oldunclemark

Witht e consolidation in Hammond, there apparently will be a few new games on the schedule.

Morton will now play Elkhart  and Cathedrlal (wow)

..........Lowell now plays New Prairie..a good looking 4A matchup

anybody know of any more?

5 hours ago, itiswhatitis said:

When I made my comment, CP was #5.  It's a little bit different now that they are #1.  Still it's for bragging rights and not much more than that.  It will benefit Linton more if they win.  For a 2A team, they are very, very good.  It will be a good test but I don't see it any more than that.

I am not connected with the team but I would doubt Crown Point feels that way.    If Linton hadnt won state, I'm guessing this game wouldnt be happening.

There's no 'bragging rights' between these two schools.  CP plays Michigan City (7-0) the night before they play Linton. Its a key league game.

But they arent getting on the big yellow bus and driving 4 hours the next day to play a 'very, very good' 2A team.   2A No. 8 Andrean (6-0) is a good 2A team.  CP plays them  on Dec. 23.. 

 I'd suggest that CP is coming to New Castle to play a champion. A team that has lost only 13 games in the last four seasons. A battle-tested winner. 

     Crown Point has had two consecutive undefeated regular seasons and I'd guess, they're looking for someone who can beat them.   CP added 4A No. 1 Penn to the schedule this year. The played Castle and defending 4A champ Lawrence North on the same day. They need/want to beat teams that win ALL the time. 

CP needs to beat champs and the set-up of the schedule MC/Linton in less than 24 hours creates a giant hurdle.

On 12/7/2020 at 7:53 AM, itiswhatitis said:

The game with Crown Point is actually meaningless.  Nothing more than bragging rights.  With this Lady Miner team it's deja vu.   It's a no brainer they are #1 since they are the defending champs and had no seniors on the team last year.  They'll sweep through 2A like a wildfire when the tournament starts and repeat.

The CP-Linton game is one that both teams will probably say is meaningless until they win it.

2A No. 1 vs 4A No.1 ?   That's a big deal.

3rd meeting between the two school sin the last three years...

2-9-18 - CROWN POINT 54-47 (overtime)  regional final

2-15-19 - PENN 42, CP 41 - regional semifinal

12-5-20 - CROWN POINT 44, Penn 42

The Dec 7 state poll rates BOTH CP and Penn No. 1

On 12/7/2020 at 7:53 AM, itiswhatitis said:

The game with Crown Point is actually meaningless.  Nothing more than bragging rights.  With this Lady Miner team it's deja vu.   It's a no brainer they are #1 since they are the defending champs and had no seniors on the team last year.  They'll sweep through 2A like a wildfire when the tournament starts and repeat.

All well and good.  But permit me to ask again.

Why is the CP-Linton-Stockton game not at Linton?  Why is it at New Castle? Its not the Hall-of-Fame tournament. 

What is going on at New Castle that day?,  that day being Jan. 9.

Anybody know? 

On 12/3/2020 at 3:10 PM, DT said:

The North needs to get creative.

How about a Saturday afternoon doubleheader in Michigan City?

Elkhart vs Valpo

Penn vs Michigan City

DT, watch yourself.

As soon as you start suggesting Saturday afternoon football, Hoosier folks start calling you a communist.😼

On 12/4/2020 at 8:01 AM, BTF said:

My guess is a horizontal line going right underneath Lafayette.

Marion, Kokomo and Fort Wayne are all 'north"?  Huntington North is 'north' ?

Just asking.

16 hours ago, DT said:

The North needs to get creative.

How about a Saturday afternoon doubleheader in Michigan City?

Elkhart vs Valpo

Penn vs Michigan City

Define 'The North',  DT

1 minute ago, DT said:

Those CP teams beat out some very weak DAC competition and had no chance of advancing beyond the regional.  There was not a D1 player to be found on any one of those teams.  And Merrillville has a tendancy to choke when the spotlight is on bright, similar to little bro Hobart

Crown Point won three sectionals in a row without any Division 1 players.

that's not a bad program. 

