RegionFBFan

As many have mentioned above, there a many different reasons for transfers and they will continue to happen. What I find appalling is the inconsistency of a school's approach to "releasing" a student and accepting a transfer. 

There is a school (will not name it) that will never "release" a current student thus giving them limited eligibility for that year but at the same time will accept all transfers with no limited eligibility. I find this to be hypocritical.

I've heard it stated that this is their policy to never release a student. Ok, I get it if this is your policy.  However, to not have that policy on the incoming side seems to show a lack of integrity. Am I looking at the wrong?

Transfers is a very interesting topic and I debate in my mind but I generally fall on the side of the student athlete. I don't like seeing kids lose a year from an already short time in high school. I especially don't like seeing a kid lose time because it is being driven by an overzealous parent which makes the kid powerless. 

46 minutes ago, temptation said:

They may be favored here but Crown Point is coming…

I'm not there yet with CP. Let's see how they do in the DAC vs other 6A and 5A squads. Are they better than last year...possibly. They have always had big kids but not elite level talent at skill positions. What I saw Friday night has not changed my opinion in that regard. CP will beat similar DAC opponents to them but vs more athletic teams like Merrillville and MC it will be a challenge. Time will tell.

18 minutes ago, temptation said:

f Crown Point beats Merrillville this year, they’ll never look back as that machine is just getting started.

Merrillville could go from “best in state” to “#2 in conference” really fast, lol.

That is not going to happen assuming Merrillville has all of their players available this week. After watching both teams the last two weeks, Merrillville is the superior team. They aren't nearly as big up front as CP but much much faster and athletic. CP defense is a major liability especially their secondary. CP offensive line play is very good, QB undersized but quick, and RB is big but not fast. I don't believe CP has an answer for Marshall but then again not many teams do.

CP only chance is Merrillville turns the ball over and CP has big advantage in time of possession. 

Merrillville by at least 2 td's.

Morton has been "raided" by Merrillville the last few years so apparently Morton thought it was ok to do the same!!

2 hours ago, scarab527 said:

This is the big key for the Niners. Their line struggled quite a bit last year as well until they shuffled some guys around, and the Rensselaer game was a big turning point when they didn't throw a single pass and put the entire game on the running game and the line. I fully expect the Niners to lose these next two weeks (CP really impressed me last week and Crete-Monee is a very good program that just played in IL's Final 4). However, they should be able to build some postseason momentum when the play EC and then start conference play. I didn't see the QB play but according to Skinner he and Ballentine were splitting 1st team reps over the summer so maybe there won't be too much of a drop-off. Was the freshmen you're talking about the Bolz (unsure of spelling) kid?  

Yes, it is Bolz. I don't know the extent of his injury and how long he will be on the shelf. 

I also agree that the offensive line was a problem last year. They really only began to play better last year once the playoffs began and faced 2A defenses. There are quite a few returning starters on this line and I was expecting an improved performance this year. I didn't see it last Friday. It's still early and they have a new o line coach. Let's see how they improve.

The back up now starting QB is an athlete and is capable from a physical skills standpoint. We shall see if he mentally can handle it. Andrean's offense puts alot on their QB to make the correct reads in both their passing game and RPO packages. We shall see on this as well.

No panic on Broadway but off to a challenging start to repeat as Conference and State title winners.

On 8/23/2022 at 7:11 AM, Bobref said:

Broken collarbone. I haven’t heard whether he needed surgery or not. If he did, he’s done. If not, there’s a chance he’d be back for the playoffs.

Andrean QB did break his collarbone (non throwing shoulder) and had surgery yesterday.  He is out for the entire season. Big loss for Andrean. This coupled with the transfer of Stephens to Merrillville 2 weeks before season opener and loss of high impact freshman (week before opener) due to back injury, Andrean has some work to do. Stephens was arguably Andrean's 2-3rd best player. Schedule doesn't get easier either, CP this week and Crete Monee (IL) next week.

Game vs Merrillville was 13-7 game to start 4th quarter. Defense played great but was on field for the entire game. They just wore down in the 4th. Marshall RB for Merrillville, a Colorado State commit, is a very special player. Andrean offense was horrendous. Lost QB toward end of 1st quarter but back up didn't play bad. Credit Merrillville defense, not big very fast and athletic. Andrean offensive line is a huge liability for this team. They were just simply put... bad.

