ragdoll

Penn had strong defenses

Penn was better in 2000 but Matt Kaler being out was a big detriment to the CG run attack and made them much easier to defend. The classic Penn teams had high level defenses.

Watched that Westfield-Merrillville game on the wonderful whmb broadcast. Westfield clearly was better. Figured they would be tougher match for CG than year prior when got plowed over.

On best teams ever, I will note that Bedford had good teams in 79 and 80. This was points era and only a four teams would playoff qualify south of Indy large school and Richmond was in that mix. Bedford had good size and tough I heard from older friends. 79 team only lost to East, including sectional. 80 team actually won conference by beating East, but East went to playoffs instead to face Martinsville because Bedford opened season against Martinsville back then. Since Shelbyville was brought up, their 84 team was strong and tough, very stingy defense. Beat Martinsville and CG (beating them out for cluster) during undefeated regular season. Unfortunately for them, Martinsville edged them 7-3 in sectional rematch. New Albany was tough matchup in 84 regional for Martinsville, very good team. The 2002 team may be considered top team, beating undefeated defending regional champ Reitz in sectional before getting overpowered in regional at CG on very wet, cold, windy night, which made passing challenging. Jeffersonville had some good squads in 90's when Bloomington South had many dominant teams.

Do not think can overlook the 79 team with Blair Kiel and Tom Hendrickson and a really good team. A first for south of Indy winning the big school title.

Hogan Denny has another year at Mooresville. My friend thought he was a better qb than Patterson as a freshman. Came into the regional game at Evansville in 2020 and led game winning drive. Superior arm.

When was the NCAA a necessary, reasonable organization? Seems like all my life, it was terrible politics and just kept getting worse. Anyone with any thoughts?

Was not Decatur playing a lot of sophomores last year?

WOW. Shocking. google them.

Dayton was very good in the 80's. Stagg Bowls.

In Morgantown (between Indian Creek and Martinsville), the Green Hill is reopened and has a good tenderloin. They make their own potato chips, also.

River Rouge is big boy pants football. If not for King, may have won a state title.

Still wonder about Eric Bieniemy being a perpetual bridesmaid, even after 2 SB wins in 3 SB games in five years after replacing former Bears coach Matt Nagy as OC. Is it lack of credit and too much credit for Mahomes or something else (and no need to bring up way distant past)? Seems strange to me. Did Irsay and Ballard ask him in the interview a hypothesis of what if you are down to Sam Ehlinger in the game and he has a bad leg and reduced to being a pocket passer with Pittman and Pierce out and Bieniemy stated, "Ehlinger on one leg missing our top two receivers and that line from this past season? Hell, no!"

Regarding Tutsie, he is really good as a DC. and his son just finished playing in his fourth FCS national championship game, having won the first three.

Kudos to CG for playing St. Edward. An aggressive, competitive mindset.

https://nypost.com/2023/01/18/texas-coach-john-harrell-backed-by-students-after-suspension-over-400-pushup-punishment/

Did not recall, for some reason I thought Lakewood was over 300 mile barrier from Indy.

So, scheduling a home and home with St. Edward would still be out of bounds for Indy teams?

IU was likely recruiting Cocaine Bear for that position.

Steele on JMV at bottom of 4 hour.

was still a bit surprised at how bad Purdue was

I recall that Chris Creighton used to use that boat rowing story at Wabash. Is Fleck the only Power 5 coach to carry on the boat theme to that level?

Impressive to bring up both Kubiak and Murray dad qb days.

North Shore broke the massive Westlake winning streak in semi. Anyone else remember Westlake Coach Todd Dodge when he was a highly touted qb coming out of hs and later played at Texas?

I recall that the McCullough brothers did not make the top 50 last year.