Coach Dowell

It has been a great week of practice for the 60th North South All-Star Game. We are the longest running high school All-Star Game in the USA! Come join us at Indianapolis Decatur High School Friday Night at 7pm. Great way to honor the All-Stars on a great career as well as kick-off the 2026 Football Season. See You There! Decatur Central (SR 67 South Side of Indy) Pregame 6pm Kickoff 7:05

Little rainy at practice this morning at U Indy but the players from both the North Squad and the South Squad were enjoying the environment. Always a great experience for these young men and selected coaching staffs. Great presentation by the Indiana Shriners today at lunch and all the players were tuned into the message and what it means to be an IFCA Indiana All Star. Now let's do our part by supporting this cause by attending! IFCA North/South All Star Game: Friday July 11 7pm (Decatur Central HS Southwest Indy SR 67 just south of 465)

The FC crowd was very interesting. First time I have ever have been in the stands at FC Basketball (always been on the bench.) JV Official missed a travel at the end of a quarter. Seymour player hit a three before the horn (after the travel). From about 25 rows up a guy was yelling Fing Terrible! Fing this and fing that (nearly the whole time between quarters) Must be a usually occurrence. Then the Varsity game... Officials were good (not great but OK) . They guy in question just starts talking to Jaylan. I am too far away to hear but a number of us in the crowd expressed the need to clean things up on the court. Kept Jawing at Jaylan.. Jaylan did say something back with a smile on his face. Official did the right thing by getting the fan out of there. Agreed with the above comments. You will never meet a nicer kid. I had the pleasure of coaching him for 3 seasons on the football field. He plays hard and with emotion, dislocated his finger on the tip. Had to have it snapped back in place 2 times and taped up before going to work on FC. He even went and got a floor mop when the officials requested a towel/mop for a wet spot. He did the mopping himself and return the mop to the end wall behind the basket, Everyone needs a Jaylan Johnson on their team. On a positive note... I saw Coach Bragg at the end of the game talking to Jaylan and Congratulating Jaylan on the W. Another positive two FC dads where complimenting our Seymour kids on how they play tough, share the basketball, and defend. Too bad that the above occurred with the fans.

And it is hard for us old guys to find a job these days. There are openings but districts wont pay for an "Experienced Coach" Or if you want to be an assistant you get, "I would love to hire you but the admin says we cannot afford you." Also if you teach in a "good paying district" you cannot go home to your wife and say good news! I am now the head coach. it only cost me 30 to 40 grand in teaching salary. There are a lot of coaches post 50 who can still get it done. And they are experienced educators.

Just took a look at this play this morning. Not 100% sure but it does appear that the QB knee is down and or the elbow hits the ground as the ball comes out. Just looking at it looks like he is down prior to any fumble. another thought can you Franco Harris in HS? (Advance a Fumble by an Offensive player?) If so maybe that rule needs looked at. I am not a master of mechanics by any means but it does appear that the side judge on Danville's sideline is way ahead of the play. On the aforementioned concerning using discretion. Who is watching the sidelines? All those guys in stripes should be watching the play. Now this is a learning moment for all the other schools still playing. Stay off the field until the play is blown dead. Again tough way to lose a game. Reminder that officials are not professionals and we currently have no replay system in Indiana.. Most if not all love the game and do their best to get it right.

I GOT OVER 200. 3 things, I am old... I have coached a lot of football, and I have been on a lot of recruiting visits lol.

Ohatcheee (Small school in AL) Won on a Hail Mary that bounced off of three players I believe. Final Score 71-70. Both teams were running up the score!

I needed to make sure as I have been out of the college game a few years. It is that way on Sat too. I can stand in the End zone as long as I keep the ball from breaking the plane on a punt. Not sure about Sunday, never coached in the NFL but if I did , I would know the rules!

Two points if it is touched by the Punt Team First. Punt Return may pick it up and return it. It is a free play for the return team. Meaning if the run it back 98 yards and fumble at the two, Return team would keep possession way back at the one. Return team gets the ball at "First Touch by the Punt Team or the result of the Return/Play" Next, HS during punts it is the ball. As a member of the punt team I can run down , stand in the end zone, and keep the ball out with my hands as long as the ball does not break the plane of the goal line. On kickoffs its the goal line, Returner steps on goal line, plays is dead touch back.

Coach G was one of a kind. His Clinton Central Kids were always a tough and physical group. Prayers for the Gilbert Family.

That is Great Jason got him a good one!

What about the kid from East Central that is going to Michigan?

If you wanna BE somebody you gotta BEAT somebody!

The entire state list or top 50/100 would be interesting to see.

The North/South Game has definitely changed over the years. In the old days it was a whos who of Indiana talent. Future NFL guys playing here and there in past years. Now kids graduate early and a lot of D-1 programs do not allow the kids to play. Now voting for guys that are not going to play in the game does hurt another kids chances. For those that do not know. Region Teams must be made up of all 6 classes. If memory serves me right a school can nominate 3 players at 4 positions. If a small school has a good 1A or 2A player, they definitely have a chance to make the All-Star team. Once the Region Teams are selected, the ALL Star Coaching Staff will meet and work on selecting the team. Again the All Star Team must be represented by all 6 classes and equal representation must exist between all regions. Players who are being considered for the team can play any position in the game. Hence a good athletic QB may play safety or a RB could get moved to a WR spot and a WR could get moved to corner. The main thing is that even with all the parameters it is still an honor to be selected for the All-Star Team. It is a great experience to be a part of . I was fortunate to be selected to coach in the game in 2021 and my 6th grade Son got to be the ball-boy. Experience that I will cherish for the rest of my life!

