MHSTigerFan

Actually, programs like Gibson Southern are a great example of what I’m talking about. It’s a genuinely elite football program - and it’s a public school. Nick has put together a fantastic feeder program and a culture that has bred a consistent level of success. Has he done it alone? Not at all. He inherited something good and made it even better - and had the support and buy-in of parents, administrators, the kids, etc. FTR, if you read my post more carefully, you’ll note a couple things. First, it’s not emotional. I don’t know where you’re getting this “heartstrings” thing. I assure you, I’m not a heartstrings guy. What I wrote was a hard and undeniable truth of life: you don’t make yourself better by seeking to hold others back simply because you don’t like that they have succeeded more than you have. Second, I spoke nothing to advantages and such. I neither touted nor denied them. And that’s because I just don’t think reality is that simple. Anybody who wants to go looking for inherent advantages or disadvantages, in order to complain about results, could find them. I think it’s an advantage that you guys have a B10 quarterback under center and the rest of us in the area don’t. That doesn’t mean it would ever even occur to me to try to screw with rules in some kind of perverse effort to “level the playing field.” GS also has an abundant supply of strong-as-oxes farm kids year after year. Trust me, it’s not the norm where I’m from — and it sure would be nice to have. But it’s no reason for me to try to throw bombs in your path, just because your program enjoys that benefit of being a rural school with many kids who have done physical labor since they could walk. No, I’m not talking about advantages and disadvantages. I’m talking about teaching a bad lesson to kids: that their destinies are largely the result of chance and a stacked deck that could (and should) be stacked differently to achieve parity in outcomes. The first fault with that is the belief that equality in outcomes is something that should even be sought. The second fault with that is that our economy simply isn’t built that way. Competition is hard and other guys are going to have advantages and disadvantages. The earlier kids can learn that reality, the better for everybody.

The general notion of changing rules to make life harder on more successful people or organizations in order for less successful people or organizations to enjoy the illusion of “success” is pernicious and indefensible. There is no right way or good way to do it. In this piece, the excuse is Covid. When SF was put in, the excuse was something else. Once Covid is gone, the excuse will be something else still. If somebody doesn’t like their results, rather than lobbying to have rules changed to get more favorable results, just work within the rules to do so. Rather than complaining about more successful competitors, see what you can learn from them to match their success. The lesson that these sorts of proposals teach our kids is an awful one: if they aren’t succeeding as much as somebody else, it’s because the deck is stacked in favor of the succeeders and the way to remedy that is to stack the deck in favor of the non-succeeders. This is not how real life works. In fact, it’s the antithesis of how real life works.

The only consensus is that MD, MHS, and Castle are the top 3. Not a lot of conviction from any of them which one will prevail.

You can just stop posting without deleting your account. To quote the immortal John “Bluto” Blutarsky: don’t cost nuthin.

I can’t remember which year it was, but it was during the McIntosh era. Both Reitz and MD were either undefeated or close to it. If the bowl could’ve accommodated 15,000 fans, they could have sold it out. Everybody in town was talking about it, and those who had tickets would let you know about it. Reitz would go on to win the 4A championship that year. Maybe the best team in SIAC history — certainly of the last 30 or 40 years.

They did not replace the lights. But they need to badly. Foot Candle levels are way below industry standards at almost every point of the playing field. Even Enlow is better lit.

It began as a retaining wall dug into the hill upon which Reitz High School sits. Shortly after it was created, somebody suggested it would be a good venue for a football stadium. The main grandstand is concrete that goes nearly halfway around the field. There is also a smaller visitor bleacher opposite. It seats about 10,000. Both Reitz and Mater Dei play their home games there. UE once played their home games there as well. It also played home to the “Refrigerator Bowl” postseason college football game. The river you see is the nearby Ohio. There are some great elevated views of the river from atop the Bowl.

I couldn’t agree more. There are nicer, newer, bigger, and fancier HS football stadiums in the state. But there isn’t another one quite like the Bowl. It is to Indiana HS football about what Fenway Park is to baseball. The Bowl started life as an architecturally necessary retaining wall.

Lol…if it’s any consolation, in British English Warwick and Warrick are homophones. If you ever go outside London and ask for a ticket to Warwick Castle, just pretend it’s the county in which Boonville and Newburgh are located and they won’t look at you funny.

