region

39 minutes ago, DE said:

You very well could be correct.

IC has joined the GSSC, correct?

Correct. Only a matter of time before they add football. They’re going to grow as well being in the Tri-Town area

47 minutes ago, DE said:

I have been in public education for nearly 20 years.  I would think, and I could be way off here, it would be difficult for a school who left a conference on their own, to be voted back in.  

I think they’d be welcomed back if they applied. It was odd and very surprising when they left and pretty much all Griffith coaches (Jennings, Geffert) were opposed to the change. Again, it was all orchestrated from the top and went down pretty unfavorably. 

They likely won’t come back, but Hanover moving could trigger further conference realignment in the Calumet Region.

3 minutes ago, DT said:

https://valpo.life/article/a-valpo-life-in-the-spotlight-stacy-adams/

It was Stacy Adams, then Griffith AD, who drove the initiative to take GHS out of the NCC.  Population projections for Griffith looked very bleak as many residents have left the city and those remaining are aging rapidly.  Blacks and hispanics now make up over 50% of the student population.  Griffith has changed and it has happened very quickly.

I was shocked by the move when it happened, buit looking at it now 5 years later, it seems to make sense.  Griffith appears to compete more at the GSSC level than the NCC.  I think they will stay put.  

Morton has enjoyed a very good relationship with all NCC schools, especially Highland, Munster and Lowell, for many years.  There is clearly an anti Hammond bias that exists at the top administrative level of the NCC, and thats too bad because that philosophy holds the conference back from a competitive standpoint.  

I would add HC. HM and ECC to the NCC and expand to 10 schools.  Let Hanover grow into the competitive level it needs to compete.  

Stacy Adams had NOTHING to do with Griffith’s NCC departure. It was all former Superintendant Peter Morikis’ doing. He dropped the order and Stacy was powerless.

ECC is a mess administratively top to bottom. They’d be an awful fit. Let’s see if the Hammond schools can field total programs with JV and Freshman teams, and then they can apply. They don’t fit outside of Morton football and Hammond High basketball. I’ve walked this through to you before.

The IHSAA froze enrollment counts for the 20-21 school year, but the IDOE (which still took enrollment this year) site lists Gtown’s 2020-21 enrollment at 667. The 660 I had above was a typo.

11 minutes ago, DT said:

Why does Griffith make more sense than Morton?

 

 

Because Griffith was a conference mate with Munster and Highland for over 50 years. There is fimilairty and history there. They have competed annually against Lowell in football since I believe 1934. They have good rivalries with Hobart and Andrean. They belong in the NCC culturally and historically. They have no business playing Lake Station, Boone Grove and Whiting. It’s funny how they have added Lowell, Highland and now Hobart back on the non-conference schedule. 

1 hour ago, DT said:

Griffith was Class 4a with enrollment of 823 in most recent IHSAA classification.   Where did you find the 660 for GHS?

https://inview.doe.in.gov/schools/1047004173/population

More up to date enrollments for context: 2020-21

(both Hammond Central and Morton are expected to be about 1700 each)

Munster 1572
Hobart 1264
Lowell 1092
Highland 1055
Kankakee Valley 1015
Hanover Central 748
Andrean 384

GSSC enrollments from 20-21:
Calumet 660
Griffith 660
River Forest 500
Whiting 486
Wheeler 485
Hammond Noll 466
Illiana Christian 414 (no football)
Lake Station 389
Boone Grove 495 (football only)
South Central 320 (football only)

It is being reported that Hanover Central will leave the Greater South Shore Conference and join the Northwest Crossroads Conference after the 2023 school year. They will be the 7th member, replacing Griffith who left after 2017.

Hanover is 3A in football, but is in one of the fastest growing districts (composed of Cedar Lake and parts of St. John and Crown Point) in the state.

Frozen 2019-2020 enrollment data:

Munster - 1521

Hobart - 1282

Highland - 1122

Lowell - 1118

KV - 1041

Hanover - 709

Andrean - 414

I think Hanover will make a good fit. They just restarted their football program in 2014 after not fielding a varsity team from 1972-2013. They’ve had some success in the GSSC and will be a great, natural rival for Lowell. Makes me hope Griffith will rejoin as well and the NCC can be an 8 team league. 

I know some pundits on here (DT) were calling for Hammond High and Morton to join, but the NCC has decided to go in this direction. I think the Hammond consolidations are going to be problematic and maybe if they can straighten things out, they can join in a few years. 

It’s not going to change. Too bad they don’t care about the history. Wolves is terribly generic. They used a “student survey” from a Denver marketing firm last year that doesn’t know Hammond from Carmel, so there is zero community relevance to wolves. A few 16 year olds who were e-learning thought it sounded cool. Just as much a tragedy getting rid of the George Rogers Clark identity.

