Schabert back on familiar turf

South Elgin football coach Dale Schabert faces his alma mater tonight when the Storm visits Larkin at Memorial Field. Schabert coached at Larkin for 11 years. andrew a. nelles | for the courier-news

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Dale Schabert won't have any split allegiances tonight when he leads South Elgin against Larkin at Memorial Field.

Not only does the contest hold major playoff implications for both teams, but it also marks the first time Schabert will line up against his alma mater since he ended his 11-year tenure as the Royals head coach.

Schabert left Larkin in 2005, moving four miles south to lead the Storm football program from its inception. Due to the Upstate Eight Conference's unbalanced schedule, tonight marks the first time the neighbors will meet on the gridiron.

"It's been a lot of years," Schabert said. "There's no players (at Larkin) anymore that I coached and five years have passed. (South Elgin) is my school and this is my team and this where my loyalties are. As far as that goes, I'm not trying to be disrespectful or anything, but every coach will tell you that where you go, that's your home."

Schabert doesn't deny that he has many fond memories of his days leading the Royals.

He compiled a 61-47 record at Larkin from 1994-2004, leading the school to seven playoff appearances during that time. His finest season came in 1999 when the Royals finished 9-3 and reached the quarterfinals before losing to eventual state champion Naperville Central. Schabert's son, Matt, quarterbacked that team and was named Courier-News Co-Player of the Year.

"It was a great time when I was there (at Larkin) and a great experience, but (South Elgin) is my place and these are my guys," Schabert said.

Success has been hard to come by at Larkin since Schabert's departure. The Royals have only one playoff appearance during that span, and this season marks only the second time in the past five years that Larkin will finish at or above the .500 mark.

Meanwhile, Schabert and the Storm took their share of lumps during South Elgin's first three varsity seasons as the program struggled to a 6-21 record from 2006-08.

The tables have turned this year, though, as South Elgin owns a 6-2 mark and is assured of its first-ever trip to the postseason. The turnaround comes just in time for Schabert to lead his new school against the one he identified with for so many years.

"We're getting there and we'll keep improving," Schabert said. "It was a tough road there for a while and you just had to keep your eye down the road. We just kept working and working and working and things are starting to turn the direction we wanted. Now we've just got to keep it going."