I can’t edit or delete this post. So I’ll just respond to it by saying that the kid I was referring to was at practice today — which is why I didn’t want to mention any names.

That’s true. Kids go through a lot of life changes at that age. And that often leads to them making decisions to go a different direction.

Speaking of Memorial’s roster, I’ve heard that a senior who had significant playing time last year and was expected to get a lot this year is no longer with the team. I’m not mentioning his name until I can confirm it.

On a non-football related note, Memorial needs to do something to lift their enrollment. That’s pathetic - particularly considering the expanded availability of vouchers. This new president has his work cut out for him.

Total SIAC record, all teams: 47-53 Pretty sure that won’t happen. 😉

I’ve heard rumblings — and it’s a good source — to expect more COVID restrictions soon. They didn’t specifically say what the restrictions would be. In fact, I’d guess the people deciding that don’t even know at this point. But it would not surprise me if we’re not at 100% game attendance capacity again this season. Either that or they’ll require proof of vaccination. Pure speculation on that, but not on the likelihood of new restrictions.

It’s never been a good idea to overlook Jasper. You’re right…they’re one of those programs that just doesn’t seem to have much problem reloading year after year. For one thing, they always seem to have a pretty high percentage of their boys come out for football. Their roster usually seems big enough for a 5A school.

As much as Central and North are replacing, I'm glad we're playing them early on. I think Jasper had a fair bit of turnover, too.

He was scary good. Turned down offers from just about every elite program for hometown Purdue - where he started as a true freshman. You’d see film of him destroying doubleteams, spinning, swimming, etc. Easily the most dominant HS defender I’ve seen play in recent years. Granted, we ran away from him about every play. So it’s unfair for me to say that he didn’t affect the game. He actually did - effectively taking away half of the field. But, still, Austin did a magnificent job against him. But, as explosive as our offense was that year, it’s easy to forget that — up until that Finals — our starting defense had only surrendered something like 6 or 7 TDs all season.

I disagree with that - especially if we’d have been healthy. I think we win 7 or 8 out of 10. Austin Jones held Karlaftis in check. He was averaging something like 4 or 5 TFLs a game. And I don’t remember him affecting the game all that much, outside of his TD. All the talk was that Chatard was the class of 3A - and we curb-stomped them.

They’re off this week. This team has a good shot to win the SIAC and to make a good tourney run. But, no, they aren’t going to be better than the 2018 team — which, IMO, was up there with the McIntosh-era Panthers and Schiff/Mallory Wildcats as far as recent SIAC teams go. Still amazed they lost in the state finals. I have to think that a healthy Turnbaugh would’ve changed the outcome of that game. WL went deep twice on his backup for early TDs. And MHS still almost came back to win.

- While I'm optimistic about the Tigers, they are not going to be better than any of the 3 teams that went to the state finals recently. We do not have players of the caliber of Lindauer or either Combs brother. - Jury's out on QB. I know a lot of people are high on Caleb -- Josh Russell had some encouraging things to say about him on Igierski's preview the other day. But we'll just have to wait and see. - I agree that we'll run the ball more than we have in recent seasons and that Russell and Tyler could be a really good rushing duo. - I also agree about the D. D line and LBs should be solid. Hopefully Carac Johnson stays healthy. If he does, his name is going to be mentioned a lot. A little concerned about the defensive backfield.

North lost a lot. But Joey’s a great coach and I’ve heard they had some solid talent on the bench last year.

Ha! Well, if it’s any consolation, this Tiger fan thinks MD may well be the team to beat in the SIAC this year. I’m still officially thinking that there are 3 (or maybe 4) teams that have a legit shot. But, if I was forced to pick just one, MD might be it.

Probably so. My sources tell me that Fisher looks better as of now - but neither are ready at this point for varsity duty. But it wouldn’t surprise me if they kept Russell in the fold.

Especially with the threat of Ellspermann on a QB draw or some other keeper. He’s quick and elusive for a QB. And he showed that a couple times last year. That said, his backup might well be a freshman (assuming it’s not Russell). So they may make a concerted effort for him to take as few hits as possible.