MHSTigerFan

Well, I said I didn’t see anything wrong with it. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. And the only reason anybody thought it was broke was because (in particular) Cathedral, Chatard, Roncalli, Luers and Dwenger had “too much” success. So I’m guessing this whole Multiplier 2.0 discussion is coming around because the SF hasn’t done enough to quash their success. There are all kinds of variables the IHSAA could, I guess, consider to hold back programs they don’t want winning. But I would question why they would want to do that in the first place. You want to beat Cathedral or Chatard? Hit the weight room. Hit the film room. Put more effort and focus on your feeder program. Institute better discipline. But don’t gripe about them having advantages you don’t and can’t have and thus try to justify establishing rules which are obviously designed to make life harder on them just because they’ve been more successful than you have been. That’s, among other things, a horrible life lesson for the kids we’re raising.

I’m saying that the powers that be shouldn’t be monkeying with the rules in order to bring about certain preferred outcomes — that is, in favor of those which apparently aren’t preferred. I mean, what if they made these classifications based on money? Each school turns in budgets and they classified teams based on that? Is that more or less fair than the current structure? Why or why not? You want to start comparing budgets, facilities, and coaching staff salaries? The fatal flaw of the SF arrangement is that each particular class plays for 4 years. Then they move on and are replaced by different kids. So, if a school happens to have a couple studs in a class or two — say, a QB who accepted a B10 scholarship offer prior to his junior year — and those classes goes on to win a lot as expected, why does it make any sense to ostensibly make things harder on those who come after? The answer, of course, is that it doesn’t. The kids put on the steeper road had nothing to do with the “success” and, just because a school happened to produce a Charlie Spegal, a Jack Kiser, a George Karlaftis, or a Brady Allen doesn’t mean the kids who were in 8th or 9th grade when those guys were doing their thing should have weights put around their ankles. So, yeah, I don’t see anything particularly wrong with the class system we used to have. I’m not saying it’s the alpha and omega for how to approach it. But to make policies that are explicitly designed to combat certain (non-preferred) outcomes, and thus help to bring about different (preferred) ones? It’s nothing short of athletic welfare - made, I’d guess, at the behest of those who are usually on the wrong side of those outcomes....whining and moping about all their supposed disadvantages. Good grief, the Ev. Central team that lost in 4 OTs in the 4A state finals a couple years ago had 3 literally homeless kids starting — starring even — on that team. Talk about disadvantages. It didn’t hold them back. And they never once whined about it...nobody even knew about it until Gregg Doyel wrote a great piece about these kids and the battles they fought off the field. Life - and sports - is about overcoming your obstacles. Not trying to hack the rules to make things tougher on others who don’t have them.

Just an idea to keep things as fair as possible. I’m sure if they wanted to try this, they could find schools willing to accommodate it. Money makes the world go round, after all. But, either way, I’m very much in favor of neutral site semi-states.

I agree on neutral sites for SS. Seems like they could either just settle on what those sites are in advance or roughly split the difference between the teams playing once that’s determined. Is there a downside to this? A long trip like that is absolutely a disadvantage for whichever team has to make it.

Heh...didn’t have HB in mind when I wrote that. But I should have. Introducing our new IHSAA Handicapper General: Diana Moon Glampers.

I don’t this game will be very close. That said, Castle’s pretty young and they’ve improved a lot over the course of the year. Impressive game by Tilly last night.

Well, I’d sooner support that than I would all this athletic welfare nonsense. I always liked single-class sports - basketball, in particular. I miss that tournament. And it was awesome when a small school beat a big school. But the general notion here is: if you can’t beat ‘em, rig the rules against ‘em.

Some other ideas. - PP teams play with 10 players and lose one more with every state title they win. - PP teams must have at least one biologically female student on the offensive line - Make PP receivers wear jerseys made of varying amounts of lead...the more they win, the more weight...ya know, like they do horses - PP teams have at least one starter be an alum from the previous decade. Each regional win, go one decade farther back. Shoot that gap, pops! Whaddaya mean your knees hurt?!? - PP teams, no buses. Pack lightly and get walking early. You know, being from the southwestern part of the state, we could probably make the case that Indy area teams have certain advantages. Media exposure, money, etc. I would imagine rural area teams might say the same about an opposing team from any larger city or town. But it would never occur to me to suggest monkeying with the rules to try to counter these supposed advantages. You know what makes a “level playing field” for two teams taking the gridiron? The rules of football do. Go play the game and do your level best within those rules. And, for God’s sake, don’t try to change the rules to give yourself an advantage if you aren’t successful in doing that.

Offensively, Central is not real big up front. But they’re effective enough in run blocking to do what they need to create space for their backs. The problem for defenses is how they can kill you both up the gut and around the ends. They often put Evans in motion and use a lot of misdirection.

Maybe. I’ve said this before, but Mooresville was awfully good last year. Easily the best team we played all year. Elite up front, very well-coached and disciplined. And it certainly looks like they’re back in the mix this season. For a team to beat Ev. Central, they’re (obviously) going to have to find a way to contain that 3-headed monster of a ground game. Madison is a beast of a power back. He just can’t be tackled the way a HS back is typically tackled. He’s not only huge, he’s pretty nimble for his size and he has great leg drive. If he’s able to get even a tiny head of steam, he’s going to gain some positive yardage. And the more steam he gets, the harder he is to get down. And, of course, he’s complemented by the elusive and lightning quick Evans and the combo threat of Boberg. Choose your poison, defenses. Offensively, Central’s Achilles heel is their passing game. If that was even just a bit better, they’d be almost impossible to stop on that side of the ball.

