BLACKGOLD2007

I hear you on the uphill battle you would be looking at year in and year out...This year minus the weird blunder in game 1...NP is better than Portage, LP, MC & LC....I think they would probably beat Chesterton this season. Valpo, CP & MVille would all be losses... However, you wouldn't be playing all three of those teams plus Penn each season. If you went with Boiler's set up, you would only see Mville and CP every couple of season, while you still get LP and MC. That also comes with Valpo and Penn yearly. But, NP in the middle of the DAC is a good finish. It sets you up for a very strong run in the 4A ranks. You will have seasons where Valpo might blow you out the water, but just as the last 5 years have shown you can beat Penn on any given night and you have held your own against them.

Didn't Penn play Mishawaka twice for like JV or Freshmen this year.....When I was in school we never had to double up with a school, but now with the program numbers of the SB schools dropping hard, there is just no sustainability. If one of the programs could maintain some sense of consistency it might slowly build excitement in the school and the community to get kids more interested in playing. Hopefully Riley can start that cycle. Washington was that program for a few years. But, there is so much turnover in the coaching ranks it is hard to become consistent when a qb has his third head coach in four years.

So, if Elkhart decides to go to the NLC and NP decides to also join the NLC (which are both possible), The next best option could be going down to Jeff (which is a drive) or even Lowell or Hobart could be options....I know they are smaller, but they play some DAC schools on the regular. The NIC struggles to find filler games right now for their JV and Freshman teams because some of the schools don't have the numbers to fill the rosters. It is a crap shoot in the NIC.

Warsaw threw a wrench that no one saw coming. If you can dodge a wrench you can dodge a ball....6A Indiana all eliminated on that one. lol

Even if they went to the DAC the same scenario applies, the other NIC schools would still be willing to play Penn. Maybe not all, but St. Joe, Marian & Adams would be. Riley and Washington I think are ready for a Penn NIC divorce. NLC teams would still look to add Penn in their schedules as well. Either way, Penn I think is set when it comes to schedules.

I think if Penn were allowed to remain an NIC member in all sports but Football it would be less stress for the AD. But, I think there are some programs that would love to on board Penn as a long term opponent...Valpo is our most consistent rival right now. Even though Indy schools might not deem us a threat they would still play us. Fort Wayne schools want to play us. I think we could fill an independent schedule quickly. But, is it what is best right now for the program? Idk. I think playing schools with programs that are more your size on a weekly basis will help improve the trajectory of the program.

@Boilernation I agree 100% with your thoughts. I think the East/West split is most do-able. I would like to see a more competitive split...Penn plays Valpo every year, so my thoughts would be: Side A: -Penn -Elkhart/NP -Merrillville -LaPorte -Chesterton Side B -CP -Michigan City -Lake Central -Valpo -Portage I think this is the most balanced approach when it comes to guaranteed yearly opponents. Either way works. You still do the two crossover games that is 6 total leaving 3 non-conference games to be played. This allows Penn to keep Mishawaka, play a Fort Wayne school and pick up a school from around Indy....This improves Penn's schedule 100 fold in my opinion.

I expect Steele Stadium to be packed and rocking

Look, to be fair and as even as possible. Penn's trajectory has been downward over the last 5-6 seasons. Last year was an improvement by record, but the Carroll result was typical of Penn's outcomes in the seasons prior. Penn this year is by far way better than last year. However, they have a tendency to come out flat, they did it in their biggest game in Cathedral (not saying they the game's result would have changed, but if they came out with some fire maybe it isn't as bad)....As a die hard Penn fan, hate the fact that we are not competitive with the teams down in Indy...to be honest, we haven't been for the most part since my freshman year in 03....We have had seasons where we beat Carmel...but look what happened at state the next week... Even if Penn beats CP, Westfield or HSE will likely handle Penn in the same manor that Cathedral did. CP, I take the I will believe it when I see stance. The beat good Valpo and M'ville teams, but overall the rest of their conference and schedule was down....that is not to the fault of CP. Penn has the same issue, the NIC is not good. (sorry co-NIC members) There is no benefit in the conference games....However, I think Penn would be better off in the DAC than the NIC...what does that say about the DAC? What I want from this game....Bobref probably hates me, but I want a ref crew that will call the game both ways, I want Penn to come out and execute on both sides of the ball. I want to see CP at their best, and I want the team that wins to go on and compete well in Semi-state. I am tired of "always" getting whipped by schools from Indy...6A north (the true north, sounds like game of thrones) needs a state title....IDC who wins it CP, Penn Carroll, we need 1.

Ah the good old days when Penn was a 219 school....

A lot of empty seats the last two games. I don't expect a sell out.

Wow, I cannot wait for Friday night. Penn will find out if they have actually improved as a program since Cathedral or if it same old Penn.

Well they got two very easy calls very wrong during the game. Yes on came when the game didn't matter...the Warsaw TD. But, it was a blown call.

The clock bled so fast..I think it was late 3rd or early 4th. It was right before the weird Punt situation. Penn was only up 14-3. Ball was thrown to the WR's right Warsaw defender didn't play the ball and prevented the Penn player to get back to the ball. Then the next play is the Punt failure/success.

Warsaw scores on big play....with a nice no call hold on their only WR. but whatever...these refs are questionable 31-10 Mishawaka 20 - 14 4th Laville 28 Bremen 14 final

Penn 31-3

Northwood 17 Northridge 14 Mishawaka 14 Concord 14

It appeared to not cross the line of scrimmage....is the only thing we can think of. Penn intercepts pass...pick 6

So, the refs make a terrible no call on a pass interference. Penn punts the ball straight into the air. Ball hits Penn grabs it, no whistle and Penn runs the ball in for a TD. ??? 21-3

Fumble Warsaw. Penn recovers at the +34

Last I heard 14-3 Penn TD 14-3 here. Mishawaka leads as well

Sorry, got to the game late. Daughter's first Volleyball game was tonight. Got the W. Penn 7-3 half

That is all fair, if it were a CFP committee I think you are right, they are probably looking at multiple variables. I think that outside Valpo's games vs CP and Penn, the next best game is Merrillville, which is a tough game, but the rest of the conference isnt very good. Andrean being down this year didn't help. Snider overall has two quality wins vs 6A teams, yes Warren did not live up to their normal expectations, but Carroll was a very good 6A team. I think Snider would likely take the overall #1 spot, but the loss to Homestead is big hurdle to look past. I like the Snider v Merrillville matchup you have in your final 4.

That is fair, but who and how is SOS determined. Sagarin? I will give you the Summit is a better conference top to bottom than Conference Indiana.

I love a team that has a strong run game that can exert their will on teams. A big Oline that just gets better as the game progresses. 94 Nebraska comes to mind, in how they dismantled a very very good Miami Hurricane D. I prefer a trap style of run game, kids in HS just do not like to be hit like that over and over. especially if they are being honed in on.