It is really odd that they decided to change the name. The new school is built directly adjacent to Hammond High on the school’s parking lot and football field. They can’t be more than 20 yards apart.

FWIW, the Michigan City change still has some people upset and I’ve seen good arguments. I know I’ve read it before from MC people on Harrell boards that losing the Elston name really hurt community support/unity/excitement/whatever for MC. Rogers was barely around 20 years and Elston was around for 90, but they decided to go neutral.

I’m disappointed in Hammond, but more concerned now that they get their own football facility ASAP. They’re going to have to share with Morton for at least a year, which stinks and won’t help the program hit the ground running. Hiring a good coach like Adam Hudak will help though. 

4 hours ago, WolvesOnTheProwl said:

I don't think this is accurate (sorry not trying to call you out Bobref), but I've also read where this is the longest running football rivalry in other threads so I had to take a look... according to John Harrell's site Lowell and CP did not play in 1994-1996. They have opened the season every year since 1997

114 all-time meetings. First played in 1903

1903-06, 1909, 1924-25, 1928-92, 97-present. (From 1934-52 they played twice a year in a home and home series).

It might not be the longest continuous, but it’s one of the oldest and most played series in state history. I don’t see ADs Patti McCormack and Bill Dorulla wanting to end this series any time soon. 

26 minutes ago, Indiana Fan said:

According to John Harrell...

 

Carmel: Week 2 Carmel is hosting Detroit King out of Detroit, Michigan.

Warren Central: Week 2 WC is hosting Bishop Chatard. Week 9 WC is hosting Hammond Central. 

Not sure what to expect from Warren and Hammond Central. Chatard and Warren should be interesting. Plenty of exciting nonconference Indy area games this upcoming season. Any future matchups between Indy teams you would love to see?

 

 

Warren Central - Hammond will be an absolute slaughter. Warren must’ve been desperate for a game

Crown Point, strictly red and white today, used to use a more maroon and powder blue color combo in the 80s. 

50 minutes ago, DT said:

Morton is an old decaying structure badly in need of updating and general repair.  HC is a sparkling new state of the art educational facility.  Will that possibly keep some of the west side football players from travelling across town to play at "football school" Morton?

Doubtful. If you live and Hammond and want to win, you’ll follow the winning, facility be damned

1 hour ago, RegionFBFan said:

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

Exactly. 

As I’ve said many times over the months, Hammond Central currently doesn’t even have a football facility - the new school sits on Bernie Krueger field - and I can’t imagine Hammond will straighten things out enough in the next 8 months to have one ready by August. They’ll be playing at Gavit or something next season or Morton’s turf when the Govs are away.

Maybe guys like Hanover Central’s Brian Parker (a CP grad, I believe) or Rick Good of Calumet will be interested in these openings. Both good coaches at smaller schools.

I think Mason would do well at LC. He wouldn’t fit in “culturally” per se at CP. 

LC has been broken since they got rid of Elmer 20 years ago. CP has the quicker upside. It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out. Opportunity for both programs to things to the next level.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/sports/ct-ptb-spt-football-crown-point-kevin-enright-st-122020-20201218-czn2ylnsufhmnabgkgwwhxn6ce-story.html%3foutputType=amp

Kevin Enright resigns at CP after 9 years and 3 sectional titles.

2 Duneland openings now along with Lake Central

Some NWI ones for ya. Thankfully there aren’t any corporate sponsorship names in Lake/Porter/LaPorte/Jasper counties.

Merrillville - Dick Demaree Stadium- coach/program founder 1946-1975

Highland - Ken “Zip” Sypult Field - first Coach 1958-75

Munster - the field isn’t named, but the entire football/soccer/baseball complex is named for school’s first Coach and AD John Friend (1964-80). I would expect them to name the football field for recently retired coach Leroy Marsh (1980-2017), the program’s second coach, in the next few years.

KV - Fred Jones Field - School’s first AD and coach at pre-consolidated Wheatfield

Hammond Morton - Maurey Zlotnik Field - first coach 1952-75

Whiting - Ray P. Galavan Field - first Coach 1929-41, 46-55

Gary Roosevelt (RIP) - Leonard Douglas Stadium (Coach 1947-70)

East Chicago Central - Pete Rucinski Field - EC Roosevelt Coach 1937-63

Chesterton - Ray Banary Field (first Coach 1960-75)

9 hours ago, temptation said:

Excuse me for being naive and not very knowledgeable about The Region but have suburban Chicago area schools not a viable option for DAC schools to play in the non-conference in the past?  Seems closer than Lafayette in some cases.

One thing to keep in mind is that Illinois doesn’t start until week 2 in Indiana, so that limits opportunities to play suburban schools a little bit. As others have mentioned, there have been some attempts in recent years. Chesterton was supposed to play Chicago power St. Rita this year. 

