The success Marmion's football program is now experiencing saw its beginning five years ago.
The Cadets welcomed a new home as their stadium was dedicated, though the lights would be installed years later. And new coach Dan Thorpe came on board, carrying with him a state championship ring in Wisconsin and consistent playoff success in Ohio, all at private schools.
Thorpe was so used to making the playoffs that he looked like he was punched in the stomach when talking about not reaching the playoffs his first season at Marmion, taking personal responsibility for not delivering immediately. The Cadets did reach the playoffs in 2007, only to get swept away in the first round.
But Friday, the hard work and the changing of the climate around the program finally paid off in the form of a 41-20 win over Huntley in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs. It was the first playoff win for the program since 1998, when a Paul Murphy-led squad reached the state quarterfinals.
After the win, Thorpe made sure to point out that while the win was great for this year's team and the current students, it reached far further than that. While I'm sure former Cadets Brad Childress (head coach of the Minnesota Vikings) and Larry English (2009 first-round draft pick of the San Diego Chargers) had an eye on Friday's score, Thorpe received word of their world-wide appeal.
"This is my second e-mail from the Coast Guard in Iran that we read to the kids," Thorpe said. "We got another one from an Air Force guy that said he's going to wear his jersey all weekend. He's a captain in the Air Force, flying jets for our country, and we're getting e-mails from those guys. I tell the kids that we're playing for the alumni. The bottom line is they're playing for Marmion, not only us."
From 1988 through 1998, the Cadets were the model of consistency under Murphy, now the Waubonsie Valley coach. Seven playoff appearances in the 11 seasons, including a state semifinal appearance in 1989 and 1998's quarterfinal bid marked that period in program history. But in Murphy's final three seasons, the Cadets went a combined 8-19. In Tony Tinerella's three seasons, the Cadets went 10-17.
That's what was facing Thorpe when he arrived in town. And in his first four seasons, the mediocrity continued with a 17-20 record and a Class 6A first-round loss in 2007. In 2006, the Cadets went 5-4 but were aced out of a playoff berth due to a lack of playoff points. Marmion always seemed to be on the cusp of success.
This season, things changed for Marmion, not only on the field with a 9-1 record, and nine-game winning streak, heading into Friday night's second-round game against Prairie Ridge, but off the field. Driscoll closed its doors and the Suburban Christian Conference was formed, with the Cadets taking the inaugural Blue Division championship.
The impressive thing for Marmion is the fact that they were so business-like Friday night. There was some natural celebration, but there was an air that the Cadets expected to win the game. That is an attitude that can be directly attributed to Thorpe, who just assumed Marmion would be in the playoffs every year, because that's all he knew as a head coach. Despite not winning in the playoffs for over a decade, he managed to keep the distractions and emotions in check.
His focus will be on going 1-0 this week, just as it was last week. And he knows that people across the globe will be following along.
"It really feels great," senior Matt Pircon said. "I wasn't here 11 years ago, but it sure does feel great. We know that we have a lot of Marmion kids behind us, the alumni. I can definitely tell you what it feels like to be a senior right now. It feels great to win a playoff game."
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