NLCTigerFan07

Over time, I could really see them developing football rilvaries with Concord, Plymouth and NorthWood. Obviously as long as Bart is at Warsaw there will be some pull there as well. With Concord you have a team that's about 10 miles or so away that will also more likely than not be in your sectional every year. Opportunities for multiple matchups a season. With Plymouth and NorthWood, you have two programs (along with Concord) that have been the class of the conference for most of the last two decades. As well, two programs that are always known to play physical football with small communities that really support their football team (as well as all athletics). I could see those three schools really becoming "rivalries" for Cavemen over the next decade or so. For what it's worth, Plymouth is about a 30 minute drive from Warsaw, and I have always hated them 😉 😁

Unfortunately, there were not many Cavemen posters in the NLC thread this year, so I am not sure who is even around to give you some answers to your questions. From my point of view, I would guess Mishawaka was mostly satisfied with the move, but I think it is hard to judge/answer your questions after 1 season, especially this season of COVID. Maybe revisit after the 2022 season and see where things stand.

Interesting. So I am assuming this would be for all classes as well, correct? For example, if a school had just won back to back sectional titles in class 3A, but their enrollment for the upcoming cylce puts them in class 2A, they would not stay in class 3A due to accumulation of 2 points in previous cycle?

Here's a question that came to mind reading this thread... IF Merrillville ends up falling down to 5A due to enrollment, would their tournament success the last 2 years (2 Regional Championships and thus 4 accumulated points) keep them in 6A? I am almost 100% that is what happened with Fort Wayne Snider going into the last realignment. They were going to get bumped back to 5A because they had only won 2 sectionals in 6A and thus 2 points, then the IHSAA changed the rule to having 2 points be enough to keep you up so they did. Granted, that was more of a success factor thing than enrollment thing, but I feel like since the Pirates have clearly proven they can at least win Regional Championships within 6A... they should stay up in 6A. It makes no sense to me that a back-to-back Regional Champion would be sent down a class due to enrollment. @Coach Nowlin any insight?

@DT @DACNUT Just out of curiousity, I was looking at all time NIC membership. Crazy to look at! There have been 35 different schools that at one time or another were in the conference. At various times during from the 1940s through the 1960s, there were as many as 20 schools in the conference at one time that spanned from Whiting to Fort Wayne North! If they could figure out the distance thing back then, no reason to think the DAC could make it work adding Penn and Elkhart.

@DT

Warsaw - The NLC is in decline and Warsaw does not see anywhere near the level of competiion it needs to prepare for 6A post season success. Their best hope would be to drop into 5A Ive advocated membership in The SAC for Warsaw in the past. Still think this would do them some good competitively to see Homestead, Carroll, Snider and Dwenger every year. @DT - this could be very close to occuring. Looking at possible enrollment figures for the next cycle, Warsaw is firmly in the mix of 10 schools between 2,000 and 2,100 students. Heck, only 15 students differentiate them from being the largest school in 5A. Will be interesting to see the official numbers that get posted next month.

I think this was the website I was talking about some time ago! This is an updated an cleaner version though. Thanks!

Years ago I found an article that listed hundreds of strange/weird high school mascots throughout the country. I wish I could find that article. When I Google for it now, I only find newer articles that pick 1 from each state, or only a Top 25ish type list. This article/website was an old one, and really cool. I remember in Arizona the Yuma Criminals. Per Wikipedia - "Yuma High's mascot came when the original school building was destroyed by fire in 1910. The school then used the Yuma Territorial Prison, which had been closed, for the next three years. Classes were held in the cell blocks, and assemblies took place in the prison hospital." Here's an article with some other strange ones: https://www.al.com/opinion/2015/07/21_of_the_strangest_high_schoo.html

From the NLC, I have always appreciated the use of Concord Minutemen (fitting use from the Revolutionary War) Plymouth Pilgrims/Rockies (can't have a soft nickname like Pilgrims on the football field or wrestling mat) At least with Wawasee (can't speak to the others) the Warriors mascot makes sense. When Wawasee High School was founded in 1968, it was named after Chief Wawasee of the Miami tribe.

Agree with @Purdue Pete here. I'd say the SAC is in the "Treading Water" category. It's hard to have a lot of postseason success come from the class 6A and 5A schools when they are all lumped together in Sectional 3 and Sectional 11. That eliminates at least 4 SAC teams from any sort of sectional title every year. As well, when 3 of the best teams (Homestead, Carroll and Snider) are among that group, you're going to unfortunately see some good teams fall early. While Dwenger and Homestead both losing in Regionals is tough, they also both had to make 2 hour bus rides in doing so. Not sure being at home would have helped the Spartans out that much, but it definitely played a factor in it. As well, while they did not win, Luers proved it is still a force to be reckoned with in 2A no matter how they fair in SAC play, and Concordia just had a hell of a tournament run in 3A against teams with a combined record of 28-7. Throw in the fact that bottom dwellers South Side and Wayne both won sectional games against non-SAC oppenents, I would say the SAC is far from trending down. Out of the 5 sectionals in which SAC teams compete in, a SAC member won the sectional title in 4 of them! With the NLC, I agree it was a bit of a down year across the board. Plymouth, Concord, and NorthWood (3 teams that have either won or shared the conference title in 15 of the last 16 years prior to this season) combined for 14 losses and a combined winning percentage of .417 😲 Heck, only 3 teams had winning seasons this year. Take out NLC newbie Mishawaka and there would have been ZERO NLC sectional champs. Granted, they only have the potential for 4 at most, but I agree it was a weak showing from the NLC this year.

