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The CIC has used Ball State for a full day of Conference games. They were going every 3 years so every player had the opportunity to play on the field at least once during their high school time. Many of the small college football stadiums do not hold any more than high school stadiums. Example Taylor University, Saint Francis, and Indiana Wesleyan stadiums are not bigger than many of the high schools in the area.

Mississinewa has set a capacity of 50% which is estimated at 900. Visiting schools will be given a certain number of tickets to sell in advance. Mississinewa will sell tickets in advance with each player being limited to 4 tickets. The order of selling tickets is players, students, and then public. The public can purchase tickets on Thursday and Friday. Any tickets not sold in advance will be sold at the gate. Here is the link for Mississinewa's plan. https://mcscathletics.com/2020/08/17/mhs-protocols-media-release/?fbclid=IwAR3nmyXjZe3AFPa2VffaLcKCXRdsRnWn0-B59uu6ZBjOhnm981egEVKOeq0 Oak Hill has a similar plan with a capacity of 900. They have a grassy area on each end of the field and have said people can bring lawn chairs to watch the games from there or sit in their cars to watch.

Mississinewa may become the team to watch in 4A. With Curt Funk leaving for Fishers, Mississinewa gets a new coach that has retained all of Funk's staff. The new coach. Kyle Buresh, does not have high school coaching experience but has experience as a coordinator at the College level including running the passing game for Dakota Wesleyan, Indiana Wesleyan, and Wheaton College. At DWU, he helped lead an offense that was #2 in the Nation and averaged 560 yards a game. Mississinewa may be young up front, but may be bigger than previous years. May have multiple 300lb+ kids on the line that are strong and can move. Running backs return, although the leading rusher graduated, still have experience in the backfield. Defensively they will be solid. Mississinewa gets tested early by opening against Pendleton Heights followed by New Haven. This is of course if the season is able to start.

Talked with an Elwood teacher who is also a high school coach in another sport. The coach said that Terry lives in Franklin and plans to continue living there. Some are wondering how long it will be before the 90 minute plus commute each way every day will make him say "I'm done." The other problem with Elwood is they School Board only gives each sport enough money to pay 1 assistant coach. So most of the coach's are volunteer's, which may be the dad's of players. Mississinewa has a new coach this year and he retained the entire staff with the exception of 1, who retired. Kyle Buresh's coaching experience at the high school level is 0. He has been a college coach. He has been passing coordinator and helped lead the #1 ranked offense in the Country with close to 600 yards per game. He did this a couple of times. If he can find a QB that can see over the OL and that can throw watch out. The OL will be just as big if not bigger than previous years.

Based on the numbers at the College level directing offenses, he may just open up a whole new game for Mississinewa. The high power offense may be even more high power. Averaged over 500 yards a game in back to back season's. One season was 560 yards per game. Now if he can find a QB that can run his offense it could be a lot of high scoring games for Ole' Miss. Ole' Miss was one dimensional this past season but didn't need a passing game but had it if needed. Ole' Miss may just have more offensive plays than the last 4 years.

Mississinewa hired Kyle Buresh from Denison University. https://mcscathletics.com/2020/03/23/buresh-to-lead-indians-football/?fbclid=IwAR16hcR1lRrXq6cbOlhn9asd4cavWjiVOilaVgkWmun8qS_J99BVvbQzE1Q

Looks like Mississinewa has hired a College Coach. Here is the link from the school's website. https://mcscathletics.com/2020/03/23/buresh-to-lead-indians-football/?fbclid=IwAR16hcR1lRrXq6cbOlhn9asd4cavWjiVOilaVgkWmun8qS_J99BVvbQzE1Q

Noticed on the Mississinewa's website that the Head Football Coach position is no longer posted. The next board meeting is Monday night. Wonder if there will be an announcement? Once a River Rat Always a River Rat

It was used for Junior High games up until around 2005 I think. It was used for youth league games up until 2012 or 2013. It is still used for practice and the shed down below is used by the 7th and 8th grade teams as a locker room. The old practice fields were used for the 1st and 2nd grade league up until about 2012 or 13 as well. There were no night games for the youth league as the lights quit working or became unrepairable sometime in the 2000's. Yes the skeeters would carry you off the field and on Saturday morning youth games with the dew the skeeters were even worse than in the 80's when I was in Jr High.

