BLACKGOLD2007

Preach. We just need to accept that the NIC is on it's very last peg leg to stand on. At some point the three schools will either be conference-less or make a small conference with SB St. Joe and Marian. Penn and Elkhart have got to be looking at all of their options. It is a touch situation all around, but the SBSC has almost brought this upon themselves with their poor performing schools across the board. I feel for the kids that go there.

That seems like the most reasonable answer. There is a chance it may work out this way. Clay will "start" the regular season 3-0 at the varsity level. Since Bremen, Jimtown and Glenn are all leaving they will either force it as a varsity level loss or just turn a blind eye to it. If they turn the blind eye to it, those schools could pawn that loss off on the JV teams, even if they actually win the game on the field. If the playoffs actually did seeding, then this would be very important. However, since there is no seeding, even if you take the L at the Varsity level it does not affect your playoff standing.

I know! We are just restless up here. The long term fans of the program remember what we were, and right now it is hard to watch us struggle with local teams. I miss the days of slug fest games with Ben Davis. Hell, I miss us getting handled by you. It woke us up to the level we would need to be at, to compete. Those days are long long gone.

Cannot wait to see the results!

Sounds good, that would be a headache for an athletic director to negotiate. Each conference has their rules about when they can play their non conference games. I think that the power conference has shifted to the HCC from the MIC, because the MIC has lost two huge parts of their membership. PLEASE!!! That game was circled on the calendar every year for who wins this game is probably going to play Carmel for the North semi state championship.....that is when we were both 5A.

Well look at Penn scheduling the tough games....cant wait to see all 20 of Morton's fans make the trip.

Carroll is going big this season with HSE and Warren Central back to back....I think all of Northern Indiana will be very aware of who the new top Dog is if they can put together two strong games in a row! Good luck boys!

Well the best way to get decent experience for the young guys on Friday nights is to beat these teams by 40 at half. Then for a solid quarter play their 1s vs your two and threes. But, that is what Penn used to do, now we struggle to do that. But, yes scheduling quality JV and freshmen games becomes much more valuable. I just want Penn to be the team that people in the North wanted to avoid; now everyone wants a shot at us, because we are beatable.

I saw on Harrell that Penn has Hammond Morton this year....He also has us in against Cathedral Maxpreps has Penn playing Merrillville the day of the Valpo game, and two games on 9/8 against Morton and St. Mary's IDK what is going on.

That is unfortunate. SBSC really created a pickle for a bunch of kids that they probably never considered.

I think that when each option is laid out for presentation, if remaining in a conference is Penn's goal, then the DAC is the way to go....With that being said, I would suggest only going into the DAC if they jump to 10 teams and onboard Elkhart with them. This gives Penn the opportunity to get 5 conference games and 4 non again. Penn's conference schedule will improve right away, and they can still look south, east or north for touch competition. If the DAC wont move on that, Independent all the way.

You are right, my thought about the NLC idea was the NLC has amazing fan bases and it is super local. The games are always packed, so the amount of money for door and parking would go up. But, grand scheme of things no, the smaller competitive local teams do not help prep a bigger Penn for any situation in the playoffs. The DAC or going Independent are the two premium options. But, even with going Independent, there have to be filler games...

I get it, I just think that if we do go independent that we need some filler on the schedule to help rest, recover and get the depth opportunities to play. Move the Mishawaka game back to the end of the season, put the rotating south bend school game the week before it. Play Valpo week 1 like always. Game 1: Valpo Game 2: Northwood/Concord/Northridge/Warsaw (all competitive local teams) Game 3: Marian/St. Joe Game 4: Snider Game 5: La Jeff Game 6: Westfield Game 7: Elkhart Game 8: Riley/Adams/Washington Game 9: Mishawaka Penn has the chance of dropping 7 of those games. If Penn wins 7 of those games, I think they are well prepared for the playoffs.

