JeffO2

Football in Indiana has come a long way. I got into HS coaching in 1986. No way would I have believed how expanded the season as become with: passing camps, spring football, summer "workouts". We use to call that cheating. In school weight programs have made a big difference. There are coaching jobs (not many) that are full-time with little to no teaching responsibilities. Synthetic fields are more common (I realize the cost benefit is almost that of grass, but still requires a significant up-front investment.). I wonder if anyone plays a full season on grass. IN HS basketball is no longer the only game in town because of AAU when it comes to kids getting recruited. The decline of IU basketball doesn't help their cause. Have we finally arrived or are we still a basketball state?

The coach at Covington has managed to go into a basketball school and get those kids to play football. Can't predict their record, but they're going to put up some passing stats.

Good Question! Northwest Indiana football needs something. I don't know if the teaching positions are not available or if many schools are hiring football coaches and not requiring them to teach. Mishawaka and Dwenger have been the top teams from the northeast, but they're not dominating. The big question would if Zionsville moved up (I remember when they were 3A back when Rick Wimmer as there.), would a team like Cathedral get moved to the north? They may end up getting bumped up every couple of years. Who knows, they may catch up to 6A teams at the rate they're going. We'll see if the new coaches can make a change.

If there's no teaching requirement outside of the weight room at LC, it's the better job. Getting kids academically eligible, keeping them out of trouble, in a weight program along with handling recruiters is a full-time job. They have to be willing to travel and get more 6A teams on their schedule. Start with the Fort Wayne area and IL or MI. They're not ready for the MIC. At LC, you better start winning 8-9 games to get the community's attention. I hope the new coach addresses and gets what he needs to win there.

M'ville has lost 5 straight to Valpo, so they probably don't want to be in the same sectional.

If Carmel gets to go up north for the playoffs, they'll probably be in the state championship even if they lose a few games.

It's no doubt this year was CG's turn, but how does Carmel get into that conversation? Especially after losing to BD in the Regional. 2014 & 15 were the last times Carmel swept both WC and BD in the same season. Not exactly dominance. Neither have had to play in a sectional with another MIC team. That's 2 weeks of tuneup games. And Carmel getting to go through the north is a huge advantage lately. Switch them with Westfield and they would have been back in the State Championship game. Last time WC won a state championships, they just about had to go through the MIC twice. No easy feat. Good question. Time will tell.

I think if a school like IMG Academy popped up, that could be a factor because an extremely high percentage of their students would play sports. It would be similar for some of these traveling basketball schools. I would hate to see coaches play around with their numbers. A lot of schools that start to have success get a lot of kids out who just want a ring. I think the current system addresses that. One rule that might help would be if you're a 1A or 2A school with a D1 commit, you have to bump up. 3A or 4A with 2 or more bump up. 5A with 3 or more bumps up.

Why can't these schools attract good coaches? Seems like people were saying the same thing about Warsaw and North Central a few years ago.

Carmel doesn't beat themselves and they play consistently well in the playoffs. The keys to beating CG will be: QB has to get hot and the defense has to cause turnovers. CG will get yardage and be tough to score against. That's how North Central beat CG the previous two years. Keep it close and let them feel the pressure. I just hope it's a good game regardless of who wins.

Whiting will play their last two games against Griffith and Boone Grove. I also think the Hammond schools are playing the last two games as well, but can't confirm.

There are exceptions to every rule. North Central in Indy is a good example. O'Shea is in his 4th season and is 22-15. Went 3-7 the first year, but NC only won 1 game in the previous 3. Won their first sectional championship in school history. There's been one D1 player in the first 3 years and one that has verbally committed this season. The coaching staff is exceptional. Junior high success may be the key. This year, they have 4 defensive players that have started varsity for 3 years. That will deplete anyone's JV team. Previous Coaches: 1-29 ; 16-38; 14-19;

They're very good and this sr. class has dominated the MIC since they were Freshman and Carson Steele has played varsity for 4 years. North Central has had their number the last two previous games. This season has disrupted a lot of off-season development for many teams. CG was just primed and ready to go with a lot of experienced players. I'll still take the 2017 Ben Davis team. As a wise man once said, "We'll see."

Linton is definitely getting themselves ready for the playoffs. They're scheduling above their class level in the first half of the season and their young QB will keep getting more experience.

Hammond Clark has promoted DC, Nathan Miller to replace Nick Testa (Calumet H.S.) as head coach. https://www.nwitimes.com/high-school/clark-hires-nathan-miller-as-new-football-coach-prepares-for-final-season-amid-coronavirus-pandemic/article_45e35f32-7ec3-54ae-b838-914e6b89174a.html This is the last season for football due to the school closing after this school year.

James Bell has been promoted to head coach at Marion. https://mariongiantssports.com/2020/07/02/bell-named-marion-giants-head-football-coach/ replacing Craig Chambers.

Based on performance at the lower levels, talent and recent seasons, I would put CG as a favorite. Warren, BD, Carmel are in the mix as always. Very few of the other schools have shown they are even competitive. North Central is the sleeper. They beat both Carmel and CG last year, but have to get past WC first. They haven't been able to do that. The biggest Covid question is what happens when a player or coach tests positive? Will the team be quarantined from football and/or school? Very few will have access to any testing. What happens to their recent opponent(s)? That could end up being part of the tracing. Other than sending the kid home, will they even be required to report it?

Salaries are low at private schools, but one Casino Night, and you can have all the cameras you want. The latest technology is not as expensive as it use to be. You don't even need a lift any more; just put it on a pole.

Whiting has the best view: Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline.

Maybe Roncalli?

The MIC would benefit, at least in football, on having competitive teams not in 6A. It's tough enough to play a regular season schedule in this conference and then have to win it again in the play-offs.

Good ideas, but not based on my limited experience (I'm biased.). Since you can't have 2-a-days, does it matter if school is in session or not? How is starting earlier a disadvantage? For many teams, it's easier for players to get to practice once school starts. It does take up coach's time, so you might have a point there. I don't know about 5A, but 6A doesn't need another game. Especially around Indy, most teams are having to play each other again in the playoffs. Too many teams are scheduling out of state games. I felt the week off was a blessing. I'd hate to lose a close game on the road during the regular season and then that team ends up with the home field advantage again in the playoffs because of it. Sagarin ratings would be the way to go, but I like it the way they are - meaningless. You're right about neutral sites being a bad idea. I first heard that idea brought up after Carmel lost to Highland in the semi-state back in the 80's. It wasn't fair that they had to go up north and play in the cold in a rough part of town. They wanted all semi-state games played in Indy. I guess life truly isn't fair.

At least with a 10 team conference, schools like Warren Central and Cathedral don't have to play teams from out of state. Maybe they like that and are trying to get on ESPN?

Bishop Noll may not be playing varsity football. Would that change things or would there be a 7 team sectional in the NW?

Maybe not, but his rushing yardage and the over-all improvement to the offense would make up the difference (Assuming they would utilize a running QB.). CG just hasn't been getting the production out of the QB position. I don't know if it's the scheme, coach, or players.