Bash Riprock

Maybe I missed it...so if we cut 6A from 32 to 16 teams per your proposal to qualify for post season play....how does this help the kids? (both players and the student body) Coaching staffs? I understand it makes it more exciting for you. Honest question....

LOL....always go to your local legal team for mathematics support.......

One thing is for sure...like death and taxes, it is a certainty that this topic will be hashed and rehashed on at least an annual basis on this forum.... I will continue to say that this is bigger than football with the IHSAA. Bottom line, there is zero driver to take a game away from kids, expect for the appeal to a segment of the fan base. And I don't see that being a big enough reason to change. Compound the issue with the past qualifier system in this state being not being considered as a success....far from it. Seeding...that has a much higher probability in my opinion. But hey, lets debate it each and every year.....quite the exercise.

The Chicago Great Pumpkins......

Not disagreeing with your statement....only saying that the mindset of the IHSAA for all-in, blind draws isn't limited to football. It would require step change thinking across the board, rather than isolating for one sport. Indiana high school football also used to have a qualifier for post-season play. Back when there was only 3 classes I believe. I remember those days well and remember 7-2 teams that did not accumulate enough points to qualify. Perhaps that mistake years ago is why changing it back today is so difficult. I am not sure. Personally, for what its worth, I don't believe cutting a 32 team state tournament down to 16 teams is progress. I do align with seeding, and believe if being creative the tournament could be structured to give out bye's to conference winners, top voted 8, etc. I think it can be improved to make the regular season worth something, without eliminating teams, and teams from those classes that are already pretty small. But, hey, its only an opinion. Not arguing that I am correct.

isnt this the case with most IHSAA sports?? Blind draws, all in? Isn't this discussion really bigger than football?

I agree its a whole new season in the playoffs and BOTH teams are different from games 1 and 2. (CG and Carmel played game 2) CG lost their all state running back for the season in the first quarter against Warren and the Trojan QB was making his first varsity start, yet they were able to overcome. CG is a very different from the team that opened the season against WC. BTW, I was there for their game...it wasn't quite the nail biter that you describe. While the margin wasn't huge, the WC offense struggled mightily...perhaps because of the QB play you mentioned. NEITHER team is the team that played each other in game 1. That being said, I do agree that when these two teams play, either team could come out on top...especially in the playoffs. Both teams will be ready to play. (assuming they are both sectional champs....and that's not a given)

Walker III sure impressed me in the CG game. He came off the bench and started making plays instantly. (both passing and running) And to think he is only a freshman. He has all the tools to be really special.

interesting data.... With Sagarin, certainly helps to be in a strong conference with quality non-conference games. May get tougher for independents...

looks like it will get review after this season, whatever that means...... https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/34774498/report-nfl-mull-roughing-passer-rules-amid-outrage

I am not disagreeing with you in 2019...if you say CG was top 10, ok. All I am saying, that may not be the case the year prior or after, depending on how the other 31 teams did in 6A those seasons. Assuming CG can maintain an in-state difficult schedule for years to come, that will help using your formula.

Sectional title or higher....that is an accomplishment. Even a sectional runner up that gave the expected champion a heck of a game, making them earn it.

they did have a tough schedule....they beat LN, LC, Pike and BD. (I was wrong in my previous note) They lost pretty big to New Pal, who did win 4A. I am not sure those 4 wins would rank them top 10, understanding the SOS matters. But it is possible had the year been different, the other teams in their class could have had stronger seasons, so there is no guarantee a team like CG in 2019 is a lock for qualifying. And that would have been a shame to have them on the outside looking in....that young team absolutely did develop over the year, nearly winning a 6A title, setting themselves up for a historic 2 year run. Its a great discussion...I can see both sides of this debate....my concern is for the teams "on the bubble" that can absolutely make an impact in the playoffs.

