gbjemler

I was there both days working...my 2 cents. Pylon hired an outside security group who did an awesome job of checking wrist bands. Wrong wristband color? not allowed on field level. Parents had great excuses to try and get by them...my kid needs his drink, my kid needs his bag. They did not let anybody without the proper colored band through. Westfield PD was also very present. 4 to 5 officers in shifts roaming the fields and concourse areas. Now parents could yell at the refs from above, but no parents were downstairs that I could see. There was an "in your face" attitude with most receptions especially touchdowns. The DB's would also get mouthy on a good pass break up. Kids being kids emulating the pros and occasionally a flag was thrown for taunting, but I did not necessarily see any repercussions. Here was a big problem. Team A 15U is playing Team B 15U. Team A 13U, 14U, 16U etc were on the sidelines watching and cheering for their club team. So, on a great catch instead of the receiver taunting the DB on a singular basis, 30 kids would run down and taunt the DB and vice versa. Lots and Lots of chippy talking. Words I don't use. on and on and on every game. These are some seriously talented kids and clubs. A Pittsburgh team (421 Black, think they were 16's, evidently had 6-7 guys verbally committed) Other clubs the same. Several teams with 14 year olds with offers. The brawl happened between 2 clubs that have been "feudin" and continue to feud as they play in these tournaments. It was brewing and brewing on Saturday and Sunday and finally came to a head. The Westfield PD was on it early. It started and the officers were already in EC1 area ready for something. They sensed it. The brawl starts and soon after, the North doors open and 10-12 more officers are in there. It did not last very long. The problem again....too many players from clubs on the field watching their club play. So, a fight starts here, then there, then over there. Kids joining in the adult fight. 3-4 people kicking one guy. You can see jerseys with numbers on them. It was not just the adults. Kids were defending their coaches and jumping in. Several teams just ran to the corners to get out of the mess. Pretty smart. Can't say enough about Westfield PD and the Grand Park Event Center staff. One of the Pylon people had already left, and another said she had to leave too with about 90 minutes before it was done. GP ops said if you leave, we're closing it down. She stayed. There were no other issues with fighting. On a side note...Brownsburg had a 12-U group. On defense, they were running 2-3 different kinds of defensive zone reads and 2-3 different man to man defenses. Called from the side lines with hand signals. Kids were all talking pre-snap and during the play, passing receivers off to safeties. Well-coached. Smart kids. The only reason I got to watch this intently was it was the last game. The team they were playing was just as good. That is what I want to remember about that Sunday. My 2 cents

To Southwood AD Tom Finicle...Nice work right there my friend!!

He had ATH O LETES! Some of the best athletic talent Southwood ever had on the boys side came through the halls. All homegrown talent. Same group made serious basketball runs as well. That being said...Dave Snyder was a great coach for that group as he let them spread it out and fly. It helped that the Blair kid could throw it anywhere he wanted. Even before that group came through, Coach Snyder was able to utilize the athletes he had in his spread O. John Burris on the basketball side did the same thing as well. Stifling full court press 2/3 zone and let the kids run and shoot....because they could. Both coaches found the scheme that fit the kids. Not as many Jimmy's and Joe's right now.

Per South Bend Tribune Mishawaka Marian open Michael Davidson resigns after 8 years.

Eastbrook looks really really good right now. But the second round is Rochester who is just stomping people. They have a mean streak to them right now. Winner of this sectional runs into more than likely Adams Central. Dousy of a tournament in that part of the State.

Well...except Peru did beat Mac

Any thoughts?

With all due respect to you and the other posters...I do not believe that a single poster here (on this particular thread) is a "Plymouth Person" giving excuses about their program. Many of the posters are talking about demographics of hispanic population, numbers for FB in general etc. If you look at the names of the posters and then the names of the schools they are associated with...Highland, Warsaw, Whiting, Frankfort etc...none of these posters are "plymouth people" giving excuses. I believe it when you say "Excuses start at the top." But it seems with this thread, there is nobody from "the top" making excuses. my 2 cents

Thank you for your responses...I try not to criticize referees as they are doing a job I would never want to do. High School sports does not function without their sacrifice away from their families to call games. I just was looking for some perspective and your answers gave me that perspective. So thank you to all three of you for your answers. And if you are or were referees, thank you for your service. We can scrub this topic off the site now if moderators want to do that.

did not want to post on normal board. Referees have a thankless job and I appreciate what they do for the kids....Peru wins in the end so it does not matter I guess....but.... 5 seconds left in regulation at Oak Hill last Friday in semis. Oak Hill lines up for game winning field goal from inside the 5 yard line. Peru kid seems to time it perfectly and blocks the field goal. Peru scoops and runs the ball all the way back some 90 yards into the end zone. No flag for offsides anywhere on the field. The referees meet and discuss the play and call Peru offsides after the discussion. Still no flag, touchdown called back, and Oak Hill gets the ball moved half the distance. Time put back on the clock and Oak Hill subsequently fumbles the snap. Again...Peru wins in the end, but I still can't figure out the offsides call with no flag and the 2 (literally 2) minute discussion. Help?

Would be tempted to take Tippy Valley and the points. Strength of schedule hurts Valley some.

Great discussion on economics related to football. Tried looking for the longest rivalry...found on Wikipedia (I know I know) Peru VS Logansport started in 1902 and is the "Longest continuous rivalry in the state of Indiana." I know this is not part of the topic of Warsaw's new Fight Song from a previous poster (hilarious I might add, but true), but it does fill in a blank of some sort.

