Bash Riprock

That's one way to attempt to discredit a view that differs than yours. Attempt to place motive..... So let's just eliminate anyone that is currently involved with state high school football.....because you have no driving interest, right?? I know, I know...its all about the "pride factor" you desire for the kids..... Not sure whether to belly laugh or just shake my head. Maybe both!!!

What are you talking about Coach? Besides McLaurin, who in the world is Deebo Samuel, DK Metcalf, and AJ Brown???? Bunch of no ones!!! Ya-Sin! Ya-Sin!! Ballard is a genius!!!! He says so!!

Did anyone see the Ball State vs Kent State game on ESPNU last night? Carson Steele, the soph running back for the Cardinals rushed for 192 yds last night in their victory, snapping a 12 game home winning streak for the Flashes. Steele became the 8th RB in FBS to surpass the 1000 yd rushing mark this season. Way to go Warhorse!! Somehow, Tom Allen couldn't use Indiana's Mr. Football, gorwing up and playing only 30 miles away from campus. SMH https://www.hustlebelt.com/2022/11/1/23436178/maction-recap-carson-steele-192-yards-ball-state-cardinals-comeback-27-20-kent-state-golden-flashes https://www.thestarpress.com/story/sports/college/ball-state/2022/11/02/ball-state-football-vs-kent-state-carson-steele-reaches-1000-rush-yards/69603074007/

It has been that way now for several years....south always seems to be a gauntlet, now adding Cathedral to the mix. But I agree BB has the horses and having homefield is a big deal. Their decisive win against BD in the sectional game 1 was an absolute eye opener.

Washington deserves last place if nothing else for their new horrible team name. The USFL would have even rejected that one......

Carmel is a head scratcher this year. I agree with your talent comment for their roster. They beat Detroit Cass, Ben Davis, and held an explosive LC offense to 7 points the last regular season game in that victory. The game against CG came down to the wire. Just not sure what happened in the Westfield game. They were not beaten that soundly all season long. It seems like they were simply not ready to play against Westfield. Not related to this season, but I am hearing their youth football numbers are considerably down.....can anyone confirm? That is not a good sign for the future if true, although I know they get a ton of move-ins.

I've always supported seeding....just not an arbitrary slice of 50% of a field that is already pretty darn small, especially at the 6A level, just to make some fans feel better. Season losses of 4 games and sometimes even 2 games (lets say to some key injuries or lack of experience) will absolutely eliminate teams in a qualifier with 50% cut of the field. (I have illustrated this year with teams using Sagarin) I don't buy the one reason I have heard why kids would value a qualifier based on "their pride". Those were my comments that you chose to comment upon.

My issue with your statement was "pride". Perhaps to a few that losing in an opening playoff game there is "pride" because they made the tournament? I would say it is negligible. Bottom line, they are going home with no success in the tournament. You may feel its a "consolation" prize to have made the tournament....but very few fall back on that as a measure of success. And if they try to claim "pride" or some measure of success for making the playoffs and losing the opener as they tell the story to others, no one buys it. No one. For those that have success in the playoffs, there is zero impact of pride for just making it in to the tournament. NONE. The middle 50%....question. How many people fill up college stadiums because their team may land at .500 and become bowl eligible? Motivator? Really?

My son was fortunate enough to play on a state championship and final four teams. He competed his butt off in the MIC conference playing against stellar competition. I assure you he has much pride in his team's accomplishments, and even more pride competing side by side with his teammates, learning critical life lessons that he's taken with him and applied to his life. Playing in a tournament with a 50% team elimination from the start has ZERO impact on his level of pride. ZERO.

I understand it doesn't automatically end it for all schools, but going 0-4 will absolutely end it with SOME schools given their inability to have the same strength of schedule as teams in large metro areas. I just showed you that with some teams this season and your response was for those teams to go play a tougher schedule. As if its that easy for teams outside of large metro areas tp find more challenging opponents. Your proposal absolutely is a bias in the favor of schools in large metro areas that have an easier time scheduling more difficult opponents. You are ignoring the question I have asked you over and over. How does your proposal make it a better experience for kids? Tell me about your experience because I assume that if you played, your days had to fall under all-in. How did that experience make it such a bad experience that you would want it changed. Did you play? Or is this solely from a "fan in the stands" perspective? If you played under current system, and it was a less than desirable experience, sharing that view provides some additional credibility.

