Bobref

Triple that … where the Bears are concerned.

I believe they also have one guy specifically designated to monitor the line to gain equipment. You know, to make sure no one gets hit in the eye … 🤣😂

Those were the alternates, I believe. They are always there. But, obviously, they have now been given an expanded role. I like it. Gives the guys on the field help when they need it most.

I can’t help but think that if it had been an official making a mistake of that magnitude he’d have to get a new identity, complete with plastic surgery, and move to Paraguay.

Minshew has done a great job … in his role as a backup, which he accepted There was no QB controversy there. There would be if both Fields and Caleb Williams were on the same roster.

Might be interesting if they do that. It’s been a long time since someone in Chicago was tarred & feathered, and ridden out of town on a rail.

I The “stunner” label has nothing to do with the Coach. It’s just that in the 57 seasons of Munster football, they’ve only had 3 coaches … and all have had close ties to Munster. John Friend lived in Munster and kids from Munster went to Hammond High, where he was Bernie Kreuger’s assistant, before Munster opened. Leroy Marsh was Coach Friend’s assistant for many years. Jason Grunewald was a player at Munster and was Marsh’s OC for many years. To my knowledge, Coach St. Louis has no ties to the program. That Munster went outside its own little world is the stunning part of this hire.

If you’ve got 2 QBs, you don’t have a QB.

And in an absolute stunner:

Over/under on calls being overturned by replay: 2.5

They will. …. briefly. And then on to the inevitable conclusion of the process.

From your lips to the Commissioner’s ears.

Yeah, there are only 49 examples to choose from. And that’s just using high schools as templates.

In short, no rules changes this year worth talking about. There is a new Point of Emphasis on illegal formations. Depending on the guidance we get from the IHSAA on exactly what they want enforced, that could get sticky. Probably won’t know until shortly before the in-person rules meetings held with the coaches during the Summer. https://www.nfhs.org/articles/home-team-uniform-requirements-clarified-in-high-school-football-rules/#:~:text=Language in the 2024 NFHS,that clearly contrasts with white.

They’d have to use something else or, for example, 3 of Center Grove’s regular season games in the 2024 season would not count toward seeding, since they are out of state opponents. It would hardly be consistent for the IHSAA to open up their travel policy somewhat, as they did a couple of years ago, and then adopt a seeding formula that penalizes teams for playing out of state opponents.

Really glad for Mongo, though bittersweet. Also glad for Hester, who clearly deserved it if any special teamer was ever going to get in.

My post in the Travel Rule thread: I love it when one of our schools decides it wants to wear big boy pants all the time. St. Frances is going to be interesting. They were “only” 5-6 last season. But their schedule included heavyweights like Buford (GA), Chaminade (FL), Mater Dei (CA), East St. Louis, (IL), St. John Bosco (CA), IMG (FL). A little road trip to Indianapolis is nothing for those guys.

I love it when one of our schools decides it wants to wear big boy pants all the time. St. Frances is going to be interesting. They were “only” 5-6 last season. But their schedule included heavyweights like Buford (GA), Chaminade (FL), Mater Dei (CA), East St. Louis, (IL), St. John Bosco (CA), IMG (FL). A little road trip to Indianapolis is nothing for those guys.

In 40 seasons of officiating high school football in the northern part of the state, I had the pleasure of officiating Penn games many times. Coach Yeoman had many notable achievements on the field. But what stood out in my mind, what separated him from many other very successful coaches, was his class and sportsmanship. It didn’t matter what the scoreboard said, he was the same. Penn is so fortunate to have had him in a position to positively influence so many. A great coach … and a better man.

If the Bears are even considering keeping Fields and trading down, keep in mind that the first 3 picks are likely to be QBs. If they’ve decided they’re sticking with Fields, they trade the #1 for Washington’s #2 plus. Then, they still don’t need a QB, so they can flip the #2 for the #3 with the Patriots, plus, and they can do the same with the #3 with anyone else. Or, they can keep the #3 and take Harrison, Jr. So, it’s not just a question of Caleb Williams vs. Fields, and the whole rookie contract thing. It’s Williams and his rookie contract, vs. Fields (who has 2 seasons left on his rookie deal) plus whatever they can get by flipping the picks, which would presumably include several projected starters who would also be on their rookie deals.

Bold!

My post on the Super Bowl 3 years ago today. 🤣😂 Oh God of the Gridiron, today is Your Day. First, we give thanks for last weekend’s great victory, as your mighty right arm TB12 carried your justice into the den of iniquity that is Lame-Bow, and struck down the dog-ass Pack and their evil sorcerer, A-rog. We ask that, in your infinite mercy, you get some tickets for A-rog... so that he can get back to the Super Bowl once more in his career. But now, Lord, we come to you with an even greater ask. The upstart Mahomey, and his henchmen, led by the infamous Andy “Not so thin as a” Reed, invade your sacred ground in Tampa. Oh Lord, let your ambassador in this world, TB12, once again call down the lightning on the young pretender, so as to instruct him in your most important Commandment: THOU SHALT HUMBLE THYSELF BEFORE BRADY!!! You created the football world in only 7 glorious days. Now we implore you to bless your faithful champion, TB12, with his 7th ring, symbolizing the triumph of football good over football “I’m in a hurry to be the greatest of all time.” Amen.

One of the things I like about the Super Bowl is the proliferation of creative “prop bets,” many of which are only distantly related to football. Then, I thought the people on the GID are just as creative as whoever it is that comes up with those goofy prop bets. So, let’s hear some imaginative prop bets for Sunday. I’ll start. Over/under on the number of times Taylor Swift is shown embracing Travis’ mother: 3.5 Over/under on the number of times Mahomes is compared to Tom Brady: 2.5 Over/under on the number of times Andy Reid and hamburgers/cheeseburgers are mentioned in the same sentence: 0.5

Heard some interesting takes on the Bears-Fields situation: Washington has the #2 pick, and they are definitely going to take a QB. Caleb Williams, in addition to being the consensus #1 draft choice, grew up in Washington, D.C., and was coached last season by Kliff Kingsbury at USC. He’s now the Washington OC. Would they trade up to get #1, and if so, how much would they give up? Caleb Williams is in a unique position. He is the first “generational QB talent” of the NIL era. He can go back to USC for another season and still make millions in NIL. He’s doing national TV commercials. In fact, under the rookie pay scale, he would likely make more money by staying than he would make in the first year of his NFL career. He is estimated to make $3.2 million in NIL alone. So, he has more leverage than any undrafted college player has ever had. If he doesn’t want to go to the Bears, he has a legitimate alternative. The Bears should be mindful of Winston Churchill’s admonition the “Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.” They drafted Trubisky when the head coach, Jon Fox, was a dead man walking. Predictably, he was fired after the season and Trubisky had to push the reset button and learn a new system his second year, too. He never recovered. Then, they did the same with Fields, when Matt Nagy was “pre-fired,” and Fields had to learn a new system in his second year, with predictable results. Finally, the same scenario is rearing its ugly head now, as Eberflus is definitely gone if he doesn’t produce this season. It’s deja vu all over again. So, what makes the most sense for the Bears?

Can’t say I’ve ever heard about max size for a high school by law. There is a statute that specifies maximum staff-to-student ratios, but that is for elementary schools.