NLCTigerFan07

On 11/24/2021 at 10:16 AM, NLCTigerFan07 said:

Alright - I'm in for these three. @CLKeller16 and @MDAlum82 - for every North champion, you will donate $5. For every South champion, I will donate $10 (one "bet" for the each of you.

@Azi - I accept your caveat! For every 1A-4A and 6A North champion or Cathedral victory, you will donate $5. For every 1A-4A and 6A South champion or Zionsville victory, I will donate $5.

 

Thanks boys! Easy way to raise at least another $90 for the GID!

So with the winners of Lutheran, Andrean, Gibson Southern, Mt Vernon, Cathedral and Center Grove - @CLKeller16 and @MDAlum82 - that is $50 for me to donate to the GID, and $5 each for you thanks to Andrean.

@Azi - with our modified "bet", I have $20 to donate to the GID, and you have $10 to donate.

To donate - just click on the 2021-2022 - Budget box at the top of every page. Once you click on that, a box will pop up with how much you want to donate.  Input your amount, then click "Donate". The next page will show you the options of paying by PayPal, Venmo, or check. Depending on what option you select - you will see each of those user names/addresses to send to. I just sent my $70 in via Venmo on top of my original $30 donation earlier in the year. Thanks for "playing"!

5 minutes ago, NRRaider2001 said:

All I know is the fans will be decked out in green and gold while Mt Vernon fans will be wearing black. 

I didn't even think about that as well. Mt Vernon's colors are black and gold, even more reason I wish the Raiders were wearing GREEN jerseys. But again, who cares lol

On 11/22/2021 at 7:46 PM, NRRaider2001 said:

Now the question is, all green, or all black?

I just had this thought earlier today. I REALLY wish the Raiders would come out in Green uniforms. While I like their black uniforms they wear nowadays, Northridge has always been Green and Yellow to me. Representing the high school at the state championship with black uniforms would just feel strange to me if I am being honest. But who cares, it won't have any affect on the game! Whatever the boys want to wear!

13 hours ago, Azi said:

I'll take you up on that.  Not to bet, per se, but to chip into the forum, come what may.  My only caveat: I'll take Zionsville in 5A.  😉  Plz lmk if we have an accord?  🤝

13 hours ago, CLKeller16 said:

I'll take you up on that one.

17 minutes ago, MDAlum82 said:

I'm in...great way to support the GID and TA's legacy.  I'm certain he will be in attendance with the best seats in the house! 😇

Alright - I'm in for these three. @CLKeller16 and @MDAlum82 - for every North champion, you will donate $5. For every South champion, I will donate $10 (one "bet" for the each of you.

@Azi - I accept your caveat! For every 1A-4A and 6A North champion or Cathedral victory, you will donate $5. For every 1A-4A and 6A South champion or Zionsville victory, I will donate $5.

Thanks boys! Easy way to raise at least another $90 for the GID!

Friendly reminders for those that have not yet - you can still donate to the GID this year! Even though we hit the goal of $3,300 - every dollar counts! It is a constant, revolving cost year in and year out. A surplus is ALWAYS good.

To make things interesting, if anyone is willing to take me up on a friendly wager for a donation, I'll take the 6 North teams this weekend and you can take the 6 South teams this weekend. For each South team that wins, I'll donate $5. For every North team that wins, you donate $5. If the South or the North teams SWEEP, lets add another $5.

Any takers?

1 hour ago, Irishman said:

Skipping JV or freshman seasons is a HUGE challenge for programs to overcome, especially for freshmen. They spend a season being scout team players and take a beating for that, and when/if a JV game or even a C game, playing time is limited for them. I understand the necessity for doing it, but in classes 4A and above, it can really set a program back. 

For sure. I do not disagree with this at all. My point was more if Coach Park has been struggling to build numbers at the lower levels with all his ties and connections and history at Goshen... good luck to the next guy. Of course, this is only the view as an outsider. For all I know (but highly doubt) the coaching staff was not doing the necessary things to build the ranks. Either way, huge challenge for whoever undertakes this position.

Really interesting. The last two years in the NLC thread, I've proposed the question if Coach Park was on the hot seat at all. I figured after going 4-6 this year, it at least cooled off some. Granted, the four teams they beat (Fairfield, SB Clay, Plymouth, Wawasee) had a combined record of 5-34 and Fairfield accounted for 4 of those wins..

I will be interested to see how this plays out. I think there was concern that levels of participation are basically at all time lows within the program. I'm almost positive they had no freshman or JV team this year as a 5A school. Demographics have changed quite a bit the last two decades in Goshen and Elkhart County, and if Coach Park (with all his ties to Goshen) was not able to build a foundation/pipeline for the football program... I'll be surprised who they can get to come in and do otherwise.