Yes Mississinewa Community Schools is a consolidation of Gas City High School and Jonesboro High School. They consolidated in the early 50's. The current R.J. Baskett Middle School is the original Mississinewa High School. It is located on the banks of the Mississinewa River. Gas City was known as the Tigers and Jonesboro was known as the Zebras.

Barnes is not a licensed teacher. Although not required by the IHSAA anymore, but Mississinewa usually prefers a licensed teacher to be head coach of football and basketball. Not sure if he would want to give up his full-time job. Funk and assistant coach Josh Greentree were both named as coaches for the Region 5 All Star Team. So whoever gets the job would have an excellent coaching staff in place if they choose to keep all the assistants.

Kyler Funk of Mississinewa advanced to the next round tonight. He is of course coached by his dad Curt Funk. Curt finished 3rd in High School for Bluffton. Kyler said in the local paper he wants to one up his dad and win State. Kyler's mom was on Bluffton's Girls Basketball Team State Runner-up team. Go KYLER!!!!

In the mid 90's Mississinewa had a head coach that commuted from Indy area by the name of Vince Lorenzono. Mississinewa likes coach's that live in the district or less than 40 minute drive. Mississinewa likes to see the Head Coach involved in the community. Also the head football coach is involved with the youth sports program. So being willing to reside close to the Mississinewa Community would be to the advantage of the applicants.

No they do not. When the school was built in the 70's there was plans for a pool and auditorium, but both were axed due to budget. In the late 80's there was a discussion by the board to add the pool and it was again decided not to build it because of the humidity issues that other schools were having locally. The pool was to go where the auxiliary gym was built in 2016. The one inside would be his first head coaching job and under 30 years old. He has a good relationship with the players and knows the system that Funk set in place. Yes it was his first head coach position. When he first arrived he looked like a Senior in high school. Many have thought that since Mississinewa moved up to 4A in 2015. Then they were the smallest in 4A based on enrollment. I think Andrean was 4A due to success factor. The next realignment Mississinewa was the 3rd or 4th smallest school based on enrollment in 4A. The most recent realignment they were still around the 3rd or 4th smallest school in 4A. Depending on how many schools drop football and how the enrollment numbers are they are a bubble school for 3A and 4A. Moving down to 3A may not last long due to enrollment.

There are many football coach's that what a pool for training purposes. When Coach Funk was hired that was a common question that many coach's asked about the facilities. A pool helps in rehab and recovery of injuries.

I know of 1 current assistant that is applying for the position. The administration is going to have a tough decision to make as I am sure the pool of applicants will be high. Some positive things that the new coach will have to work with: 1. Turf field that is only 2 years old 2. Weight Room that is outstanding and better than many high schools around the state. 3. Returns some key offensive and defensive players. 4. Last season's JV players got a lot of Varsity level experience as they played against other schools Varsity in blowouts. 5. Lineman returning next year are just as big and strong as what graduated. 6. Remainder of coaching staff has not resigned so they would be available to stay on staff. 7. Great fan support as well as well as a great parent group for support. The biggest drawback for the position is that there is no swimming pool at the school and having to share the turf field with the soccer teams and youth leagues. But there is a natural grass practice field to use that is pretty decent shape. When Coach Funk was hired the administration set up a committee that included school board members, returning players, teachers, and a couple of community members. Not sure if this what will happen this time or not. Replacing Coach Funk is going to be difficult but he has left a good foundation that the new coach will continue to build. Promoting from within may be the best option. But then again with the football mentality that Coach Funk installed in the players all the way down into the beginning of the youth programs will attract a lot of coach's from not just in Indiana but possibly around the country.

