oldtimeqb

I have tried to learn from the Marlins recent outbreak. For one, I have taken the drastic step of forbidding my high schooler of going to Atlanta strip clubs... I mean hot wing restaurants. We’re still discussing how many nights he can go to bars though. Tough negotiator.

Wow. Back to back strawman arguments. This is going to be good. Let me get my popcorn ready.

Great news. Now is the time for all student athletes (not just football) to put their leadership skills to the test. Let's make sure all students practice healthy and safe habits for a great school year and season. Wash your hands. Wear a mask. Game on.

I’m well aware of Topps. Had just about every card of the 1986 and 1987 seasons (loved the wood grain.) Topps Now - the 24 hour on-demand printing version of their cards has been around since 2016. https://www.topps.com/toppsnow?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI77mt9_ry6gIVi4TICh3Ibw3vEAAYASABEgLbmvD_BwE Dr. Fauci has the most printed Topps NOW card. Not the highest Topps Card.

I had never heard Topps Now until this week - it started in 2016. I guess that explains why. Speaking of Ponzi scheme investments - anybody need some Beany Babies from the late 90’s? They were supposed to be our retirement nest egg...

COVID-19. Where HIPPA laws come to die!

The weird thing is that Owensboro could play Evansville North HS, which is 10 miles away from Gibson Southern. Kentucky is letting teams play games against border counties but not any farther into the state. I’m expecting a delay by Illinois HSA (at best) today. Week 1 in Illinois was always week 2 in Indiana. I just happen to see a little school from Indianapolis named Chatard is playing an Illinois school that week..... Hmmmm??

Would the lack of fans be an added enticement? I could see the lack of a crowd, that clearly knows more than the white hat about football (tongue in cheek), might be appealing in some instances. I told my wife last week if we are able to attend games this year I promise to be a kinder, gentler, more appreciate version of myself and treat the other team and officials with the utmost respect. Yeah. She didn't believe me either. 😀

I wasn't implying Westfield/Carmel/Noblesville were anywhere near Lafayette. I just assumed a level of price difference for those students to 'crossover' into another Diocese. For example a family/student in NE Marion county who attends an Indy parish, can they choose between Roncalli and Chatard (both Indy) with minimal price difference? Choosing Guerin, since it's another Diocese would be a non-assessed parish and therefore the tuition would be higher? Not to stray off the football power question, just an assumption on my part that may impact enrollment numbers, and ultimately bodies available for a football team.

I had little bit longer response, but I did not post it. I just could not phrase it in a way that sounded like a criticism of Guerin, and I don't want it to be construed as a derogatory comment. Simply put, if Guerin was going to be considered a football power on par with the Indy schools, they should have had more success by now. My gut tells me that Guerin could have some great 1A/2A P/P football teams like LCC, Indy Lutheran, Heritage Christian, Ritter, and even Guerin in its early years. The financial realities of its location and demographics means that it will have to maintain enrollment on the 3A/4A range for financial viability. My take is that Chatard has the tradition, culture, and ability to maintain its place as a top 3A/4A (with success factor) power. I don't think Guerin's football tradition has caught up with its size yet. To answer your question, I don't think it will overtake Chatard in the next decade. Just the opinion of an outsider. And if I'm not mistaken, isn't Guerin part of the Lafayette Diocese, as opposed to Indianapolis? That may matter, although I'm not sure to what extent.

I love @Lysander’s feistiness to defend Chatard’s honor. (Oops. 😀) I would put Cathedral and Chatard as 1A/B and the rest as a second group. I’m also obliged to say Chatard is better pound for pound of course. Lol

Agreed. I know this is hard for some to believe, but there are 90 other counties besides Marion and Lake.

I saw that news last week. Such odd timing, but I was surprised as well.

Yes. Those young college athletes that are so scared of the virus they attend house parties, nightclubs, and my personal favorite the NBA player who just went to the strip club - I mean restaurant - because he likes the hot wings. We get it. You’re scared to live your life. Flatten the curve, wait for a vaccine, what about the long term effects... keep moving those goalposts.

