oldtimeqb

Thanks for this. Interesting information. We have family in Hamilton County and attend Our Lady of Grace. I was surprised to find out that was the Lafayette Diocese and Guerin was as well.

The article says that all IFCA member head coaches and assistant coaches get a vote. So "not every coach with a pulse" but only IFCA member coaches.

Agreed - it has to be a tough and often thankless job. I have noticed over the last few years, there have been many youth/MS games where we have wondered if a referee crew would show up, but there never has been a shortage of dads wearing team polos on the sidelines.

I would think this would be an easier sell than seeding. Most football coaches I know are extreme creatures of habit. After winning sectional and regional, I can't imagine the irritation of waiting until mid-morning/afternoon Saturday to find out who they will play the next Friday. I just think seeding the sectional Top 2 would have to happen before seeding after the sectional would be a palatable suggestion. Basketball, Baseball, Volleyball, and Soccer (at least I think) do get Semi-State placements after regionals, but the teams already know who they will play. That's the big difference.

I don't think the early start time helped. Friday's first game featured two teams from the Central time zone - Mater Dei and Andrean. That 10 AM start almost required a hotel stay the night before and prevented the drive-up crowd. For as much as we may not like the Center Grove vs Carmel/Westfield state finals, the ticket office certainly does. Looking at 2014 - Ben Davis/Carmel, Cathedral (5A), New Pal (4A), and Tri-West (3A) all featured very drivable fan bases.

@Bobref Question about 5A. That was the only game I noticed where the referee would announce ‘False start - Whiteland (or Valparaiso)’ as opposed to offense. Is that a referee preference, comfort level with a mic, etc?

Chatard gets the first win for the ‘north’ semi state winners

Look at @hhpatriot04 - trying to up his Twitter clout. 😂 That last minute of the first half. Wow. Crazy. If the second half is like the first, this is easily the best game of the weekend thus far.

After hearing Jan yesterday, that makes complete sense. Has to be tough to call in sick during the biggest weekend of the year die HS football but it was the right call. Look forward to hearing him in the call next year.

So how do we explain 4A? Public schools Mt Vernon and East Central beat the 2019 and 2020 P/P state champions in the regional/SS rounds en route to winning the 2021 and 2022 titles.

Yawn. The boat race is on. 3 years in a row the 4A south semi state is the real championship game.

The SIAC was a pretty tough defensive conference this year. Congratulations MD!

My take on the two ‘tough’ calls. Offensive pass interference against MD. WR aims at defender and hits him. WR’s hands are not in a running or catching position. Clearly his hands are in a shove position. Tough call but I see why it was a penalty. Defenseless player? Is that what it called? I thought the call was targeting in NFHS but no ejection like NCAA? It’s a tough call with the speed and size of the players. However it was a penalty without a doubt, IMO. Next year #34 would miss the second half. He would be advised to study the hit of his teammate on #2 from MD on the crossing route. That is how you play the man to break up a pass.

Someone tell @TigerFan20 there is a game thread for this one. Good to see MD convert their first red zone opportunity. That was the difference last year.

-Different discussion for a different day, but the Pacers have way too much pull over Indy media for a mediocre franchise. The state football finals in November and opening week Cardinals games in April. Two things I would much rather watch than regular season NBA games. Yet they get preempted every time.