Congrats to Coach Funk and Fishers has hired a very good coach. Sad for Mississinewa and hopefully the next coach is just as good if not better.

Coach Funk at Mississinewa ran multiple offensive packages. He built the program back up to where they have been ranked consistently since 2015 season. He won 2 Sectionals in the last 3 years. One of the few coach's that have a winning record against Eastbrook's long time coach Jeff Adamson. He is big on weight room. He also encourages players to be multi sport athletes. He also did 2 different stints as wrestling coach at Mississinewa. At Mississinewa he ran a spread offense and is a mastermind on shutting down wing-T offenses. He has coached at least 1 player since 2016 that played in the North-South Game. Loves a big offensive line. Mississinewa's line in 2016 averaged around 280lbs, would have been more but the center was 215 who happened to be the #1 long snapper as a Junior in the Nation in one of the ranking systems. His offense scores a lot of points and I mean a lot of points. Typically had at multiple games a year where 60 plus was scored, even against very good teams. He adapts offense to the talent of his players. The offense package at Mississinewa had well over 200 different plays that could be used. Runs mostly no huddle offense. Against Marion this year in the sectional final put up over 400 yards rushing with 300 being by 1 player. He will run a Wildcat offense when needed. Fishers has hired a very good coach. Mississinewa hates to lose him but he deserves a big program like Fishers. Good Hire Fishers. I would guess that Mississinewa and Fishers will do some summer scrimmages. To learn more about his style of play look up the games on youtube on TribeTv which is the student ran TV station at Mississinewa. They recorded all the home games and presented them live. They also do road games if the wifi at the host school was good enough.

If a head coach position is posted on a school's website but not approved by the Board yet, is it considered an official announcement?

Check your messages. I sent you a link to a posting that may or may not surprise you. It did me. The school hasn't made a public announcement yet but has posted the position. I had it confirmed from an assistant coach or two.

Andrean is just a few years out from something that Eastbrook does not have and that's State Championships. They were a 4A school just a few years ago because of the success factor. Everybody says Andrean is big up front. Eastbrook has a lot of speed and strength. This game is going to come down to execution. Who commits the fewest penalties and turnovers. Eastbrook has had a great run the last few years. Only losses this year comes against 2 4A schools on the road. They have big game experience. Andrean fans will pack out the small visitor's side at Eastbrook. In the end Andrea will have a long ride back to Gary as Eastbrook pulls out the win.

Mississinewa has a pretty good pass defense. They have had several games with multiple players getting multiple INTs. Mississinewa has very good clock management. Time of possession will not determine the winner as both teams can score quickly. With that said, Defense will decide the outcome of the game in more ways than one.

Mississinewa has the #4 offense and Defense in 4A while East Noble have the #8 offense and defense. Mississinewa has the overall 15th best defense in the State while East Noble is 32nd. Overall offensively Mississinewa is 23rd while East Noble is 33rd. Average Margin Mississinewa is 14th overall and 3rd in 4A where East Noble is 28th and 6th. East Noble has the stronger schedule and plays 2 3A, 1 5A, and remainder are 4A in regular season. Mississinewa on the other hand plays 2 4A, 1 3A, 1 1A, and remainder are 2A in the regular season. Game will be played on turf. It will be cold so better bundle up and brings lots of coffee and hot chocolate.

