Football Fanatic

I wonder what happened with the handful of candidates they offered prior to this. Either way, there's at least some benefit to having a guy that's passionate and has been with the program for many years.

The most obvious situations would be the city schools that are nearby each other, since commuting wouldn't be much of an issue for the kids/parents. Obviously cities like Indy, Evansville, Ft. Wayne, South Bend, Lafayette, and Gary. Other situations might be small rural towns close to other towns where the kids/parents can still commute. Being in the Evansville area, I could think of a few situations where kids could commute for a benefit. Evansville schools of course. Castle, Boonville and Tecumseh. Gibson Southern, North, and Princeton. Jasper, Heritage Hills, Southridge, and Forest Park. Vincennes, Washington and North Knox. As far as who benefits, it will come down to the individual kids and what they are looking for obviously. Could be for a better environment, better program, be with friends, or more playing time. But obviously the schools with typically more success in those situations will benefit more from getting the better athletes. It just remains to be seen how often it will actually happen/how many kids will take advantage of it.

I wonder how many candidates applied/interviewed for the North job. Over/under 8.5?

They are not paid near enough and have expectations up to their chins.

Pretty sure I know who the new North coach is and if so, your statement lines up.

I agree. No matter how long they have been there, as long as they show up when they can and put in effort, they have an equal opportunity to earn playing time in my opinion. Coaches will have to deal with the challenge of prioritizing and weighing different situations when it comes to new kids coming in and kids that have been there for a long time. But when it comes down to it, the best players are going to play, IF they have earned it. If there's a freak athlete or manchild that should be playing, but barely shows up or has a poor attitude towards others, it has not been earned.

Sure, private messaging/behind the scenes conversations have happened for years. But I don't think coaches are "actively recruiting" as much as people claim. However, I do think that there are many appendages that extend out from a coach or school that does the "recruiting" legally, or the ground work, if you will. Nowadays with social media how it is, and city schools being in close proximity, I'd bet the players and parents do a lot of the talking and persuading. But it all comes down to the kids/parents and what they think is best for them. But I do understand it has to be a tough feeling for a coach knowing that kids don't want to play at your school and are moving elsewhere. However, I do not think that is the main reason Coach Ward is getting out. I think there are probably a handful of reasons but would guess the main reason is to support his daughter.

I'm sure many around the state are already in the works, or pending if you will, they're just waiting to make it official. Especially in the cities with multiple schools in close proximity. Will it all be overblown and not as common as we think, or will the floodgates be open and flooded? I guess we will have to wait and see.

Heard some candidates but nothing on front runners or anything. Whoever gets it will have their hands full but for their sake, they better hire the right guy.

Oh I guarantee it. To that I say… So I guess it’s more acceptable for a kid to jump ship early rather than staying and building somewhere? Why are we punishing a kid who has put the time in or taken his lumps every year at one place and just wants to have a more enjoyable/successful senior year? If anything it should be the other way around. Definitely makes more sense if a sophomore/junior has to sit for 30 days or just play JV initially, and then still have another full year or two. I’m all for the new transfer rule, but I despise the part where seniors have to be punished in their last (and probably most memorable) season.

Rumblings are that it would start from the first day of offical competition, meaning the week 1 game. So if it's a 30 day ban, that's almost half the season which seems fairly harsh for kids in their last season of high school ball.

Crazy to think about. Normally I would say this is the year it could be done with Reitz expected to be very solid and how they size up with that sectional. But that definitely changes with Heritage Hills (most likey) being in it. Reitz does return a lot but yes, QB and WRs/DBs will be their only true question marks. Seems like they have plenty of talent but not sure they have the guys to match up with a Goldsberry or Ruxer. I'm guessing there will be a QB battle on The Hill, at least early on until things play out more. If the Johnson kid comes back healthy, he could potentially be a threat at QB but that also would take away one of their threats at WR. I agree that Darrett will probably be their main RB but could also see him moving out to the slot at times and sprinkling in another RB just to get more of their speedy guys in space. We also have to wait and see what happens after the new transfer rule gets put into place, and whether it helps or hurts some schools. But I would say the SIAC this year is more a question mark than it typically is, especially after the top 3-4 teams.

- I have Reitz winning the SIAC with Memorial and Mater Dei also being in the running. - Deepest playoff run could be any of Reitz, Memorial, Mater Dei, or even Castle. It all depends on the draw. I could see a scenario where three teams win their sectional and also a scenario where none of the teams make it out of their sectional. Memorial and Mater Dei will have to go through two tough teams who return a lot in Gibson Southern and Southridge. Reitz will have to go through state contender Heritage Hills and a mysterious, maybe rejuvenated, Jasper team. Castle (a question mark themselves) will have to go through a Floyd Central team who returns a lot. - Jasper is in good hands with their new coach. It may take a few years to develop the kids in a totally different system, but they will have the size and athletes to be competitive. Whoever the new North coach is will have a lot on his plate and it may take a few years to clear it. Mater Dei is also in good hands (assuming we know who it will be) and I would imagine the DC and rest of staff will remain mostly the same and be good guidance for the newbie. They will be solid but probably won't make it out of that sectional. - I assume the curse you speak of is the winner of the SIAC not winning their sectional. Crazy as it is, I think the curse may continue. I have Reitz winning the SIAC. They should be good enough to make a semi-state run. Unfortunately, they will run into a team that may be even better. Heritage Hills will be state contenders again with who they have returning. Lot of time between now and then and obviously we will know more throughout the season. Just early thoughts!

Picture this: Nick Hart takes over for John Hart at Brownsburg when he retires. Derek Hart takes over for Nick Hart at GS. The winning continues.