Coach Curtis fears nobody. Bobref....I thought Logansport vs Peru was the longest running rivalry in football for Indiana. Wonder where one could find that info...

Very Nice Summary...thank you

Hey Maroon man Growing up as a kid, Steele Stadium I believe was named "Tupper Field." Do you know the history on that name? Always wondered. What year did they change? Thinking around 1980 or 1981?

Wow!! Nasty conference! fun to watch tho

My Dad, a long time School City educator and Caveman fan of all sports said back in the 90's, "the best thing the NIC should do is disband and re-form without Penn in it." At that time as you can remember, Penn was on that streak of not losing in football to the NIC schools. He was getting tired of hearing all about Penn Penn Penn. LOL Well, my theory to him was "get better or get used to it," even though I somewhat secretly agreed. Mishawaka's move to the NLC was good based on future revenues (post-Covid of course). I think as an earlier poster mentioned, how much does anybody know about the SB schools and their future? When the NIC grew to its newest configuration, all of the schools were smaller than MHS. Most NLC schools travel well. Some NIC schools travel well. Not enough though. Football revenue has to be better with larger schools coming to Steele Stadium. I would think the home basketball gates of NLC schools coming to MHS for a game are better as well. Please do not view this as a negative post about the smaller schools in the NIC and their fan base. Some of those schools have rabid (in a good way) fan bases. Athletically, Jimtown wrestling can match up with MHS and Penn. Marian matches up in FB and BB among other sports. St Joe Soccer? SB Adams BB/SB Riley BB? My thinking is due to more revenue being generated by a larger visiting fan base. It would be interesting to find an old article when the move was being considered and then finalized what the reasoning School City of Mish had for the move. I just don't remember what the discussion was at the time. It would also be interesting to see the breakdown of ticket/concessions revenue after the move compared to previous NIC scheduling. Of course it could not be done this year due to Covid restrictions for seating capacity. 😞 Am I crazy thinking this was about revenue as much as about competition?

This

That practice field is what makes Mishawaka football players. By early September it is dirt hole and hard as a brick. Oh the good ole days of practicing there. Rain? mud slop... Sun? Dust and dirt flying everywhere Hot? dirt sweat stink Cold? pain from the cold and the brick dirt. Plus the occasional small rock that would protrude through was always fun. Game field grass was so comfortable to land on after practicing behind the stadium all week.

Law is Law... DCS should have been called. A person with higher functioning taking advantage of of someone who is not. It also could fall under the Indiana "Bullying" statute as it happened to the same person at least twice that is known. Admin heads should roll. Did admin educate the FB staff about prior incident? If so, how did it happen again? If FB staff was aware of previous incident and did not prevent another???? FB heads should roll. Where are the adults monitoring the locker room? Where is the leadership on the team (players) stepping up and punching somebody in the mouth for taking advantage of their own manager? We had a special needs manager my senior year. He loved being part of it. He ran out to get the tee after kickoffs. Everybody cheered. As far as P/P. Not part of this discussion. This happens in the best of school corporations. Carmel had some boys BB issues a few years ago. This is a being a kind human argument.

Three games all at once last week. Peru v Concordia on the radio WARU Peru 101.9 Concordia so much better than a young Peru team. 6 wins after an 0-10 season last year....pretty nice turnaround for the young Peru Tigers, Coach Saint Louis and his staff. Only 5 seniors. Mishawaka v Elkhart Central on Google Play speaker WSBT AM 960 South Bend The alma mater did well holding off a tough Elkhart Central Squad. How good is Elkhart High School going to be when they combine??.... Athletes from Memorial + Athletes from Central = Lots of Athletes! Warsaw v Penn on phone app NewsNow Radio Warsaw 1480 AM Was very intrigued by this game. Wondered how the Warsaw running game was going to match up with Penn D. Guess it did pretty well. Of course the Wife was not home Friday night as this type of entertainment ( 3 different games) would have made her throw things. One is fine...three is not so fine. Good luck to all teams this week.

Great question I would have to defer to the NIC folks for that answer. Mishawaka had a few teams that were probably better based on them winning??? But sometimes that makes no sense either.

2-11 career wise I believe against Penn if you scroll back through the archives from Mishawaka to now. Absolutely knowing and doing are two different things. I guess my point should have been that he has beaten Penn and been very competitive with them at times when Penn was rolling everybody else on their schedule. Penn is always going to be Penn. A record like this year is reflective of the Valpo squad and the two out of state powers Homewood F and St X. and a rolling New Prairie team. Beating Penn is a season maker for most schools in Northern Indiana. Your point is noted and well-taken. Good luck to both teams.

Plus....Bart knows how to beat Penn. There is no "Oh its Penn...were doomed Penn Stigma" for Coach Curtis as many teams and coaches have. The question becomes....can he instill this thought process into his kids for 48 minutes??

Muda is correct about the basketball thing, BUT with the Colby kid coaching there with help from his dad...Mac has a chance to be a pseudo football school. They always have size and some years good speed. Some years they have Super Size AND Speed. Those years were wasted away though a few years ago, losing to Peru in the Sectional. When I say "help from his Dad" it is a total compliment to son and father. Who wouldn't want Brett Colby on their sidelines? However, in a few very short years, young Colby will be just fine without any help. Mac just needs to figure out how to keep him there when he wins 7-9 games a year with their schedule in the TRC and bigger schools come calling. Upset? Southwood is pretty talented this year with a ton of returning kids. Their coach is solid too.