Bobref

Your guarantees notwithstanding, and putting aside the whole issue of the advantage for the home team and whether that is fair or unfair, your entire case is built on the proposition that neutral site games attract fewer, not more, fans. Other than your sincerely held belief, do you have any support for that proposition? Because the prevalence of neutral site games in other states seems to suggest otherwise.

Oh yes. In my memory Nixon’s nominations of Harold Carswell and Clement Haynsworth, and Reagan’s nomination of Robert Bork, all received less than “well-qualified” recommendations from the ABA. None were confirmed. The history of the relationship between the ABA committee that does this, the Executive Branch and the Legislative Branch, is really interesting. https://fedsoc-cms-public.s3.amazonaws.com/update/pdf/xcAhFnS5JIWziowTf4xXLdBt3dn82UcgJxcrN33x.pdf

The ABA has given ACB their highest recommendation: “Well qualified.”

Let me be clear. I’m not talking about effort. I have no doubt everyone on both teams will give it all they’ve got Friday. I’m talking about things like play calling, formations, defenses, tricks, etc. Most teams play it close to the vest going into the tournament, and I expect both of these teams to have their eye on the real prize.

Q: How do ye turn a pirate furious? A: Take away the “p.”

So, you think neutral sites designed to roughly equalize travel for both teams will result in lower attendance? I daresay there is a responsible opposing viewpoint. Schools that host tournament games are reimbursed their expenses even if their team is playing in the game. That’s no barrier.

Intolerance is the order of the day in America now. There is no such thing as disagreeing without being disagreeable.

You’re a southpaw? That explains so much ...

I certainly understand that point of view. But in my opinion, there is far too much thinking like that controlling how things work in Indiana high school sports. Your point of view is centered on what’s best for your particular school, because that’s the only way North Judson could ever have one of those games. If everyone is thinking that way, who is looking out for the big picture, the overall good for high school football in Indiana? Not enough people, and not the right people, in my opinion. Sure, the IHSAA makes policy. But in the end, it is just an instrument of the membership, most of whom probably feel like you do. It stifles progress.

Illinois originally enacted a districts plan, then repealed it before it ever went into effect. https://www.pjstar.com/news/20191217/as-ihsa-schools-reject-football-districts-coaches-react

Where did you go to school?

One hand is illegal motion, two hands is illegal shift.

Yes

Without having to earn your way into the playoffs, you still have up to a 9 game exhibition season. You’ve just changed the order.

From another mother.

Frankly, the direction in which the conference model seems to be headed - increasingly “closed” conferences with fewer and fewer non-conference scheduling opportunities - is detrimental to high school football. I would simply do away with the conference format and go to districts by class... with opportunities for some out of district/class games.

The next Boomer Esiason?

The decision whether to devote resources to provide those sorts of experiences for student athletes should be made at the local level, not in Indianapolis.

If that’s true, it’s puzzling, since they both have byes next week.

I wonder if it was actually a belated false start flag? What was the signal given?

So, in your very first post, you’re calling out “healthy” teams for being unwilling to play Elkhart, but you won’t name them. Do you know who they (supposedly) were? I don’t know who the Elkhart coaches are, and I don’t do Twitter. So, you’re willing to say these teams should have been willing to play, bit wouldn’t, but you aren’t willing to say who they were? I mean, it makes a difference, don’t you think? Were these 1A teams or 6A teams? Located nearby, or across the state? Or another state? Travel arrangements?

Dare I invoke the name Tim Adams? It is historical fact that it took several years to do it, but before his premature demise, TA came around to this way of thinking, and embraced the concept of a qualification format.

It’s like we were twins separated at birth.

Correct. The rationale behind the rule is that making the head coach the fall guy is the best way to insure that the restricted area is clear while the ball is alive, which is potentially a real safety issue.