What a great football game that was! Both teams fought hard from the opening kickoff to the final horn. Both teams also played pretty well, I thought. Not too many penalties, solid execution. And nobody left anything out there on the field. Loved the sportsmanship from some of the Central players at the end. Best of luck to the Bears the rest of the way!

Central is a much, much better team with Madison healthy and playing. I don’t want to take anything away from Boberg - who will and should be high in the running for POY in the SIAC. But Madison just brings the Bears to an even higher level on both sides of the ball. The Jasper team they just thumped was no slouch. And look at the difference in scores with Madison playing vs sitting. Assuming Central wins the sectional - which they should - the regional is shaping up to be an epic game.

I don’t have a very well-informed opinion. I haven’t seen either team play this year. But if Mooresville is anywhere near as good as they were last year, I’m going with them - both in this game and in the regional. Last year, Mooresville seemed solid at pretty much every position. Very stingy defense. Guys seemed to be properly positioned more often than not. Executed well offensively as well. O-line was not only massive, but had very good athleticism and footwork. I have no idea how much they lost from that team. And I can’t express any thoughts on EC, though they’re obviously really good too. But it was easy to tell both how talented and well-coached Mooresville was.

We were lucky to beat Mooresville last year with a much better team. They outplayed us - other than the Pick 6 and the kickoff return fumble. Tough team. Huge up front. Them and EC will be a heckuva matchup.

Yeah, me too. But it wasn’t pretty for either team. Lots of bad penalties and huge loss plays. Seemed like both teams had a bunch of 3rd and 30s. But you have to figure out a way to win and congrats to Hurley for doing it without his senior QB. What happened on Castle’s last play? It was a complete pass...but I guess he never got it across? BTW, what the hell has happened to North? I mean, congrats to Sean Coultis and Central on the shutout and the 9-0 record. I don’t want to take anything away from the Bears. But the Huskies have had an epic collapse the 2nd half of the season. They looked fantastic early on.

I’m going: Castle - tough to win against a quality opponent in HS with a sophomore backup QB Bosse - having seen them both, Bosse is the better winless team. MD - Goebel has his young team playing very well. Reitz looked really out of sync against MHS last week. Jasper - been playing the conference’s best very well. Central - early in the season, I thought North was the class of the SIAC. But they’ve stumbled pretty badly of late and Coultis has the Bears playing at a high level.

I agree - they were. Very tough last year.

I think several teams have a realistic chance at this sectional. But I don’t think any of them have much of a chance against EC - who has to be a heavy favorite in S23.

Tory is a senior, still playing and doing pretty well this season. Pretty sure he’s leading Central in rushing. Tre’jon and Tor’jon are both gone. Tor’jon was dismissed from the Bears during the season last year.

If Hurley can find a QB, I like my Tigers’ chances to be competing for that title. Between DL and OL, I think we have 5 sophomores starting or getting significant reps. And they’ve been holding their own, even in the 3 games we’ve lost. Several other sophs in skill positions playing too. Leo Collins has emerged as a weapon at receiver. And I think he’s already about 6’3”. Probably the best player in the class (DC Ben Johnson’s son Carac) is out for the season with a PCL. Hopefully he’ll be fully recovered next season. I’m keeping an eye on Matthew Fisher, the 8th grade QB this year. He’s old enough to be a freshman now. He’s already about 6’1” or so. Strong arm, terrific athlete. I’m guessing the plan is to move Russell to QB next year. But I wouldn’t totally discount the possibility of Fisher starting as a freshman.

I agree. If they get to .500 being light on seniors and heavy on sophomores, that would be pretty impressive....depending how the rest of the conference looks, of course. That said, I think Brunson is an excellent coach and if anybody could do it, it’s him. But, given how weak Reitz looked the other night, if their freshmen are that good, why aren’t some of them playing now? At least get them some V level experience. Or maybe they are and I didn’t know.

There was a skirmish on the field. Harrison player threw a punch at a Memorial player while they were tangled up on the ground. Flag was thrown. After the Harrison player got up, a different Memorial player intervened and shoved him. Another flag was thrown. Harrison player was ejected, Memorial player was not. Andre Thomas — who is both AD and PA voice for Harrison — took exception to this and started in on the officials over the PA.

No discussion about Harrison AD Andre Thomas jawboning the officials over the PA at the Memorial@Harrison game? Never seen that one before. He even invited them to come up to the booth and say it to his face. Shortly after, there was nobody on the mic at Romain Stadium for the rest of the game.

Man, Nick Hart doesn’t mess around. I love that about him. Win or lose, competition like that will do wonders for the Titans in the tournament.

As much as I wish it weren’t the case for my beloved Tigers, it is the case. I think we’ll do well to be above .500 this year. I think we have some good young talent in grades 9 and 10. But...well, they’re in grades 9 and 10. The senior class is small and one of the weaker classes in recent times. I don’t know who all Mooresville has back, but they were pretty dang good. So my early money is on them.