Lysander

I can relate. We weren’t farmers (everyone else I grew up with was, though) but we were “truckers”. I spent my Saturdays and Sundays working off my debts on top of or underneath of 18 wheelers every weekend. Unlike most kids I dreaded weekends post Friday football and couldn't wait for Mondays. The day I left home for College was the last day I ever stuck my head under a car/truck hood, changed a tire or washed a car. I’ve gladly payed someone else to do it since that day.

….and a smoker.

I just love the sound of “Shipshewana”, though. With that, as much as I want to see the Steve Miller band at Shipshewana in a few months with my white painter paints and “Book of Dreams” belt buckle circa 1977, I’m struggling to pay over $200 to do do.

I was out of town in Lancaster, PA when I heard the sad news. Just hoping Donnie Baker continues his GID legacy..."swear to God"

"Res ipsa loquitur" (from my waaaay old law school days)....in the case I pointed out, they (St. Mathews Jr. High), quite literally, had world class NFL talent- yet never won city during that time. Its perhaps the greatest example I've seen personally as to the significance of the TEAM vs. individual talent. Kids can be bigger, stronger and faster whether from Indy, Ft. Wayne or Shipshewana and get their @ss kicked by East Central whose school is essentially a RURAL PO Box just off I-74....yet plays as a team and beats Cincy Moeller and also beats a Roncalli team with arguably the biggest O-line and top running back in the state.

St. Matthew’s Elementary and Jr. High School 2005-2007 NFL players Zack Martin (likely Hall of Fame), Nick Martin and Ted Karras….and some number of All-State, All-American and college players at all levels (not all in football) from a school with roughly 20 males per class. Yet somehow unable to win a CYO city championship in Indianapolis ….and people wonder why Central Indiana dominates. Okay…breaking the rules…not that I’ve seen them.

…..and my next door neighbor. Not a legend but a great neighbor.

I would expect no less from Carmel. I'd add '"hypocrisy" btw along with "pettiness". In fact, one might drown (swimming titles being surfeit) in the hypocrisy - aside from the fact Carmel has LONG been the public version of Cathedral - who they also have long hated. At least Cathedral is honest about just who they are (its not like they hide it) - without all the moral posturing BS....they simply want to win championships (ie. Basketball teams with no single CYO player to be found) and will find a means to accommodate that goal (find $ to pay tuition) whatever state you live in, color you might be or whatever "God" you care to worship....so long as you can help get that State Ring. No doubt Cathedal would wait until 6'9", 30 points/10 rebounds per game "Beelzebub" graduated before they found an even distant need for a postseason exorcist. With that, Carmel appears to love the lazy/easy/sad/DISEASED "trope" that somehow being a single geographic millimeter "North" of your opponent makes you somehow morally superior is more than sickening....and truly false. As someone who grew up in southern Indiana, it makes me puke a bit when Carmel even vaguely tries to use the race card in its favor. I've lived in both worlds...and lived North in Indianapolis since college...some 40 years ago. I'd take Center Grove's ability and quite clear willingness to welcome people of different races, creeds and religions any day of the week over Carmel - push coming to shove....if Carmel is truly forcing me to choose.

I love my panties and they never bunch……and the panty color selections are simply incredible. In purple….I…..am…..stunning. As to hemorrhoids, I’ve seen Mammoth Cave stalactites that give me more wishful personal memories. With regards to how players behave today….it’s on us. Yeah, they’re d’bags BECAUSE we’re d’bags. I chuckled about my kid trash talking and taking every “shot” he could get away with in HS and college…including 3 NCAA Sweet 16s and a couple of All Conference college selections. It’s the font of fun stories today. Yeah, I did call him out on ALL of it…but I also let it slide….and chuckled about it behind closed doors. Funny thing is, today, as a business executive, he’d be an absolute hard@ss as to player discipline and sportsmanship. Maybe it will come back around….though I doubt it. Every time I look at the Indiana HS Facebook page touting Jr. High travel teams (some dude from Westfield is the worst, btw) or some other rube touting every QB who plays in HS or Jr. High, I lose hope. I’m thinking the word “humility” has been removed from the lexicon.

I ran middle and long distance in HS and college (which the 880 paid for)…….it was never fun…..NEVER.….EVER. I’d much rather been talented at hoops which WAS fun.

I have to admit I find this apparently above my lowly math skills as someone who’s basic background is a legal one and have somehow stumbled my way through 30 years of commercial real estate lease and investment analysis (and I will skirt around the whole Chatard/Reitz thing per above) but…………Pike? Pike? Am I on the hoops page?

In what regard?

Wasn’t Jaylon Smith’s talent on both sides of the ball considered the difference maker for him in 2012? And I can definitely think of a Week 3 game Roncalli almost certainly loses this year without him….. To be honest, they also almost certainly lose the first East Central game as well. That’s 4 losses.

Not to belittle hoops at Chatard, and hopefully things are improving, but Chatard likely couldn’t have won a 2A sectional during that period. Bumping hoops at Chatard would actually make me consider DT’s call for contraction…at least for hoops.

You and I seem to be of a mind on this. I am hopeful that East Central, being the survivor of the EC, New Pal and Roncalli Texas Death Match may be able to set things to right again in 5A in 2024. I can’t believe how much I miss those quality days of Columbus East, Cathedral and New Pal owning that class and being Top 10 Teams overall. Oh…and of course Merrillville with its greatest class ever….

History might say, “Pot meet kettle” as regards Chatard passing the ball - or, more accurately, not passing the ball. Chatard won 7 State Championships between 2003-2013 under Coach Lorenzano arguably being the MOST one dimensional team in the State. I can recall a Regional game in 2009 v. Batesville where he threw the ball once near the end zone and it was intercepted and almost returned for a TD. It was the last pass of the game (maybe the only one). He had 2 backs with over 200 running yards each that game. That system worked well for Coach L. Coach Doyle has really changed it up these days at Chatard. With regard to Lawrenceburg, they graduated an incredibly talented QB/receiver duo just last year.

Nice job and thank you.

Would love to see Chuck Freeby of WHME (South Bend) do one of these games. That dude is a pro as far as I’m concerned.

I believe that the field goal was the product of a Chatard turnover inside the 10 near the end of the 1st Half rather than any type of sustained drive by WL.

It is TERRIBLY lopsided as regards North v. South in 4A currently. That said, this looks like 4A about 10-12 years ago with some stud South teams minus a Dwenger counterweight in the North (as things existed then).

EC would likely prefer a mud bog. Fans could bring their ATVs for the half time entertainment.

No surprises. I’m assuming EC won’t put 77 on them, though….just as a courtesy.

Totally understand what you are saying. I’ve witnessed it too many times. The team after the team with loads of talent surpasses that prior team.

Err….unless you are Memorial, they tend to take care of that unpleasant “Chatard business” in SemiState……..unfortunately.

Unfortunately I’m probably going to have to buy the tickets this year then. My better half does EVERYTHING better than I do excepting anything on line. I always fear she might trigger a nuclear event when she opens her laptop. You going to be outside Kilroy’s?