November marks a 50-year love/hate relationship I have with the Illinois high school football playoffs; dating back to the very first year the IHSA instituted post-season play.
I recall gazing out to our empty practice field at Rochelle in 1974 and silently saying to myself, “What a shame.”
Even though we had defeated league champ Geneseo in the regular season, they represented the NCIC in the playoffs, not us. With a team good enough to win the state title, we botched our chances with shoddy play in a couple other games. And, with only 80 teams in five classes in the playoffs, you practically had to win your conference to qualify.
It was FOMO before that term was coined.
However, the next year we won the conference outright and got the automatic invite to the playoffs. My senior season came to end, though, as Geneva knocked us out 21-14 and advanced to the championship game. That one-touchdown loss was further amplified by me dropping a wide-open pass that would have gone for a score.
In 1977, Rochelle was unscored upon in the conference and entered the playoffs ranked No. 1 in the state. In a fate worse than Byron facing Montini in round two, the Hubs ended up against conference archrival Geneseo in round one.
Though my playing days were over, it was with nervous anticipation I sat in the old Helms Field stands on a Wednesday afternoon (yes, teams used to play two games in the first week on the playoffs) watching the two best teams in 3A go at it. Sadly, an early Hub lead evaporated and Geneseo pulled out the win on its way to an easy romp to the state championship.
Thus, my IHSA playoff psyche was impacted early on with my school’s chances for grid glory gone by the wayside. It continued over the decades, with three semifinals defeats circa 2000.
Don’t get me wrong. As much as playoff losses can haunt a person, the wins can be heavenly. And, the experience of playing past the regular season is unique in itself, especially for us old-timers who remember when football was over after the regular season.
I bring all this up because of the dread I felt on last Saturday morning. With one of its best teams ever, Rochelle had a quarterfinal playoff game that day. Unfortunately, it was against two-time defending 5A champ LaGrange Nazareth and its D-I roster.
My gut was telling me that more playoff disappointment awaited. Rather than subject myself to this, dare I stay home and regret that Rochelle didn’t fall down to 4A instead?
My spirits were lifted a bit as I stepped outside that morning and felt a brisk chill and smelled leaves burning, almost like going back in time to 1974, as some nostalgic senses never leave you. Gosh darn it, this is football weather and anything is possible, right? I couldn’t stay home.
Besides, Rochelle put major beat downs on its first two Catholic League playoff foes. With their physical brand of play, high-scoring offense, home field advantage and stellar group of 20 seniors, maybe the Hubs could shock the state.
My newfound optimism was soon replaced by the cruel realities of Illinois high-school playoff football. A far superior team, Nazareth reeled off 28 points in the second quarter and for the 50th straight year, there will be no state title game appearance for Rochelle.
Over the years, I have gotten some relief in the form of numerous marches to the state finals by Byron, Forreston and Stillman Valley. Covering each of those championship games, I felt emotionally attached and truly enjoyed the experience, admittedly with a twinge of jealousy. Still, it’s not the same if it isn’t your school or town.
For me, the dream lives still lives on. Or does it?
In 1974, the most popular graduation song was “We May Never Pass This Way Again” by Seals and Croft. One of the lyrics is, “Dreams, so they say, are for the fools and they let them slip away.”
Maybe I have been playing the fool all this time and after 50 years, it is time to let the dream slip away.
Andy Colbert is a longtime Ogle County resident with years of experience covering sports and more for multiple area publications.
