LaSalle Lions 1976

It is as of this season

Baseball is not the same game as used to be. Batters are looking to hit home runs all the time. If not, a strikeout or walk. The running game is almost eliminated due to the need for power. Starting pitchers are only expected to pitch 5 innings. The bullpen is the most important of the team right now Utility players have more value that ever in the game. The DH saves moves to eliminate your bench. Have to start looking at the game differently

In other news, Darrick Lee is the new head coach at Riley, he is the nephew of the City AD Milt Lee. He came from Muncie Central.

I bet all of us could live off the minimum salary, but it is rare that a player goes straight to the majors, many spend years in the minors. According to my chart in my previous post, players are struggling to eat at the minor league level. Although conditions have improved, it take time to be able to make the minimum major league salary. Remember, the owners locked out the players.

New proposal about a pitch clock. 14 seconds between pitches if bases are empty and 19 seconds with runners on base. Mark Buehrle would be perfect for this rule

Players in Rookie ball pay 400 a month for 5 months A ball- 500 a month AA ball- 600 a month AAA ball- 700 a month Meal Money all levels 25 a day only for road games Players must find their own housing as well

Just a random thought. I wonder if MLB would take an idea from MiLB and use their method of scheduling (play the same opponent Tuesday-Sunday and Monday for travel). It would save on air travel and maybe hotel expenses. The way the major league game is, it is a bullpen game. It wouldn't effect pitching that much. Just a thought

Washington is an interesting case. They have had only a varsity the last two years. This year the high school program only has 9 players. But those players are pretty good. Only two seniors.

No, but the 3A title has to go through SB Washington

Doesn't matter...still have to play SB Washington in the finals

There is still one head coaching job left...any thoughts?

Good for Ben and great for St. Joe

I'm curious how other states "make it fair". I know this isn't the most reliable state but Indy metro is 2.1 million. Next biggest is Fort Wayne at 418,00 Illinois is worse with Chicago at 9.6 million. Next biggest is Peoria at 400,000. I bet there are other states that have bigger gaps. I know Chicago had it's "Chicago Bowl' to determine city champ years back. I don't think you could ever make the tournament fair, no matter what you do. I just think there are some schools who aren't very committed to football and never will be.

The one thing you know for sure is that these coaches won't end up in South Bend, Gary, or Hammond.

Jeeze...you all are ruining my Festivus

One reason that hasn't been talked about is the lack of quality coaching, especially in lower income urban schools. I have seen coaches desperate to find coaches, especially at the lower levels. Some haven't even played football. I have seen no teaching on how to block or tackle. This is the real issue, training of our lower level coaches. If the school can't find qualified coaches, then they should suspend their program until the get qualified coaches. That is the elephant in the room.

Clay will never be contracted. The South Bend schools do not want to give up another building to the charter schools. However, I do believe some schools should be relegated to a lower class.

One thing that hasn't been discussed is the environment and culture of school administration when it comes to competing. All schools want to win, but some won't pursue the resources needed to win. Many adults don't wish to put the time and effort into what is needed to win. They love have the shirt on Friday, but not willing to put in the effort the other days of the week. Many kids have other things in their lives competing with football. Many do not want to "waste" their time not being properly prepared for the games. You can't fool kids, and many of them leave.

Both...usually the best athletes don't have the grades to participate, and transferring is a common activity amongst all South Bend School students

Getting back to the theme of this topic, I think there are a lot of reason numbers are down, but the two that seem the biggest to me are eligibility and just not wanting to play. In South Bend, basketball is king. Everyone looks forward to it, good crowds, and good competition. In football, small crowds, most students are there to socialize not paying attention to the game. I don't think football will be a thing in South Bend. Since contraction is not on the board, South Bend will have 4 struggling programs.

As a side topic: In the 1966 MLB Draft (first ever), three Indiana High School players were drafted 12th round Larry Bishop C by the California Angels from Indianapolis Howe 9th round Dan Bootcheck P by the Detroit Tigers from Michigan City (I think his grandson also played for the Angels as well) 4th round Karl Simon OF by the Chicago White Sox from South Bend Central

St. Joe's issue is far different. Their feeder, the ICCL, has been struggling. There was no football in 2020. They are struggling to have 4 teams every season. The better teams also feed into Marian.

I thought South Bend Turned a corner back in the 80s when they moved junior high football to the spring. There were able to get much better coaching. That being said, it is very difficult to find quality coaches to coach at that level. There is no youth football league, so instruction comes at the very basic level. I agree with X that there are more problems than football in South Bend Schools. I believe that South Bend, Fort Wayne, Evansville, and Indianapolis are the only districts with at least 4 high schools and they are have at least one successful program every season. Maybe we need to reach out to them.

In South Bend, the City government and the school board aren't associated. Although efforts are being made.

All South Bend schools shut out this week. Things must get better. The coaches are coaching, and the players are playing. Knowing that there is no consolidation in the near future, what steps do the 4 schools need to take to get better.