BTF

They have their down years just like any other program. They're not expected to be the best every year, just expected to have the most championships over the course of time (which they do). And kudos to those programs for having good coaching staffs, that's a key element to this.

I agree. Penn just hasn't been the same since Geesman retired. Yoeman is good, but Geesman ranks somewhere in the Top 10 of all time. The north only has one program, Penn, that ranks in the Top 10 in enrollments. The three largest schools, Carmel, Ben Davis, and Warren Central also have the most state championships with nine each. Coincidence? I'm not sure if the forementioned teams are the three largest currently, but they were when they won their 27 state titles. You'll also never here me feeling sorry for ANY program with 3000+ students. At least we are on the same page on that one.

Much respect to the Kingsman, one of Indiana's Top 5 programs of all time. But I've got to side with Temp here. I think he gives an unbiased opinion regardless of the fact that he lives in Indy. It took me a few years to figure that out though, lol.

Lol...........bla bla bla. The Rocks had one great season (more to come hopefully) and it still wasn't enough to come out on top of 6a. The rest of their good teams were 5a state caliber good. You guys have one really good example down there, Center Grove. Good for them. Coach Moore has done a fabulous job in building arguably the best program in Indiana.

I get it, we all get it. You just want to pump your chest saying "we're the greatest." Hell, you can't even admit that your Irish have advantages. Luers fans go home every year disappointed after getting thumped by Snider. Is it because Snider has a better program? Hardly. They have an enrollment advantage and Luers doesn't have a metro of 2 million to recruit from, like a certain program in Indy does. When you have an advantage, it's okay to admit it.

Special program. Kudos to Coach Moore.

And if we're going back to year 2000, it's only fair to include the Snider 2004 team. I maintain, they were the best team in the state during the regular season when they had their D1 running back. Warren was given a gift with him sitting on the bench with a broken ankle. Few and far between, whatever, I get it.

The enrollment disparity is hard to overcome. It's like I said in another post. A northern team may catch 4 of the 5 mega schools on an average year, but at least one of those schools is going to have an up year and take care of their smaller northern counterpart.

The north might have had 2 of the top 3 in 2015. The problem here is we have to go back seven years. The gap between Indy and everyone else has been sizable from 2016-present.

De'alcapon Veasy, he's a sophomore. Senior Langston Leavell was called for spiking the ball. It was a quick celebration spike, hardly obscene. But they got him anyway. The second was for gesturing a first down signal and possible words with another player. I've seen far worse celebrations not get called, but the refs were throwing the flags Friday night. He's out this Friday against Carroll.

You might be the only one out of the Indy area. Most fans are selfishly biased toward their area of the state and prefer total domination. You seem to be a fan of high school football in general and appreciate a good game regardless of geography. I can assure you fans of Northeastern Indiana would like to see a 6a team in our area compete. We were spoiled for a long time with Snider, but declining enrollment and socioeconomic factors have knocked them from 6a to 5a. Homestead and Carroll are 2500 and growing, they are the future of 6a football in Fort Wayne.

I don't think he was taking a jab at the Giants, just making a point. Comparing Merrillville to Ben Davis isn't fair since the Giants are double the Pirates in enrollment. Give Merrillville 3000+ kids and they probably have multiple championships to their credit. Maybe not nine, but more than likely multiple.

Indy's Top 5 has been in a league of their own over the last five years or so. Generally there's a couple of teams that could compete with Indy's 6-10. Last year it was Merrillville and Carroll.

Not really, I just know Temp well enough to know that he's bored with Indy's domination of 6A. Both Homestead and Carroll are prime breakout candidates to make that happen. He's been patiently "waiting." First game of the season. They should get a pass.

Goes without saying.

Dwenger at North Side - Dwenger is still Dwenger, although no one seems to want to give them credit for that. Saints in a close one. Luers at Wayne - Wayne ran into a motivated Saints team last week. Luers will provide a less daunting challenge. Generals by 10. Snider at Carroll - Playing without their star running back hurts, but Snider's good enough to get it done. Panthers South Side at Northrop - This one is a toss up. Neither team impressed in Week 1. I'll go with Northrop, but not by much. Homestead at Concordia - Homestead is good every year without fail. They get it done against the 3a team Year to date: 5-0

I was expecting a rebuilding year from Carroll this year. But with 2500 students, should a reloading year be expected annually instead? Tapping into the transfer portal I think was an important piece to Carroll's 2022 puzzle. I'm not ready to anoint them as a Top 10 team after beating up on a 2a team devastated by graduation and transfers, but I'm not saying you're wrong either. Friday night will answer some questions.

Valid point.

Imagine Popeye Williams getting flagged every time he made a good play last year. He would have been disqualified every game. I'm glad he wasn't. He was a good player and had fun playing. Again, these celebration penalties are arbitrary to say the least. Let's be consistent across the board. Unsure about the offensive coordinator. I thought the same thing about all the different looks on offense, I guess time will tell. I was surprised Haupert wasn't unleashed more than what he was. But then again, I wasn't expecting so much talent in the backfield this year. This could be a dangerous offense come playoff time.

East Noble, then Warren Central. I believe Warren gets Carroll in Week 1.

I think you'll find that there are varying opinions as to what an online forum is for. In my opinion, no topic is off limits as long as you're respectful to the coaches, players, and officials. So let's talk contraction, I'm completely fine with that. But no where on this thread was I disrespectful to an official. See my first post on page 1. I stand by it now, tomorrow and next week. My opinion doesn't change. Rules are rules, I get that. Again, see my first post. And this is my last. Thanks all for your insight.

I was referring to the second penalty. According to Just Rules, a first down gesture is a penalty. I've never seen it enforced though. So that one must be arbitrary. I agree that spiking the ball is a penalty, I just don't agree that it should be. Do I prefer to see a kid hand it to an official? Sure. But I don't see too much harm in spiking a ball.

I think everyone expected both programs to take a step back this season. I think the big difference was a couple of key transfers coming into Carroll and a couple going out of Luers. But yeah, the margin of defeat was surprising. By seasons end, I think a Fort Wayne team will qualify for Top 15. I'm just not sure who at this point. Lots of answers in Week 2. Snider takes on Carroll, North Side gets Dwenger, and Homestead squares off with Concordia. I like where you have Penn and Merrillville, a little uncertain about Westfield though. Keep this poll going. You seem to give an unbiased and honest opinion.

Thanks for the info on that. I'm not sure I've ever seen a kid get flagged for doing that. It must be arbitrary depending on the official.

So making a first down gesture is a penalty?