North Stars set sights high for UEC showdown Saturday
No matter what happens on the field Saturday afternoon, Bartlett football coach Tom Meaney will see his share of black and blue around the house leading up to the opening kickoff.
That's because Meaney's twin daughters will be performing on the opposite side of the field at Streamwood's Millennium Field - wearing the trademark black and blue colors as St. Charles North varsity cheerleaders.
They'll get an up-close look at the action as the North Stars (3-1, 1-0) and Hawks (4-0, 2-0) square off in what figures to be a pivotal game that could go a long way toward determining the 2008 Upstate Eight Conference football champions.
Meaney will also get an opportunity to watch his son, Shawn, play in Thursday's freshman game between the two schools.
"They're (the North Stars) coming over to Bartlett so I'll take off practice early so I can watch the game," said the coach. "It'll be fun."
Meaney, who lives in St. Charles, has gotten used to seeing the North Stars' colors the past couple years.
"My kids always used to wear the Bartlett camp T-shirts I'd come home with when they were in junior high school," said Meaney, whose wife trades off between attending Bartlett and St. Charles North games when they're being played simultaneously. "But now that they're St. Charles North students, they're all St. Charles North.
"I enjoy working at Bartlett but I also like living in St. Charles. I like that separation."
One person who knows exactly what Meaney is going through this week is North Stars coach Mark Gould.
During Gould's first varsity season at St. Charles North in 2001, his son, Kellen, was a starting tight end for cross-town rival St. Charles East. Meanwhile, his daughter, Kyleigh, was a St. Charles East cheerleader before graduating in 2006.
"It's a fun week when your kids are at one school and you're coaching at another," said Gould.
Incidentally, one of Meaney's daughters had Gould for a teacher last year.
"I had some fun in class," said Gould. "I remember throwing something out there about Bartlett just to see if she was listening."
While last season's game (won 36-6 by Bartlett) marked the first meeting between the two schools, Gould and Meaney are not strangers.
"We coached against each other in sophomore baseball when I was at then-St. Charles and Tom was at Elgin (in 1992-94)," said Gould. "And we played against Bartlett in the JV game my very first year at St. Charles North."
As for this year's game, statistics signal that it should be a good, if not very special, one.
While rolling to its best start in school history - which included a 28-21, Week 1 win over defending Class 8A state runners-up Glenbard North - Bartlett has displayed a stingy defense.
Anchored by linebacker Kyle Zelinsky, the Hawks have allowed 34 points - just 13 in their last three victories over Oswego (17-0), Larkin (35-6) and Lake Park (30-7).
"We're experienced on the defensive side of the ball," said Meaney. "One of our goals is to keep opponents under 100 points for the season."
Led by linebackers Jake Juriga and J.J. Weaver, the North Stars' defense has also been formidable, having allowed just 43 points in their first four contests.
Gould isn't surprised that Bartlett is one of just three teams (St. Charles East is 2-0) to remain unbeaten in UEC play.
"They're big and physical and come off the ball real well," said Gould. "And they've got an aggressive defense. Last year, they jumped on us early and were more physical than we were. Kyle Zelinsky ate us up alive last year."
While both schools are relatively young in age, reaching postseason play has become somewhat old news for both of them.
Bartlett has made the playoffs 8 straight seasons while St. Charles North has made the playoffs 6 consecutive years.
Since Bartlett and St. Charles East won't play one another this season - and the Hawks' final three Upstate Eight opponents currently own a collective 2-10 record - Saturday's game could take on added significance.
"Our kids are very businesslike," said Meaney. "They don't think they've done anything yet."
"We need to show that we've got big-play potential against a really good team - and Bartlett is a really good team," said Gould. "Our players have their sights set very high this year.
"This is a way to prove that we're legitimate (conference) contenders."
One thing is certain - it will be an interesting dinner scene at the Meaney household Saturday night.
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