No schools have tendencies. Players change every year.

Hobart is 9-2 in the playoffs the last 2 years Merrillville is 6-2.  Its very 'Skip Bayless' to wait for them to lose and then call the boys chokers.

I know you didnt mean to say that.

3 minutes ago, DT said:

I disagree   Your two biggest high schools (Lake Central and Crown Point) are on par with the Indy megas.  They both have bad football programs.  There is more to it

'Your two biggest high schools' Crown Point and Lake Central cant consistently beat Chatard and Cathedral.' they area not public schools. It wont ever happen.

You're selling snake oil to say to preach that if they just buddy up in a county-wide conference and integrate, that small public schools will jack up tradion rich private school monsters. 

2 minutes ago, DT said:

But its nowhere near enough to get them anywhere near championship level.

Yes, The Region has changed culturally, demographically, religiously, socio economically, and in every way possible.

But the fact remains, it is less competitive in high school football state wide than it was 20 years ago.

Does that even matter to the local residents?

Id bet it probably doesnt, with a very few exceptions.

 

This area has never been consistently equal (in my time here) to the Indianapolis private schools and it wont be. NW Indiana does fine against other areas and teams..
 

Its not a realistic goal for Northwest Indiana teams to rule Indy area powers, It is realistic to win the sectional every year.  We've had this discussion.

I'd rather win seven sectionals in a row than one state title. You would, too.  

5 minutes ago, DT said:

These Hobart kids were in diapers back then OUM

But it happened..didnt it?

Northwest Indiana teams dont beat the Catholic Football Mafia (Roncalli, Cathedral, Bishop Chatard) consistently because nobody beats them consistently in the post-season... 

Public schools wont ever beat private schools from Indy consistently.

How do I know?

You told me. 100 times.  😏

4 minutes ago, DT said:

Here is my final thought on the topic.  And its a controversial one, but one that needs to be said.

The NCC needs more black athletes.

More D1 talent has come out of Hammond, Gary and East Chicago than the rest of The Region combined over the past 50 years.  Merrillville is what it is because of its exteme proximity to Gary talent.  

The NCC can become a hotbed of talent by integrating these schools into the conference.  Take a look at the Elkhart roster.  Its very mixed and loaded with talent.  The Region can do the same.  Frankly, the addition of Hammond, Gary and EC to the NCC will draw the conference very close to The DAC.  It will take some time, but the building blocks will be in place.

We are talking about a Ten Year Plan to close the gap on Indy superiority.  I cant think of a better way to improve the overall competitive environment in the conference and raise the talent bar then by bringing in these 4 schools.  All would be required to met strict entrance requirements.  Some will receive waivers (swimmimng/gymnastics, etc)  

Here is my Lake Ten

Highland

Minster

Hobart

Lowell

Andrean

KV

Morton

H Central

ECC

West Side

 

Gary West Side may not be open in 5 years.....

You might want to check the rosters of Lowell and Crown Point.  A photo check. 

Youre like Scarab...He thinks Jed Clampett still lives in Cedar Lake

Times have changed...Despite a speed bump in 2020, I am a witness...

24 minutes ago, DT said:

Ask Hobart about this after their Roncalli experience.

Dont be a prisoner of the moment, DT. You know Lowell beat Roncalli to win state

5 minutes ago, DT said:

I just dont see it.  Lowell has played in a state championship game at LOS.  How do they get up to play little HC?

Now for HC, its the Super Bowl.  But its a one way street.  Its like IU vs Valpo in football.  

Isnt that what you want? David and Goliath

No, like IU and Ohio State!

Like the Bears and Packers!!

(maybe that's not a timely reference)😐

1 minute ago, DT said:

No , Hobart will not be going back to The DAC.  But their hearts and minds are still there, which makes them less than 100% supportive of their current home.  

I wouldnt be surprised if Hammond were to try and pull some political strings to help them gain entrance into the NCC.  

Here is another thing to consider.  many colleges, including several Big Ten schools, are dropping select sports all together due to financial impact of the Covid virus.  This trend could very weell trickle down to high schools.  With football revenue falling to almost zero, ADs will be forced to make some tough decisions.  

