BLACKGOLD2007

Penn cannot run laterally, they try to run zone plays and get blown up in the back field. I would implement trap schemes and run the ball down hill. Penn dominated teams locally and for a stretch in the DAC by running right at other teams. When I was playing we told the defenses locally where we were going with the ball, and still ran it down their throat. When you go left and right in the back field and your name is not Sanders, it typically doesn't end well. Penn can run trap schemes from different formations and even their current set of formations. They just choose not to. The only thing I would consider differently on D is maybe going to a 3-4. Why is it that the 6th largest school that should have a good selection of athletic young men cannot produce on offense? Coaching and play calling. I've watched the 3A title games and those teams are throwing for 300-400 yards...why is that not possible at Penn High School? We literally waisted Powlus's four years because we couldn't adapt an offense that would help the young man thrive.

Penn got beat because they were not prepared properly by the coaching staff. That has been the biggest issue in the past 5/6 seasons. In regards to semi state/state games Penn is so far behind on talent and coaching the other team can predict what we are going to do before we snap the ball. It is so frustrating

Being a former player and a fan, it is hard to watch a program that was constantly in the conversation for semi-state and state aspirations go .500. In years past I would have been loosing my mind at the thought of Penn not being higher on the list. I just cant defend it's current state of affairs.

I guess I am just so tired of the current estate of affairs.

Going by all time wins, is not always the route to judge by sustained success. There are schools that have been around a lot longer than others, but have not accomplished the things the younger schools have. Mishawaka much older than Penn. Penn has 5 states titles since the 80's Mishawaka has 0, this can also measure against a few of those other schools on that list. But, the history is interesting to see. Thank you for sharing.

I am sorry we cannot keep Penn in this group anymore....at least not in Football.

I think if Penn exits the NIC, it will be all programs. I don't think they will be allowed to be the Notre Dame of our area. But, I have been wrong many times before. Independence in football makes the most sense for what Penn wants/needs. However, if the DAC can agree to balance the conference in accordance to distance traveled to away games and competitive balance that is a strong option for Penn. If I am AD at Penn, I would push for independence, because in most sports we will continue to play the northern schools anyways. Look at the basketball and the baseball/softball schedules. The boys and girls played teams from all over northern Indiana. Penn schedule that I would look for: alternate the between two catholic schools locally, St. Joe and Marian are still rivals of Penn, no need to kill that off. - Game 5 alternate between the three remaining south bend schools. - Game 2 Mishawaka - Game 9 (always) Valpo - Game 1 (always) Team from Michigan/Ohio - Game 3 Team from Ft. Wayne - Game 6 Team from Indy - Game 4 Elkhart - Game 8 Larger school from the DAC or Lafayette area. - Game 7 This current version of Penn might not go .500 but this would be how I would like to see the schedule play out.

WHOA! That is huge info. I didn't not see Elkhart in that light, but that is sad. Elkhart has the potential to be a strong school across all sports. I hope it gets fixed asap.

To be honest Bobref, not many of the old Penn posters don't engage this site anymore. Among the falling number of fans that attend the games regularly there is unrest with the coaching overall. The defense has been fine, in the past five years it seems the D is lacking, but they cannot get a break, because the O was three and out all the time. The offensive side of the ball needs to be examined. (this past season was slightly different) I know this is arm chair quarterbacking, but when Penn was running trap blocking schemes and quick hitting runs we were a much more threatening Offense. We controlled games just by the dominance of the Offensive line. In the past five years our lateral running game ends in the backfield, we looked strongest running down hill between the tackles. Penn was dominant over the teams in the Northern part of our state because we out executed other teams, not because we were more talented.

Until Penn figures out how Offenses work, they will always be flirting with the specter of .500 football. The team returns a large number of players from last season. The defense was young(ish) and key players on O will be coming back. There is a chance Penn starts the season 1-3. With state champ Valpo returning a large core of their team from last season, which Valpo team shows up? Penn also has Mishawaka return to the schedule, I would say Mishawaka is trending upward since their move to the NLC and well Penn will not beat Cathedral in their final head to head matchup. If the NP game is out there, Penn will likely get beat. They do not play well at the Cougars home. I am excited for the schools that will be making the new conference next year. Best of luck to you all heading that direction!

But, they were at full strength against Crown Point and Merrillville, and still lost by similar outcomes?

I never said they weren't a blue blood program, I just don't think that Valpo has earned the ability to question what type of team they are going to be each year. If you had said that Valpo would win state in 5A after their second loss in a row by 20+ points not one person in the DAC or northern Indiana would have believed it. Valpo is a great program, they caught lightning in a bottle and won a title. At this point it is a matter of proving that the post season was not a fluke. As a matter of Penn, we are not anything near a program that we used to be. We aren't even favored to win most of our games anymore. The program is a shell of what it was. But, I can still cast my doubts on a team that lost to a program in decline (over the past 5/6 seasons) by 29 points. Game 1 of this season will tell you which direction the two programs will be heading. Penn likely will be 1-3 after week four. That has become the norm here in Mishawaka. It is pathetic and down right crap. A school of 3500, and cant coach a team worth watching. (Coaching is to blame not the students)

So, Valpo caught lightning in a bottle and rode it all the way to state, that is very similar to my freshmen year at Penn. I was not basing their being in the top 10 of the state on 1 game from last year. It is based on the fact that they played three games where they were handled in the regular season. The question is, which team is Valpo going to field next year, the team the won state or the team the got waxed three times in the regular seaon? We don't ask these questions about the Blue Bloods of Indy. Valpo at this point is not a shoe in for the top ten, but they are close.

Wait! We now know that by virtue of the Carroll Penn outcome that the Ft. Wayne conference was very strong, which is helped by two teams making it to the 5A and 6A semi-state games and one state finals game. IF you look at the 3 losses that Valpo had last year they were 35-6 Penn, 34-13 Crown Point and 37-10 Merrillville. Did Valpo improve from those losses to the state final...obviously. However, to conclude based on outcomes of the Ft. Wayne games that came before the Penn Carroll game, in my opinion is a stretch. Until the playoffs no one was certain how good the teams from Ft. Wayne stacked up, since they played a closed schedule. Valpo grew and avenged their loss to Merrillville, in a nail biter, then squirmed their way past a good Snider team. By outcome, yes Valpo had a much better season, but head to head Penn was the better team. We wont know if they would have beat Penn in the playoffs because they dropped to 5A (due to growing number of 6A schools around Indy).

Let's just put it into perspective, a young not experienced Penn team last year hung a W on the 5A champs 35-6. Be it first game of the season, but this year will probably be a better game, with both teams gaining experience, and Valpo finally getting that state title. We will see in the weeks coming.

We haven't played anyone, other than Cathedral, from down there in years...I have no idea how good anyone in that part of the state is going to be. Like I said stab in the dark. But, I wont be the least bit surprised if BD, Warren and Carmel are back to their normal winning 10+ games ways.

6A 10. Carmel 9. Warren Central 8. Ben Davis 7. Westfield 6. Crown Point 5. Brownsburg 4. HSE 3. FW Carroll 2. Cathedral 1. Center Grove Just a stab in the dark.

I hear you on what is best for local school affiliation, but Mishawaka ran from Penn once, they wont join a conference with them again. I think in all honesty, if the NIC dissolves, the SB schools and the catholic schools joining together might be the only option. Penn going to the Duneland with either Elkhart or NP would be interesting. However, I think the NLC would be dumb to not try to scoop up Elkhart. They could even consider NP, but that is a long drive from Wawasee and Warsaw. But, the fanatics of the NLC will drive.

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!