Oct. 24--The most important thing about high school sports is the lessons they offer, the invaluable life experiences that come from being a member of a team.
It's all great stuff -- unless, of course, administrators, parents and coaches feel their school's football team isn't good enough to make the playoffs.
A vast majority of programs know going into the season that winning a state championship probably isn't realistic, but everybody wants to feel like they have a shot at qualifying for postseason play.
It's the almost exclusive reason numerous Chicago area teams have changed conferences in recent years, and why many others remain dissatisfied, and even feel stuck, in the position they're in.
The first two paragraphs above notwithstanding, I'm sympathetic to their plight. Schools get placed in conferences based on geography and enrollment, and sometimes they're stuck with no chance of getting out.
Mundelein can't compete in the North Suburban Lake. Hoffman Estates has not been able to do so in the Mid-Suburban West. Wheeling has struggled mightily in the Mid-Suburban East.
And while none have been particularly happy about their situations in recent years, they haven't bailed on their conference partners.
All three have enjoyed pretty good regular seasons by their standards and will be playoff-eligible with a win.
Mundelein (4-4) has to beat defending Class 8A champion Stevenson, however, while Hoffman Estates (4-4) finds itself up against Barrington (7-1).
Wheeling (3-5) lost its fifth game in Week 5, but the Wildcats can still get in because they'd be the MSL East champion if they beat Elk Grove (2-6) and Hersey beats Rolling Meadows.
Looking for someone to root for Friday night because your school's already been eliminated? There's three for you.
When things looked hopeless, they did not give up. In theory, anyway, sports' most valuable lessons have already sunk in. In reality, it may take a playoff berth for them to realize it.
Mike Helfgot is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune.
