In Regards To The De La Salle Winning Streak

[Marcskit]

I am re-posting this to get some feedback from knowledgeable fans of the game. especially from DLS folks.
With all due respect to DLS, and they deserve it. They should have been part of the WCAL league years ago.
It is my belief, along with many others that the streak would have ended years ago, having to go up against that league week after week.
And as far as the travel issue brought up several years ago, let me remind everyone, some North Section teams travel on occasion up to two or more hours , sometimes in the snow.
This accommodation should have been made years ago and still should be.
Because of this, there will always be that lingering question. What would have happened?
Just saying.

 

[Leopold10]

I believe DLS record vs WCAL opponents is (somenumber - 0). 0 losses vs the WCAL. And When I lived back in the Bay Area in the late 1980's-1990's the WCAL was not as good as they are now. your San Leandro's, James Logan's, and Pittsburgh's were the teams to beat other than DLS. Those teams during the streak between 1990-and 2003 WERE STACKED WITH TALENT, I still believe they go 151-0.

 

[bella123]

St. Francis beat them in 1989 led by Marquee Lockett.

 

[Leopold10]

That was the year they lost to Pitt in the NCS final. the Streak started the next year I believe. I could be wrong

 

[bella123]

That was the year they lost to Pitt in the NCS final. the Streak started the next year I believe. I could be wrong

They lost to Pitt in 1991.

 

[Bubba3000]

What win streak? ; > )

 

[jordan24]

St. Francis beat them in 1989 led by Marquee Lockett.

Riordan beat a Lad-coached DLS team in 1981. Crusaders had RB Steve Sewell (OU Sooner/Denver Broncos), WR Marty Storti, qb Mike Seagram (#7 lol!) and pk Steve Jordan (USC) on that team

 

[observer22]

What win streak? ; > )

It is actually a NorCal non-losing streak as opposed to a winning streak, as ties are not wins.

 

[HSfan82]

I think if they play in WCAL, in the grind of playing those teams year in and year out, in back to back weeks, St Francis Bellarmine Valley Christian- somebody would had got them. top to bottom always one of the best leagues for awhile now

 

[Leopold10]

You guys are going WAY back, since the streak STARTED and ENDED 1991-2004 if DLS is in the WCAL they still go 151-0. You Cannot tell me any WCAL team during that time was better than a Matt Leinhart led Mater Dei team or a Poly team with 20 D-1 players on it etc. the WCAL is a tough league there is no one arguing that, but when DLS was in its prime during the streak with the talent they had I do not care what league they were in, they were not losing. Coach Ladeouceur and DLS were ahead of the curve both in Football sense and their conditioning/weight room program, teams have just started to catch up the past 5-10 years.

And I am saying this with ZERO ties to DLS. Just an avid High School norcal football fan for the past 25+ years.

 

[thehookup55]

Ya idk about this. The WCAL was tougher the years after the streak ended IMO. I think Valley Christian could have beat them in 2004 and 2005. St Francis could have competed with them throughout the years of the streak. Palma and Oak Grove arent in the WCAL but probably could have competed with them throughout the streak but again idk if they beat them.

 

[remc]

Riordan beat a Lad-coached DLS team in 1981. Crusaders had RB Steve Sewell (OU Sooner/Denver Broncos), WR Marty Storti, qb Mike Seagram (#7 lol!) and pk Steve Jordan (USC) on that team

Yep, good Riordan team. AR put out a few players

 

[remc]

I think if they play in WCAL, in the grind of playing those teams year in and year out, in back to back weeks, St Francis Bellarmine Valley Christian- somebody would had got them. top to bottom always one of the best leagues for awhile now

Agree, much tougher, would have still won majority of the time, but no 151 game streak if they would have played in that league .And I'm a big DLS supporter .

 

[jordan24]

Agree, much tougher, would have still won majority of the time, but no 151 game streak if they would have played in that league .And I'm a big DLS supporter .

Also, many WCAL upsets often occur in the CCS sectionals as most of the WCAL teams face each other again deep in the round. (I.e. SI upsetting Bellarmine in Open Div Title game a few seasons back)

 

[bella123]

I think if they had been in WCAL during the course of the streak they pick up a loss or two during that time.

 

[bayside101]

De La Salle from 1989 to 1996 played in probably the best league in the history of northern California. I can count alot of draft picks and NFL talent during that time. In 1991 Pittsburg beat De La Salle they were 3rd in league behind El Cerrito and De la Salle. The League consisted of Berkley, El Cerrito, Pittsburg, Antioch, Pinole, Ignacio valley clayton valley. Monte Vista spent time in the league and a host of other teams but into the late 90's it was exceptional football.

 

[remc]

De La Salle from 1989 to 1996 played in probably the best league in the history of northern California. I can count alot of draft picks and NFL talent during that time. In 1991 Pittsburg beat De La Salle they were 3rd in league behind El Cerrito and De la Salle. The League consisted of Berkley, El Cerrito, Pittsburg, Antioch, Pinole, Ignacio valley clayton valley. Monte Vista spent time in the league and a host of other teams but into the late 90's it was exceptional football.