I think Hobart-Lowell and Hobart-Andrean are very attractive games for Hobart.

2021 Hobart wont be the team they've been the last 2 years...and then theres all the other sports

Your final thought is possible although it might keep Hamond and Morton from beginning expensive sports like Gymnastics before it stops places like Lake Central from having them. 

But stay with what the basic need for a conference is: Guaranteed opponents at all levels. 

Also, Hammond might pull political strings to KEEP the city conference (Hammond, EC, West Side and Morton) together. That happened before, didnt it? 

2 minutes ago, scarab527 said:

Andrean was not going to play Noll this year, regardless of covid. And I am aware Andrean played Hanover those years, and there’s a reason they took them off the schedule. As for going down to Cedartucky, well it’d take a lot more than a basketball game to get me down there. 

But Hanover did play Andrean in football. Twice in the last 3 years.

You need to come to Cedar Lake, my man... Its not CedarTucky anymore. 

You said Hanover cant stay on the floor with Munster. You need to come on down!

5 minutes ago, DT said:

Lowell wanting to play Hanover sounds about as enticing and realistic as Hobart wanting to play Calumet.  

 

Lowell-Hanover is like LaPorte-New Prairie.  County rivals. Next door neighbors

The first Lowell-Hanover Central game will be an event. It will be sold out. You'll be there.

1 minute ago, DT said:

I dont think the NCC is as strong as you think it is.  You act as if they hold all the cards.  Munster and Highland are dying in football, which is the flagship sport.  Hobart continues to show signs that it wants to return to its former home  - just look at their non con schedule.  Andrean is really a free agent school.  KV is geographically an outlier and nobody would shed a tear if they left.  The Hammond schools are the hot new chick on the block.  They will get a lot of attention and many suitors.  They might even draw interest from an Illinois conference just across the border.

 

I dont think Hammond and Morton are attractive conference wise because of the entire 20-sport universe I keep mentioning.

Where else is Hammond going to play? . They will either be in the NCC or their stay in the city conference. 

They will not be going to the GSSC or the Duneland Conference and there are no other realistic options.. not even in Illinois.  You've talked many times about how fans dont cross state lines. 

.....and there is absolutely no chance of Hobart returning to the Duneland Conference. 

Hobart has 1,300 kids.  Valpo has 2,000 Crown Point has 2,800. Lake Central has 3,200.

Why would the DAC take them.

6 minutes ago, scarab527 said:

Congrats to Hanover on being competitive in a loss to a terrible team. Also, Andrean hasn’t played Noll in football in about 5 years. Hanover beating mediocre basketball programs like Hobart and KV doesn’t impress me either. Andrean is coming off a state run recently and could be gearing up for another, and Munster is one of the best programs in state. If Lowell wants to play their own geographic rival, they can, with one of their non-conference slots. Hobart and Andrean do not want to have to play Hanover in football. I stand by my statement that Hanover would be mediocre in every sport in the NCC, they would not be able to compete with the top teams in each sport.

scarab.

Andrean and Noll were scheduled to play in football THIS year until Covid

Andrean MUST play Noll. It is ordained.  Andrea does not want to play Hanover>? Really? 

When Noll shut down their program in 2018 and 2019, the team that filled that schedule hole was Hanover. Hanover has played Andrean twice in the last 3 years....

You have a 1995 world view of Hanover in basketball.   

24-2 last year.. Won 3A Sectional 18 easily.

You 'arent impressed' You 'stand by your statement'

But would you go to Cedar Lake to see Hanover play Munster the night of Jan. 12?  Its on the schedule./

Come on, man.

4 minutes ago, DT said:

I think you will see Morton and Hammond Central winning sectionals and regionals in football and basketball in the near future.  That level of competition is something the current NCC needs desperately.  Give the Hammond schools a chance to fill out their athletic menus.  They will have lots of kids and resources to work with.  

