XStar

That's how you choose to define it. I could use the same metric to define upscale if I wanted.

The term "economically disadvantaged" isn't exactly defined either.

Now you're arguing a point that was never made.

Or perhaps the culture allows that community to avoid being labeled "economically disadvantaged"? Also, the "culture" doesn't have to be reflected through football. It could be that some communities prioritize other things over high school football. As usual, the context of this forum is very narrowly focused. In other such communities, it could be basketball. In others, it might be something not even related to high school sports. You can obviously work hard at other things.

Go look it up yourself. Is Frankfort the absolute worst in the state? Unless they are, then they are upscale compared to someone else going by your comparison-method of determining who is upscale.

Not saying much. There's probably some comparison that makes Frankfort look upscale to someone else. Doesn't mean they are compared to all their peers. Nice reach on this argument, but still a big fail.

Do you understand the difference between opinions and facts?

Not relevant in the least. I can observe the demographics of their football teams in the 90's and now. You could too but it would be one more flaw in your argument here.

Maybe go look at the team photos of their state title winners.

Also, Sheridan is no further from Indianapolis than Western Boone. Closer I think. Why does that proximity give Western Boone the "perception" of being affluent but not Sheridan? Again, inconsistency with how you choose to view things. You seem to be distorting facts to try to arrive at the conclusion you've predetermined.

You did not say Penn was blue collar but if you're not at least inferring that then I don't understand the point in including them in your argument here while excluding well-to-do giant schools like Center Grove and Westfield. Just my opinion here but I think Penn just needs the right head coach to get back to actually competing for and winning state titles somewhat regularly. They still have the favorable social and financial advantages they had in the 90's but lost their legendary coach. That is the difference I see that prevents them from competing with the Indy powers in 2021.

That's interesting. What was his reason for stepping down at Marian in 2017? Maybe he just needed a break.

You're kind of all over the place here and don't make a ton of sense. Pioneer is blue collar but Western Boone is upscale?? Center Grove is affluent but Penn is not? I certainly would agree that the money in some communities provide an advantage but Western Boone is much closer to Sheridan and Pioneer in culture than they are to Chatard. Penn does not lack for resources whatsoever and nobody that lives in the South Bend area thinks of them as blue collar.

Agree. Taking Chatard out of that sectional made it more interesting to start with. Then adding a program that might be able to compete added a little more intrigue. It will be interesting to see it play out. My money is on Brebeuf in 2021 just because I think Strickland should be a force nobody can match up with.

So let's say Webo doesn't win a 3A sectional in 2021 or 2022. Will they go back down to 2A (assuming their enrollment would fall in line with that classification) in 2023 or are they in 3A for 3 seasons since they won't want to re-do sectionals again after 2022?

Technically, Mayor Pete had little to do with the school board and their problems. As you mentioned, those are elected positions. That said, one could argue that he had little to do with the private investment that happened in downtown while he was mayor also and he had no problem claiming that as his success, one of the few he can point to in my opinion. If I'm being totally fair to him, I don't think he's responsible for the failures of the school system. Crime is a different story. Credit where it is due though, he did get Brian Boitano to come to the grand opening of a $20 million dollar ice skating project he had built in a downtown park!

Um. I'm not sure that you are in charge of giving out "passes" for decisions made in South Bend. I know I'm not and I actually live/vote here. South Bend is very much looking into consolidation. They are not considering the ramifications that would have on their high school football teams either, as they shouldn't. The school corporation is a mess. Failing schools and they continue to lose students and funding. They (teachers and school corporation) just rammed through a huge property tax increase last year that will give them an additional $220 million over the next 8 years to cover up their failures and I have no doubt once that is up they'll come back blaming a lack of funds for their continuing to fail and then ask for even more. At any case, it's kind of laughable that you think anyone might care to consider your feelings on the matter or that you have any kind of position to hold them accountable for anything, especially by using high school football for reasoning. Even though I happen to agree that consolidation would be beneficial, I think you are totally misguided in your considerations.

Hinder. I don't think any of them have beaten Penn in nearly 40 years. Adams has never won a sectional. They are currently one of the top 5A enrollments. LaSalle never won a sectional when they were still around. Riley won only one and that was in 1992. Clay's only sectional win was in 2002 and they haven't won a single tournament game in the past 10 seasons. Washington went to state in 2011 but other than that hasn't won as much as a sectional in the past 40 years. Even St. Joe has fallen on hard times with losing records in 4 of the past 5 years.

Using last year's end-of-season Sagarins, it looks like this: 54 - West Lafayette 62 - Brebeuf 68 - Western Boone 81 - Guerin Catholic 147 - Yorktown 152 - North Montgomery 165 - Hamilton Heights 252 - Crawfordsville Looks like it could be pretty competitive between the upper half teams if they are similar to last season. Can't speak to what people have coming back besides Western Boone. If memory serves, the announcers made a point during their 2A state championship game of talking about how many underclassmen were playing and how they thought they were a year away before making a run in the playoffs last year. But I think they lost their workhorse RB in Taylor, their top WR in Garrity, and Marsh who was their top LB and was 2nd on the team in both rushing and receiving yards. They do return most of their linemen on both sides of the ball, 2 really good linebackers, I think most of their secondary, and their quarterback. I'm really interested to see them compete in 3A. How they do against Danville and Tri-West in conference could be a preview of how competitive they might be against other top 100 3A teams.

I don't know what any of the teams in that sectional have coming back or coming in, LCC included. So if you do, you certainly know more than me. Not a high bar to clear on that front and really not anything that's going to have anyone on the edge of their seat going into next season so the allusion to some sort of big secret is kind of funny. Tell me. Don't tell me. No big deal to me either way. I will say that for anyone in that sectional to end up at Lucas Oil in 2021, they will have to be much improved from last season but stranger things happen every single year.

Agree but if they have to play in bad weather in the playoffs it could be a problem for them. I don't see a 2A defense stopping their passing attack but wind, rain, ice and/or snow could and they didn't show the ability to stop a good running game in the playoffs last season. I could see a Pioneer, Andrean, Eastbrook, or Eastside (or whoever emerges as the top teams in the North) knocking them off in bad weather. If they get back to Lucas Oil, I don't know how they lose. Clark would have to have a really bad game and 2A South looks like it could be kind of weak without Western Boone in it but you never know who may emerge or re-emerge. Linton-Stockton fans seem to always think whoever beats them is going to win it all. It's too bad they couldn't re-set the sectionals this year because 2A could use it for a little competitive balance. 3A too actually. Will be interesting to see if they end up back together in 2022. I'd guess so. LCC has no business going through the South.

Did not know him but I live in the community and the reaction from those on social media who knew him is pretty overwhelming. He clearly meant alot to many people. Prayers to his family, including his wife and two sons. I can't even imagine.

Wow. 2-year series with Eastbrook is over? Wonder which side ended that. I see Eastbrook now is playing Huntington North and New Haven instead of Marion and Delta. Unfortunate given how bad the CIC is. I would like to have seen them add some better competition. Going to be hard to beat Bishop Luers, Pioneer, LCC, Rensselaer Central, Andrean or whoever they play if they get out of sectional if they haven't faced that level of competition yet. Maybe they don't think they'll have the talent to worry about it the next couple of seasons. I think the tougher non-conference clearly helped them in 2019.

Maybe the entire school corporation doesn't revolve around football? I realize this is a football board but you have to realize there are far more significant factors in such decisions.

I meant to say they won state in 2018, not 2008.