through their non conference schedule. Uh. Not
(25:55):
only are they playing Bergen, they're also playing two other
teams in the non conference that were that finished the
season ranked nationally in the top twenty five last last
year according to max Preps. So that's uh, that's the
East Saint Louis scheduling way now they play their five
Southwestern Conference games and then they go play anyone who
(26:15):
will play them. And uh, and they've they've done and
they pushed IMG Academy to the hilt last year. They
will play them again this year in Week nine. That
that schedule is as robust a schedule as I've ever seen.
I mean, I have to give them major props for
(26:36):
doing what they're doing, because it could easily be argued
that they could potentially lose all four of those non
conference games and then put themselves in a situation where
they have to run the table in the Southwestern just
to get to the playoffs. If that were the situation,
and somehow maybe they lost one of those Southwestern games
and finished four and five, that would probably be one
(26:58):
of the best four and five team used to never
make them to not make the playoffs. The gist of
that schedule, it's incredible.
Speaker 1 (27:06):
Yeah, no doubt, But I have to think that that's
part of the you know, Alura playing at East Sint
Lewis now is to Lewis play with the best players
in the area, play the best schedule in the country
or one of or one of the best schedules in
the country.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
So, well, they're going to Las Vegas, so they're playing Bishops.
They're they're going to Las Vegas, so they're there. Let's
let's go to Vegas. Guys, you want to go play Vegas,
a game in Vegas and a non con against one
of the best programs in the nation. I'm sure that's
probably a selling point.
Speaker 1 (27:37):
Not bad. Yeah, uh, a lot we could talk about,
but you know what kind of save it till the
season starts. There will be a lot to talk about
when when we get there. Just reminder to everyone, uh,
check out. We have four podcasts coming your way this week.
We have full breakdowns of week to week matchups throughout
every market that we cover, and then previous will be
(27:59):
just around the corner. We will have our preview magazine
as well. Do you want to get your hands on?
Once August rolls around and then man Steve Steve another
six weeks will be back at it. Steve and I
will be doing this preview podcast during the week. Steven
Matt Rodewild will also be doing one, and then we'll
have others throughout and then Steve will be back on
(28:20):
Friday Night Live. You didn't get a new name for
any of they did.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
That's what we're doing.
Speaker 1 (28:26):
Very good, very good. So everyone want to want to
check that out. Steve before we get out of here,
any any parting comments.
Speaker 2 (28:33):
You know, I'm just really anxious to get going. It's
one of those things that yet, like you said before
earlier in the podcast, that that schedule is kind of
the the alarm bell that we're getting closer and uh
and definitely looking forward to some of those big matchups
right off the bat.
Speaker 1 (28:48):
Yep, it's gonna be a lot of fun. Can't wait
for Steve Susie, I'm Josh. Well, everyone, have a great weekend.
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