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That is like asking if Center Grove has a competitive advantage over Lake Central. I mean they are both 6A Public Schools right.

This article appeared in the latest issue of Referee Magazine. I thought non-officials might find it interesting, since we hear about so-called “late” flags all the time. https://www.referee.com/its-ok-to-pick-up-a-flag-or-put-one-down-late/ Back in the day there were two commonly accepted officiating axioms: Don’t pick up a flag once it’s put down and don’t put one down late. The idea was that either will make us look uncertain, which can be a kiss of death. There was, frankly, also a macho aspect to the first one: I own my position and my calls, and I don’t need help in making them. If I’m wrong, too bad. How times have changed. Today, at the pro and collegiate levels, flags are picked up relatively often and put down late. That should be the practice at all levels. The question is when to do it. All coaches will tell you they’d rather we miss a foul that should have been called than call one that isn’t there — the “phantom” call. Pro and collegiate grading practices reflect that, as more points are deducted for a phantom call than for a missed call. On the field we need to factor that into our thinking along with today’s (appropriate) mantra: Get the call right. Angles mean everything. For instance, I may be convinced X blocked Y in the back, but another angle may show he didn’t. I may be sure a defender who was not playing the ball deserves a flag because he got into the body of the receiver before the pass arrived, but another angle may show there was three feet between them. “All coaches will tell you they’d rather we miss a foul that should have been called than call one that isn’t there — the “phantom” call.” The sea change in thinking in recent years is that if I throw a flag but you, with a different angle, come to me and say you had a better look and I was wrong, I should pick up my flag unless I’m 100 percent sure I’m right. That is as it should be. Two caveats, however: Don’t speak up unless you are 100 percent sure I’m wrong, and then it’s my decision whether to pick up my flag. Once, an official was about to bring back an 80-yard punt return for a touchdown because of a block in the back. TV showed it was a legal side block. Fortunately, another official saw it, went to the calling official and told him that, and he picked up the flag. Can you imagine the uproar that would have ensued if the official hadn’t intervened or the one who made the call refused to admit his error? As it happened, some people were upset for about 20 seconds and that was it. Another area that has been changed in the college game involves uncatchable passes with flags for interference. It used to be if I threw a flag and another official thought the pass was uncatchable, he’d come ask if I thought it was catchable. How do I know? I’m so involved in my call that I’ve probably lost sight of where the pass ended up. So, don’t ask, just tell me it was uncatchable. That you came to me should, except in the rare case, be enough for me to pick up my flag. To shift gears, there are times when it’s appropriate to put a flag down late. Say one official responsible for counting the defense pre-snap has 12 but the others (which will vary depending on the crew size) don’t signal their agreement. The first official should wait until the play is over, herd the defense up before it leaves the field and count the players; if there are 12, put the flag down. For sure don’t blow the whistle to kill the play when you’re the Lone Ranger. That happened recently. One official had 12 and, although the other two hadn’t signaled agreement, blew his whistle; due to the crowd noise, the play got off and a safety was improperly negated because there were, in fact, only 11 defenders on the field. Say the quarterback is under duress and slings the ball away without getting outside the tackle box. The referee must stay with him to prevent him from getting mauled, so he can’t track the flight of the ball. That must be a crew call. If another official runs to him and tells him there was no eligible receiver in the area — or the ball didn’t get to the neutral zone if the quarterback did get out of the tackle box — that’s when the flag should go down for intentional grounding. You’re a back judge: The receiver you’re keying is held downfield, but you glance at the quarterback and he’s not looking that way, so you hold your flag. So far, no harm, no foul. Now he does look that way, so the hold does become relevant, and you toss your flag. That is how it should work. TV announcers go nuts and talk about “late flags,” but what we’re doing is processing the action and calling what matters. In sum, the old thinking was that we should stay in our lane on the field. Each of us had areas of responsibility and, as a rule, we didn’t get out of them. Now it’s 180 degrees opposite. If I’ve got information you need, I’ll give it to you. If you come to me, I’m not going to let my ego get in the way. I’ll listen and process what you say. Best case, the result will be that a flag for a phantom foul gets picked up or we put one down that needs to be there, albeit late. We may get some flak and have to do some explaining to a coach, but that’s far better than letting a mistake occur that could have been corrected.

