Okay, okay, so some people think...

...the Catholic League Blue is the best conference in the state of Illinois. After all, Mount Carmel won the 8A title last year (against a school from the DVC, no less!) and Loyola was the runner-up in 2011. (Maybe they have a point.) And everyone knows that the kids in the Catholic League are just plain tougher and hit harder than those "pansies" in the public schools.

At any rate, here's a "synthetic" 2013 football schedule for all of you who, when asked the question, "Where did you grow up?" answer not with your town or neighborhood, but with the name of your parish.

Aug. 30 Brother Rice @ Shepard
                 Providence @ Joliet Academy

Aug. 31 Marquette (Milwaukee) @ Loyola

One of the added benefits of the Catholic League: Loyola plays its home games on Saturdays.

Sept. 1 St. Rita vs. Marist @ Soldier Field
               Mount Carmel vs. St. Patrick, also @ Soldier Field

Three days of football in a row? Why not?

Sept. 6 Brother Rice @ Marist
               Morgan Park @ Mount Carmel

Go with the first game; the Crusaders and the RedHawks are archrivals.

Sept. 7 Loyola @ O'Fallon

Too far to drive? Shut yer mouth! (The Panthers were 9-3 last year.)

Sept. 13 Mount Carmel @ Bishop McNamara
                 Fenwick @ Brother Rice
                 De La Salle @ Providence

Fenwick may be one of the teams to watch in 2013 after a much-improved 2012. And De La Salle has OT Jamarco Jones and Vanderbilt-bound running back Mikale Wilbon. The Meteors may surprise some people this year!

Sept. 20 Brother Rice @ Mount Carmel

Classic South Side matchup. 

Sept. 21 Providence @ Loyola

Sept. 27 Loyola @ Brother Rice
                  Mount Carmel @ St. Rita

Many of the kids on Mount Carmel and St. Rita went to grammar school together. Many of their fathers went to grammar school together. Many of their grandfathers...

Oct. 4 St. Rita @ Providence

Oct. 5 Mount Carmel @ Loyola

Always a contender for Game of the Year.

Oct. 11 Loyola @ De La Salle
               Brother Rice @ Bishop McNamara

Oct. 12 Providence @ Fenwick

Oct. 18  Providence @ Mount Carmel
                 St. Rita @ Brother Rice

Here we go with the grammar school thing again...

Oct. 25 Loyola @ St. Rita
                Brother Rice @ Providence

There; that should keep you busy this Fall. Go to a game near you!