Yes you can fair catch a FG attempt

On the initial post. Not all FG attempts are spotted on the 20. If the FG attempt does not cross the goal line, it is an A) returnable ball and B) Can be downed by the kicking team. So if people are dumb, you can line up for a FG from 45 out and kick it short. All you have to do is down it before it goes in the end zone.

I agree that you never win a state title or even a sectional in June and July. Some summer rules are good and some summer rules re not so good. I start my 35th season in 2022. Back in the day you would see high D 1 recruits at Bishop Dullaghan Camp and the North South game was a "Whose Who" of Indiana HS Football. As far as BD Camp goes you could go to Franklin and see Roncalli, Carmel, Seymour, Perry Meridian, and others battling each other. Go to Anderson and it would be Ben Davis, Lawrence Central, and Fort Wayne Homestead. The Belden Line Camp was a great builder of character and you "found out" how good you were and what you needed to work on. Ultimately it now falls on the coaches and players to hold their own summer scrimmages, 7 on 7s and practices. Everyone has to do it because everyone is doing it. (That makes a lot of sense) I think that is why we lose a lot of young coaches. Back in the day you could build decks, swimming pools, or run a lawn business. Work a summer job if you will. Those days are gone. You practice/work at football in the summer just as much as you do in the season. There are many positives as the game has gotten better. I just feel for the kids and staffs who pour their heart and soul into the game only to win a game or two year in and year out. Still Nothing like Friday Night!

Way back when this is how it was going to be. The EIAC did want to add two teams. They wanted a northern team (Connersville I think and a Southern Team Madison) At the time the AD was not going to budge. Even though MCS winning percentage was like less than 20 percent for boys and 25 percent for girls in regards to HHC opponents. The powers that be thought that it built character to get your head beat in and your a** handed to you night end and night out. Furthermore it built you up and got you ready for the sectional. As you can see the Cubs are regular contenders for the Regional and Semistate. (sarcasm) Progress has been made. Madison finally made the decision to exit the HHC (Smallest School Enrollment Wise) Football if they remained in the HHC they now would be a 3A playing two 4A teams and 5/6A teams. The turf field and weight facility are top notch. Now having the right people in place to attract kids and building up kids that will compete is the next step. Hoping this gets done soon as I have a 9th grade girl and a 8th grade boy that are both three sport athletes. Thirsty for success.

Baseball will be the hard one. The old legion rule where they supply the school team with equipment and tournaments. There are no rules regarding the number of kids from one school. I feel that ADs and coaches should look at summer and cut it into 3rds. Not sure if you need spring sports with travel baseball/softball and IJGA for golf. Basketball/Winter Sports get June with Football being allowed to lift and such. After July 4th week the shift needs to be on the Fall Sports. Bottom line Coaches need to share athletes. And kids should not be penalized for not coming to things in a given sport if they are participating in their chosen sport or activity. Virtually all football folks get this concept.

Former Columbus North Head Football Coach Bill McCaa passed away last week. I wanted to share a note for all the coaches out there. "God's Speed Bill McCaa... Thank you very much for your kindness, patience, teaching and leading by example. All when it matters a lot; In High School. Signed- A kid who didn't play football." For all those kids we work with on the practice field and weight room, We coaches have the opportunity to coach a lot more kids in the classrooms and in the game of life. Coach McCaa got it. He reached so many kids as a teacher, coach, and later principal. My staple saying... "It is not what you do in life that counts, it's who you meet along the way that really matters. My life is better because of Coach McCaa. My challenge to my fellow coaches is to "Coach them All!" be it on the field or in the classroom and most importantly in life!

The education field and the Indiana Football Community lost a fine man this week Arnold Mickens. Arnold is a proven fact if you chase your dream it can be accomplished. Right or wrong he was deemed not good enough to run the ball at Indiana at the time. Arnold would transfer to Butler and would have tremendous success. The NCAA record books for rushing once read 1) Sanders OSU 2) Allen USC 3) Mickens Butler. Thing is he did his damage in only 2 seasons basically. For such a good back his talents would be maximized at IPS as a coach and guidance counselor. His boys are both in the IPS system working everyday to help young people. Proven fact that it is what you become after you are done playing that really matters. RIP Arnold and Prayers to your family and students. Sincerely Mike Dowell

We have a girl player at South Decatur. She is an outside LB and RB. She earned her way on special teams last year (2020) and recovered an onside kick to seal the victory vs Springs Valley. She got some reps for us this year and will be back again for 2022.

South Decatur High School is seeking a week 9 opponent for 2022. Multi Year Contract Possible. Would like a home game for 2022 however travel is negotiable. South Decatur is a 1A school located on SR 3 just South of Greensburg. Please Contact Rodney Martin AD or Rick Zimmerman HC if interested. Thank You.

I got the honor of coaching in this game. A lot of folks did not expect us (South) to win. The facts are on Friday July 9th 2021 the South was the better team. Up front it took one possession to see that the South players came into the week in very good physical shape. Additionally as a coaching staff, we had the South kids ready to play. I cannot speak for the North, but we as a staff felt we had a solid game plan for selection of our team, position selection of those who made the team, offensive and defensive install, and subbing/personnel rotations during the game. The North had won the game several years in a row. Our goal was to win the game. Our kids made some great plays and a number of those were not from MIC schools (Centerville, South Dearborn, Bloomington South). AND a late replacement from 1A Covenant Christian was named MVP. I think it is a good format. The South Team won this year.