Interesting challenge....Roncalli won a state title in 2002 and started the season 0-4. Would they have qualified for the playoffs that year with a 5-4 regular season record? 2019, Center Grove started out the season 1-4, finished the regular season 4-5 and went to the 6A state championship game losing 20-17 to Carmel, nearly pulling off the win. Would a 4-5 team with a total of 32 teams in their class qualify for the tournament that year? Most years? (note: CG beat Warren and Ben Davis in the playoffs in which they lost to both during the regular season....BD pretty handily) I'm guessing history is not limited to those 2 examples above of teams that have got into the playoffs with .500 or sub .500 records that have made an impact in the playoffs.

I met just streaming....I stated TV....may have gotten that one wrong. Plenty of CG folks on fall break will take advantage of streaming the game.

A little update...he is keeping it close to the vest understandbly, but is back in Ann Arbor hoping to return soon.... His tweet with an update and thanks......just a class guy. Get well soon Coach Hart!! https://www.si.com/college/2022/10/10/michigan-football-assistant-coach-mike-hart-health-update

Appreciate you putting out this bracket.....to me, the most intriguing first round games include: Carroll vs Penn Elkhart vs Warsaw Homestead vs HSE Westfield vs Carmel Brownsburg vs Ben Davis (a slobberknocker for sure) CG vs FC. (FC has improved and the Coach West and Coach Moore history)

Always hate that one of the best games of the year is on Fall Break. Will definitely impact the overall attendance. But lots of people will be watching this one from afar. IHSAA will like that.....

With Center Grove's victory over Lawrence North last night, the Trojans completed their 3rd straight season undefeated in the conference. While there will be no conference championship for the Trojans this year, the records will indicate they were 21-0 over the last 3 seasons during MIC play. I went back and looked at records of MIC play to determine if this feat had occurred previously. Warren only lost one game during 2009-11 seasons (Carmel) and Ben Davis lost one game (Carmel) during the 1999-2001 seasons. But I could not find where any team previously went undefeated for 3 seasons. Please check me if I am incorrect. Regardless, what a historical run for the Trojans in a tremendous football conference. Congrats Coach Moore, staff and players during this period!

I don't disagree....but didn't both start their careers elsewhere....Jones at Buffalo and then Iowa....O'Connell D3 Wheaton College and walk-on at Purdue. But I do agree that Purdue has probably hit the Chicago region well over the years. I think the point is that with Illinois improving, that sets them up to take a larger piece of that pie.

Sure feels that way......Ryan Kelly got thrown to the ground last night and somehow "injured his hip". Felt like he wanted nothing to do with playing.....

I ran out of votes....agree 100%

Matt Ryan has 10 fumbles and 7 int's. Wentz had 7 int's the entire season, with 27 TD's. (almost 3600 passing yds) No, I am not a Wentz fan.....but looks like Ryan certainly isn't the answer. Now, I would take Ryan matching Wentz's stats in a New York minute...... To Ryan's defense (at least a portion) is the horrific O line play by the highest paid OL in the league. What has happened to Q and Kelly? They look bad. I've been watching a fair amount of video of them missing blitzes, getting fooled on stunts, and simply getting manhandled 1 on 1. Denver didn't need to blitz last night, because 4 D lineman kept whipping 5 O lineman.

Tim Wilbur returned a punt for a TD in the 1979 Holiday Bowl that ended up being the final margin in IU's upset over a 11-0 BYU team led by QB Marc Wilson. I had forgotten he was Bob Wilbur's son..... Northwestern...I also forgot that was the Dennis Green era....wow. Big fan of Babe....I follow him on Twitter to this day. He is very close with Troy Aikman, and I believe used to (still does?) announce for the Cowboys. Babe sadly lost his son to cancer (was a football player at UTEP) and he still tweets about him often. Heart-wrenching. Mallory was the best coach for IU...certainly in the recent era. I believe Terry Hoeppner would have been great as well. He had them moving in the right direction until cancer cut his life very short.