temptation

Except with Carroll…they “almost” beat Snider last year…that outweighs their MOST RECENT game which was a 14 point loss to an unranked Warsaw team. Its all about how “last year ended” for everyone else…

You are cherry picking early season results from last year. Warren played better football than Carroll in late October/early November last year. The Warren/Carroll game was a rock fight that could’ve gone either way. Then when the tourney rolled around, Warren played the 2nd best team in the state to a scoreless draw at halftime before losing by 14 two weeks after Carroll got mud stomped by WARSAW. look, I know we are arguing semantics here and I actually agree and have been on record multiple times talking about how 6A is sort of a crap shoot this year and you could flip-l flop any of these teams but you’re rationale seems to switch based on geography. Even if I concede the Carroll over Warren argument, why in the hell did you put them ahead of the defending state runners up and a team in Westfield who made the final four? ”The way they finished last year.” (Checks notes: Lost in game 1 of the sectional to an unranked team by two touchdowns.)

Switch the schedules…what’s each team’s 2023 record with the other’s schedule? (Still can’t believe I am sitting here defending a team that my poll will have lower than nearly every other poll released this offseason.)

What’d Carroll do?

PAC 12 teams are to defense as oil is to water. I’ll say the same about what’s about to happen to Oklahoma and Texas in the $EC.

Fort Wayne is the place to be next Friday night.

Am I the only one not having “white guy tacos” this weekend? WTF is this?

I can’t fully get on board with Oregon in year one. They seem like “Ohio State light” to me. Sometimes I may be stereotyping, but they seem like, historically, a finesse offense that has to outscore you to beat you. They lost to the same Washington team twice last year that Michigan ran for over 300 yards against. November road games in Ann Arbor and Madison will be telling… I see them as a playoff team, no doubt but cannot get on board with them winning the Big Ten. Will gladly come back in December if I am wrong. It’s do or die for Franklin this year. Perennial underachiever/overthinker. Schedule sets up nicely as you said but he always manages to step on a rake in big games.

Following… (And any response other than “I am from Fort Wayne and I’m biased” is a lie.)

10. Carroll (Fort Wayne) 9. Hamilton Southeastern 8. Indianapolis Cathedral 7. Westfield 6. Crown Point

I don’t see this. Quite the opposite actually.

Can’t disagree on nearly any of your points but can we finally stop with the posturing about these guys “doing what’s best for kids”, “developing great young men of high character” and all of that other nonsense. If high school football is now a business, my days as a “cheesy internet fan” are numbered? It’s not just football.

I’m genuinely curious though. WHY do people think that a school like Warren has been littered with “transfers” as of late? I used to hear lines like “kids want to play for programs with a winning culture” but Warren has been a .500 program since their last state title. The current crop of student athletes were in late elementary school the last time Warren was relevant state wide. What is it?

In a school of 3800? It should make “enough” kids varsity players.

No one was ever accused of starting kids “lacking ability.” If you are worth anything as a coach, you’ve developed those lower levels so that when that kids’ time comes, you’ve prepared him.

Paintball guns, lol?

Heartbroken for JJ. This is why I’ll never fault a kid for leaving early and getting paid.

So IPS and rural schools just need to spend more time and try harder? Yes, poor BD.

False equivalency. You’re speaking in hyperbole here. That was never the accusation being made. No one claimed “their ability does not warrant it.” The point being made is that it is much easier to have respect for a program that is built from the ground up via feeder systems, while promoting hard work and dedication. Programs that hit reset annually and build via other means (Colorado comes to mind), are becoming way too common for many people’s taste. And please don’t hit me with the piss poor analogy of “coaches can leave so why can’t players?” ”Waiting your turn” in this instance (though I can’t speak for everyone) means the wide eyed kid that busts his ass from elementary on and watches the high school team in hopes of one day being the the next one given an opportunity to play. When you bring in “one and dones” from surrounding programs it’s pretty demoralizing and you are sending a really important message whether you realize it or not. That kid, let’s assume he is talented, has three choices…transfer, switch positions, continue to be a team first guy and accept a backup role. No pearl clutching here but let’s just call this what it is.

Do you have experience in what goes on in school buildings from 8am-3pm? I don’t agree with it but an interesting stance to take when it comes to high school athletics.

Damn. What a way to go through life.

I can’t speak to the Cathedral transfer but to put it kindly, let’s just the Westfield kid didn’t voluntarily “give it up.” (I’ve probably already said too much.) Not asking for credit for being first…it’s just the nature of modern day athletics. Yes.

Safety was already there last year. Some folks giggled earlier this offseason when I told them I needed to see how the transfer portal played out before creating any type of rankings…

Yes. Sub 11 second 100 meter guy.

Technically I believe the kid ranked #18 plays OL but you also forgot the #1 ranked player in the 2026 class.