BDGiant93

I don't find that tweet on his account. I'm assuming that there are shenanigans at work.

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Warren Central and Ben Davis on the Westside of Indianapolis. It's going to be the 99th meeting of the two teams in what has recently been dubbed the "Circle City Showdown". For many of the last 40 years, one or both of these teams have been at or near the top of IHSAA football. This year, the Giants are probably the favorites, but that doesn't mean much when the Eastside and the Westside battle. The last time these two teams hooked horns at Ben Davis, it was a 57-56 classic. Some truly great and horrid memories for me in this series. Now, you have BD Coach Russ Mann, who spent years on the sidelines as an assistant at Warren, facing a former boss in Warren's Mike Kirschner, who hung plaques in the gym at Ben Davis. Should be a fun one on Friday night at Giant Stadium. Any great memories or not-so-great memories of this rivalry? By the way, Warren leads this series 58-37-3. The Giants have won 3 of the last 4. We won't talk about that one that BD didn't win LOL.

Well, I'm very proud of the Giants, first of all. It's weird to say that in a game lost by 20, but I think you saw why the Giants are tough to deal with considering who was on the field for IMG. There are some REALLY special players on that Ascender squad. A minor mistake can become a huge error quickly when you play against that kind of athletic talent. Leaving the Westside, I think that IMG probably felt it a bit. Nylan Brown and the defense really stepped up after a poor start for BD. I thought Thomas Gotkowski played a strong game despite the two pick sixes (one was just a phenomenal player who's committed to Oklahoma). The mentality all week was that the Giants belonged on the field with IMG, and I think they did. Mark Zackery's going to be making some college fanbase extremely happy in a couple of years. His catch in the back of the end zone on the first TD for BD was as good as you'll see. Back to the MIC and Warren this week. Giants can't let down.

Moeller really shocked me in almost toppling Center Grove...especially on the road. That must have been quite a game. Really proud of Ben Davis. No such thing as moral victories, I know, but the defense looked pretty darn tough to deal with when you consider who's playing on that offensive line for IMG. Giants got down 21-0 and then clawed their way back in. Missed some opportunites to really make IMG sweat. IMG is IMG though. Those kids are pulling in all those offers for a reason. You make a tiny error, and it can be a gaping wound in no time.

I really expected LC to take a step forward this year as a program given all the people returning. Obviously, losing to LN and WC is not a jaw dropping surprise, but does anyone have any insight as to why LC is struggling this year?

Is $9 the normal going rate for games at Fishers? I think that's a deal still, but I had not seen any up to $9.

Stop the running back, you stop Moeller. They showed heart in a comeback against BD's 2nd string and forced Tommy G/Skibinski and the 1's to go in to close it, but I doubt that CG has any issue with Moeller.

You being condescending on this board is not surprising. The new DT.

I don't want to start debating journalism, but he did give Indian Creek a chance to respond (included the principal's email). He also quoted Paul Neidig in the story from the IHSAA's side.

His piece on the Lawrence Central Sectional a few years ago at the start of the pandemic was unbelievable and should have won every journalism prize. I don't know how much time went into this and how much of an emotional toll it must have taken. https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/high-school/2020/04/18/coronavirus-indiana-lawrence-central-basketball-sectional-10/5145870002/

I don't like Doyel's style at all as a columnist, but that's what columnists do. It's kind of like a shock jock in radio or even like a right-wing talker. Obviously, Gregg swings the other way politically. I'm glad that you know the difference because many people don't. That's part of the problem we have with the way people look at the news media today. There are too many flamethrowers and people who are less savvy than you don't know what's fact and what's not. (This is a general comment) I stand on my Doyel opinion. He's probably liked at the Star because he gets engagement. He can write some wonderful, beautiful pieces that really tug on your emotions when he swings more towards the feature side. He can also write some grating pieces that really are hard for me to read because he inserts himself into the story more than I'd like. Case-in-point, his beef with McLaren IndyCar. Oy! On this article, I think it's an awful look for Indian Creek, and, frankly for the IHSAA.

There is, but opinion writing is not the same as news writing. He's very definitely a columnist. Someone like Neddenriep occasionally expresses an opinion (mostly on social media) but most generally writes straight news or feature stuff (and does it very well).

I appreciate the work you do on these. It's great as someone who likes to go back and verify facts and things. There's nothing like source material.

Kyle Neddenriep is one of the best people in sports media. He's one of the best writers they have there in any department. He has tremendous integrity.

I don't disagree with you on Doyel but only to an extent. He's paid as a columnist and not a journalist. He's paid to get reactions from people and to express his opinions. His facts, however, have to be sound. That's especially in a case like this one. Anything presented as fact has been vetted by someone above him, I'm sure. If it's not, that's a problem for him and for Gannett. I find Doyel to be an excellent writer when it comes to features. His column writing is grating. He goes back and says the same thing over and over again. He inserts "I" and "me" into his columns too much. I've never written for the outlets that he has, but I did have a cup of coffee at the IU School of Journalism (it was my minor). I know that was always frowned upon. But hey...it's 2023. Gregg cares deeply for what he writes about. I think that sometimes makes him go overboard.

That's what's on the schedule. Not to say it couldn't change.

I'm hearing Flo Media. Greg Rakestraw and Lance Scheib are on the call.

What's hilarious? Check it yourself. https://bdhs.wayne.k12.in.us/athletics/boys/football/schedule/

That's correct. CG returns to the schedule next year.

FINAL Ben Davis 62, Pike 0

The battle for the Victory Bell should be pretty interesting with LC and LN. BD Alum Mike Brevard returns to BD for the first time as Pike coach. Cherry has a good arm for CG.

I never said that they didn't have other problems. They certainly have proven it.

As silly as this sounds, I don't think we've seen what Ben Davis is capable of yet. The Giants have put together some really good stretches of football, but we haven't seen a flat out 48 minutes yet from this team. Are they as good as 1991 or 2017...no. Could they be? It's a stretch, but there is potential. I think there's real potential on that defense to be more lights out. Tommy Gotkowski makes some throws I haven't seen made by a BD QB, and that includes the "big five" of Banks, Taylor, Castner, Ings and Britt. He may have the strongest arm of that bunch. Alijah Price will make someone really happy in college. Long way to go and there's still room to improve.

Warren is young and struggling as their QB matures. That's a bad recipe against that schedule. You know they'll be competitive vs. BD, LN and LC. They should wallop Pike and NC. Christian Brothers is another kettle of fish altogether. Good news is they should be able to sail through the Sectional and play in a Regional.