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Blue/ez,

I have stated on a few occasions in the past that I believe CC is a team this year that will be young and inexperienced, but not lacking talent. It is funny that you mention 97', because that is how I see this years team. Not that I am predicting a State Championship, but I firmly believe that this will be a team that will not just take the standard moderate steps toward improvement from week to week, but rather large steps and will be a group to reckon with toward the end of the season. If they can find their way into the playoffs, they will have a legitimate shot at making some noise.

There is no doubt that Rice/OLSM/DLS are and should be placed ahead of CC coming into the season. It is not that there is a huge talent gap between them, but because the talent at Rice/OLSM/DLS is Senior laden and that will be the difference in the early part of the year. In addition, I am very familiar with all 4 Senior groups and it is not only that the SR groups from Rice/OLSM/DLS are talented, mixed with very good supporting underclassmen, they are all tough, hard nosed, fottball savvy groups. There have been many years when Rice & OLSM had better overall "talent" than CC, but CC would win games in the trenches and on D. An objective look as these team would dictate that that probably will not be the case this year, particularly in the early going.

With respect to your other comments, the "insiders" that I have spoken with are very optimistic as well and very excited about the skill positions this year and have intimated that new looks are on the horizon. They feel very good that CC tradition and attitude runs very strong and deep with this team and that this year will prove that you can throw out all of the recent "Novi" stereotypes and the comments that have accompanied "the move".

All that said, CC will be the underdog's this year against the other 3 and that is not a bad thing. I think they will have no problem in that role and will be happy to fly under the radar. Their ultimate success (in terms of w/l and potential playoffs) will depend on an upset regular season win over one of the other 3, similar to last years win over OLSM in the Boys Bowl and than a continued improvement and experience growth in the team that gets them a win in the Prep Bowl.

For this team, as much or more than any other past Shamrock team, "The Magic is in Believing"!!