18 minutes ago, Bobref said:

As it turns out, St. X faded and let Moeller move into the #1 seed, and Moeller survived the Regional. Final Four in Ohio Div. VII: Lakewood St. Edward, Upper Arlington, Springfield, and Archbishop Moeller. Cal preps has projected the Eagles as at least 2 TDs better than any of the other 3. But it would be nice to get a crack at Moeller in the championship game, since their OT victory over St. Ed’s is the only blemish on the Eagles’ record. Revenge is a dish best served cold. And it will be very cold in Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton on Dec. 4.

I know you know this... but Div. I

College roommate went to Upper Arlington, so I'll be pulling for the Golden Bears this week against your Eagles this Friday night! Depending on where the game is, I just might go.

Good luck to the NLC Northridge Raiders! What an unbelievable turnaround in the postseason. Rolled through inferior opposition the first 4 weeks of the season only to go 1-4 the rest of the regular season, with those 4 losses by 33, 34, 33 and 44 points. Absolutely incredible job all around from the coaching staff to the players. I gave the Raiders ZERO chance against Leo two weeks ago, and they proved me wrong then. If they were able to stop the Lions, I think that proves they at least have a shot to hang around with the Cougars tonight.

11 minutes ago, FastpacedO said:

I am trying to think of some others that were similar to Cutler on both sides of the ball. 

First one that pops to mind that I personally watched is James Banks (Ben Davis). Was a dangerous QB (passing and running) also was a ballhawk safety. What about possibly Jack Kiser?

I have always said Chris Kramer of Purdue basketball lore was one of the best football athletes I ever saw when he played at Huntington North. Our sectional game against him his junior year, he never left the field. Stud QB, stud safety, stud kick/punt returner. He did it all. He's a guy that I think always gets lost in this conversation because of his location and the fact that they never had an amazing record, but if you saw him play, you knew he was just as good on the gridiron as he was on the hardwood.

On 11/13/2021 at 10:46 AM, Heyblue24 said:

Good grief, look at the field conditions at New Prairie.  

Picture is from Lowell's field.

13 hours ago, psaboy said:

If I'm reading it correctly, reclassification will happen this spring for the 2022/2023 & 2023/2024 seasons. 

That is correct, for enrollment purposes. However, I think there has been some confusion on how Success Factor points will play into things since teams were moved up/down this year based on Success Factor points, even though enrollment changes did not happen. So now the question is... who moves based on that? And what is being calculated? The last three years post season totals? I do not think I have seen anything definitively state that.

41 minutes ago, Ballhawk said:

Very impressive!  One of the nicest facilities I've seen.  Well laid out.  Interesting seating layout on the home side.

36 minutes ago, Yuccaguy said:

I believe that is to accommodate any fans that have disabilities, as well an opportunity to have fans safely leave, should anything occur.  

Carroll (NACS) did a wonderful job with the design and layout of their FB Stadium.  

They actually have their student section there as well. They are at a lower level and the tilt of the bleachers is at a lower angle so they can stand and then not block the view of those sitting in the "upper" section. Genius actually.

1 hour ago, BTF said:

It makes me wonder what Homestead's new stadium will be like. They won't want Carroll to have the best stadium in Allen County. 

10 minutes ago, Yuccaguy said:

As a taxpaying citizen of SACS, I am curious as to what the heck you are talking about?  

I haven't heard anything regarding an upgrade of Dave Walters Stadium in the near future.....

I know they are buliding a new high school, but did not think a new football stadium was part of that construction plan at this time. Could be wrong.

7 hours ago, southend said:

Not knowing much about them , Norwell seems to have upped their program these last few years. They don’t appear to be world beaters but a team that the school and fans can get excited about. For a long time they had almost no program at all. Hope they show against Brebeuf.

Not sure what you mean by this comment? Norwell has had a number of ups and downs in their football history and overall as a school they have a winning record of 300-281-1, with 6 double digit win seasons since 1980. They have 8 sectional championships to their name along with 2 state runner-ups (1999 and 2006).

Sure they had a bad stretch between 2010 and 2018, but even in 2012 when they went 0-9 in the regular season they won their first 2 games of sectional play before falling 14-7 against FW Dwenger.

Norwell has always been a strong program, especially being one of the smaller teams in the Northeast Hoosier/Northeast 8 conference.

http://www.almanacsports.com/football/team.php?team=NORW

Two schools with arguably the best facilities in the state. I was unbelievably impressed with the new digs at Carroll last week! Easily one of the nicest football stadiums in the state and it's not close. Very few can compete with it. Fans that make the trip from Westfield will be pleased.

The Warsaw game wasn't AS bad as it seemed... well kinda... shoulda/woulda/coulda game here, but if Warsaw scores on their drive before halftime and gets to the locker room down 22-7, then scores on their opening drive of the second half, the game easily could have been 22-14 with about 3 minutes left in the 3rd Quarter.