Eastside at Eastbrook--Eastside throws the ball well. Eastbrook has a history of having troubles defending the pass, however this year's team is better at getting to the QB than previous years. Eastside is the lone survivor out of the Northeast Corner Conference. Eastbrook has the stronger schedule. This year's Eastbrook team is a little different than past years and many have experience playing this deep into the tournament. I am going with the experience as Eastbrook wins this one. East Noble at Mississinewa--East Noble is ranked #1 Coach's Poll and #2 in AP. Mississinewa is ranked #5 in AP and #9 in Coach's. This game is going to be a very close game. East Noble has a good run defense, but at the same time so did Delta and Marion. Cade Campbell was able to gain over 500 yards in these 2 games while is brother Carson had over 200 in the two games. Mississinewa still hasn't had to do a lot of passing. Delta was a favorite to win State according to Sagarin rankings and Mississinewa knocked them out. Mississinewa has the #4 offense and defense in 4A while East Noble has the #8 offense and defense in 4A. In the end Mississinewa wins this one and advances to Semi-State for the second time in school history. Eastside and East Noble are not that far apart and it is interesting that Mississinewa and Eastbrook are both at home again this week. It is going to be a cold night so be sure to bundle up. Mississinewa and Eastbrook might have to borrow equipment to clear snow from the field this week. Would be nice to see both CIC teams advance to the next round. If Mississinewa and Eastbrook both make it the State Finals they will play on Saturday with Eastbrook at Noon and Mississinewa follows. Would be nice to see Mississinewa fans come early and cheer on Eastbrook and Eastbrook fans stay and root on Mississinewa. Then when they both win have a nice big parade back to Grant County.

Do not know much about East Noble but looking at their schedule it appears that the defense has improved a lot since the first 3 games of the season. In the first 3 games they gave up a combined 80 points and the remaining games including Sectional games gave up 78. They scored the fewest points in a game last week in the rematch with Leo. They are ranked #1 or #2 depending on the poll and have been there almost the entire season. Common opponents between the 2 are Huntington North and New Haven. Mississinewa played New Haven in week 2 of the season and Huntington North in the 2nd round of the sectional. HN and NH are on the regular season schedule of East Noble. Mississinewa has given up 124 points on the season. They held Delta to a season low in points. Delta was one of the favorites to win State according the Sagarin rankings. They also beat Marion last week. In these 2 games Mississinewa had 1 running back rush for over 500 yards combined. Over 300 against Marion and he didn't score a point. Mississinewa is very deep and talented at running back. They can go with a set of fast running backs or come at you with power backs that also have speed. Upfront they have 3 or 4 pushing or over 300lbs that are strong and quick off the line. Their backups are just as big, strong, and quick. Because of playing several games under a continuous clock they were able to play their JV and Freshman players against the opponents first string Varsity units a lot this year. Several of the points allowed were allowed by the JV and Freshman units not the Varsity unit. This Senior class played in the regional round as Sophomore's but in the South part of the tournament where they traveled to Greenwood and just barely lost. I think 7 or 8 of these Senior's started as Sophomore's. They are experienced across the board. They held Marion's JK Thomas in check and he was not a factor in the game. Mississinewa's offense if very complex and they can run multiple plays out of each set. A few years ago it was estimated by one of the coach's that they had over 150 different plays that they could run out of their different sets. The QB by committee has been working this year and last week introduced a Wildcat offense. Marion's defense was in the top 5 in yards allowed and Mississinewa put up just at or over 500 yards, and only around 30 were passing. Mississnewa not only beat Delta and Marion but also Pendleton Heights another sectional finalist. Mississinewa has scrimmaged against Brownsburg, Avon, Warren Central, Cathedral, and other 5A and 6A schools. This is all paying off for them. The kicker has a season long for around 42 yards and is 5 of 6 on the season on field goal attempts. The snowplows are ready to clear the turf field at Mississinewa so the game will take place. The cannon is in the backyard of a neighbor but not sure if it will be fired or not as it is not on school property. This is going to be a very good game. Looking at the common opponents and points allowed, I don't think East Noble will have the defense to keep all of Mississinewa's running backs contained. I would have never thought that the 1 back would rush for over 500 yards combined against Marion and Delta. This will not be a high scoring game but it could very well be if turnovers occur. Turnovers will be key in this game. The team with the fewest turnovers should win. In the end Mississinewa pulls out the win even if it is on another field goal like they did against Marion. For those that can not make it you can watch on TribeTV, which is Mississinewa's student ran media outlet. They have a youtube channel and a facebook page where you can find the link.