CP this week, a different kind of test for Andrean. CP is huge up front on offense as they were last year. My opinion, big but slow. CP RB is big strong runner. Can Andrean defense hold up vs CP size? They did last year but an entire new front for Andrean this year. Offensively for Andrean, CP defense not nearly as athletic as Merrillville. Can Andrean offensive line show must needed improvement in one week? Can new QB play well? I think the QB has skill. Athlete with a strong arm and above average runner. The bottom line is you could have Aaron Rodgers back there and he wouldn't be able to do anything  if this oline does not improve. All in all, a tall task for Andrean this week.

DT - an overly generous ranking of the 59ers. Defense is going to be stout and strength of team. More than just Bowen on D. Offense starting a sophomore QB and only one returning starter on offensive line. Talent at RB and WR. Offense is going to need some time to gel. Tough schedule to start season @Merrillville, @Crown Point, and at Michigan power Grand Rapids Central Catholic. They could very well start season 0-3.

As I stated earlier, I love the addition of CP and Grand Rapids Central Catholic. I'm a firm believer in the better the competition the better you become as a player, staff and team.

The players and coaches are very excited about the addition of CP. With St. Mary's Parish in Crown Point being the #1 feeder to Andrean, a lot players know each other from youth sports and going to school together. I can see this game quickly surpassing Merrillville in terms of rivalry.

The addition of the 2 year home and home with Grand Rapids Central Catholic is really nice but I would have rather seen Andrean add an Indy Catholic School or even SB or Ft Wayne Catholic school. There are Chicago Catholic schools that would be good adds to schedule but I'd prefer leaving it within the great State of Indiana.

CP vs Andrean is a great addition to the Region football schedule. As DT pointed out, especially if the new school is built on the proposed site in CP. The new school is still not officially approved by the new Bishop. Work continues by Andrean leaders, but Bishop has not decided yet, very frustrating for many at Andrean.

With the addition of CP, the first three games next season are going to be tough for a young, rebuilding Andrean team. They open with Merrillville, then CP, then travel to Michigan power Grand Rapids Central Catholic. Baptism by fire for many new starters.

Offensively they have to replace 9 out of 11 starters, lose key players at WR, QB, RB and will start a sophomore QB behind a new offensive line. Offense will evolve and improve over the course of the season, but will be work in progress early. Defensively, this will be the strength of the team led by Bowen. Many starters and key players return. Good size and speed on defense.

In terms of NCC, Andrean will be right in the mix as usual. Lowell likely will be the favorite, Hobart loses a lot of skill players and leadership, as do Highland and KV. I'd say NCC is wide open.

State title run always one of their goals, but realistically this is a retooling year for them. Talent is there and they have been working hard in off season, but awfully young and inexperienced at Oline and QB.

Great topic by DT. It's been a great read following DT and Footballking16 and their respective opinions. Sorry DT, Footballing16 wins this debate.

He is an outstanding student as well with a 4.1 gpa. Extremely hard worker on and off the field. Parents are active, involved and push for excellence.

Offers just keep coming every week. Wisconsin this week.

32 minutes ago, temptation said:

Simply put:  Numbers matter...A LOT

Facts support the statement. 6 of the first 8 champions in 6A (almost 70%) are the three largest schools, Carmel, BD, and WC. Big time props to CG for their 2 titles against these mega schools.

The answer is not in expanding to another class (7A). Agree with DT's proposal, although 24 schools still seems like too many. Why not 16 in 6A, drop the remaining 16 into 5A and rebalance all classes?

Quote

If I was Nowlins I’d ban your ass and I’ll say it right to your face. Girls play too. STATE LAW!

Ole Donnie Boy you having a bad day or just part of the new Cancel Culture???

You completely misconstrued my post. If you read the original post in thread, it listed a lot of teams that were mostly Girls teams from various sports with Boys only coming from football. My question was even more specific to the original one as to what is the secret to the success to the Girls sports at Pioneer.

Coach Nowlin replied with some good posts as to why the success from Adam Berry.

You need to chill out and take you banning/cancel culture, overreaction elsewhere! Ridiculous!

Boys:  it has all been in football. Football - its called Kiser for 4 years (D1 talent at 1A level makes a big difference) and Llewelyn brothers for 3 years, 1A for most of that and very good coaching.

Girls: Real question is girls sports? They have been good across multiple sports.