We will see.   I dont see Morton kicking out Michigan City and Valparaiso in 5A Sectional 9 but you could be right.   Morton is an unknown power as of next year. Hammond is always good in boys basketball but they need to stay 4A in football.

Its no longer about 'giving them a chance'.  Nobody's holding them back. 

I assume there a pool in the new Hamond high. And a gymnastics room. 

And a softball field.

Field teams in all sports and the NCC will welcome them. 

I think the 10-team NCC is possible because a four team (Hammond, Morton, EC and Gary West Side) city conference survives only as long as Gary West Side does.

2 minutes ago, DT said:

I think Hanover is still 5 years away, but sometimes its better to jump in before you are fully ready.  

   True and True.

 I know you know.  You have to move when  the schedule hole is there.

New Prairie joined the NIC and got hornswaggled 42-3 this year by Penn. But they're in the NIC

The only Cedar Lake relevant football question is,  Is Hanover ready to play Lowell.

When Hanover restarted their program, I thought it would take 10-15 years before they could compete with Lowell.

Its been 7 years.

By the way, Wheeler played Lowell last year.   The final was 26-13

14 minutes ago, DT said:

Wheeler is a 2A school.  Why would you want a 2A school in a conference populated with 4A and 5A schools?  

Because they have all the sports, DT.  Hammond does not have softball and barely has baseball. You know how conferences work.

When you sign on in my league, I was to play your varsity, your JV and your freshman team.

If you dont have a freshman team, I've got to scramble for a game or take an idle day. No good.

14 minutes ago, DT said:

Does Hanover project to 4A eventually?

Not that I know of.  Hanover has 750 kids and they are growing. But KV is at 1000

14 minutes ago, DT said:

Why not invite Hanover and both Hammond schools and go to 9, or add ECC and make it 10.  Andrean will likely grow to 3A when they get to Crown Point new campus.  

Then you have a very strong conference :

3A    Andrean

4A   Hanover (projected) Highland, Lowell, Hobart, KV, EC

5A   Munster, Morton, Hamm Central

This would be a very similar makeup to the two best conferences in tne state, the SAC and the SIAC.

Play in 2 divisions....like the NIC     That could work. 

14 minutes ago, DT said:

 

 

1 minute ago, scarab527 said:

I stand corrected on Lowell/Morton then, but Andrean and Hobart would benefit from playing them. This move would be about much more than Lowell, I don’t know why you’re so fixated on then. And Hanover beating Munster means nothing, they were one of the worst teams in the entire state. Hanover also lost to an absolutely terrible Portage team this year. They went 9-2 playing an utterly terrible schedule. They would not be able to compete with Andrean, Hobart, or Lowell in football. I doubt they could compete with Munster or Andrean in basketball. They might not be a doormat, but they’d be mediocre at best. 

You said Hanover would be doormats in a league with Munster, Andrean, KV, Hobart, Highland and Lowell.   I dont know why they are doormats to you... on them

 Hanover lost 46-44 to Portage and gained 600 yards.  That's competitive. 

And being in a conference Is not all about football.

Hanover and Lowell are sister schools, scarab. Hanover is the old Lowell school district

Hanover is Lowell's natural and geographic rival  They are a better fit with Lowell and KV than Morton is .  Andrean plays Bishop Noll. They would be OK playing Hanover.

Basketball ? Hanover beat KV twice last year in boys ball and they beat Hobart by 13

You're going to have to come into the present day with me on Hanover Central athletics

Hanover is not mediocre and they have all the sports. Morton and Hammond, as of now, do not.

That's why Hanover fits in the Northwest Crossroads Conference, which was the discussion here once we hijacked it from Elkhart talk.

2 hours ago, LaSalle Lions 1976 said:

I find it hard to believe that posters can't stay on topic for more than a page.  This was about Elkhart football.  I guess no one wishes to talk about St. Joe Valley (South Bend-Mishawaka-Oscola-Elkhart) football.

Lion, There's no debate that with almost 3,500 teens, Elkhart will do well, is there?

The paralell between Memorial and central was Morton and Hammond.

That's called a fork in the road!!😁