Coach Brunes (defensive Coach) is one of the best in the state in any class. We are lucky to have him on our side...

As long as SOMEONE fixes Sectional 30 !! I was going to start a thread about 3A sectional re-alignments - but thought it best to wait until the season ended. (Danville moving up is a possibility)

Did not come from an upbringing of having people pay my debt. Does not seem "fair" to me that people that worked two jobs in college and had debt coming out, paid off their debt, but people who had no job in college and not paid their debt get it paid off. Seems wrong on so many levels. Like a 2.0 multiplier. Punish those that work hard. Yea, that is a great plan for society today.

110 yards passing 204 yards rushing per game. We have been told we are undersized all year. We have been told we are going to get beat against Heritage Christian and Evansville Mater Dei. We will show up and play. The coaches will prepare the kids for BL and the kids will show up Friday morning and work their tails off for a 3rd Straight Blue Ring. I fully expect to get BL's best shot. Should be a good game... I don't think either team wins by 28 though.

I've been buying lottery tickets like mad in order to raise the funds needed for a football facility. *Hogan field at Hogan stadium at the Hogan Sports Complex coming fall 2021*

All the posts in this topic and this is the more ignorant one. Three things: 1. LCC is only being bumped up for it's 2nd time. Not multiple times as you claim. 2. When LCC bumped up to 2A the points needed to stay in 2A was 4 points. LCC lost to the state runner up Tipton by 4 in Sectional and Lost to Rensselaer Central in Semi-State similar to Pioneer. Not really sure LCC's first go around would be considered tanking. You can thank Bobby Cox adjustments in the amount of points to stay in a class. 3. Last time Pioneer played LCC they hung 70 on them. I am not sure what you have to complain about in terms of competition.

Thank you. Several 3-4 year starters in our senior class. Yes, we get people from different school districts, but the most effective recruiting we've done is convincing stud basketball and baseball players to join the football team.

So let me get this straight. It's not okay for Covenant Christian to play for a State Championship 6 years after starting a football program, but it is okay for Fishers to win a State Championship 5 years after starting a football program. A quick look over at the Covenant Christian Warriors website. They have a roster of 37 players. Pretty much the same players that were 6-5 last year. Avenged a close lost to Lutheran from last year in Sectionals. I would venture to say with that small of a roster they likely do not have Freshman or JV teams. So players are learning all through Varsity games.

I got Chatard by 100, because tradition, history, and culture wins championships.

I think this paragraph from Indy Star Kyle Neddenriep details what most of the state things about the PP success this year. Would believe that Mr. Neddenriep reaches thousands more that DT with his view. Is it a “problem” if five private schools win state titles? I don’t sense that. The Indiana High School Athletic Association’s tournament success factor is designed to address some of those dynasty issues. Chatard will move up to 4A for the next two-year cycle. Cathedral has not won a state title since 2014 and Roncalli since 2016. Since the IHSAA added a sixth class in 2013, private schools have won 15 of a possible 42 titles. Private schools have filled 22 of a potential 84 spots in the state finals (not counting this season). We did not hear much about the private school dominance when only one private school won in 2017 and again in ’18. There were only two private schools in the state finals each of those years. Since 2013, we have not seen more than three private schools win titles in a given year. There were three in 2013, ’15, ’16 and ’19.