Instead, Carroll stopped Warsaw at the 20 yard line with less than a minute in the half, and Becker took a QB draw 65 yards for a TD with only seconds to spare before halftime. That gave Carroll a 29-0 lead at halftime, and then the Tigers made their way inside the 20 yard line again on their first drive of the second half before the Chargers stopped them again.

IMO - the long drive up to Fort Wayne for Westfield could play a little into things. If Carroll can start hot, they can certainly be competitive in this ball game.

Awesome job Raiders! Unbelievably impressed! Way to represent the NLC tonight. Unfortunately the Tigers just laid an egg after giving up a TD on the opening kickoff. I’m not making excuses for Warsaw, and Carroll was without a doubt the better team, but I really think the three week layoff killed them. That’s a long time between games.

Will be rooting for Northridge next week! Will try to listen in or find a way to watch.

Raiders proving me wrong through first half! Will be checking for updates while at the Warsaw game… Tiger have unfortunately had penalties, turnovers, and all sorts of miscues. The three week layoff did them no favors.

17 hours ago, Raiderman 2016 said:

Anyone on here giving Northridge a chance at all to beat Leo or will it be ugly? 

No chance in my opinion. Could be close for a half at best.

2 hours ago, NRRaider2001 said:

Gonna be that guy today and predict an NLC sweep tonight.  Call me a homer, maybe, but I've been called worse.

Warsaw by 4

Mishawaka by 18

Northridge by 3

Good vibes only!!! ... but now I'll be the Debbie Downer

Carroll by 17

Leo by 21

Mishawaka by 2

3 hours ago, NRRaider2001 said:

Also as a side note, I was disappointed to learn that Ink Free News will no longer be having a sports section, they were a big source of my Warsaw news for all sports. 

Wow I had not heard or seen that! I have not visited the site since the Concord game. I believe the Times-Union online free to access.

Great article! Thanks for sharing @NRRaider2001

4 hours ago, crimsonace1 said:

That's great. The logistics of hosting a football game are significantly greater than any other sport, due to the number of people, medical staff that have to be on hand, et al. 

At most schools, administrators *must* be on hand to oversee it. Not only that, but you need an army of ticket takers, press box personnel, chain gang, security, et al. Basketball and other sports require a little bit smaller commitment because it's in an indoor facility or (in the case of soccer/baseball), have smaller crowds.

That's a lot to ask of a school, especially if they a) have no chance of ever having a team in that game, and b) there is a possibility your school might be playing elsewhere that same night. 

Schools sign up to host basketball, et al, because they are guaranteed a home-court advantage if they play. They won't be granted the same in a totally neutral football world. 

Yet somehow Ohio has made it work for decades... if the OHSAA can figure it out, surely the IHSAA can.

4 hours ago, crimsonace1 said:

And from the IHSAA's perspective, going fully neutral means a likely smaller crowd because it's effectively a road game for both teams. 

Again - would be interesting to see any sort of data from Ohio on this. Following the first round of playoffs, everything is neutral site. Surely the OHSAA wouldn't leave money on the table with smaller crowds at neutral site games all these years, would they?

Going to be a tall task this week for our remaining NLC teams.

*The Raiders have had a nice run, but I think Leo ends up being the 4A North representative in Indy Thanksgiving weekend.

*Mishawaka has the benefit of playing at home against a rolling Michigan City squad. Hopefully the Cavemen can watch the Warsaw game film from earlier in the season and see what NOT to do against the Wolves.

*Warsaw will play for the first time in 21 days on Friday night. I'm sure Carroll has revenge on their mind after losing to the Tigers last year. I am not overly confident with the Warsaw pass defense, and Becker is a STUD.

Not being negative, just a realist, but the NLC season could come to a close this weekend. I think Mishawaka has the best chance to capture a sectional title, while both Northridge and Warsaw will need near perfect games to pull out victories.

5 minutes ago, jakone said:

They used play regional and semi state games at the memorial coliseum which now holds 13,000 for basketball.

Okay? And they still very well could. But I do not see your point in saying "If they do it like basketball that means no regional or semi state games in Indianapolis or Fort Wayne."

13 minutes ago, jakone said:

If they do it like basketball that means no regional or semi state games in Indianapolis or Fort Wayne.

Says who? They could definitely host both of those for FOOTBALL.

I think for Fort Wayne specifically, they do not get to host too many basketball regionals or semi-state games because none of their basketball gyms are large enough. I think Northrop's gym is the largest capacity at 3,500, with Northside and Wayne and right behind at 3,300 and 3,200 respectively. New Haven's gym is 3,300 as well.

Compared to the 16 Regional sites last year, only Northrop would be larger than 2 of the locations (Triton 3,470 and Lapel 3,051) while the other 3 I mentioned would only be bigger than Lapel.

All the schools' gyms are less than half the size of the smallest Semi-State site last year (Washington at 7,090).

But with Football, there are plenty of nice stadiums in Fort Wayne, with turf, that could host neutral site Regional and/or Semi-State games.