Have a great week to all the teams practicing and conditioning this week. It looks like teams are allowed to wear helmets/shoulder pads and get some work done. As Coach Nowlin likes to say - get better!

I think Castle has the most impact players returning in the conference this year. But look at those last four games: Reitz, Jasper, Central, Memorial. That’s a tough way to close the season.

Based on what I have heard from the county health department, I would agree with this conclusion. I got tested (negative) and it all revolves around ‘close contact’ by the CDC. Fifteen minutes or more within 6 ft. (2 yards) and unmasked. And they check close contacts 48 hours before and 48 hours after symptoms appear. If a player wakes up Monday with symptoms, everyone from Friday nights game would be outside that window. Translate the 15 minutes to football, let’s assume 150 plays at 6 seconds apiece, which amounts to 15 minutes total. I think it would be an extreme stretch to qualify an opponent as a ‘close contact.’ They have to be within 2 yards the entire play every play. Scientifically, the bus ride, sideline, locker room, and huddle are more dangerous for viral transmission than playing a down of football. It is transmitted like the flu. I would be more nervous about transmission playing a team with a MRSA outbreak transmitted skin to skin. From a referee standpoint, I would wear a mask for pre-game coach and captain meetings including the coin toss. A white hat is more likely to catch something from his line judge or umpire than a player.

Out of curiosity, how many of the 9 weeks will a crew work a game at a "new" facility? In other words, when they look at their yearly schedule, how many are fields that they have referred at in a prior year? I have a friend who worked Friday nights in the past, and I think he said maybe 2 weeks a year would they travel several hours away, to try to advance for tournament purposes. I wasn't sure how common that was. I would think this year of all years, I would be extremely nervous to work with a new AD/School.

I don’t know. Have you seen some of the railroad crossings and 4-way intersections when the corn is up? Fort Branch can be pretty dangerous. 😀 (Sorry, couldn’t resist! Lol)

I played on a 2-8 team in HS. Our fans socially distanced naturally. 😀

Agreed. And given what we know, tell me how this makes sense: A college athlete has been on campus, hours away from ‘home’ for the last 3 weeks. Last weekend he and his teammates attend a house party (shocker) with female athletes, one of whom tests positive on Monday. The school’s response is to suspend workouts for two weeks and send all the male athletes back home to live with their 50+ year old parents and siblings. Is the university acting in the interest of the health and safety of their student athletes or just trying CYA maneuvers?

We need a new google translator. Replace "out of an abundance of caution" with "Because we don't want to be sued.: And "For the safety of our students..." with "We just don't want you to catch the virus here.." Schools need to be open. And they need to be open as safely as possible. I hate blanket delays. If anything a phase in of group 1/ group 2 until students get the feel of the school day. I'm hearing some school protocols might include one-way hallways and up-only /down-only stair cases? That will take some getting used to.

A very high level club team? Kudos to you and yours.

Same thing here in Evansville. Travel softball teams (220) come to down. Minimal masking. Check out this article from Evansville Courier & Press: 220-team softball tournament in Vanderburgh County is almost totally mask-free https://www.courierpress.com/story/news/2020/07/17/220-team-softball-tournament-vanderburgh-county-mostly-mask-free/5450917002/ BTW I’m not mask shaming anyone. It just still boggles my mind that IHSAA schools are getting raked on social media for restarting practices. This is the first I have seen travel teams discussed.

That is my biggest concern - teacher to teacher spread. Years ago, I spent 3 months as a substitute teacher in multiple schools at every level - elementary, middle, and high school. I was considering going back to become a teacher through a masters/transition program. What turned me off were the discussions I overheard in every teacher's lounge I entered. I can picture some teachers viewing the lounge as a 'safe space' and removing masks or other PPE to vent and exposing each other in the process. *And just to clarify, I'm not knocking the teacher's lounge complaining either. My last two employers have had lunch rooms and I've discovered the employee complaints are not unique to education. I just had not encountered it prior to that time.