Bobref

You guys should invest a few $$ in a field mike.

Sagarin has the Vikings a 7 pt. favorite, including the home field advantage.

There are a lot of personal fouls that don’t carry an automatic 1st down with their yardage penalty. Easiest way to remember is that only fouls that start with “roughing” carry an automatic 1st down: passer, kicker, holder and snapper.

Losing Daelin Hayes for the season with a torn shoulder labrum is significant.

If the crew can get the defense counted and confirm there’s 12, and the ball hasn’t been snapped, we’re instructed to shut it down and call a dead ball foul for illegal substitution, which is 5 yds. If you can’t get the play shut down before the ball is snapped, and there are 12 in the defensive formation, then it’s a 15 yd. illegal participation penalty (live ball). If the defense has 12, and one of them is trying to get off, but doesn’t get there before the snap, that’s also illegal substitution, but it’s a 5 yd. live ball foul at the snap.

Exactly why you should not infer anything from the mere fact that officials, for some reason, didn’t show up.

Correct. Can’t tell from a still whether there could have been kick catching interference.

Since we’ve been told the Mercy Rule is the exclusive method of altering timekeeping, I’m punting this one to the IHSAA.

Nothing.

Then you shouldn’t assume the crew “got a better gig elsewhere.”

Works for me. Except, I’ll be at Notre Dame tomorrow.

I wish I could. I’ll be out in the rain at Wheeler ... if we play.

Until the game actually starts, it’s in the hands of game management. Once the game starts, the guy in the white hat has complete control over whether conditions are safe to play. If the game is suspended, the determination of how late we can restart, once the referee says conditions are safe, also belongs to game management. This is from the NF policy: a. When thunder is heard or lightning is seen*, the leading edge of the thunderstorm is close enough to strike your location with lightning. Suspend play for at least 30 minutes and vacate the outdoor activity to the previously designated safer location immediately. b. 30-minute rule. Once play has been suspended, wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder is heard or lightning is witnessed* prior to resuming play. c. Any subsequent thunder or lightning* after the beginning of the 30-minute count will reset the clock and another 30-minute count should begin.” * – At night, under certain atmospheric conditions, lightning flashes may be seen from distant storms. In these cases, it may be safe to continue an event. If no thunder can be heard and the flashes are low on the horizon, the storm may not pose a threat. Independently verified lightning detection information would help eliminate any uncertainty.

Based on the weather in northwest Indiana right now, I’d say they’re likely to have some company tomorrow.

Does someone actually pay this guy to come up with stuff like that? I mean, is that part of his job? Or is it more like a hobby?

I have a hard time thinking of HCC or any MIC schools as “Northern.”

This may say more about the decline of “big school football” in the Northern half of the state than anything else.

If the GID had an award for “Most logical fallacies contained in a single post of 2 sentences or less,” this would be the leader in the clubhouse.

There is another possible justification ... which would explain why it only applies in the tournament: the IHSAA owns exclusive broadcast rights to the tournament games. A drone that could take pictures, or stream video, would potentially conflict with that, and decrease the value of the IHSAA’s broadcast rights. I assume that whatever contract the IHSAA has with its broadcast partners obliges it to take reasonable steps to safeguard the exclusivity of the product.

All of which benefit the member schools financially. Just say “thank you,” coach. That presumes you know what that justification was. What do you think it was?

I believe the IHSAA is developing laser anti-drone technology. They should be able to equip all tourney venues at the Regional level and above by 2022.

I don’t disagree. Just pointing out that the IHSAA has decreed that the Mercy Rule is the exclusive means of altering normal timing ... and it doesn’t apply until the 2nd half.

IHSAA Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (Drone) Policy 1. Prohibition at IHSAA Tournament Series events: The use of an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”), also known as a drone, at or about an IHSAA Tournament Series site during (or within 30 minutes of) an IHSAA Tournament Series event is prohibited. 2. IHSAA Tournament Series host’s responsibility: The host of an IHSAA Tournament Series site shall refuse admission or entry to anyone possessing, using or attempting to use a UAV, or shall remove from an IHSAA Tournament Series site anyone possessing, using or attempting to use a UAV; alternatively, the host may confiscate the UAV until the IHSAA Tournament Series event has been completed. 3. Exception by Commissioner: The Commissioner may, in his/herabsolute discretion, permit a party, such as an IHSAA broadcasting partner for broadcasting purposes, to possess and use a UAV at an IHSAA Tournament Series.

Request denied.

Watched another couple of clips of this play, from different angles than were on the Indy Star highlights. Absolutely no question in my mind that this was the right call, and handled 100% correctly by the crew. The mob coming on the field was within a few yards of the loose ball. Has to be illegal participation under those circumstances. Great job by the crew in a difficult situation.