Leaderboard

This study was published in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) Neurology. That gives it a lot of credibility. Chronic Traumatic Encephelopathy (CTE) in football has become one of the biggest issues they face after finishing their careers. However, a recent study from JAMA Neurology suggests that former high school football players do not face an enhanced risk. The findings from the study (which took on 3,904 men with an average age of 64.4 years) read as such:The study used data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, with players matched between March 1 and July 1, 2017. Controlled variables included adolescent IQ, family background, and educational level. This included three types of studied subjects: all controls, those who played a noncollision sport, and those who did not play any sport. So for those who attended high school 60 years ago, playing football didn’t expose itself as a major risk factor for later-life cognitive impairment or depression that comes with CTE. Despite the game being quite different today with bigger, faster, and stronger athletes, it still found that the risk today is similar as it was then. The study also stated that, “cognitive and depression outcomes later in life were found to be similar for high school football players and their nonplaying counterparts.” That’s got to be even more comforting knowing that it’s as if they never played at all. For players that have taken their careers to the next level, and the professional level, this isn’t necessarily encouraging. However, there has to be some relief for people who may have questioned what football may have done to their bodies just from playing high school ball. https://www.sbnation.com/2017/7/11/15952184/cte-study-wisconsin-high-school-football

As long as I can remember, in my 30 plus years of watching Lincoln sports, the Big 8 conference is all I’ve ever known to be home. And “home” seemed the most suitable of a word I could think of. I credit this conference for so many memories of my youth, whether as a player or a fan. The rivalries, the classic games, the great players that have come and gone, the many short road games to Washington and Princeton that you rarely missed. Even the long trips between Vincennes and Mount Vernon, Boonville, and Tell City (back in the day), the people of these towns gained such familiarity with each other and their respective communities. The layout of each city, where to park, what gate to enter at the stadium/arena, where to grab a bite at the local’s favorite spot(s), where to maybe grab a beer afterward, what fans you liked, what fans you couldn’t stand...for many of us we’ve learned like the back of our hands through the years. So in a sense, it’s saddening to watch it end, but also incredibly exciting for what this final season will hold in all sports, football in particular. Because for football, 2019 really is the end of the road. No more guaranteed annual meetings that you might still see with basketball or baseball. Each team, whether SIAC or PAC bound, will have a full (or near full) conference schedule beginning in 2020 leaving little to no room for potential rematches. For this reason, I feel we could see the most competitive conference season in recent memory. Teams who are normally competing for a title will be vying harder than ever for the final Big 8 championship. Even teams in the bottom half will have something extra to play for. And I fully expect Mount Carmel to play with the biggest chip on their shoulder. Their break-up with the conference wasn’t exactly smooth. But it should be the usual suspects in the upper tier...Boonville, Jasper, VL. I’m going to call Boonville the slight favorite again with the return of their senior QB Phillips, WR Scarborough, and several key linemen, plus the momentum of a 10-1 season a year ago. It’s hard to see much of a drop off from the Pioneers. Jasper, meanwhile, has a new head coach and VL a new young QB. Both are fully capable of unseating Boonville at the top though. 1. Boonville 2. Jasper 3. Vincennes 4. Princeton 5. Mt Vernon 6. Mt Carmel 7. Washington

The deck is stacked against them, you are correct. But that is what makes the victory even sweeter when it does happen. You may be speaking for SOME programs, but not Snider. Snider has victories over Carmel, Warren Central, Ben Davis, and Penn. They've tasted it and know they are capable. I can guarantee you they WANT that challenge. And don't forget, just two years ago Snider was one mistake away from WASTING Carmel late in the 3rd quarter and ended up losing by 2. You don't think they want another opportunity? That's delusional.

Good post. Regarding Snider...…………...I know there was some disappointment bumping back up to 6a. ONLY because Dwenger got bumped up and this would be the FIRST time in that storied rivalry that they would have met in the playoffs. That disappointment is over and done with. Back to 6a and I can guarantee the Snider players are more than happy to knock heads with the likes of Homestead to have another crack at Carmel. If anyone thinks that kids at Snider are afraid at what Carmel brings to the table, they don't know the Snider program very well. New Pal? Been there done that. I'm pretty sure the Snider kids are excited for another 6a opportunity.

