BTF

I see that now. I researched a lot of schools in putting this together. There's bound to be a typo hear and there. Leave it to someone from Northeast Indiana to screw up the classification of a school in SW Indiana!

While on the road today, I tuned into ESPNU. Coincidently, they were discussing the importance of Indiana basketball becoming relevant again. They were referring to the Hoosiers as a Blue Blood and that college basketball isn't the same when they aren't in the mix. I thought they made a very good point, but I'll reconfigure their point into high school football: "High school football is better when ___________ is playing at a high level and competing for the championship." This is how they were defining Blue Blood status. I thought this was an interesting way to look at it. Hobart and Penn would be good examples to fill in that blank. What about Bloomington South. You don't even need numbers and stats to come up with a list using that method.

Yes, I'm just going by where they are currently. Not necessarily what class they were in when they had most of their success. Correct

Best of the best over a specific period of time? I like your list as a starting point, all locks for sure. But there are other power programs that don't have the luxury of 3000+ students or unlimited boundaries. Pound for pound should be taken into consideration. How would Pioneer or Adams Central do if they had 3000 students? They'd give the MIC powers a run for their money. And you can't discount what Penn, Snider, Hobart, and Dwenger have achieved over four decades.

New Pal's run of sectional titles in '87, '89, & '90 put them over the hump. Most of their success came after 2004.

A sectional championship in 2022 checks all the boxes. Still a sickening thought not to include them NOW.

I think Monrovia makes a good case for "successful programs in recent memory." Their success started thirteen seasons ago. Definitely a Blue Blood if they keep it up for seven more years.

I think Penn has the resources to right the ship. They're not on the hot seat quite yet in my opinion. One sectional title in the last four years isn't a good look, but is that enough to erase decades of dominance and five state titles? If you go back a decade, they have two semi-state titles, five regional titles, and six sectional titles. They were one point removed from from a third state title appearance. And they were very competitive against Center Grove in the 2015 state title game. I think the better (not by much) team won, but a bounce here or there could have changed that outcome. I took into consideration the strength of schedules in Indy when coming up with my list. I was pleasantly pleased to find that the traditional MIC powers were not affected by any of the criteria. Is there another MIC team that you think could be a Blue Blood had they played in a northern conference? Maybe Avon?

I would say historical success wins out over recent success to be considered a Blue Blood. Find a different name for "recently successful." Blue Blood: Success is in the blood. A Blue Blood has maintained success over a period of decades. I think a team should have some level of dominance over a twenty year span at some point in the program's history.

Adams Central (22 sectionals) and Sheridan (19 sectionals) both eliminated. No way.

Updated list based on the ten year rule: 1A: No teams 2A: Andrean, Memorial, Luers, LCC, Linton-Stockton, Pioneer 3A: Southridge, West Lafayette, Western Boone. 4A: Chatard, Roncalli 5A: Columbus East, Dwenger, Snider, Cathedral, New Pal, Valpo 6A: Ben Davis, Carmel, Center Grove, Warren Central, and Westfield This eliminates 12 teams including Penn. No thanks. I have a hard time calling Westfield a Blue Blood, but not Penn and Hobart. Penn: 25 sectional titles, 18 regionals, 12 semi-state, 5 state titles Hobart: 22 sectional titles, 17 regionals, 10 semi-state, 4 state titles Westfield: 11 sectional titles, 6 regionals, 5 semi-state, 1 state title The above case in point proves that historical success should bear some weight. My original criteria needs some tweaking. I would consider Hobart a Blue Blood even though they aren't on the list. Westfield doesn't come to mind, but they made the cut. That doesn't make any sense. I wouldn't necessarily eliminate Westfield, but I might say that if you have three state titles to your credit, you automatically qualify as a Blue Blood regardless of your recent success.

