The first step is to get a quality coach and there appears to be some good ones who are available (Putnam, Gabel, Kisabeth). But, the biggest problem UDJ will face is to find quality athletes from Detroit who can handle the academics and then to have enough financial aid to enable those athletes to come to UD.

The suburban kids from GP and Bloomfield Hills who pay their way don't tend to be the football players. UD needs to tap into the deep Detroit market for talented athletes. Not many of those can or want to handle the tough academics at UD and the school will not bend its standards, like some other schools do.

The biggest competition for the Cubs: OLSM, Cass Tech and Renaissance--and lately, Inkster and Oak Park. There's no cost to attend any of these schools for the talented athletes from Detroit, so not only does UDJ need to appeal to the athletes, but they need to come up with virtually full tuition assistance.

I think UDJ can make the comeback, but it's not going to happen overnight. I wish them luck. It will make for a stronger Central Division if UD can come back. As for Divine Child, I feel they will eventually move to a restructured Intersectional Division with ND Prep, Bishop Foley, Flint Powers and maybe Monroe St. Mary's CC or Saginaw Nouvel CC.