I just challenged your comment about 0-4 teams making it in the tournament. It’s nowhere close to being a given they will always have a shot. I played in a qualifier system, my son did not. There is no way I can claim my experience was better than his. I’m curious, what is your experience playing in a qualifier system? Did it deepen your overall high school experience? If so, why?

Based on regional location, not every team has the chance for the same SOS. It is a bias toward large metro area teams with easier scheduling opportunities. I showed you teams, some in large areas with 4 losses this season were eliminated using Sagarin. In less populated areas, teams with 2 losses were eliminated. Your answer…get a tougher schedule. That’s not is easy as it sounds for teams not located in larger metro areas. So yes, certain teams starting off seasons 0-4 can certainly mail it in.

Perhaps Whiteland may someday be in a conference with CG.....

Understand the latter....while again, someone is telling a 7-2 team located in a different region of the state outside of the populated Indy metro area they are staying at home. I don't think it is as easy as you claim changing conferences and traveling all over the northern part of the state. That impacts all sports and middle schools as well. You are absolutely entitled to your thoughts and there's some merit. I think seeding (and that would be controversial to an extent) would at least allow teams to decide it on the field vs. an imperfect computer algorithm. I completely agree with you that teams like Brownsburg and Ben Davis should not be meeting in the first game of the sectionals.

Roncalli was 5-4 in 2002 (started season 0-4) and won the state championship. Center Grove was 4-5 in 2019, and won red rings as the state runner up, losing in the finals to Carmel 20-17.

...and that's a big problem with your proposal. Warsaw and Elkhart are not in Central Indiana, so they being a conference member of the MIC or HCC is not an option. So why should a program be eliminated because of their regional location? Of course they have a weaker schedule....they do not have the options to play stronger teams given their locations. Maybe you are right in that they would have less wins in the MIC or HCC....but shouldn't that be proven on the field vs. a computer program that doesn't take into account their options for scheduling? Especially, if the cut is an arbitrary 50% of an already small field of 32 teams to begin? How would you feel if your son played for Warsaw and he was on the outside looking in, solely because of where the school is located and his team's scheduling options?

I took your arbitrary cut of 50% for 6A, to see that that would mean using Sagarin. Team eliminated (falling in the bottom 16)with their 2022 record include Warsaw 7-2 Elkhart 7-2 Homestead 5-4 Zionsville 4-5 Lake Central 4-5 Columbus North 4-5 3 teams over .500 and 3 more teams on the cusp. Eliminating them, what is the true benefit? I am not talking about your personal satisfaction....how does it benefit those kids, coaching staffs and communities? Are you saying these teams cannot be competitive in the playoffs?

So no coaches on any staff in this state have any experience coaching in another state?? I know that isn’t the case for the head coaches at Brownsburg and CG. Guessing they aren’t alone. Bet many coaches have a better perspective on this issue than what you think.

Don’t believe Penn led in that game, but if you want to call a competitive game as a “near-win”, whatever… Don’t mistake chuckling as one being bent out of shape….

Near win? 😆 I was LOS and must have saw a completely different game. Wow..first time I have ever heard the game described as a near Penn win. CG was undefeated that year....now Avon and CG in the semi-state playing a double OT game....now that was a near win for the Orioles.

Again, I understand and appreciate how YOU feel. Players and coaches don't know any better? That was a joke right? Especially directed toward the coaches......Not sure you can dismiss their input, at least so with credibility. My team wasn't 10-0...but it was a 7-2 team and conference champion....and it didn't qualify. Money grab...perhaps. But the reason why revenue increases is because more people are invested with their teams involved, thus demand for in-person and TV escalates. I can say with certainty that high school revenues for the playoffs have absolutely increased with the all-in vs a portion with the qualifier. More $$ to both schools and the IHSAA.

You are ignoring a the reality that many schools in portions of this state have limited options for opponents, and traveling long distances is not a highly valued.

Other than "other people do it".....what is the true benefit for the kids? the Coaches? I have asked this several time and get nothing in return. I get how you feel as a fan. But if we polled the players and coaches, how do you think they would respond? I experienced the old playoff qualifying system. It was really, really bad. I get that a new qualifier would be an improvement over that system. (I hope) It is true professional and college sports have qualifiers for the post-season....but ever notice how over the years, they keep expanding the playoff field?? Obviously, they continue to see the need to improvement and inclusion. BTW, Maryland is also now heavily considering an all-in football playoff system....maybe they benchmarked and like what the Indiana and Missouri systems offered their kids and coaches.....