Buzea hire is the closest thing to a "brand name" hire. Good coach with some health concerns. I'm not anointing CP as an instant contender in DAC. It's still Merrillville, Valpo and MC ahead of CP. What's the old quote; "It's not about the X's and O's, but the Jimmy's and Joe's." CP does not have the Jimmies and Joe's and they haven't had them in years.  They have size not necessarily strength but lack any real skill position athletes. From what I hear, Buzea needs to take over the CP Bulldog and Middle school programs, change i.e. mandate off season weight lifting and find a way to eliminate the "internal booster club/parents" influence on program.

I believe all of these can be done over time just not resulting in immediate results.

Yes, I think they would be very supportive. My question is do they let HC run it or do they meddle/interfere?

An intersting difference between LC and CP and the comment about CP being buttoned up. CP is one community with the high school in the core of it's growth plans. They clearly have an image that they want to project to the community (not a bad thing). LC is different in that it is actually 3 different towns with three different community leaders, cultures, plans and priorities. I'm sure LC is in each towns focus area but at varying degrees for each of them. I'm sure this presents a bit of a challenge.

DT's description of each community is pretty accurate.  Dyer does have parts of Briar Ridge which is wealthy. Suffice it to say that LC is much more diverse socioeconomically than CP. CP and St. John are more similar than Dyer and Schererville.

Mason and LC a much better fit than CP and Mason. I still agree with Scarab that it is highly unlikely Mason leaves MC. I'm not sure about the upcoming talent but assume those comments are accurate. I do know that Mason loves being in charge of his program with a lot of degrees of freedom at MC. I'm not sure he would get that at CP or LC.

Bobref posed it has a hypothetical question from Mason's perspective. I would tend to agree that I don't see Mason leaving MC either but you never know about Mason. Did he move back to Lake County recently? Also, he has shown interest in LC job in the past. I don't see CP pursuing Mason but could be wrong also.

Good school, plays in a high exposure league. Easy drive from Tri Town.

Good question on Mason wanting to take on a project at this stage of career, possibly not. LC cultural change needed but does administration want it and support it? 

Maybe wrong word used regarding cultural fit at CP, I don't see CP administration and Mason fitting stylistically or philosophically period. I would be shocked on CP move but not LC. Not a knock on either Mason or CP, just not a good fit.

Hammond Central will remain "the hoops school" and Morton "the football school" in Hammond.

I agree with Boilernation, it would be LC. He lived in the LC community for years. He's always has had some level of interest in LC. It will be a project though but with a lot of upside. Also, culturally I don't see CP and Mason as a "fit" from both sides perspective.

There are a lot of similarities between the two schools.

- Rapid population growth

- Nice,up to date facilities

- LC and CP lose kids to Parochial schools (Andrean, Mount Carmel, Marian Catholic). I think LC loses more though.(not data driven statement)

- Girls sports very successful, Boys baseball and soccer very good, Boys hoops competitive but not great

- Administrative support and desire to be successful is about the same with a lean towards CP wanting it a bit more.

- Football participation (9-12) about the same

- LC has 3 middle schools and CP has 2

- Good youth programs (Tri Town Raiders - LC, CP Bulldog Football - CP)

I think the pieces are in place at both schools. I'd have to give the edge to CP since they have been more competitive the last 5 years. Having said that, I think LC from a potential perspective is higher. The overall talent at LC in regards to size, speed, and athleticism is better than CP. The problem with LC is many of these kids aren't participating.  If they could get a coach to motivate them to come out and play, LC could and should be a force in NWI.

In watching both of these schools over the last 5 years, my opinion of CP is that their kids play hard and the defense is usually very good. In my opinion, the offensive is where the opportunity exists for new coach. They are not lacking in size but the skill players don't really stand out to me. I don't know if this is a scheme problem, coaching problem or they just don't have high end skill guys. Likely a combination of all three.

PhilLee and Bobref proposals are similar and both make a lot of sense. A big difference is the number of teams in 6A and 5A. I would like to see 16 6A teams and then divvy up the remaining teams into the 5 classes. The enrollment disparity in 6A from the top schools (Carmel and Ben Davis) and the bottom 16 of the current 32 in 6A is massive and needs to be addressed.

I think Andrean has to win State to get bumped to 3A. Two points from last year (Regional) plus 4 points State title totaling 6 points.