In my opinion a Blue Blood is a program that has maintained success decade after decade. Otherwise you're a Johnny Come Lately. You have to come up with a new name for programs who've succeeded just in the last ten years. Blue Bloods are defined by their titles. Titles that were achieved 30 years ago count. But a true Blue Blood continues to be successful. One could argue that a title fifteen years ago shouldn't be added into the "maintenance" part of keeping your status. Although I'm an advocate for fifteen, I could be talked into ten. Last ten years: One state title. Two regional titles. Three sectional titles. This won't add any teams to the list, but it will eliminate some.

Going back twenty years in college basketball is extreme. I thought I'd go fifteen. Are you thinking ten? I do think history has a place. I mean if someone wanted to argue that their 4 titles outweigh someone else's 9 sectional championships in the last 10 year, then I think they could make a case.

Maybe an exception given to Hobart, Jimtown, Tri-West, and Franklin Central? Four state titles each for those programs. Gibson Southern's four sectional titles fell well short of the required ten. They check all the boxes for recent success, but no where on the radar historically.

It got me thinking after reading an article about college basketball Blue Bloods. Thought it would be fun. That list could change in several directions depending on the criteria used. I weighed back and forth as to whether one state championship was enough. Having at least 10 sectional titles and and 5 regional titles were the stats I started with.

Evansville Memorial is currently in 2A. Regardless of class, they are a Blue Blood. Some still consider IU a Blue Blood since they have 5 national championships.

Typo: Andrean was in all along. Somehow missed them when plugging the name in. Good catch.

This topic intrigued me after seeing that IU basketball was still considered a Blue Blood. A Final Four appearance in the last 20 years kept their status in tact...........until now. They've officially dropped off the charts. Who are the high school football Blue Bloods? What qualifies a team as a Blue Blood? What does a team have to do the maintain that status? The following is my perspective: Qualifications: One state title. Two semi-state titles. Five regional titles. Ten sectional titles. Maintenance: Last 15 years One state finals appearance. Two semi-state appearances. Four sectional titles. 1A: Adams Central, Sheridan, and South Putnam. 2A: Mater Dei, Memorial, Luers, Scecina, LLC, Linton-Stockton, and Pioneer 3A: Heritage Hills, Ritter, Southridge, West Lafayette, and Western Boone. 4A: Chatard, Roncalli, Reitz, Lowell, and St. Joe 5A: Columbus East, Dwenger, Snider, Cathedral, New Pal, Valpo, and Zionsville 6A: Ben Davis, Carmel, Center Grove, Penn, Warren Central, and Westfield Teams left out that surprised me: Avon, Hobart, Jasper, and Merrillville. Hobart gets back in with a sectional title any time over the next few years. Merrillville gets in with a state finals appearance, which will be more achievable at the 5A level.

Good memories, great game!

I think it's more about Kelly being a dickhead. He was more committed to his transfer than he was a player that's already been with the program. Anyone with a morsel of a brain could see that Pyne played as well as anyone when he had the opportunity.

Last one was classic. Good find. I said that Buchner would win a national title at Notre Dame, but that was back when Kelly and Freeman were a team. So I can't be held to that one. Kelly's chances of winning a championship in the next four years was better at ND than it is at LSU. We'll see how Freeman does on his own. He certainly has the talent currently there and the recruits coming in to be successful.

I was referring to "chosen ones" on a national scale. Not just Notre Dame. I wouldn't take any of those guys on that list over Buchner. But I think Pyne is pretty darn good though. It'll be interesting to see how they both do during the Blue and Gold game. I've said it before and I'll say it again. Both quarterbacks are capable of leading the Irish back the playoffs. Right now I'm 55/45 in favor of Buchner.

Lol, leave to Temp to provide the receipt. 😂

Interesting point.

Figured it would be. We're all faced with it at some point with the team we support. I still don't think there is a place in sports for politics, just as there isn't a place for politics in Hollywood. I don't throw around my political opinion when I'm meeting with clients. Nor should athletes or movie stars to those who buy their tickets and support their livelihood. My value to my clients has nothing to do with BLM, Donald Trump, or the latest shooting down the street. We pay athletes and movies stars to perform, not open their mouths about world events. A teachers job is to teach a class of a specific area. A doctor is paid to heal. A lawyer to defend or prosecute. Athletes should be held to the same standard.