Gipper

Currently, I am in Illinois (at my office) and have seen less than 10 people today.

I know Valdosta well from all of my road trips to Florida on I-75. Isn't there also a good D-II or III school there?

President Trump was spot on: Covid-19 is the invisible enemy. The weather can be beautiful, the field is perfectly manicured, the new uniforms are sharp, but the virus is still there. It doesn’t see gender, race, home team, away team—it just lays in wait. We all want to get out there, whether it’s to go to the store, play a round of golf, or any other activity. There’s so much we don’t know. But is fear paralyzing us?

I saw a version on ESPN.com

Hopefully this will be the case. I’m cool with an 82 game season as 162 is probably too many anyway. Maybe something like 125. Also like the DH.

It looks we may very well have a baseball season this summer! Expanded number of playoff teams (yet a more shorter season), a universal DH, different conference realignment to reduce travel (Cubs and White Sox in the same league!), many other items such as player-owner revenue split--I hope it works out...

I went to my nephew's football game at Hart High School just outside Los Angeles a few years ago. They were selling sushi at the concession stand!

Valdosta was ranked by stadiumtalk.com as the best program in Georgia. I believe that's from a historical perspective.

A lot of the new concept helmets look pretty good.

All the more power to them!

It also could be a massive inferiority complex...

And they always will....

Another great region of our great state is the Southwest. My wife is a Barr-Reeve grad, the Vikings are traditionally a baseball, basketball, and every other sport except football (because they don’t have a team) power. Real friendly folks down there, and the same can be said for folks from places like Linton, Paoli, and Vincennes.

I was a little curious. I like the NE part of the state, but know very little of the facilities. Hopefully they’ll be in use this fall... I’m just glad my good buddy @Bobref chimed in or I would have looked even more foolish than usual...

The atmosphere is an important part of the facility as all fields indeed are 100 yards long. Some have turf, while others have grass. This is where it gets fun. Add hazards like you would see on a golf course such as a sand trap. I personally would like a minefield, but things could get ugly...

With all of these good teams, it would be a crime (almost) for ESPN for not to air a Webb City (MO)-Robert Service (AK) game instead of the usual IMG Academy (FL)-Hampton (VA) tilt. Small school football is just as exciting...

My bad, yet the rules don’t apply to someone of my stature.

I’m happy for places like Lincoln County, NV, Harlan, IA, and South Panola, MS just like I’m happy for the big boys of De la Salle, CA, Aquinas, FL, and Sr. Ignatius Prep, OH: just have tenacity despite your lack of a talent pool or numbers...

Been by Crown Point and Lake Central many times, just OK. Munster—not bad, Whiting is pretty cool, Hanover Central—meh, Portage is pretty nice. I also like Andrean’s and although I’m not sure if you’d count Rensselaer as NWI, I’ve always liked their football stadium. I remember back in the 1980s, they had a replica on a WWII era bomber at their gate entrance—pretty cool.

I haven’t been to all of them, but here’s my take: The Inferno, Lowell: call me a homer, but it’s got a great old school feel. A natural grass playing surface, great concessions, and an awesome student section. Ames Field, Michigan City: only been there once or twice, but it looks great from the Franklin Street. Demaree Stadium, Merrillville: looks very imposing from I-65. Part of a good looking athletic complex Chesterton: great stands and playing surface, third DAC, stadium—something’s gotta give... Valparaiso: ...maybe not. Boone Grove also plays their home games there, must be an OK place. Football is very big in the region. Sure, the DAC and NCC may not rack up state championships like the MIC, but there are a lot of great rivalries up here which make it fun.