BDGiant93

https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2026/07/13/joe-smith-dies-obit-indiana-football-iu-basketball-broadcast-career-radio/90908433007/ Joe Smith, longtime Bloomington-area broadcaster, passed away on Monday. I only met Joe in person two times, but he was so very kind to me and to my student broadcasters. While he will be remembered, and rightly so, for his contributions to the Indiana Hoosiers basketball and football broadcasts, I'll also remember Joe for being a legendary broadcaster of high school sports. He will very much be missed by so many. Rest in Peace, Joe. Demographics

Did I hear the old bleachers were condemned? It's a shame. It was a historic facility. Safety first, though!

This.

Week 2 according to John Harrell.

I think the issue here is future litigation. The IHSAA was sort of forced into the transfer rules they have now by the threat of the Indiana General Assembly passing legislation to enact changes. I think they are being proactive here. That's my take.

Bring back the Weed Eater Bowl.

What do you think are the biggest stories to watch as we head into the 2026 IHSAA Football season? What do you think we'll be talking about all season long and looking back on in November?

Just like a great rock band from the 70's or 80's, the MIC has mended fences and gotten its most successful lineup back together (sorry Terre Haute North and South) to tour Central Indiana and challenge the HCC for Indiana High School Football superiority. The question is, can the MIC depose the HCC as Indiana's top football conference again?

Thanks for your service to the game and knowing when to step away. In any profession, sometimes we stick too long. Congratulations on 25 years!

Going back through this thread, and my golly my jeez... When Ben Davis played IMG, the stands were almost completely full. It was a huge crowd. BD held its own against the Ascenders. Had a couple of plays gone the other way, it would have been even closer. It was a fantastic atmosphere that was unique to any I've been around in my 40+ years of watching Indiana High School Football. I'm glad New Palestine is bringing that back to the state. Win or lose, they'll be talking about it for a long time in the community.

Yes. That's definitely possible.

Well, in that case... Guess 3 Sectional 1 Sectional 2 Sectional 3 Sectional 4 Crown Point Penn Fishers Carmel Lake Central Elkhart HSE Westfield Merrillville Valpo Carroll Harrison (WL) Portage Homestead FW Northrop Noblesville Sectional 5 Sectional 6 Sectional 7 Sectional 8 Ben Davis North Central Warren Jeffersonville Avon Zionsville FC Whiteland Brownsburg LN Perry Columbus N Pike LC Southport CG DC

Someone gets a 5th team in one of the Sectionals in 6A. Do they do it up north or down south? It's a bit messy. I could see them sending Zionsville south with Pike, BD, Brownsburg and Avon then sliding Harrison into Sectional 4. Gets really interesting between Sectionals 2 & 3. Which FW team goes to 2 as Homestead, Carroll and Northrop could all be candidates since they won't split HSE & Fishers. Guess 1 Sectional 1 Sectional 2 Sectional 3 Sectional 4 Crown Point Penn Fishers Carmel Lake Central Elkhart HSE Westfield Merrillville Valpo Carroll Zionsville Portage Homestead FW Northrop Noblesville Harrison (WL) Sectional 5 Sectional 6 Sectional 7 Sectional 8 Ben Davis North Central DC Jeffersonville Avon Warren FC Whiteland Brownsburg LN Perry Columbus N Pike LC Southport CG Guess 2 Sectional 1 Sectional 2 Sectional 3 Sectional 4 Crown Point Penn Fishers Carmel Lake Central Elkhart HSE Westfield Merrillville Valpo Carroll Harrison (WL) Portage Homestead FW Northrop Noblesville Sectional 5 Sectional 6 Sectional 7 Sectional 8 Ben Davis North Central DC Jeffersonville Avon Warren FC Whiteland Brownsburg LN Perry Columbus N Pike LC Southport CG Zionsville

La Lumiere has played Cathedral and some other schools in the past.

Given the IHSAA's history and hands off approach to the day-to-day operations of athletic department scheduling (as long as you're not going 300 miles from the state line), I don't think they would get into individual schools and who they schedule. When BD played IMG, I heard that technically you're supposed to be a member of the other state's athletic organization for the IHSAA to officially sanction the game. That was all rumor and innuendo, though. IMG is not a member of the Florida association.

New Palestine is not your normal 4A school. Coach Ralph has turned it into a powerhouse.

Our schedule is full through, I believe, 2028...I'm sure yes. There's less room on the Giants' schedule now that Weeks 2-9 are pretty set in stone. I believe Cathedral drops off after 2028.

I mean..........

Independent means travel. Travel means money. Money is something in short supply in public education these days.

https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/high-school/2026/02/27/ihsaa-football-new-palestine-will-play-img-academy-in-week-8-of-2026-high-school-football-season/88903089007/ IMG Academy is coming to New Palestine!

Thanks! Coach Mann treated me well when he was here at Ben Davis. He lives and breathes the game, but he also will deeply embed himself in other things in that school. You'll see him at a lot of different events. He's a good dude. Easy to cheer for him.

https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/high-school/2026/02/23/ihsaa-football-russ-mann-hired-to-lead-program-at-lawrence-central/88834038007/ Lawrence Central hires Russ Mann. Happy for Coach Mann, and I wish him the best at LC.

They tried.

This was actually a pretty hot rumor a couple of years ago.

If Brett Cooper can pull the Giants back together, Ben Davis should be strong. They have good talent returning on offense. The defense was not the Giants' strongpoint, but lots will depend on who Coach hires and puts in place. The Giants have potential to surprise some folks next year and at least get back on the other side of .500.