Yeah . . . . pretty obvious. Not all conference games were played, therefore, NO champion. When, I believe eight games were NOT played, there can not be a champion. Why must the topic continue to be debated. Just leave it rest. as always, the game is better from_the_sidelines007

I just watched HUDL film of Hobart's DE Bobby Babcock who is headed to Illinois State. Without doubt the best DE I have seen all year. This guy is quick as a cat and strong as an OX. Sending a note to Tom Allen - IU needs this kid! Looking at the rest of the Hobart Team I can see why they are playing on Friday. I think this game is going to be much closer than anyone thinks. If you are playing on Friday or Saturday this weekend, you can walk out with a victory. Last time Roncalli played a "Region School" the outcome was not so good. (and the block in the back on the kickoff return late in the game was a bad call!).

You are not going to get away with that comment. The "great respect" you have for them is clear in wanting to impose a 2.0 multiplier on them which would ensure 99% of those schools would never win a State Champ. Respect? Give me a break. Cathedral is the ONLY school can could compete going moving up 2 classes from their enrollment which is what the multiplier would do. Respect? The 2.0 multiplier is disrespect. At least try and be honest. Respect? Give me a break.

Haaaa!

I want to get on this P?P advantage for small schools. I'm going to talk to the rabbi at the Yeshiva and look to form a team. Championship is in the bag. Shalom

@DE @swordfish GSA’s Emily Murphy just signed the papers, President-elect Biden’s official transition can begin NA NA NA NA HEY HEY HEY KISS TRUMP GOOD BYE! biden/harris 2020! The best is yet to come! TOO MUCH WINNING!!

@DE @swordfish Michigan just certified their election results. Another Joe Biden win. PA will certify on monday. Biden/Harris 2020! The best is yet to come! TOOO MUCH WINNING.

Thanks!

If you mean made it boring and marginalized all but the speedy OMG! Athletes! then yes, if that is what you call revolutionary.

You're talking about 28, right?

Oh my, I forgot the North Huskies! Though they finished off disappointing, I think they have figured it by now

You tilted at some windmills that day if I remember correctly. 🙂

Yeah I definitely think that they need to switch Princeton and HH in that deal. That's my vote....Princeton to 32 and HH to 30. Let's make it happen!!!

I seem to remember someone stating that the Tipton Blue Devils took it's name from a division of the Army in WWII. The Noblesville Millers took their name from the millworkers on the south side of downtown. The mascot is similar to Purdue Pete. The Sheridan Blackhawks are named after a bird that doesn't exist. They were not named after the Indian tribe or the helicopter.

I believe his injury was season ending. Hard to bet against a team that's made it to 3 straight state finals. Coach Pelley has done a fantastic job since taking over the program. Luers made some fantastic adjustments last week in a game that looked like it was going to get ugly. I am not sure they will be able to dig themselves out of a hole like that if it happens this week. Should be a great game between two great teams.

Rack this Post. TheStatGuy is an unabashed Biden-bot that supports anything put forward by 11-trillion Joe and his plans to further bankrupt the country. He belives "taxing the rich" will pay for all this new socialism. Can't wait to see him whine when the IRS comes for his modest bank account.......................

WeBo is very good. Yes, their O-line isn't big but they are physical and aggressive. I wouldn't say the defense is fast, but they all fly to the ball. I haven't seen anything of Luers, but it will take a good effort for anyone to beat WeBo. Unfortunately we didn't give them our best shot but they made us look bad everywhere. Good luck to both teams. I'm sure it will be a good one.

Hopefully, this is a competitive game. Danville is on a roll, has a ton of talent, and should be really confident. Chatard is on life support, talent is way down this year, and have struggled, especially on offense, the past few weeks. This is probably the first time in a long time that Chatard is a big underdog going into Thanksgiving weekend. But, they will play hard and with some luck can make a game of it. Whichever team wins will be deserving. Good luck to both. Hoping for a safe competitive game with no injuries.

One time when Luers won state they lost 62-0 last game before the playoffs.

