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I've debated putting this on here for the last few days, but decided to do it because I think we too often hear about the negative, but rarely enough about the positive. The young man in the wheelchair is Sam (last name withheld for privacy, although he is probably more well-known in Evansville than our mayor). Sam has Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), a rare genetic condition. His skin is fragile and blisters easily from even slight contact. He endures painful bandage changes daily and has endured countless medical procedures and spent many days and weeks in hospitals. He has literally fought EB every day of his entire life. He loves Memorial, Memorial sports and is an inspiration to our entire school family. And the Memorial family loves him. He rarely misses any Memorial football, basketball or baseball games. Saturday he watched the game from the sideline (and even attended the tailgate in the rain and wind for a little bit to help get the crowd fired up). While he may not look it, Sam is widely known as the toughest kid at Memorial. After the game (unbeknownst to anyone), Brock Combs, who was the clear star of the 4A game, received his medal and made his way over to Sam and hung it around his neck. A few minutes later the trophy was presented, this picture was taken. Very few people even knew it had happened until the following morning. This, my friends, is what HS football is all about! Thanks to ALL the coaches across our state who sacrifice so much to help young boys become men!

darn I did not know I was rich I am glad some one told me

My comment wasn't a slam against any type of offense. Let's be real here, if you still call WRs Ends on your all conference forms...you have an evolution problem. When is the last time you saw SE on a roster? What about when someone has a really nice true TE they want to nominate? Should he should have to compete with all the WRs for a slot...while at the same time FBs don't have to compete with RBs? It's just dumb.

Great matchup! I'd rather see things like this than teams going out of state. In a way, a format like ESPN's bracket buster could be fun: pair up schools nowhere close to each other. Lafayette Jeff-Bloomington South, New Pal-Homestead, Lowell-Chatard, even a Contraction Classic of South Newton-Elwood. And if anyone has the temerity to a suggest neutral site, my hand will penetrate the screen a slap said suggester silly...

God forbid WeBo win a third consecutive title ... man just wait until you see what that thread looks like. The IHSAA will bump you up and then likely put you in the Sectional of Death, Sectional 28, along with all of the other "above average" schools. 😉

Sorry. I stopped reading when you listed Heritage Hills as a ‘private.’ Top quality research there. Keep tilting at windmills!

Someone shared this picture with me yesterday. Class act by Combs!

You know who you are....I’ll wait. 🤣🤣🤣

I would love to play Chatard (such tradition and always good) and New Pal (2-2 split in the last 7 years) in the opening week and week 3. Would be a good experience I feel for both teams

Underclassmen WRs from the roster (ooops sorry...split ends): 2 Landon Stoll Jr. 5 8 160 WR 12 Seth Davenport Jr. 6 2 170 WR 16 Mitchell Morris So. 5 10 160 WR 22 Logan Murfin Jr. 6 0 175 WR 36 Blake Roberts So. 5 7 150 WR 80 Rory Heltsley So. 6 3 170 WR 87 Evan Simpson So. 6 0 170 WR 88 Kaden Hurless So. 6 1 165 WR

Yeah I’m not sure anyone really minds this. among us here on the grid, we all pretty much accepted that Brady was the best QB and Sigler was hands down the MVP midseason lol. sigler probably was unanimously voted in as MVP. Such a rare talent.

It’s the architecture....

Great question! I'd like to see Bishop Chatard some of the bigger Indy suburban schools. Fishers, Avon, Brownsburg, HSE, etc. I've also wanted to play Evansville Reitz at the Reitz Bowl. Either that or a regular season matchup against a familiar foe like Memorial, Gibson Southern, Heritage Hills, etc.

I'll say this much... You're not going to find many "blue collar" schools in 6A. Fact is many families are moving away from the blue collar towns in favor of those that offer better education/athletics. Not just to 6A schools, but rather schools that are closer to the major cities in Indiana. I don't know about you all, but I think most people in Indiana would agree that "blue collar" here is just a fancy way of saying "farmers". I know there are a few communities that factory work is still the primary source of employment, but those really seem to be cyclical (see North White). I don't speak for my entire community, but I have little desire to return to my hometown as it would significantly hinder my pay. And if i did, I would be more than willing to drive my child the hour or so to the nearest school that provided them the best opportunity to succeed. Really will boil down to, "How far are you willing to commute". I also blame travel ball and social media 😂

Western Boone is "Affluent Public"? LOL. Small farming community with 30% of kids on free/reduced lunch = Affluent? I am not sure there is a more "average/blue collar" area than Thorntown, Jamestown, Advance, Dover areas....

This question every year for 5 years. Sigh.

I thought we looked tired? Which is it?

Another one would be John Adams the AD for Gibson Southern who hired Nick Hart at age 26 to take over. Hart obviously had the resume of being John Harts son, being the OC for numerous top offenses year in and year out for Warren and being a successful player. what’s interesting is both Coach Hart and Coach Ralph have been the two winningest coaches as of late. Although still young into their careers, they own respectively the 1st and 3rd best win % of coaches in Indiana currently with at least 50 career wins. #2 is the Pioneer HC ( 0.945 at 52-3) #4 is West Lafayette ( 0.837 at 77-15)

Congrats to Austin!!! Good Luck with the Kats. Great hire. He will have plenty of help.

