ragdoll

Is IU the culture still basketball first and everything else doesn't matter much? Seems to me to be really back that way strongly from talking to fans. Expectations for football? Corso coaches 10 years with only two winning seasons and probably held on so long with those some Old Oaken bucket wins and it was football. How many in power at IU really cared. Anything changed? I recall when Cameron (a well thought of NFL OC) was at IU, how you would see him at the big games with the marquee recruits and you knew he was never going to be able to get them.

An inspiring tribute to American Tackle football. https://www.forbes.com/sites/stuartanderson/2022/11/22/knute-rockne-the-immigrant-who-transformed-american-football/

IF I was playing for a sectional title or beyond, even if vastly overmatched, I would personally prefer to get all the reps and experience possible in a game of that magnitude without speeding game up with running clock. Any thoughts?

Were Hanover Central and Knox just that small, weak and slow to be thrashed by WL or is some data off and/or missing?

Anytime Cox's balls set me up to play a mercy rule scrimmage while the next opponent survives a dogfight, I like that set up. Injuries, attrition, anything I would consider is probably in my favor.

I would consider the mercy rule as used in Indiana from games I have seen to be akin to Burt Reynolds for Ned Beatty's hostage situation in the movie "Deliverance."

Whiteland has consistently run roughshod over Martinsville under Fisher (five coaches for Martinsville). Even the 2018 Artesians (which I would consider their one good team) were scored all over. In 2009, Martinsville thought they had figured it out with a regular season shutout and got shellacked in sectionals two weeks later. Over the years, never seen so many players sneak out of a backfield without a defender on them for a pass play.

Looking forward to this intriguing matchup.

Martinsville, despite being very average (see East Central runaway drubbing), has strangely had success against Whiteland the last two seasons, moving the ball and scoring well while slowing down the fly enough. So, that would be a real eyebrow raise for me.

Unfortunately, the stereotype of WIC football perpetual tourney failures will continue after this performance, but it is a building experience for the off season because OV is heading the right direction.

Two old friends from Martinsville (one who played on Siderwicz first team, one who coached) (RIP) both used to state how frustrating it was that Whiteland only ran the same handful of plays in essence and, yet, the Artesians were incompetent at defending it year after year. That is the fly offense that the Warriors have run under Fisher. Worse, when the backers fall asleep, they throw a pass that is undefended. Now, if they HAVE to pass, that is a different story.

Also, have to state the sectionals (point system) was played mid-week back in early 80's. So, Friday seems so mellow in comparison. And, Castle-Richmond played back to back years that way, one at each place.

Despite the travel, always enjoyed playing in Evansville on Friday rather than Saturday. Should be a fun one again. Although EC is a massive distance, back in the early 80's, Richmond had a drive I could not fathom to get to Castle pre-I-64.

I presume Pinnick did not play for Franklin. Whiteland looked terrible at Martinsville. Were they missing half their defense? Martinsville is not a dynamic team with high level playmakers (see East Central results 47-0 halftime) and still steadily moved the ball. I was shocked. And Whiteland does not pass well when they have to.

What if Josh McDaniels had taken the gig? What would this have looked like if Vrabel had been hired?

No one gave the coaching staff the weather report...... or.......they still decided to try those throws anyway. Also, going all season long, bro ball, putting way too much emphasis on looking for one player is much easier for teams to defend.

Pelini had a good record at Nebraska, a lot like Frank Solich, maybe a bit lower ranked teams than Solich's. Believe he had a winning bowl record, also. Nebraska has been in the outhouse since.

Both of these were question mark areas going into this mix. We will see who takes the field tomorrow. Like to see the best version of these teams competing, which often does not happen this time of season due to injuries, etc.

question about Whiteland for me was the bad loss at Martinsville in which the Artesians got out and controlled the game, kept it a two score difference. Defensively suspicious.

Also, not sure if Bloomington South was missing key players, but Martinsville had a quietly convincing win in second game of year after piss poor showing at Bedford.

Martinsville at EC. Similar areas. Both places close enough to the city to be influenced, but far enough away in the hills to be rural and referenced as hilljacks by the burbs. Both likely will sport some mullets. And these are the overwhelmingly top two teams in the sectional. Fittingly, EC will host their invitational. Not looking for Martinsville to give that much of a game, but not ruling out possibility. So far, not heard of top Artesians taking dummy pills to get suspended, unlike last year. Martinsville has had strange season with shockingly great win over Whiteland at home after upset road victory at Franklin (Max Clark was playing for gold medal Team USA baseball in World Cup so understandable because he may be two td difference). Fell at home to a down DC squad and OT loss at decent, but underwhelming Mooresville, with a bad home loss to Plainfield to close regular season. Greenwood and Bedford results were more about how bad those teams are rather than quality of Martinsville. Anyone else give a rip about this one?

Sectionals 13 and 14=the Mid-State sectionals With Max Clark back (missed the first Whiteland game due to playing for Team USA Gold medalist baseball team), I am leaning toward Franklin over Whiteland if no other key injuries. He is a huge difference. Still going with DC until they prove otherwise against familiar opponent (and lesser many previous seasons) for sectional championship. Anyone else out there?

Heldt did not play against Westfield and he looked severely missed.

Coach Pasch going for win 200. Also, Tecumseh, any coach that led BNL to a sectional title, I am not going to underestimate.

This is more indicative of how low BNL (and Greenwood the previous week) are at present rather than Martinsville being that good. This was a methodically mediocre game. Reminded me of last year's semi South Dearborn at Martinsville.