BLACKGOLD2007

I think Elkhart may see the writing on the wall, the NLC is a better overall fit for them, and I think Elkhart would be a bit more competitive? maybe. Not so much with the top tier of the NLC right now, but they could be a middle of the pack team unless this new coach is able to change the culture over there.

If my memory serves me correctly we played two tight games in a row against Valpo in regionals back to back years that saw us go down. Gees had the ball on the 1 with 4 downs to punch it in and we ran Tony West our speed back rather than Bruce Ore who was our big back that may have been able to use his size to push the pile. Give the credit to Valpo they didn't break on those four plays. But, dang that was a let down as well.

I agree there are reasons to be excited about the progression of the best teams in 6A North, but right now I am putting money down on the House. Betting odds are in their favor, it is up to the other schools to go and take it. It is like the BIG10 and the SEC. It took a generational team in Michigan to finally beat Bama and a hot team in OSU to win in 2014. Sometimes lightening in a bottle can win you a title, sometimes you finally have to horses to do it, but no one has sustained success like the SEC... I mean Metro Indy.

I know, I just find it comical how people will go after him all the time.

I was just looking over the upcoming schedules for our resident NIC teams. Some interesting pick ups for a few schools, and some pick ups that I think were made out of desperation and lack of availability for others. Penn: Starts with Valpo (possibly the last game in this series) and Mishawaka...(Penn dumps 6A rival Carmel for 4A crosstown rival) Elkhart: Making a plea to the NLC?? Please NLC save us from the sinking NIC. Elkhart continues crosstown rivalry with Concord and makes it three years in a row vs Northridge. (since the inception of Elkhart, they have played 1 or 2 NLC teams during the regular season) Marian: Makes it 5 years in a row against Mishawaka and 4 years in a row vs Culver Academy. New Prairie: Continues their Historic battle against Evil, LaPorte, dating back to the beginning of time. They also have Goshen for the third year in a row. Adams: Gets a rematch with Culver Academy and Logansport. Riley: Is looking to continue their success this season and adding winnable games against Hammond Noll and Fort Wayne Wayne (I think the people naming schools got lazy on that one). We will really get to see how far this program has come with a looming week 3 matchup at Home against Penn. St. Joe: Is in year 4 with Lakeland and year 2 with Fort Wayne South Washington: Is also in year 4 with Hammond Central and adds New Albany to their schedule. No one really went out and grabbed a team that I think is going to prep them for a future run in the Playoffs. Smaller schools playing up a class I think helps them regardless of how good that team is, but still nothing that is going to make you turn your head or be excited about.

Oh boy, a feel a firestorm brewing.... you mentioned one of those buzzwords that lands in a heated debate...Thoughts and prayers.

The school allowed fans on the field area....Fans started pouring in as the game wound down, so me and a couple friends ran out there. It was wild. The kick goes up and by, the Penn fans go nuts because it went left, then he walks out and calls it good, and then Valpo fans go crazy because they were just given the biggest win of the year. correct, coaching and talent always helps. Penn was able to overcome some talent issues in the 90's and early 00s with Hall of Fame coaching from top to bottom.

Penn does not give out information well. They keep everyone in the dark, until they are forced to make a big decision and then they try to be cute and make bad PR videos. I wish I knew, but we likely wont know unless a booster gets the deets and shares with us. Sorry.

cough Penn v Valpo 2002. I was under the upright, that ball went left and the stupid ref (Sorry @Bobref) called it good. Penn was the best team in the state that year, and they played an awful game and got hosed in the end.

This may be true, but do you think Westfield would have put up a better game than CP did in total?

Well lets be perfectly honest, since the inception of 6A, only 4 teams have won 6A state titles out of the possible 11 chances. The teams they played in those 11 games from the true North are Penn, Carroll and CP. that is 4 of the 11 games. Metro Indy has represented the North by either Carmel or Westfield. Out of those 4 games Penn, believe it or not, has been the closest to winning the actual game. Now that was a different era of Penn football. But, looking at the results since 6A has started the North has not performed well against Metro area teams. Snider last year has been, I think the best team to come out of the North, that is including runner up CP last year. I think Snider would have performed better against Ben Davis than CP had. But, last years Snider Team may have been the best North team in 10 or so years. We don't stack up with them, because they see the ringer week in and week out regardless of recent success against the HCC. Until the 6A North actually changes how they schedule, we will continue to come up short against them. Even then, History has not been in our favor since 2000. (that was the last North title with all the best teams in the same class)

I agree with that 100%... I think that when it comes to the Metro Indy teams that are in the North, I don't qualify them as the North. So, I think that maybe an HSE, Fishers or Westfield would have given more of a fight, but we up across the Michigan state line just don't see the quality week in and week out to actually threaten you guys anymore. Fort Wayne is I think closest then CP is not far behind. Just my thoughts.

Warsaw had a gritty defense last year that helped them upset high expectations and formidable 6A FW Carroll. They had the unlucky pleasure of traveling to Freed Field and playing Penn the next weekend, but they gave Penn everything they could handle. Even in a lopsided loss.