Unfortunately my Tigers could not pull out the victory last week in the Sectional Championship game, but I just Venmo'd my $60 donation.

From afar, I kind of chuckle at the fact that this year in which both Lawrence North and North Central made some noise, we still get the Big 4 of Ben Davis, Carmel, Center Grove, and Warren Central. Amazing that these programs year in and year out show why they have always been the class of the MIC

Yes I agree. Honestly this is against ANY opponent on ANY given week. If the offense shoots itself in the foot too often, they will lose the game. If they execute near perfection? I truly believe they could beat anyone. It is a lot to ask for perfection week in and week out, but if it happens, the style of offense can beat anyone. What would help is to have a hell of a defense as well. This year was not the case for the Tigers. The front 7 was especially weak this year.

I absolutely do. When all you need is 3 1/2 yards every play... I don't care who you are, it's tough to beat. As well, with Bart Ball, time of possession is the ultimate equalizer IMO. The other team can't score if you have the ball. And if the other team only has 4-5 opportunities to score each game, that will keep every game close and thus winnable. I can't image Warsaw ever scheduling a team from the MIC or HCC due to travel. The Huntington North game was added at a time when they were 5A and I know a desire to move away from beating up on Columbia City almost every year (taking nothing away from the CC program here). Granted, not entirely sure HN is really an upgrade, but an area 5A team that has potential IMO. However, I know there are rumors/rumblings of potentially adding another DAC team to the schedule or newly 6A powerhouse Elkhart as well. I think if the Tigers can somehow add Crown Point/Chesterton/Merrillville/Valparaiso or Elkhart to the schedule in addition to keeping Michigan City, those would all be improvements to the schedule. However, devils advocate here, it is nice to play a school like Columbia City or Huntington North week 1 in the season for new players to get used to the system and whatnot. As difficult as it is for teams to prepare for Bart Ball, I believe it takes a few weeks for the Tigers to work the kinks out themselves on that side of the ball, as indicated in all three years weeks 1 and 2 under Coach Curtis.

I wouldn't call it a great game. Too many costly penalties that put them behind on 1st and 2nd downs. As well, defensively we were very soft. Our secondary tried to make as many plays as possible, but our front 7 had quite possibly their worst game of the year. Disappointing end to the season, but I agree, love our style of offense. Bart Ball will continue to keep us at the top of the NLC and a threat in the tournament. Best of luck to the SAC teams left in the tournament! Could be great represenation for the 260!

I think maybe you're misunderstanding what they're saying? Or maybe I'm misunderstanding your post. Either way, Adams does not have a sectional championship (and thus they are going for their first sectional title ever) but they have played in sectional championship games: Hobart in 1985 and 1991, Carroll (FW) in 2012, and Mishawaka in 2015.

I know, but I'm saying before their sectional victory over Carroll last week, pretty sure their Sagarin rating was like 70.32 or something. I was just letting you know that the Sagarin ratings have changed since the start of sectional play, so it is very likely due to the remaining team's victories that has assisted in having so many 1 vs 2 matchups this Friday, because those teams Sagarin ratings benefited from their victories. It would be great if someone had the rankings from before Sectional play, as you stated, to see how many 1 vs 2 matchups we got based on pre-sectional rankings.

Yeah this would be important to look at. For example, ALL of the SAC schools saw significant changes to their Sagarin ratings after the first round of sectionals thanks to playing non-SAC teams. As a side note, I know Warsaw's rating now was changed from before the tournament, and another example in 6A is Perry Meridian now being ranked 30th when before their game against Tech, those two programs were ranked the 2 worst in 6A Sagarin

I agree here. Reminds me of the talent difference the Tigers faced after playing Penn last year then Merrillville in Regionals. Crazy stats from tonight. Warsaw ran 83 offensive plays (81 rushes) compared to Carroll’s 40 plays. Tigers had 27 first downs, 508 total rushing yards, and 3 rushers over 130+ yards.

Carroll scores late but can't recover the onside kick. Tigers win 42-35

1:35 left in 4Q Warsaw 42 - Carroll 28

And as soon as I typed that - the touchdown by Warsaw!

Not over yet!