That's one argument. But even with the factors you mentioned, you would have a tough time getting most to disagree that Reitz is the best public school program around. Especially with how they are trending now. Good staff, good community support, and the best venue around. And it helps that athletes want to play there. Really interested to see how the new transfer rule effects the landscape of talent for the public schools.

That certainly could be part of it. But he returns to a 1A school with recent success, while he also had success at a previous 1A school. Less pressure, less competition, less competing for athletes in the city (especially with new transfer rule coming). With the way North is set up, it is difficult to get kids to commit to football during the offseason and transportation/travel has some to do with that. They could have success with the right coaching staff. Who knows if or when that will happen though. Big question is, do they hire from within the EVSC or look elsewhere?

Interesting to see. Thanks for putting that together. I knew Reitz was returning a lot, but did not realize Memorial is returning that much. They both lose a few crucial pieces but have a handful of talent back. Reitz will have their entire line back, most of their defense, and some skill guys. Memorial will have some talented skill guys back and a promising QB to step in. I would say those two will be top dogs again, with Mater Dei and Castle closely behind. Jasper could be a wildcard depending how well they adjust to a new offensive scheme.

Figured it was coming soon. For their sake, hopefully they are allowed to. They would be successful in that conference. For the sake of the SIAC also, it would be nice to see them be able to schedule one non-conference game.

It's a new year, football season is within sight now! Figured I'd take a crack at identifying the top returners at each position. QB - Tate Mallory (Mater Dei), Boden Morgan (Castle), Aiden Boyd (Bosse), Hunter Broshears (Central) RB - Caden Thacker (Mater Dei), Elijah Darrett (Reitz), Dylen Kendrick (Memorial) WR - Luke Dockery (Memorial), Carter Bobe (Castle), Maxx Anslinger (Memorial), Nolan Shickel (Mater Dei), Jamontre Johnson (Reitz) OL - Alex Lopez (Reitz), Andrew Jones (Memorial), Hart Hoag (Castle), Xavier Vanover (Reitz) DL - Azhari Jackson (Reitz), Will Friday (Reitz), Kaiden Thomas (Reitz), Brady Combs (Memorial), Mike Epps (North), Kobe Pullom (Castle) LB - AJ Coates (Reitz), Ricky White Jr. (North), Brodie Farmer (Castle), Jackie Ford (Mater Dei), Connor O'Donohue (Memorial) DB - JJ Lowery (Memorial), Milen Garnett (Central), Lucas Feldmann (Reitz), Deamontey Lanyne (North), Ty'rique Robins (Bosse), Jack Levin (Jasper) Potential player of the year candidates: Tate Mallory (Mater Dei), Caden Thacker (Mater Dei), Elijah Darrett (Reitz), Luke Dockery (Memorial)

Both are assumed I would say! Castle's lineup must've been a challenge! 😜

About time! Any other updates or details on this? Heard rumblings but nothing concrete until this.

Heard some rumblings on who it will be. If true, bye bye to the flexbone.

Hard to tell this early but still fun to consider. I would say Reitz will be top dog with a lot of starters coming back from a Regional team. Unfortunately for them they will most likely have to get past Heritage Hills in the sectional. Mater Dei should also be very solid with some good starters back and the top QB around. Maybe a top 3 team and a contender for that sectional (I think GS and Memorial could be a bit better). Memorial and Castle are always competitive even when they lose a lot. Memorial does return some good players but lose one of the best QBs in their history and the best ILB they’ve had in a long time. Not to mention a very good OL and WR. But you just can’t bet against Hurley and Johnson to have them playing good football regardless. Castle and North will both be question marks. Not sure how much talent they have coming up but both lose crucial starters. Vincennes* loses a lot but if they get that QB to play again they will be competitive. Not sure they will be in the SIAC though. Jasper will also be a question mark. Who will they get as a coach and will they change the scheme? You can usually count on them to be competitive though. Will any of Harrison, Central, and Bosse improve at all? Hard to tell. I think Central is the best bet to improve but would guess those teams will be the bottom three again. I could see the top 3 finishing in any order honestly. Shot in the dark at power rankings: 1. Reitz 2. Memorial 3. Mater Dei 4. Castle 5. North 6. Jasper 7. Vincennes* 8. Central 9. Bosse 10. Harrison

Don’t think that will happen. But my guess is Vincennes leaves within a year or two and the remaining SIAC teams will have an open week to schedule non-conference games.

Missing football already so figured I'd do something fun like last year and build my ultimate SIAC lineup from this past season. No two-way players. Offense is a spread and two-back gun base, defense is a 3-5-3 base. Offense QB - Matthew Fisher (Memorial) RB - Max McCool (Castle) RB (formation sub) - Caden Thacker (Mater Dei) Hybrid/Slot - Elijah Darrett (Reitz) WR - Luke Ellspermann (Memorial), Luke Dockery (Memorial) TE (formation sub) - John Aigner (Castle) T/G - Parker Mattingly (Memorial), Ben Brasher (North), Alex Lopez (Reitz), Nate McDurmon (Mater Dei) C - Coleton Adamson (Castle) Kicker - Camden Marx (Mater Dei) Punter - Luke Lindsey (Vincennes) Defense DL - Benny Patterson (Castle), Azhari Jackson (Reitz), Will Friday (Reitz) ILB - Alex Broshears (Memorial), Gavin Leach (Castle), AJ Coates (Reitz) OLB - Landon McClarney (Reitz), Conor O'Donohue (Memorial) DB - JJ Lowery (Memorial), Nehemiah Madison (Reitz), Milen Garnett (Central) Head Coach/OC and DC John Hurley (Memorial), Ben Johnson (Memorial) Heavy on Memorial, Reitz, and Castle obviously but they have a lot of talent. I don't think that team is losing! Any thoughts or alternative lineups?