Yeah, El Cerrito and Pinole had bigger enrollment a than they have now.

 

[HSfan82]

You guys are going WAY back, since the streak STARTED and ENDED 1991-2004 if DLS is in the WCAL they still go 151-0. You Cannot tell me any WCAL team during that time was better than a Matt Leinhart led Mater Dei team or a Poly team with 20 D-1 players on it etc. the WCAL is a tough league there is no one arguing that, but when DLS was in its prime during the streak with the talent they had I do not care what league they were in, they were not losing. Coach Ladeouceur and DLS were ahead of the curve both in Football sense and their conditioning/weight room program, teams have just started to catch up the past 5-10 years.

And I am saying this with ZERO ties to DLS. Just an avid High School norcal football fan for the past 25+ years.

Every week would have been very hard tough game against a familiar opponent. I am not saying those 90's WCAL team are better than DLS but just the constant league rivalry battles, SOMEBODY would have got them once. The WCAL has been a top league since the 70's, arguably the best for the longest

 

[Leopold10]

Every week would have been very hard tough game against a familiar opponent. I am not saying those 90's WCAL team are better than DLS but just the constant league rivalry battles, SOMEBODY would have got them once. The WCAL has been a top league since the 70's, arguably the best for the longest

Maybe I am just bias or something but i honestly think the WCAL has always been overrated. I am sure i will get backlash for that comment, but to me people hype up the WCAL like its stacked with talent, it is no Better than the EBAL or BVAL some years imo. And the playoff setup in the CCS helps the WCAL reach playoffs which i think is ridiculous. an Open Division 1 and a open division 2 bracket? Put all those 16 teams in one bracket like the D-1 SJS and D-2 SJS playoffs. No reason St. Francis should have played in a SBG last year and Elk Grove did not...

 

[bayside101]

No back lash open discussion. There was a ten year period where only 3 WCAL teams could make the playoffs and when they changed it a 3-7 VC team won a championship. What makes the WCAl a tough league is just how competitive the games are week in and week out and how they spend 7 weeks beating up on each other. League is tough for everyone, all leagues. It is tough to prepare for coaches who know exactly what you are doing. My thoughts on the WCAL being the best league is more of a consistently solid over a long period of time I'd say the last 10 years for sure. From about 2004-2009 the EBAL was as good if not better than the WCAL and the BVAL has been close just hasn't been as consistent. The new SFL is the same, The Delta in Sacramento same and the VOL is definitely closing in. It is more of a year in year out thing. I think the Delta is the best league this season top to bottom, but I think for the most part they are the same.

 

[HSfan82]

well said Bayside.. no backlash but you are right its the longevity of their success that makes it a great league. As I said I think you can go back to 70's and find 3 or 4 if not more top area teams in WCAL. Most recently (last 15 years) yes BVAL and EBAL are in conversation for sure. But I would be curios to know how many losing seasons Bellarmine, Mitty and St Francis Serra have had over last 30 years... maybe 5 or 6 combined?? Valley Christian added to the league in 90's and even the city teams have had moments of success in the league as well as CCS championships.

 

[22rip]

Blah, blah, blah. I have been hearing this argument for almost 30 years. New year, different "If DLS played here" argument. It is totally a moot point.

 

[Streak One]

I'm never a big fan of revisionist history. It is an endless trail of what if's that nobody knows the true answer to. This is the same deal we had with "Could 2014 Folsom beat 2014 DLS?"

I'm not sure if DLS would have picked up a loss playing the WCAL schedule each year, but it's not like they played poor competition. Over that stretch, did anyone in NorCal play a tougher collective schedule?

 

[bayside101]

Yah I wasn't saying anything in regards to De La Salle loosing during the streak I know the caliber of teams they beat during that time. The Streak happened
thats 1993 Pinole San Leandro in the early 2000 was as good as anyone, 2001 Long Beach Poly. The Streak happened and it happened against the best. The 90's belong to the BVAL, and De La Salle dominated the league. The WCAL wasn't even in the conversation

 

[thehookup55]

If St Francis and Bellarmine can turn in undefeated WCAL seasons throughout the DLS streak there is no reason to think DLS couldnt have done the same.

 

[Adam007]

I'm in the mix with those who say "speculation is speculation." If DLS was in the WCAL during those times, it's difficult to say if the streak would've continued. One thing DLS would have done would've been heighteningthe ball played within the WCAL and this might've accounted for a few close ball games here or there. I think DLS has heightened the ball played state-wide, if not nation wide. I believe without DLS and the streak you don't have high school ball shown on ESPN etc. I think we'll have DLS in a state game this year, certain teams and programs develop incredibly as the season progresses--DLS is one of those.

 

[HSfan82]

I think you are all missing point. DLS played a tough schedule against the best teams nationwide..no doubt. But playing the SAME good team year in and year out, somebody would have got them. Not to say DLS goes 8-2 in WCAL--, they probably win the league every year HOWEVER at some point they would have lost ONE game in 10 years. It is a moot point but what else would we talk about on a msg board without moot points!!!

