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Yes, I created this before the officially numbers were released. Will try to update before the end of the day and send it back out.

I typically stay out of these threads, but every now and then I catch the usual noise and feel compelled to point something out. For years the narrative was the same. "New Pal doesn't play anybody." "Sure they're undefeated, but who have they beaten?" "That schedule is going to catch up to them in the playoffs." We heard it over and over again. Now we've put together what I'd call an elite schedule, and wouldn't you know it, those same voices have shifted right on cue. No credit for answering the challenge, just a new angle to complain from. It's honestly laughable, and it's all the proof you need that some people on here simply cannot be won over. The goalposts don't move, they disappear entirely. What bothers me more than any of it is the inability, or maybe the unwillingness, to appreciate what Kyle has built. Not just at New Pal, but for Indiana high school football as a whole. That kind of sustained excellence should be celebrated on a forum that exists because we all supposedly love this game. Tearing it down runs counter to the entire point of why we're here. Anyway, back to ignoring the noise. We've got 24 weeks to get our boys ready to run through a gauntlet.

Remember that DC goes back to 5A if it doesn't win a regional this year ... so I wouldn't be surprised to see them be in the 5-team sectional just in case that adjustment needs to be made.

Arrangements for Coach Lou. Burial at Cedar Grove Cemetery on the Campus, with Ara and The Rock. He’ll be at Notre Dame forever, now.

What a gem…..

You got me.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1NciF91zy63EMbqP18JsTnlvm4LFnG3o&usp=sharing Updated classes for sectionals. Again didn't take a lot of time with all of them but a general idea for people to go off of.

which brings back to the initial IFCA proposal that Commish Cox tore up and did it his way anyways.. 4 year cycle, vs 2 year, I think it was 10 points not 6 points in those 4 years, that would of addressed that immediately Then the ole loopholes started and teams on classification years go a pass if it worked out there way, so now we have the "rolling Success Factor" vs having it attached to just the just reclassification years

Providence most likely joining Brownstown sectional should be fun. May lead to Providence kicking kids out after Christmas so they can drop back down. I kid i kid....🤣

They read it, and the ones not tech savvy have someone read it to them.

Now let's see if they can use that $ to help get a new center the quality of Mr. Dahlman.

I understand what you are saying with penalizing the underclassmen but.....couldn't that be said about a lot of public schools(and some private) that have had to move up in the years past due to the success factor? I'm not saying make Cascade go up to 4A and play but to me based on the success factor they should have to stay in 3A for one more cycle before going down because of enrollment. I'm not saying anything needs to be changed this year either but I think the IHSAA needs to look into having something in writing to explain why this is okay one way or the other for a team winning a state championship and moving down a class because I don't think there is anything to this point.

Just found out: IC started JV in 2025 season, will play JV ball in 2026, and Varsity in 2027, YEAR 2 of this current cycle makes sense

Chatard...4A by enrollment. This is the first time, correct? Previously it was always due to SF?

That is when they jumped across the border: Illiana Christian was Illinois school until 2018-19, then they announced and started the process, then by 2022, they went through the process to become IHSAA eligible for all sports. Now they have added Football recently

Thanks for weighing in. 🙄 One of the reasons a conference exists is to aid in scheduling. An independent team has to fill nine weeks - and fit those in against other teams. And when you are a top program, a lot of schools *will not play you*, making scheduling even more difficult. When you're playing out-of-state teams, it's usually because there were no in-state options. The HHC is fine, especially with the new additions. It's a competitive league with really good communities, programs and coaches. And it still gives teams the freedom to schedule two more games (and, for New Pal, East Central will be one of those two going forward).

This past season, there were 17 New Pal alumni on college rosters, including seven playing Div. I, and one on the Super Bowl champions' practice squad.

I like it. Now, if only Stefan Diggs would return to the Bills, Buffalo could finally compete with Dallas for the most “diva” wide receivers.

Mr. Moore traded to the Bills for a 2nd round draft pick. Not bad. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/48111983/bills-agree-trade-acquire-bears-wr-dj-moore-sources-say

1st of all - I hope New Pal beats the brakes off them - that would be awesome. Secondly - to my broader point about banning together like Texas and Georgia and NOT playing these prep academies - IMO, playing these schools, you are in "support" of their concept and structure. Being a life-long educator, I don't agree with the model- thus I don't want to support it nor do I want Indiana schools supporting it. It really centers around for me that I don't agree with or like the model of school IMG promotes.....I don't think it's "education-based athletics" .....don't think they have allegiance to their school/community, etc... Not to mention the potential for them to poach players....but I know that happens regardless of school model.

Should've done some more digging on the paper sent out. They have the plus by them which says at the bottom tournament eligible.

2A South adds the defending 3A state champs (Cascade) and the defending 1A state champs (South Putnam), in addition to Providence. 2A South is loaded.

I admire anyone willing to take on IMG. I don't necessarily agree with it, but I certainly have to respect a program willing to schedule a team of that caliber. The same respect I have for Dinan for going out and getting Center Grove. The same respect I have for Homestead for continuing to schedule Indy teams whom they lose to 90% of the time. Not the model for all coaches, but I think one has to respect a coach who only schedules the "best."

Take seventeen minutes and watch this video of Lou Holtz speaking at a commencement if you haven't seen it already.

I get what you're saying. But to be fair, this is a fan forum. The coaches have one of their own. I think the purpose of this forum is to share opinions, respectfully, from a fan's perspective. That being said, as previously stated, I doubt any of us here are qualified to question what is or isn't in the best interest of Ralph's program.

33 in 5A. I think the intention is to set classes in all sports by enrollment first and not move any teams down in response to another team’s bump so no team benefits from another team’s success factor move.

And you said it right to their face!

Another great one is he says my wife and I were on the beach. This woman in a bikini walks by and I looked at my wife and asked, why don’t you look more like her? She said back if I looked more like that, I would not have married you. 😄

Yet that library book was probably paid partially by you via a local tax. So it really wasn't "free" was it?

I have my own personal Coach Lou story. When I was much younger, I was very active in the Indiana State Bar Association. One year, the Association’s Spring Meeting was in South Bend. I was in charge of the program at the big luncheon, and the speaker was Coach Lou. So, there I was. Sitting up at the head table with Lou Holtz and Father Hesburgh. Needless to say, I was in a star struck daze the whole time. As the lunch was finishing up, Coach Lou leaned over to me and said “Bob, how long would you like me to talk?” I was very conscious of the fact that we were in the middle of Spring football, and I didn’t want to impose on him. And, of course, we had a schedule. I said, “Coach, if you could give us 15-20 minutes, that would be great.” He got this funny look on his face, and said “Bob, I’m just getting warmed up at 20 minutes.” He got up and spoke extemporaneously for 45 minutes … and he talked faster than those guys who do the disclaimers in tv commercials. Then stuck around afterward to talk to people. Coach had a well-deserved reputation for graciousness and generosity. And while he coached, and was successful, at several different places, his heart belonged to Notre Dame. R.I.P., Coach. Take your place up there with Leahy, Ara, and The Rock.

lol

Great story from Mike Greenberg

How does New Pal or Ben Davis playing IMG impact Southridge?

After giving it some thought - I think we should (Indiana) take a similar approach that TX and GA have and say no games with these prep school Academies. I don't (personally) agree with the model, so I don't want to help give it traction.