History of The Rantoul Falcons

The Rantoul Falcons were established in July of 1970. The first Directors were Bill Dupriest and John Torcelli.

The Falcons consisted of 4 team levels, the Peanuts - 2nd and 3rd grade, the Freshman- 4th and 5th grade, Junior Varsity - 6th and 7th grade, and Varsity - 8th and 9th grade.  The 9th grade participants were those that were cut from the high school freshman team.  At the time we used those players because they were in a league with Danville, which stared high school football at the 19th grade level.  The Falcons dropped the 9th grade team after the 2nd year.

The Peanut team was also dropped in the early 1980's and the Freshman team was eliminated in the mid 1990's, with the 5th and the 6th grade team, and the 7th and 8th grade team remaining.

Through he mid 1980's, the Falcons competed in various leagues consisting of teams from Chanute Air Force Base, Danville, Rossville, Oakwood, Hoopeston, and also Bloomington.  We also participated in a tournament with the Urbana and Champaign teams, and have had a competitive relationship ever since.

In the early years, the Falcons home field was at the waste water treatment plant, effectively called "Stink Stadium."  Our practice fields were at the Pleasant Acres Elementary School, before moving to Eastlawn in the 1990's.  Our home games moved from "Stink Stadium" Maplewood Drive, where the post is now.  We built our own press box and the Rantoul High School donated their old scoreboard to us.  Our next home field was the high school practice area at Wabash Park, enabling us to play night games due to the presence of the lights.  All tournament games were played on home fields according to league record, then the finals were rotated to league members.  When Rantoul High School agreed to let us use the field, all finals were played on the high school field.

The Falcons also had cheerleaders for all levels to teams.  At the end of the season, the cheerleaders had their own contest.  it included cheer performance and a dance team performance.

The Rantoul Falcons have survived many growing pains, from equipment, to schedules, to playing fields.  I am glad the Falcons continue to grow.  NEVER LOSE THE TRADITION, SINCE 1970!

Scripted by: Orland Johnson, Falcons Director, 1973- 1988