 

[_Molon_Labe_]

I posted this on another similar thread in regards to DLS in the WCAL:

First off, I totally agree that DLS should compete in the WCAL. From what I understand, DLS wanted to join the WCAL but for football only. The WCAL wanted DLS for all sports, so the deal fell through. DLS' argument was that logistically, it would be too difficult to send all sports teams across the bay several times a week all year round while other WCAL teams are at least on the same side of the bay/peninsula.

That being said, "The Streak" is still quite impressive... Those 151 wins came at a time when playing a team from across the state was rare, let alone across the country. I agree that the competition in the WCAL is year in and year out tougher than most public school leagues but it's not necessarily the Trinity League from SoCal. Those DLS vs. Mater Dei games and DLS vs. LBP games were definitely pioneers of the "ESPN High School Showcase" super match-ups we now see...

 

[elprup]

Here's the problem: st. Francis and bellarmine played a 5-3 championship game--as soon as dls saw that they put them on the schedule. They beat the bells four straight times and st. Francis several times as well. I think they had them both on the schedule for a couple years and beat both of them. It seems to me that the wcal had plenty of chances to beat dls but couldn't get it done. Dls really had nothing to fear playing archaic offenses week after week if they were in the wcal. No one scores like dls ever.

 

[elprup]

As far as the streak years who in the wcal did dls have to fear? They got 40 points in the first half every time they were fired up. No one in that league could do that. Case closed. That program evolved 20 years before its rivals. That's why no one has beaten them around here in almost 300 games. And the wcal had plenty of chances

 

[elprup]

Dls since 1979 443-28-3. Why are we discussing this? No one in the wcal is even close. Saying a team could beat someone and a team going out and doing it are two different things. Btw, there is no evidence that playing sh, Ar, si, Mitty, vc, constitutes any kind of grind.

 

[bayside101]

Btw, there is no evidence that playing sh, Ar, si, Mitty, vc, constitutes any kind of grind.

for me the proof was always in the experience. Coaching against playing against. It was different it was all the proof ill ever need.

 

[HSfan82]

Elprup..you are truly missing the point clerly... DLS has no one to fear without a doubt. And ifyou have watched WCAL games over the years-- yes it is a grind, playing just Bellarmine and St Francis for a couple of years does not equate to playing a full WCAL schedule for 10 consecutive years. The thing that you are missing is the coaching piece. Props to Coach Lad-- no doubt one of the best. But the coaching level in WCAL has always been pretty good and I believe over the course of time somebody would have tripped them up. I believe at some point Bellarmine, St Francis and Mitty all had close games with DLS during the streak.
Overall is DLS dominant-- yes-- are they better than all teams in WCAL --yes. Doesnt mean they wouldnt have lost a game

 

[jordan24]

Dls since 1979 443-28-3. Why are we discussing this? No one in the wcal is even close. Saying a team could beat someone and a team going out and doing it are two different things. Btw, there is no evidence that playing sh, Ar, si, Mitty, vc, constitutes any kind of grind.

So Granada, Livermore, AV, and Dublin constituted a grind? Isn't that why DeLa went independent? Don't think the WCAL backers are dismissing DeLa's streak and overall record, not at all. Did Pitt beat DeLa in their 2nd meeting that year? Just saying it would be likely to play more than one WCAL school twice going into CCS sectionals. We can debate this til the end of time...makes for a great board topic

 

[elprup]

When you learn to read re-post. The suggestion was that playing in that league week after week would have been a problem for dls. As for the coaching no one in the wcal could match dls score for score. Really a 5-3 championship game? That's a baseball score. One other reality: no one hits like dls. Period. Whenever a wcal team got close it was usually because dls underperformed...and they won anyway.

 

[elprup]

You're right Pitt beat dls the second time they played. Dls got so pissed they didn't lose a game for 12 years and haven't lost in NorCal since. Anyone in wcal done that? Not even close. Face it the wcal isn't what it used to be since the early 80's.

 

[Adam007]

Le sigh,

It's too bad when one bad apple makes a fun conversation hostile.

 

[jordan24]

You're right Pitt beat dls the second time they played. Dls got so pissed they didn't lose a game for 12 years and haven't lost in NorCal since. Anyone in wcal done that? Not even close. Face it the wcal isn't what it used to be since the early 80's.

So, Bellarmine's win for the NorCal D1 vs heavily favored Folsom was in 1980, not last season?

 

[elprup]

Bellarmine for years was considered one of the elite programs in the country and the Bay Area. Then calcagno showed up at saint Francis and bellarmine had to share. Their winning the d1 title is a good thing but their program has received much loftier laurels and had much loftier goals.
The question of my wrecking the thread pales in comparison to the hundreds of players that worked and sacrificed to create the winning streak (and then downplayed it as much as possible) should have to be subjected to,"you know if you played in this league you never would have had such a streak." I just don't think that conjecture realizes the work, pressure and sacrifice those players took on year after year.

 

[elprup]

I think that the goal would have been defeating dls in the open division. I think that shouldalways be the goal. It certainly lines up with their illustrious history.