Bobref

The Garrett Railroaders & Jimtown Jimmies hark back to each town’s rail tradition.

The Mercy Rule is not in effect for the championship games.

That is a very interesting theory, and it may turn out you are correct. My problems with your analysis are 2: First, a “potential” long-term impact is not a reason for changing something that’s working now, unless you can show with a greater degree of certainly that this impact is going to occur, and it is going to cause a real “sea change” in the competitive picture of Indiana football. That is only theoretical at this point. Secondly, the Success Factor, with a tweak to take it to a 4 yr. cycle, will accomplish all of your goals with less considerably more precision than a 2.0 multiplier.

We want the same thing, and for the same reason. We just differ on the tool to use. The “2.0 Multiplier” is a blunt instrument. Inflexible. It paints with too broad a brush. The Success Factor, especially if it were modified to a 4 yr. cycle, is a surgical blade.

But how much of this amounts to a self inflicted wound? It is one thing to have unequal resources. It is quite another to have the resources, but make the choice to employ them elsewhere, and not go “all in.” There are a number of PPs that don’t excel in football, simply because they apply resources elsewhere. If you really want to level the playing field in a multi-class format by, to the greatest extent possible, matching “like” against “like,” then you should find a way to adjust the classes of those schools that choose to apply their resources to go all in. You know, like a “success factor,” or something like that. And to make it fair and complete, you should do the same for those public schools that have shown their willingness to go “all in” as well. Hey, wait a minute ...

In those days, the Burial Ground really lived up to its name. Elmer’s teams were always big and physical.

You and your family, too.

When I was a crew chief working D-III football, during the week I would give every crew member one topic on which they had to lead the discussion in our pregame Saturday morning. One week, our game was the Trinity Trojans @ the Aurora Spartans. So, each crew member had to come to the pregame with a half page report on a topic under the general heading of “The Trojan War.” Best pregame we ever had.

No problem. It’s like making a bad call. Got to move on to the next one.

Here in the North, we have a plethora of interesting nicknames: Hobart Brickies, Whiting Oilers, River Forest Ingots, LaPorte Slicers, Andrean 59ers, Jimtown Jimmies and, in the area of interesting spellings, the Kankakee Valley Kougars.

I agree. At the high school level, things like fundamentals, discipline and teamwork are more likely to help a team bridge the talent gap than in college or the pros, where talent reigns supreme.

There is concern in Illinois (or should be) on the part of anyone who is counting on a state-backed pension for their retirement. At the close of fiscal 2019, Illinois’ unfunded pension liability was $137.3 billion, meaning that the state is committed to paying out that much in excess of what they have in reserve. This quote tells it all: “Illinois has the lowest credit ratings among U.S. states at a notch or two above the junk level due to its huge unfunded pension liability and chronic structural budget deficit.” https://www.reuters.com/article/us-illinois-pensions/illinois-unfunded-pension-liability-rises-to-137-3-billion-idUSKBN1Y82ZP

As you know, I was referring to your penchant for using football subjects as a way to push your personal political agenda. Out of respect for the people who are incredibly weary of the political back and forth, let’s keep it to football here, and save the political stuff for the OOB.

When I attended St. Edward in the late 1960s, it had 1,760 boys. The testosterone fog drifting through those hallways was so thick, you could cut it with a knife.

I have to say I was disappointed by the Merrillville game. I enjoyed seeing Westfield. That’s a very good, very well-coached team. But Merrillville turned it over 3 times, and they had at least 7 pre-snap penalties, including at least 5 false starts. There was a very small crowd, due to distancing restrictions, so it certainly wasn’t crowd noise that caused those false starts. Just a lack of concentration at a critical time. I saw the Pirates 3 times this year, and it was the same story each time. You cannot help but be impressed with their size, speed and athleticism. The first two times I saw them, they made these same mistakes, but the talent differential between them and the opponent was so great that they could overcome them. Not so when you play a disciplined, well-coached opponent who doesn’t make mistakes, and takes advantage of yours. I didn’t know Coach Seiss before he came to Merrillville, but having seen him work now on multiple occasions, I have to say I’m impressed with him. But if Merrillville truly aspires to have downstate success, rather than just being the big fish in the relatively small pond that is 6A football in the North, he’s got to change these guys from athletes to football players. It’s great to have sensational athletes on your team. But they have to get better at playing football.

Nope. I’m done.

I agree, it’s not a foul. And this is a very good (Region) crew. It’s the crew I spent my last season on the field with. They have the 6A game Friday. From my standpoint, this is a very interesting play for training purposes. The question is “what could the crew have done differently to have a better chance of getting this unusual play right?” That discussion could last quite a while.

We’ve been through this before ... and it didn’t end well. Those who do not learn from history are condemned to repeat it.

You do need it. You just don’t realize it. And if I want to be offended — and express it — by the ridiculous implication in your post, I will.

Confirmation.

The guy made a bad call. Nothing more than that. You’re being ridiculous.

Foul, or no? IMG_0540.mov

Foul, or no? IMG_5838.mov

Got to know Bob Nagle and Chuck Freeby a little bit, having done so many games in the South Bend area over the years. They had the final game of my career, and afterward I got a nice note from them and a DVD of the game. Great people.

I know. The hurt is real. Been there.