But, are they better than the Indy schools that matter, when push comes to shove. HSE, Fishers, Westfield, Brownsburg, Center Grove, Ben Davis, Carmel and Warren in any given year will have the horses to win state. Four of those schools have pleasure of beating up on one another yearly. They see this level of competition weekly, while CP will see it maybe two times in the year. The DAC could make themselves stronger by increasing the size of the conference adding 2-4 more teams and having 3 or 4 non-conference games. This opens up flexibility in scheduling downstate foes and out of state teams. Your could do what the NIC did, have a smaller side of the conference and a bigger or you could competitively balance the divisions and have cross-over games to fill the conference schedules. If you go big and small, you can look at adding New Prairie, Hobart and Lowell along with Penn. If you competitively balance the schedule you may want to look at Penn, Elkhart and the teams from Lafayette. I would be all for Penn playing a Duneland schedule. I have advocated for Penn to move to the DAC. Playing Merrillville, Valpo and CP in the same year or in any combination would be better than what Penn is currently working with. The DAC is 1000% a step up in class and competition for Penn. But, key to state will always run through Indy, if we like it or not. Especially in the South. Whoever comes out of the southern half of 6A, is going to be more prepared for the championship game than I think any 6A north team will be. I think Ben Davis's gauntlet through the playoffs last year is what ended up putting them over on CP. BD took CP's best shots and still walked away with a 28 point win.

Crown Point winning the North will boil down to who comes out of sectional 2. If Penn does, I expect to see CP back in Semi-state, if Carroll does then that is a toss up. Carroll is a better program top to bottom right now, and I expect them to be more prepared for what CP has to offer than Penn will. I think it also depends what 16 teams end up in the North and how the sectionals shake out how hard of a road CP will end up having. Right now I say the winner of the North will come down to Westfield, HSE or Fishers. CP is not far behind, but I will always put my money on 6A indy before 6A north. I like Snider in sectional 3, but depending who they are grouped with, will dictate how far I think they will make it.

Penn is not very forthcoming to people not directly involved in the program. With the Valpo series stretching back to 1996 I just assumed this was a game that would continue to go on for years to come. Penn picking up Merrillville helps them see speed, but they need to pick up teams that compete at the 6A level and are from Indy. Playing 5A Valpo and now 4A Mishawaka don't come off well, while other 6A programs are testing themselves against the best of 6A. Carroll, Snider and Homestead are leading the way in testing themselves. Penn's schedule is weak and will be weak, until changes are made.

Our Strength of schedule is going to be a Dinosaur size pile of crap...Good times.

Unless Penn convinces the NIC to find schools to add or drops the 7 game conference schedule, Penn will likely be playing Valpo and Mishawaka weeks one and two for the foreseeable future. Maybe Coach Pete, will not care about upsetting people and send the JV to play the SB schools.

Well, I am bored here at work trying to keep myself awake at the moment. So, I have been trying to figure out who the 16 North Schools will be with some of the changes that have been made due to enrollment and success factor. Warsaw went down and Snider moves up. Harrison has joined 6A and Cathedral remains in 6A as well. With Snider moving up, this could be an all Fort Wayne sectional. Sectional 1 could easily be Portage, Harrison, Lake Central and Crown Point. Sectional 2, 3, and 4 are where some changes may come about. Possible outlook for Sectional 2: Penn, Elkhart, Carroll and Northrop Possible outlook for Sectional 3: Snider, Homestead, HSE and Fishers Possible outlook for Sectional 4: Carmel, Westfield, Noblesville and Maybe Zionsville. Penn and Elkhart make things muddy with them sitting in the middle of the state. If Valpo would have moved up We could have seen Valpo and Portage back in sectional 2. The Fort Wayne schools are almost interchangeable in regards to placement in either sectional 2 or 3. In Sectional 4 for me it is hard to know which schools will likely be labeled a Northern school since they are all so close.

Warsaw will be the new Mishawaka of 5A North, with Mishawaka dropping down to 4A. Has anyone seen the new sectional groupings?

I would love to see Penn add these three teams to future schedules. Maybe one day. My dreams will come true...maybe one day.

"Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together - mass hysteria." - Peter Venkman

The first was the strength coach....he was not there when I was. And the second is former Head Coach Yeoman. Sure, but Penn wasn't trying to do a PR stunt at that time either. When you get the media involved and are clearly trying to make some huge reveal, the goal should be lets generate buzz...They did, just not good buzz.

The lack of energy and excitement from the players is what worries me. I hope I am wrong. I hope these kids want to play for him... I hope they set the world on fire. I want to be wrong. But, if it is my announcement to the team, I wouldn't say something like I cant match this other coaches excitement. I get it, probably nervous...but you want to make a great first impression, even if the players are familiar with you. You are now the man in charge of the ship. Command that room with complete confidence and get the players excited to be in the room with you.

https://www.wndu.com/video/2024/03/20/phm-video-announcement-new-head-football-coach/ Well let's just say....I am no longer optimistic.. Penn was thinking oh we will get a Marcus Freeman type reaction....they got...clapping. Watch this video....it is cringe and bad.