No brain, no gain
Classroom smarts may boost Central
This statistic could mean everything or nothing, depending on what happens over the course of the next three-plus months.
Among Naperville Central's top 10 players -- the ones being looked at by colleges -- none has a grade-point average lower than 3.2, and at least three are around the 4.0 mark.
(Jon Cunningham/For The Sun)
Thursday -- Neuqua Valley preview
Friday -- Benet preview; Game of the Week coverage; area capsules Naperville Central
2008 record: 6-4
Coach: Mike Stine
SCHEDULE Saturday vs. Waubonsie Valley (at Benedictine U.) 2 p.m.
Sept. 4 vs. Neuqua Valley (at North Central College) 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 11 at West Aurora 7:30 p.m.*
Sept. 18 at Wheaton Warrenville South 7:30 p.m.*
Sept. 25 at Glenbard East 7:30 p.m.*
Oct. 2 vs. Nap. North (at North Central College) 7:30 p.m.*
Oct. 9 at Wheaton North 7:30 p.m.*
Oct. 16 at West Chicago 7:30 p.m.*
Oct. 23 vs. Glenbard North 7:30 p.m.*
*DuPage Valley Conference game
"Now what does that translate to?" Central coach Mike Stine asked. "I don't know. It's a team that reminds me academically of the team we had three years ago that lost to Mount Carmel when we made the run (to the state quarterfinals).
"It's a similar team (in) that I think they're a pretty mentally strong team. They're a smart team. They grasp things pretty quickly. (You) can throw things at them and they don't get rattled.
"Time will tell (but) the past has shown (that) gives you possibly an advantage out there. (If) they're a little bit smarter in the classroom, they tend to think on their feet a little bit quicker."
The Redhawks are nearly 10 years removed from the program's only state championship in 1999. They've won less than six games only once in the past 17 seasons, making the playoffs 16 times during that stretch. They think they can play and are eager to test Stine's theory.
"We like to think we're smart at least," senior defensive end Alex Schaefer joked. "We're able to learn new things easier. (We) can pick (it up) if we have to make a check on the field -- we know exactly what's going on."
Senior defensive back Jeremy Pomeroy gave one example -- a Cover-4 look the Redhawks have installed. An experienced defense returns about seven regulars and the secondary remains almost entirely intact. Linebacker Matt Soria and defensive back Paul Wirtz are established playmakers who made their way onto the all-DuPage Valley Conference list as juniors last season, along with Schaefer, Pomeroy and a few returning starters on offense.
Senior quarterback Nick Linne, who has verbally committed to play baseball at Northwestern, is back at the controls of Central's spread offense for a second season. Linne has a deeper understanding of the system, which is important because he's lost six of his top seven receivers from last year. "Coach (Stine) feels comfortable with us being able to make decisions on the field (and) being able to switch stuff up," Linne said.
Tight end Cam Brate -- who caught 18 passes for 170 yards and three touchdowns last season -- will be a primary target. The 6-foot-5-inch, 235-pound senior can be split out wide or pulled in as a blocker to help with the running game.
That frame, combined with his academic transcript, has intrigued the Ivy League. Is there a carryover effect from the classroom to the field? "Split-second, I wouldn't say it helps really, but pre-play recognition, (that's) where it comes into play," Brate said.
Following two consecutive 6-4 seasons, Central hopes to stick around for more than one playoff round. It's ranked No. 18 preseason by the Chicago Sun-Times, though conference rivals Wheaton Warrenville South (first) and Naperville North (seventh) are much higher on the list. The class of 2010 would like to close out games better and break through against the DVC's best.
"In years past, there's been like maybe one part of the defense, one part of the team that's been really good," Schaefer said. "(Then) maybe kids have gotten hurt. (Now) I think we'll be able to put it all together."
