HHF Commentary : Lawrence Central Football - On the Mend or On the Brink?
Since that glorious 2012 5A state championship and subsequent 2013 entry into the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference, its been a steady downhill ride for the Lawrence Central football program.
What went wrong? Perhaps Jayson West saw this coming when he stepped off the LC train after smoking Fort Wayne Snider 39-14 in that 2012 5A title game to cap a 15-0 season ,jumping across the township border on the east side to take over at Warren Central.
Since that time, LC has been thru 4 head coaches, and the program hit rock bottom in 2020, going 0-10 and suffering thru a series of humiliating blowouts, culminating in a 52-14 first round sectional loss to a program they used to dominate, Lawrence North.
When John Rodenberg, a state championship level coach from Ohio, stepped down from the Lawrence Central job after just two seasons, alarm bells should have been going off everywhere, but they where, nobody heard them.
Former LC Bears star linebacker Will Patterson took over the program following Rodenberg's exit, and he is 2-18 in his two full seasons running the show. Rodenberg went over to Roncalli and won a state championship in his first season, and his team is heavily favored to repeat this year.
So how did the State Champion Bears become the Bad News Bears so quickly?
Unfortunately, it likely all comes down to numbers.
When LC joined the MIC, it was on the bottom end in the league in total 9-12 enrollment. In 2013-14 school year, LC posted enrollment of 2510 for purposes of football classification.
In 2019-20, LC reported enrollment of 2290, a 9% drop over the 7 year period. Every other MIC school saw enrollment increase or remain stagnant during that time period.
Coach West mentioned in our interview earlier that the drastic numbers variance between LC and the big MIC schools has overwhelmed the Bears, to the point that they are struggling to compete. Add in the fact that you have a rising Lawrence North program in an open enrollment township, and you have a perfect storm brewing for the destruction of Lawrence Central football.
Frankly, Im not sure its such a good idea to have sister schools like LN and LC playing in the same conference, competiting against each other for the same pot of gold. One is sure to thrive at the expense of the other. Its why the Columbus schools play in separate conferences. Its why Perry Meridian, Southport and Franklin Central all went their separate ways. Its possibly why HSE and Fishers may experience any success at the expense of the other.
Lawrence Central is now too small to compete regularly in The MIC. It might have a generational team every now and then when a Tre Roberson type player comes around, but year to year, the Bears simply do not have the depth to compete against the mammoth mega schools in The MIC.
I'd love to see LC quickly reverse that 0-10 record from last season, but I fear this may be the new norm for the program.
LC should cut its losses, and immediately search out a new home. There are many options. A return to Conference Indiana, where they enjoyed good relationships, had great success, and their kids enjoyed a wonderful football experience rather than enduring the drudgery of winlessness.
How about the Circle City Conference? Perhaps hook up with Southport and continue on with the long positive competitive relationship they have had with Indy's top private schools.
Or maybe the HCC? Many say the HCC is closing the gap on The MIC. But are they really that close?
Perhaps the Mid State. The MSC just added 6A Perry Meridian. Why not 6A Lawrence Central and continue to enhance your competitive profile? There might be a small 4A school in the MSC that could soon be looking for a better fit.
Maybe even the Hoosier Heritage. They play high level football in that conference at several of the schools. Doubt they would be intimidated by LCs presence.
Or the longest of long shots - independence. Never say never.
Bottom line, LC is enduring a miserable experience right now ,entrenched in the MIC basement. How do they get out? Can they get out? Or does someone step up and throw them a lifeline? I certainly hope for the sake of the program and the student athletes affected that they soon find some light at the end of the tunnel.
Tim Phillips
Hoosier High School Football
1st...Will Patterson was NOT LC linebacker he was LN linebacker. Also why was not the same said for North Central when they went 5 plus years with losing season? When was Pikes last winning season? Both have the enrollment numbers and based off your article you say we are too small. Also a LN win after 15 years of losing to LC now classify LC on a downward spiral to death? Man you must be a LN alumni or good friends with the LN head coach LOL. It's all good! Coach Patterson is a great coach that is not only concerned about wins but sending players to the next level. Just ask current Sophomore ( will be a Junior in the fall) Joshua Mickens with 10 and some more possible offers. And that is with a 0-10 season. Shouldn't sending kids to college be the end goal anyway? Or should the players be the best every high school players with no future?
Lawrence Central Football - On the Mend or On the Brink?
in The Indiana High School Football Forum
Posted
1st...Will Patterson was NOT LC linebacker he was LN linebacker. Also why was not the same said for North Central when they went 5 plus years with losing season? When was Pikes last winning season? Both have the enrollment numbers and based off your article you say we are too small. Also a LN win after 15 years of losing to LC now classify LC on a downward spiral to death? Man you must be a LN alumni or good friends with the LN head coach LOL. It's all good! Coach Patterson is a great coach that is not only concerned about wins but sending players to the next level. Just ask current Sophomore ( will be a Junior in the fall) Joshua Mickens with 10 and some more possible offers. And that is with a 0-10 season. Shouldn't sending kids to college be the end goal anyway? Or should the players be the best every high school players with no future?
Sincerely,
Tired of people shitting on our school