I think Chatard wins this game, but it will be a physical one for sure. 3A can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that Chatard will be gone for at least a couple years, maybe more! Next will be re-alignment for the 3A tournament and Danville we go back north. The south will be Tri-West and a PAC school in the semi state next year and so on and so on. (notice I didn't say which PAC school) I also think that there will be 5 P/P schools that win the state title this year. What a shame.......Surely I jest!!

IU struggled mightily with that from the time the fired Mallory until they settled on Allen.

Just make sure to use lineman number's for your winning numbers. Skilled players get all the stats, lineman have winning lottery numbers! 😁

I will be cheering for my high school classmate, Jake Gilbert, but I don't see how anyone beats this Center Grove team.

I have friends who had a son play on the first CovenAnt Christian team, and I can tell you that this program was not born with a silver spoon in its mouth. They don't even have a football field.

And to quote the kid from the video before the state game last year when they beat us, "we don't want to be the class that doesn't win a state championship".

I both support and object to this post at the same time 😊🤟💪🏈?

I'd suspect that WeBo might be a little deeper too. A big thing that hurt pioneer was their player that went down who, I believe, was also the punter and maybe even the kicker. Losing a punter and a placekicker, in addition to a starting lineman, is tough for a small school to pivot on; especially if it's 1A playing in 2A.

Let's just say Luers can't spot Webo 22 before they decide to turn it on offensively.

We know.

Frankfort Hot Dogs and the Logansport "Logan Berries" make me hungry.

How about just being a 1A in a metro area? Sure, schools don’t actively recruit, but now CC has the Indy area to get potential players from, while the Adams county schools have to pluck kids from a cornfield.

Since I have kissin cousins in Adams county, farmers that is, and who doesn’t like Bern Indiana! Which is the southern part of the Indiana “TUNDRA” area. I’m going to root for the northern team.

I live a mile from CC and two miles from BD. I will be cheering for CC also.

A common sense Post. Thank you @TheStatGuy You are an ADULT now, think about what you are threatening to do. That is incredibly comical but that is your playbook, just like you sent me a threatening email years ago about going to my superintendent over your warped silliness around here, again this was years ago and I have continued to give you your playground in here to reside, your threats are pointless and hold zero merit. The fact that you actually have saved screenshots from social media and this message board to use as some sort of, haha I got you now because you do not "like" someone and disagree with their politics. Come on man, be better than that. My goodness. You all can have your little back and forth whizzing match, all day long, this section should NOT be taken seriously at all. Hence why DK shut down the 1st one. Too many folks taking themselves FAR TOO SERIOUS, to the point now were have someone claiming they are going to attempt to blackball someone for future employment opportunities ( what does Lake Central even have to do with anything). Keep that sort of Rhetoric up @TheStatGuy and your time here will be fanished ..... again. That goes for anyone who wants to go down that rabbit hole, though I would suspect, 99.5% of our community would not even have that cross their mind, let along, keep screenshots of social media and other message boards for their collection on their phone. That is just really odd behavior from an adult.

Center Grove is the class of the field, and that doesn't surprise anyone. BD played as hard as they could in the 1st half. They couldn't get started in the third...gave up the football...and the Trojans just ran it right down the Giants throats. Impressive 2nd half. Disappointing loss for Ben Davis, but that's happened to a lot of people this year. Back to the drawing board. Congratulations to Coach Moore and the Trojans. They'll win it all next week if they stay healthy. To Coach Simmons and the Giants, thanks for another exciting turnaround. I'm already looking forward to August!

Well said. I also think they have a pretty awesome Offensive Coordinator, but I am a little biased I admit. :)

The best high school game I ever worked was the 2002 sectional championship between 11-0, #1 ranked Chatard, and 11-0, #2 ranked Danville. Danville scored with seconds left, went for 2, and didn’t get it. The physicality of that game, a packed house, the de facto state championship game, all came together for a great high school football experience. That game was no place for the faint of heart, I assure you. They could only hope to approach that this time. But it should be a great football game.