23andCounting

Good to see you back.

Well, after seeing 196 views and no responses, I had to throw something out there. It worked.

First prediction: Half of the best ten teams come out of the north: Crown Point, Penn, Carroll, Merrillville, and North Side. Give me Brownsburg, Westfield, Center Grove, Carmel, and New Pal to finish it off. Second prediction: The 6A North representative won't be from the Indy burbs.

Which teams this year have that kind of potential? I think Brownsburg, Center Grove, and Westfield are in there. There's no reason not to believe in those programs with the consistency they've show in recent years. Maybe throw Carmel in there since Wright seems to win wherever he goes..........not to mention the student body of 5000 he has to work with. I think the best shot out of the Northeast is Carroll, they've have that 6A "good" vibe for several seasons now...........consistency. Dwenger loses a ton and Snider might be a year away. Crown Point, Penn, Merrillville, Jeff, Fishers, HSE, DC, Ben Davis, Warren Central, or New Pal? Maybe a surprise program with an uptick in talent?

I've got Carroll at #1, and deservedly so. Snider could be dangerous, they're pretty healthy in the coaching department and skill guys.........it will come down to line play. Dwenger loses a lot, but feels like the program has momentum regardless. North Side and Northrop probably have the most raw talent in the SAC. Throw Snider, Dwenger, North Side, Northrop, and Homestead in a blender for 2-6.

If I were to rank teams in the SAC, I could see them anywhere from 2-6. And being #6 wouldn't mean they're not good, it just means there are some pretty good teams in the SAC.

Every year brings a different "story." This year brings a North Side team loaded in talent (maybe the Jaylon Smith affect). But for now, this sectional belongs to Dwenger and East Noble. Week 1 brings some massive games with Dwenger/Roncalli and East Noble/North Side.

It took a few decades for NFL teams to realize offensive linemen should be the first ones taken in the draft, not skill position players. Games are won in the trenches. High school is no different. It's why big enrollment schools are so difficult to match up with, more big boys to choose from.

Not very often do you find a team in Fort Wayne with six D1 guys. It happens, but pretty rare. That's reserved for programs of 2800 plus. Snider's 2023 state championship had 3 or 4. I'm not sure the Legends have ever had more than three at a time. They'll find out fast Week 1 vs East Noble. Looking at their schedule, I'd say they have a 50/50 shot of going 7-0 heading into the Homestead game. Northrop, Luers, and East Noble will have something to say about that.

I don't really have an answer as to "how deep." With that many guys going D1, I can only presume that they have a few other players who are D3/NAIA or better.

Six players with D1 offers, probably eight when it's all said and done with. These are high level 6A type of numbers. Are the Legends the team to beat in 4A?

My biggest take after visiting Eastern Europe was that everyone looked healthy. You had to look hard to find someone overweight, and obesity didn't even seem to exist................for now. American culture is rearing it's ugly head over there.

It's hard not to appreciate a program school like Notre Dame where the athletes attend with the goal of getting a degree. Regarding the bowl game, I'd argue that most of the players would have felt humiliated showing up to the Pop Tarts Bowl. They felt like they had the best team in the country, and with good reason. I had IU with a 50/50 chance of beating Notre Dame. Were there a few kids who felt they missed out on the experience? I imagine. But I bet over 80% of the team is still smiling knowing they told them to "go pound sand." No regrets as a fan.

I think it's ok for the big boys to have two or three "yawn" games on their schedule. South vs Carroll: South sees a team that's better than any 4A team they'll see in the tournament. Carroll gets to rest their starters after halftime. That's a win/win if you ask me.

They are scheduled to play one another in Week 8. They must be pretty good program, 35-14 was it?