Maybe years ago..during the 5 class era..now with so many camps..n the travel circuit.. kids can get that exposure.. many times coaches recruit size..not heart..they can mold the frame if the metrics are there..yet one of the goats ran a 5.2 40..i will also add imo if u go to a legit 1a-3a (luers😉) program coaches know where the talent pipeline flows..

When you have enrollments THAT big, it doesn't mather what their socioeconomic situation is as long as they have good coaching.

Coaching has been mentioned on a few different occasions. I've mentioned it at least a couple of times. But I guess I'll repeat myself. Large enrollment + good coaching = dominance. I didn't even say GREAT coaching. Large enrollment + GOOD coaching = dominance. Add socioeconomic factors to that and you have a dynasty. Imagine Coach Ralph at Carmel. The greyhounds would win every year without fail like they do in swimming.

https://www.courierpress.com/story/sports/high-school/2019/12/03/pac-football-schedules-have-bit-different-look-2020/2596416001/

Only if we had a one class playoff system would this asinine argument hold any weight. If you want to have a class playoff system based on enrollment, that’s the way it has to be for everyone. One comment I hear that bothers me quite a bit is private schools have parents who are involved. This is true, however, every single parent doesn’t have their child involved in football. The fact that there are so many sports now for kids to play makes it harder for the private schools to maintain excellence UNLESS they have fully committed coaches who in turn hold the players accountable. If you want to win, that’s what it takes and it doesn’t always happen overnight. The amount of geeks roaming the halls who are attending private schools for the sole reason of getting into a good college would surprise you. Not everyone wants to play football. But when you create a culture that makes kids want to play and hold them accountable towards a winning way, you will win.

So now you're proud? What happened to crying about freshman having to play the rest of their career in 4A? Glad you are finally happy!

Mike Otto went to the NFL not Brian.

The one that caught my eye was eliminating the free blocking zone when the offense is in the shotgun. I don’t favor this, since it would mean no blocking below the waist from the shotgun. The current rule interpretation - which allows low blocks under certain conditions - requires the contact immediately at the snap. I feel that’s a reasonable compromise that serves the interests of risk minimization, while still giving smaller offensive lineman the ability to compete against larger defensive linemen. And I have not observed much in the way of controversy with the way the current rule is implemented.

DT would have to get out of his recliner, brush off all of the Cheeto's/Dorito's from his shirt, get in the passenger seat of his car so the wife can drive him to Boone County to check out the socio-economics of Western Boone county to be able to make his assessment of the affluence of the area..., and that ain't happening! 🤔

For some reason, in name of sportsmanship and player safety gets thrown out after Sectionals....... makes no sense to me either.

Better start practicing! Pinky out!

I have to wonder how much actual development takes place at the collegiate elite level in college. Certainly players refine their skill level. Rom years in coaching, I have only seen a handful of kids that are D1 level players. In seeing how things unfold, the top programs have measurements in mind, and if a kid does not fit, they move on. The thinking is, we can always find that kid next season. Case in point......a receiver was told by a coach in a top program that he needed to be under a 4.5 on his 40 time. He attended several invite only camps throughout the B1G. One school told him at the camp that if he got 4.5 or lower, they would offer on the spot. He ran a 4.55, and came home disappointed with no offer. Coaches at that level want kids to already be at a certain performance level, and will say we don’t have time to develop a kid to get that extra .05 off his time; in fact, we will likely have a kid next season already at that level. My other issue is the whole rating system. I have seen kids rated way too high, and kids who should be rated not rated at all. I know some who have parents that spend a LOT of money for the service, so they get rated higher. I would also add that in the Super Bowl between New England and Seattle, that there was not a player on either roster who was a 5 star or top recruit coming out of high school. I think it is purely a game of chance. I would add to that there are a couple of coaches now at Ohio State that Harbaugh had with him at Michigan. Is Harbaugh the problem? I am not in any position to tell. The record in his time there does not pass the eye test if you are a UM fan. There are plenty of teams around the country who would be happy with the record he has, and some would be ecstatic. He has had success at other stops, especially at Stanford, a place that is far more difficult to recruit players to than Michigan is. He even had success on the pro level. So what happened? No idea, but I do think it may be time for UM to start thinking of who is next.

Speaking on next year, I would love to see some of the Lafayette schools play bigger opponents. West Lafayette vs a lower tier HCC school like Franklin Central or Noblesville would be a good matchup. Lafayette Jeff vs a “rebuilding” (using that term cautiously) New Pal would be very interesting. WL Harrison vs a school like Gibson Southern or Brebeuf would be a great challenge for them.

I think Cathedral did it first, but still nonetheless Evansville Memorial is in elite status right now. I believe they are only the 4th school to bump up another class and win a state title, joining New Pal, Cathedral and Columbus East. Outstanding season by EM

I think if the Jones kid (frosh) commits himself to the weightroom, he could be a player.