It wasn't that long ago all 8 meetings had to be in person. They tried splitting it 4 and 4 because they knew many of the smaller associations were delivering little or no content other than 10 guys sitting around a bar bitching about their game the previous week. The IHSAA realized it was a lot of work to produce those videos (largely because they have 0 staff dedicated to officiating like the other states mentioned in one of the texts) and they scrambled to put something together at the last minute. They cut back to 2 videos and even those are only 5-10 minutes each. The IHSAA allows us to use the clinic as one of the meetings as well so it ends up only being 5 in person meetings. The guys who show up for their 5/6 and then stop coming to me aren't doing this for the right reasons. If you don't like the content of your meetings get involved and make them better. These are the same guys who complain about not advancing yet they want to do the bare minimum to get on the field every Friday night. They aren't following up with schools to get Hudl video. They aren't doing adequate pre-games to prepare. The crews advancing are leading those meetings and organizing the clinics and mentoring young officials and doing video review. Those things don't directly affect playoff advancement but the attitude and approach may be a contributor.

As far as those tweets, I fully agree with the first one on the issues of pay and the frustrating system for tournament advancement. Where we part company is on the value of in-person meetings. Self-study of rules and mechanics is indispensable. And in the off-season it’s all you can do. But the online meetings produced by the IHSAA are, for the most part, unhelpful. There is no substitute for getting in a room with 30 other officials, and watching video clips with them, hearing different viewpoints, discussing, etc. That is, of your goal is to get better. Plus, at least for me, the socializing with other officials is one of the best things about our avocation.

More government mandated minimum wage fallout: Robots Ready to Scoop Ice Cream Jobs: https://mises.org/wire/robots-ready-scoop-ice-cream-jobs As an aside several months ago my employer installed one of those Reis & Irvy’s soft serve kiosks in one of their cafeterias. It has been broken down more than it has been working.

The President of the United States is a racist. He’s made it abundantly clear his re-election is based on white nationalism. If you support him, there can be no distinction between you being a racist and a racist enabler. They are the same. - Rob Reiner President Donald J. Trump - Living rent-free in liberal's heads since 2016....

Modern Progressive thought:

Problem is solved!

Simply getting rid of the success factor gets back to an even greater flaw; classification based solely on enrollment, with no consideration given to the number of students in a given building who cannot participate due some physical and/or mental limitations. The use of the West Noble basketball team is simply a good example of why the original proposal submitted by the IFCA of using a four year count makes much more sense than two years.

To piggy back off XSTar's response, @Temptation no one forced or asked Cathedral to craft and play their schedule they did last year. Cathedral (as an independent) can choose to play whoever they want, and it is typically a very impressive schedule. Just because they were 4-5 in the regular season has nothing to do with how they could/should/and do perform in the class 5A and 6A tournaments. For example as a 4A "enrollment sized" school, they had a win/loss record of 9-4 over their past 4 postseasons (2 in 6A, 2 in 5A). IMO - if you're winning over 2/3rds of your post season match-ups... I would say you are doing just fine in that classification.

I thought it was somewhat interesting that at the media day yesterday, the Central HC simply said "no comment" when asked about the roster. Maybe that simply means he wasn't going to answer a bunch of questions about the kids in question at this point. From the player comments, the coach seems to be a disciplinarian, which could make things interesting going forward. I also get a little tired of hearing excuses about "tough life". Last year Central had kids who had well-publicized circumstances that were far-more challenging and those kids played within the structure of a team that was one break away from a state title. And Central is not alone. Every school - public or private - has kids who grew up with less than ideal situations. As Panther86 said, the proof was in the pudding - it was only when Central had a coach who instilled discipline and self-responsibility that they climbed to the top of the mountain.

First off its not the "new norm". Its a very small sample of 3 years out of the past 75. And look at the facts, Central was much better when the brothers left in all phases of the game. And still will be better without them than they would be with them. Central has 3 RBs this year that is just as good as the drifters and way more disciplined. The proof is in the pudding from last year. And look what Central done to Reitz without them compared to with them. Even more proof.

Fiscal Conservatism Is Dead. Republicans Killed It.: https://www.dailywire.com/news/50152/hammer-fiscal-conservatism-dead-republicans-killed-josh-hammer Uni-party.

Neighborhood Activists Would Rather Preserve Tom's Diner Than Let Its Owner Retire in Peace: https://reason.com/2019/08/01/neighborhood-activists-would-rather-preserve-toms-diner-than-let-its-owner-retire-in-peace/#comments So none of us really own our property? Is this a principle that our country was founded on? If the activists are so hell bent on preserving Mr. Messina's property they should pay him fair market value for it and then find someone else to manage the business. $4.8 millions sounds about right.

Job opportunities for robot techs!

SF is wondering - why aren't the democrats who are bashing Obama's policies considered racist? Any republican who does virtually the same thing certainly is.......

Please elaborate, concerning the national debt and the uni-party.

You know what that means: Skynet.