Gipper

I’m still sticking to my cyclical guns, the enrollments will come back in time.

After a great start, this year’s team quickly went off the rails. Why? It wasn’t the offense, but I don’t think the 3 and 4 yard passes were a good idea when we had many deep threats such as David Bell, Rondale Moore and many others. Even Zander Horvath ran the ball well, although King Dourue wasn’t as productive. The defense was again thin as players are still learning Diaco’s 3-4. That brings me to another coach, the big cheese himself, Jeffrey Brohm. Does he still have it? Is his heart still in it? I’m unsure on both fronts and with that being said, his days in West Lafayette could be numbered. Next man up: Brian Brohm? Called hell of game against Iowa who actually had a pretty good season. But are they a package deal? The MAC flavor of the month? Buffalo and Ball State won their respective divisions and I think Buffalo is the better team. But their offense is a little more run-oriented, so I don’t know how well that would be received at Ross-Ade. Then there’s the wild card: Coastal Carolina’s Jamey Chadwell. I don’t know what he’s doing on the Grand Strand, but his Chanticleers are sold on it. Would that fly in the B1G? My choice? Thank you for asking: Tom Herman. My guess is the folks in Austin are overly thrilled at a few of his shortcomings. But here’s why I like him: he’s a midwest guy and can rebuild offenses. Just bring in a defensive mastermind...

The Ring.

Case in point: when I was helping out some of our second graders, some kid showing off for his dad (another coach) speared another player in the head. That player never played again. No, he was not paralyzed, but he and his family made the decision to hang it up. Although I love the game, I think they made the right call.

The Pit is also a commonly used term, how about the Hole or Dungeon? I knew I’d freak out like this: too much coffee.

Tough Question. I do know Pop Warner begins up here for the first graders. But is that too early? They have all of the armor on running all over the field using is a weapon without necessarily being trained how to hit, etc. Injuries can definitely result and I know this from what I have witnessed.

Agreed. HOF coaches cover all the bases, I gotta go... I think the DC is a tough position at all levels.

I love nicknames, you all know that. How about the Kennel for Brownsburg, Crown Point, and anybody else nicknamed the Bulldogs? The Battlefield for the Patriots and even Rebels The Nest for teams such as the Falcons or Hawks

Henry Clay in Lexington is the Blue Devils. Interesting choice given UK’s history with Duke University: just ask Christian Laettner.

Here’s one: Manitowoc (WI) Shipbuilders—it gets shortened to Ships often. I remember walking on the campus of St. Norbert College shortly after the Earth cooled for a campus visit. I noticed someone wearing a jacket with the name on it. I asked what the story behind it was. Apparently, a lot of ships used to be built there, but now they make ice machines. A piece of Sputnik came crashing down there in the 1950s, but that story is for another time.

41-25, off to Vegas I go...

I totally agree. Teams have good rides for a 2-4 year period. Sustaining that for more than 5 is what it should be.

Now let’s see what happens with basketball...

Always have, always will...

Cornell Big Red, Dartmouth Big Green, Harvard Crimson: good thing the Ivy returns to normalcy with the Columbia Lions, Princeton Tigers, and Yale Bulldogs (even they’re also Elis).

Cool! There’s also the Teutopolis Wooden Shoes...

And the Bengals...

Part of why they play the game...

exactly. When Lowell lost to East Central a few years ago, I wasn’t all that bummed. I knew ahead of time EC was real good and the game would be something else.

Center Grove vs. Penn State Anyone? Anyone? Center Grove vs. the Catholic Consortium of Andrean, Brebeuf, Cathedral, Chartard, Luers, Marian, Mater Dei, Memorial, and Roncalli Now it’s interesting.

I agree. Glad NWI was repped, though. Sure the Brickies got pasted, just have to keep trying. Teams from up here have won state, so the 317 stranglehold is a conspiracy at best.

What if... only 9 Catholics are allowed on the field at a time? or 13 for the bourgeois?

Exactly. These kids are students, first and foremost.

Although I thought by just game but be much closer, my picks are little better looking right as rain.

Then again you could have it like the North Central Conference with Jeff, Harrison, & McCutcheon the the west and Marion, Muncie, & Richmond in the East—alternate Kokomo and Logansport as East and West.