Daily Herald opinion: Something to cheer for to start 2025
If the first Sunday of 2025 is any indication, maybe things are starting to get a bit brighter on the Chicago sports scene.
The Bears finished the season on a high note, beating Green Bay for the first time since 2018 and ended a 10-game regular-season losing streak that had turned a promising start to the season into the firing of head coach Matt Eberflus.
Then, a few hours after Cairo Santos’ 51-yard field goal ended the Bears 11-game losing streak to the Packers, the North Central College Cardinals took the field and won its third national title since 2018, beating Mount Union 41-25 in the NCAA Divison III title game.
Unlike the Bears, or really any of our pro sports teams in the city, winning titles is old hat for the football team from Naperville.
The Cardinals have been to five straight championship games — winning three — and won 68 of their last 70 games.
As Mike McGraw detailed over the weekend, North Central has developed into a powerhouse, with a number of suburban players and coaches playing big roles over the years.
North Central’s turnaround started with a new stadium in 1999. After hiring former Wheaton Warrenville South coach John Thorne in 2002, the program really took off.
Under Thorne, North Central made its first playoff appearance in 2005 and won its first playoff game in 2006. More playoff success followed before Thorne retired in 2014 and son Jeff took over.
Jeff Thorne, behind Neuqua Valley grad Broc Rutter at quarterback, took the program to its first title in 2019 and it’s been nothing but championship games ever since.
Current head coach Brad Spencer, a North Central alum who took over after Jeff Thorne left in 2021, is 2-1 in title games.
It’s been an unbelievable run that shows no signs of slowing down. It’s something that we can all cheer for. Athletes playing for the love of the game.
We could use a run of playoff teams in this city. Maybe we’ll look back on that Santos’ field goal as the start of a new era for the Bears. With a rebuilt offensive line, maybe Caleb Williams spends less time on his back and more time celebrating touchdown passes in 2025 under a new coach.
After a couple years of nothing, maybe we’ll finally have some movement toward a new stadium in Arlington Heights.
We can’t dare hope for the kind of success that North Central College has had over the past five seasons. Few NFL teams experience that. We’re not asking for a Super Bowl next season. A team that doesn’t lose 11 straight games would be great. A team with a winning record would be nice.
A playoff berth? We’ll take it.
Just give us something to cheer for, please.