I think I can be sold into the 10 team Duneland. I like the east-west idea. Fun hypothetical. 

The LAC/Lake 10 was never a closed conference. They had football divisions (black and blue) that allowed for non conference games. Some schools scheduled cross divisional games, but there was never a 9 game conference schedule like with the SAC.

Morton is a football school. That’s it. That’s their only sport. They’re terrible at both basketballs. Terrible. Haven’t won a boys sectional title in basketball since the bicentennial. That’s one of the longest droughts in the state. They won’t be getting much better adding Gavit kids. Not really competitive as a team in any other sport. Hammond High is even worse than Morton athletics save for boys basketball. Morton’s building is in pretty run down shape as well. Anyone step foot in the Hessville school recently? It’s falling apart and outdated. Until they can prove that they’ll have full JV/some Frosh teams and be fairly competitive, they won’t join the NCC.

I have very little faith in the School City of Hammond. It’s an F district. It’s school board is a mess and top administrative team is a joke. Super doesn’t even have a doctorate. There is constant in-fighting at the school board meetings. No solid leadership. 90% of the residents of Hammond don’t know Elkhart exists. They will not have the same success as the Lions. The city is bleeding population. Also, the new Hammond High still does not have a football facility. And I don’t think they’ll have on ready by next fall. That’s not how you want to start your new program. It’s going to be a mess. 

Merrillville will be fine, especially if they’re 5A next year.

2019 NCC Champs:

girls tennis - Munster

volleyball - Munster

Boys soccer - Munster

girls soccer - Munster

Boys XC - Lowell

girls xc - Lowell

girls golf - Munster

football - Hobart

boys BB - Munster

girls BB - Munster

girls swimming - Munster

boys swimming - Munster

Wrestling - Hobart

2019 spring sports-

baseball - Andrean

softball - Munster

b track - Highland

g track - Lowell

boys golf - Munster

boys tennis - Munster

Morton and new Hammond High would not crack the Munster dominance of the conference in most sports. I believe Munster has won the all-sports title in the NCC every year since 2007-08. 

What we saw Friday was just another chapter in Hobart’s great tradition of losing the state championship game. I can’t imagine anyone has more runner-up finishes than the Bricks.

Indianapolis and it’s suburbs are exploding in population. Rest of the state, especially the rust belt north, can’t catch up. Is what it is.

Hobart Brickies (11-2)

Sagarin 75.63, 6th in 4A

OA: 38.7  DA:10.2

12th state title game appearance, first in 24 years (1996).

Roncalli Rebels (12-1)

94.18, 1st 4A

OA: 41.3   DA: 16.3

13th appearance, first in 4 years.

Gimme Roncalli big. Hope I’m wrong, but I don’t think the Bricks stand a chance. Maybe that can channel some 2005 Lowell magic.

Thoughts? Analysis? Predictions?

1 hour ago, gonzoron said:

When was it built, 1990? 3 sectional titles since 1994 shows the program never was very good OR any kind of a factor in Indiana high school football.

2016

3 hours ago, DanteEstonia said:

How poorly is the superintendent of LC paid?

Buzea - 157k

Larry Veracco - 171k

1 hour ago, DT said:

The LC- Munster rivalry used to be one of the Regions best.

Its an absolute crap show right now.  These two schools are very closely connected both geographically, culturally, and in every way.  Any link that you can find between the two relative to their steep downturns in football?

Closely connected in every way save enrollment. LC is twice the size. 

Unrelated issues. Munster’s case is that Marsh let things go downhill on the back half of his career, combined with a first time head coach taking over that has been unable to generate any program excitement or improvement. That leads them to 2-8, 0-10 and 1-9 the last 3 years.

I can’t figure out Lake Central’s issue. It’s not a new one though. They had a decent run with St. Germain where they won a couple of sectionals, but mostly under 500 ball since they let Elmer go after 2000. 6 winning seasons and 14 losing in the last 20 years. Not good. I think LC’s issue is a deeper one than Munster’s.

LC can’t match what HF pays or HF’s facility. Buz is making $157,000 across the state line. No one in the state can match that. Plus he already has a winning program at HF. They also have an indoor 30 yard turf practice field. I’d be shocked if he leaves, especially with his health ordeal this past year.

One problem with the middle school feeders is that for at least the last 4 maybe 5 years they’ve only fielded 2 teams out of 3. Grimmer and Clark have had a combined team because Grimmer apparently couldn’t field a whole team.

Plenty of non-white athletes roaming the halls at LC, DT. 70% white, 16% Hispanic, 7.5% black. Remember Gelen Robinson? He wasn’t an outlier.

A lot to fix at LC. Right guy can do it though. Just has to be the right guy. Beutiful facility. They’ll pay well. Plentiful enrollment. Should attract quality applicants. We’ll see what happens. Region football is better when LC is competitive.