Maybe they just don't care. adding TV to their schedule is better for them in the long run. This is also interesting, if they don't play Clay, and the NIC rules it a forfeit, but the team beats TV in their game, which record do you go with? What would the IHSAA recognize as the proper record?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA omg that is such a burn! The NIC just needs to tell SBSC to begin the athletics merger now. What will happen is the kids playing ball will either not play or show up for practice at what will be their future school.

Let's all be fair, The NIC will either disband or consolidate into a smaller school conference. The South Bend Schools do not want to play Penn; Mishawaka ran away from being the best team in the NIC because of Penn. Now because of size Elkhart is on the Island of "You're too big," the NLC allows Warsaw in the conference and probably would take Elkhart as well. But, the NLC would never consider Penn joining....Even though that conference makes the most sense at this present moment. With the formation of the small school conference, the NLC taking on Elkhart and maybe encouraging either Wawasee or Plymouth to move on would make sense. Penn wont join the DAC, too much driving from week to week. But, if you consider that driving with the possibility of the driving you will do with an independent schedule, maybe it is the second best fit. If Penn joined the DAC, would the conference restructure or stay a single table, you play the schedule given. Penn likes only having 5 conference games, it gives them the most schedule freedom. Adding Penn to the DAC gives them 9, if you also bring on Elkhart that is 10. You could do the I80 teams: Elkhart, Penn, LaPorte, Michigan City and Portage (the weaker division) and the others are in the second portion. You could do and even mix: Elkhart, Penn, Valpo, Merrillville and LaPorte or Portage. This keeps the two furthest teams together, but also gives them a better variety of what the DAC offers. Penn and Elkhart would then have the freedom of scheduling local teams to continue rivalries or even pursue past rivalries.

I have been clamoring for independent. We keep Mishawaka and Elkhart locally. Valpo remains at the beginning of the year. I would have no issue keeping Marian on the schedule, if they wanted to do a rotating schedule with St. Joe, cool. You need a rest game, so if the South Bend schools want to do a three year rotation. That would be nice to see. that is 5 games each year. Teams I would find interesting to start home and homes with: Northwood Merrillville Ben Davis Carmel Lafayette Jeff Carroll Snider Westfield HSE Brownsburg

WOW never would have thought about that, since that what Penn has done since the 80s with these teams.

Penn right now has the schedule the way they want it, no more than 5 conference games, so they can have more out of conference competition. I like the idea, but I would love to see a team like Northwood from last year go up against Penn. Penn now is not the team of the 90s or early 00s, Penn can get beat by these smaller schools now. It is a far fall from what the program used to be. I just didn't list them all. If Wawase left, Plymouth should go as well since their program is in such a free fall.

We don't travel as well as we used to, attendance comes and goes. We had full stands to see us get murdered by Carroll (props to them on that). I expect it to be packed at the Mishawaka game. But, the conference games, struggle to even get students out.

Well, this will be another blood letting on the Penn schedule. As a program we are a shell of what we used to be. However, long this agreement is for, congrats of 2-4 easy wins for Carmel.

I think it is time for Penn and Elkhart to move on from the NIC. Elkhart more than likely finds a home in the NLC and Penn either goes independent or Joins the Duneland. Playing Riley and Washington again does nothing for the schedules of either team. Washington and Riley do not want to play either school. Good luck to Jimtown, Glenn and Bremen. While Penn never saw you on the field it was nice having you all. I know the NLC would never want this, but if Plymouth left and they kicked Wawasee to the curb, I think a conference of: Mishawaka, Penn, Elkhart, Northridge, Concord, Northwood and Warsaw would be very fun schedule.

The issue is not Powlus, for the last three seasons Penn cannot stop a leaking faucet. The Oline cannot handle 5+ man blitzes and at times cannot even block the three or four down linemen in front of them. Powlus can deliver the ball....he just cannot stay upright. The QB before Powlus, Lynch could have been something special. However, he pursued his baseball career.