I believe Cathedral did 2012 won 4A title beating Mishawaka. Bumped to 5A 2013 and beat Westfield for State Title. I will have to look and see about any others

Great hire for Kokomo- I know I'm biased, but he'll do a great job there.

I would like to see some games day long played at different sights. Imagine a day of h.s. football at ND, IU, PU, Ball State Bring in teams from out of state Kind of like the old Herbstreit Classis in Ohio I wish the 4 catholic school in FW-SB diocese would play each other in all sports

Has Chatard ever played North Central in recent memory? That could be a really cool Northside rivalry. 10-15 min drive for both schools?

Perry Meridian has replaced Lawrence North with Franklin Central to open the season next year. Glad to see this south side rivalry renewed

Based on the article I just read on Colby (Austin) returning to Kokomo, looks like Western and Kokomo will be playing week 1, that is a tremendous week 1 game for both neighboring schools!!

Thanks for the help I will let him know.

I agree but the IHSAA can’t look at just the titles Cathedral, Chatard, LCC, or Memorial wins. They also have to look at Park Tudor, Bishop Noll, Providence, Oldenburg, etc a bump would also involve them. I have been around the GID about as long as you say you have been around Hs football in Indiana. Been around Indiana HS football for about 28 years. The SF has been very good just wish it were as the IFCA proposed at 4 years instead of 2

Right. Let's go all the way then and get rid of the classes entirely. Who cares if Carmel has 200 kids for every 1 Sheridan has. Those Sheridan kids just need to roll up their sleeves and realize the only difference that matters is that the Carmel kids work harder at the end of the day. So long as we are still separating teams by class, telling teams to just work harder if they want more success is out the window. We've decided to try to make level playing fields. So if there are significant factors other than just attendance that make an uneven playing field, what's the difference in adjusting for those? Personally I like success factor because I don't believe that winning is #1 ideal the IHSAA should be promoting. Competition is. And if at the end of the day a couple of classes end up losing in regionals rather than walking to a smaller state championship, there's a life lesson that goes with that as well. As someone who believes in competition, I'll tell you who I wouldn't have wanted to be this year. A player for Western Boone or Chatard. Those programs walked through their respective tourneys without ever getting really even challenged. They weren't provided a level of competition to allow them to discover exactly how good they could be. They just know they were way better than everyone in their class.

I choked just like Alabama!

The world is a competitive place -- and real success does not come by throwing obstacles in other peoples' ways just because they're outpacing you. Preventing somebody from doing this is not "brushing them aside" at all. Nobody is entitled to any victory or championship. And to say "either I win championships too...or else you're brushing me aside" is ridiculous. If this is really indicative of your worldview, I'm glad my kids don't go to your school. You're going to have a hard time producing too many successful people if you encourage them to gauge their own success by how much better other people are doing relative to them...and thus just fomenting envy. What you should be encouraging them to do is model such people, not thwart them.

I couldn't agree more. The whole thing has a very "participation trophy" feel to it. And, frankly, I think that's one of the fundamentally wrong turns we've taken as a society. It was taken in the interest of promoting "success" by trying to eliminate (or, at least, diminish) the prospect of failure -- and it accomplishes this by making success harder for others to achieve. Imagine if, say, a commissioned sales force worked this way. We've got a team of 2 sales reps -- Joe and Bob -- and they each start out with an annual quota of $1 million. After a couple years in, both reps are making quota. But Joe is pushing $3 million in sales, while Bob is just getting beyond the $1 million quota. How much sense would it make to increase Joe's quota to the $3 million mark, while leaving Bob's alone? No matter what you might do with compensation, you'd still be telling your better rep that, because he's proven capable of selling more than the weaker rep, he's going to have to triple that guy just to keep his job....while the other guy can sell a third as much and still keep his. This isn't how the world works -- nor should it be. And to call it "fair" is positively Orwellian.

Open enrollment changed the game, right on the money @Coach Nowlin Really the only (non location) advantage a private school COULD possibly have anymore is if the church affiliated with the school were helping them out behind the scenes....BUT this doesn't really happen. Especially in this day and age, nothing is a secret. Even if they wanted to "cheat" or "have advantages" or whatever you wanna whine about, it wouldn't go unnoticed. The fact is people don't like watching the Yankees, win the title. It can feel a little like that when you see an LCC or a Chatard win again. But constantly accusing them of cheating is just robbing the kids of the credit they deserve. Football is still played on the same field with the same rules.

Geeez....... @Gipper thought you were into kidding around until I saw your downtick...let me try a limerick then.....”There once was a girl from Nantucket......” Since the thread is fundamentally moronic, I assumed matching humor would be much more worthwhile.

Relegation is a better solution in my opinion than is expansion. Get the bottom dwellers out of 6A and let the best 5A teams play in 6A.

Class 6a is broken and needs to be fixed. We can all agree on that. If there is anyone who doesn't believe that, then you need to have your head examined........fact. Is there a better idea? If there is, bring it to the table. Splitting 6a into two divisions is the only way to go. If the IHSAA is satisfied with a school of 5000 playing a school of 2000 for the state championship, then shame on them. It can be done. No one likes the idea because it came from DT.