Palatine, Fairport and Eastside all dealt with distractions but also usually had captains who would lead their programs in a positive manner and develop team chemistry. One of the largest distractions a team has is underage drinking and drug use, especially in-season. All three programs preached very heavily against such things, because not only is it illegal, but a player who was caught drinking or using illegal drugs was subject to team suspension or possibly being thrown off the team. Former Fairport co-captain John McGurk said that drinking played a role in the overall success of teams his sophomore and junior years which lost in the Sectional championship game. When the team gets to that point things just start snowballing downhill.
Academic failure is another distraction which can hurt a team.
The spring prior to the 1991 state championship Eastside season, Shannon removed tailback Chris Moore, who rushed for 2,958 yards and scored 49 touchdowns in his first two years, from the team because Moore was barely staying academically eligible and was a negative influence on the team. The move created a tremendous controversy as players and school and community members wanted him back on the team. Shannon eventually let Moore back on the team, but made him serve a suspension of three games. Shannon said it would have been impossible for the Flyers to win the state championship without Moore. To counteract distractions, teams must have positive leaders and a supporting cast of players who genuinely want to win.