Bobref

The Law of Unintended Consequences strikes again. When NIL came to be, no one foresaw borderline NFL players going back to college … because the NIL $$ exceed the NFL’s rookie pay scale. I sincerely hope this is the straw that breaks the camel’s back … and causes someone to grab college football by the throat and shake some common sense into it. As many have observed, the current model is unsustainable.

My 49th season opener tonight. Observing a crew at Wawassee @ Jimtown.

Did DT put you up to this? 😂🤣

Here is a summary of the mechanic changes for 2026. The IHSAA Mechanics and Best Practices for a Crew of Five, 2026 Edition, is now posted on my.IHSAA. Access it at the Resources tab on your dashboard. ❖ Free Kicks Crew’s initial alignment on kickoffs changed significantly. Wings now start on the goal line pylons. They can then adjust but must always stay at least 5 yds. behind the deepest receiver, if they are not on the goal line. U moves up to R’s restraining line. Officials’ responsibilities and mechanics before and during the kick have changed correspondingly, the biggest change being the wing officials are now responsible for forward progress on the return all the way to K’s goal line. The new free kick mechanics appear in the Manual at pp. 68-70. The new alignment also applies to a free kick following a safety. ❖ Scoring Kicks The U moves back under an upright with the B, and rules on the kick. The wing officials hold their positions on the LOS, with associated responsibilities. R must now make sure his position is wide enough to encompass a view of both the snapper and the holder/kicker, as he is now responsible for all roughing fouls. The new scoring kick mechanics appear in the Manual at pp. 78-79. ❖ Umpire Positioning U’s initial positioning on scrimmage plays has changed slightly, in that U’s position is now on the side of the formation opposite R, and no wider than the outside shoulder of the guard. The Manual now makes explicit that, on pass protection, U is responsible for the block of the tackle on R’s side, while R is to look through the QB to the block of the far tackle. ❖ Wings’ responsibilities on pass plays Wing officials hold the LOS while watching the block of the tackle. Upon reading “pass,” they continue to hold until a receiver on their side gets 7-10 yds. deep. Then move downfield and find the ball. ❖ Wings to accompany teams to the field The wing officials notify the team on their respective sidelines when there are 4 minutes remaining on the game clock prior to kickoff and at the halftime intermission. The wings will accompany their respective teams out to the field.

Notre Dame and USC to renew college football’s greatest intersectional rivalry, starting with the 2030 season opener in the Coliseum. A 4 yr. home & home deal. Reportedly, ND’s proposed series with IU is not happening.

Paul Condry has done more to promote Indiana High School Football than anyone I know.

Think Trump is kicking himself for nominating Justice Barrett after the mail-in ballot decision?

There are significant changes to free kick mechanics which will appear in the 2026 revision of the Manual. Should be available by early August.

Ought to be mandatory for every parent with a kid on the team. Unfortunately, that will result in a significant decrease in all those omnipresent videos of some fat Coach bullying a 14 yr. old kid over a checked swing call… if you like that sort of thing.

Andrean may be a real threat in 3A. But after last night, I bet they’re going to be playing a lot of road games this year.

No Bears’ fan cares what you think … and we hope you fall off your soapbox and hit your head — even though it’s not a vital organ! 🤣😂😅

From the outside looking in, this is interesting. The program has sort of been treading water since the Tim Bless days. But now, reaching in to Texas for a HFC. Does this gentleman have some Indiana/Columbus connection? Does this signal a new commitment to getting back to a top tier program?

I was looking at it from the standpoint of the taxpayer.

In effect it would be, if the mechanism is to give property tax relief. Whether the government collects less from you, or collects the full amount but gives some back in the form of vouchers, you arrive at the same place: you have more and the government has less.

Sound pretty much like the voucher system.