Boilernation

I don't see how any conference can be above them at 2. Certainly not the Duneland. The SIAC and Mid State are too small, IMO. I think most of the HCC could fair very well in those conferences. I believe they've proven the past two years that they're currently ahead of the SAC.

That's 2 years in a row that the SAC Champ/Co Champ hasn't looked good against middle to cellar dwellar HCC Teams and then throw in Westfield dismantled Homestead. The HCC is heads and shoulder above everyone not named the MIC. I'll give them them the benefit over my beloved Duneland in any matchup. I think Valpo is in serious trouble. They lacked a great passing game last year and the upgrate was supposed to be when Grimes transferred in from Lafayette Jeff. He ended up leaving the 1st half of the Penn game with an injury and hasn't been seen since. Valpo is a ground and pound team that will use the massive size/strength of their lines to run the ball down ZIonsville's throat and stop the ZIonsville offense. I can see this game turning into a 14-10 type of game that sees a lot of clock being burned up by running the ball. I'll give Zionsville the edge due to tougher schedule and Zionsville has a QB in Stone that capable of making big plays with is arm. I have a feeling Merrillville will keep it somewhat close and Westfield will end up winning by around 14. JoJo Johnson is not easy to contain. He and Marcus Hardy con generate some offense for the Pirates. Nothing against Marion, but I'll take the Bricks by 10+. I can't see them losing at home in a game that puts them back into a State Final Appearance for the first time since 1996. Especially since they were so close last year.

Fleck and Franklin, absolutely. Just 1 bad year. Franklin will turn Penn State around. I'm curious to see how Fleck handles adversity this year and into next now that the experienced players he inherited are now gone. Harbaugh is gone. That team has no fight and appears to have quit on him. If nothing else you could expect a Harbaugh coached team to play with a purpose. It's time to move on.

Just hear about a place in Columbus and I looked it up to see if it's true. Meyer owns an establishment called "Urban Meyer's 7-0 Pint House" in Columbus. I just don't see him ever being a legitimate candidate at Michigan.

I'm surprised to see Marion in a Regional after losing Chambers. Was Bell a carry over from Chamber's staff? Hopefully, this year is a sign that Marion won't go back to 0-2 win seasons in the post-Chambers era. They won 3 games total in the 3 seasons prior to Chambers.

Eh, I would pass. I think he benefited greatly in San Fran by having Fangio and Roman as Coordinators. First and foremost I'm hoping Ted Phillips is removed of his duties. For the 1st time ever the McCaskey's fired one of their own and went outside the family for a President. Phillips hasn't proven in any capacity he deserves to be running an NFL team. Bring in a new President, let him pick his GM, and then look for the HC. One name I do like for HC is Buffalo OC Brian Daboll. He has spent time with both Belicheck and Saban. His offense appears to be better suited for the Bears talent moreso than Bieniemy at this point. Admittedly, I probably put too much value into hot but unproven Coordinators. My fear with some retread coaches is they haven't evolved with the game or they're success was more about the Coordinators and staff they had around them.

Yeah, I'm not up to speed on all things snobbery in South Bend, but didn't he catch Covid from attending a DC gathering?

Really wouldn't matter. Pace would still find some insane logic to draft another QB over Lawrence.

Agreed. You can't schedule like they do, be blessed with the talent they have on a yearly basis, and then say enrollment is a hinderance to playing 6A teams. At least 95% of 6A teams are never good enough to be on par with an average Cathedral team, IMO of course. Oh well, it's their right to remain in 5A and I'm sure they have reasons within their Athletic Department to not want to set a precedent of moving up voluntarily.

Will Cathedral ever consider opting to move up and remain in 6A? Honest question. Not trying to troll. I would think a rematch with Center Grove would be more rewarding than picking up easy hardware in 5A.

Agreed. Look at what Zander Horvath is doing at Purdue in place of King at RB. Horvath could play RB or LB at Purdue. I could be wrong, but I think he was a walk on out of Mishawaka Marian.

Which is a shame, give him a solid OC and he would still be a great NFL HC, IMO. I agree with you that the Bears don't have the talent to run Reed's offense. Plus, in reality, if Bieniemy's name is finally called, he probably has a lot more appealing options than Chicago. A bigger question is will Pace be around to make the hire or draft/sign a QB. And, given we have a playoff caliber defense, should we prefer the Bears try signing/trading for a QB as opposed to drafting one in the 1st round that may need years to develop?

Fitzgerald is the only one out of that group I would put any stock into. I just hope the Bears realize they went down the right patch with Nagy by hiring an offensive mind and bringing in a solid DC to run the defense. The only problem is Nagy failed. I wouldn't mind seeing them go back to the Reed coaching tree and get Eric Bieniemy. I think he's finally get hired this offseason and he is actually runninng the Reed offense. Nagy was barely used for playcalling when he was in KC.

I'm uncertain if it's the same injury he sustained against Merrillville in last year's 6A Sectional Final, but I feel for the guy. The past 2 HS games he's played have resulted in serious injury.

Agreed. They’re just not hitting on all cylinders. They’ll need Burbee back to have any chance at advancing. I see Lockhart continues to be QB1. Did he beat out Grimes or is Grimes injured as well?

They go from having their season cancelled to winning the schools first ever Sectional Title in football. Coach Good Is building a solid program at the corner of Ridge and Calhoun.

The big Jr. DT was recently offered by Nebraska. That’s 4 Certified D1 recruits and 5 mythical. 3 of the 4 transferred from Hammond Morton.

Right? You can’t beat Westfield, Carmel, St. X, La Salle, Elder, take CG to the final seconds, and then expect the 5A playoff path will present any challenge.

Yeah! Alvarez is a wuss!

I believe you are correct. So, does Wisconsin cancel again? What's the word on George?

I don't follow IU recruiting unless it's an in-state target that Purdue is also interested in, so I didn't know the Penix's background until I heard about it on a college football podcast I was listening to. I find it comical that Pruitt pulled Penix's scholarship offer to Tennessee when he arrived in Knoxville as the new coach. Penix >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Guarantano.

I think he's too smart to coach for the McCaskey's. IMO, it would be the worst decision any coach could make, but could Jerry Jones convince Meyer to coach the Cowboys. Seems like a move Jerry would make.

Kelly was highly successful at Grand Valley State, Central Michigan, and Cincinnati. I thought at the time of the hire he was a homerun for Notre Dame. He was a proven winnerr and not just a hot coordinator looking for his 1st HC gig. It baffles me when I personally hear ND fans complain that they need a new coach. Though, the ones I know never went to ND and won't be satisfied until ND wins another Title for them to boast about.

Thanks! He still took Florida when given the chance at ND. It's an odd fit in my opinion. Would he really want to move to South Bend at this point in his life? Would the highbrows in ND's Alumni base want a coach that brings baggage with him?

At this point it's just conjecture. You believe he was offered the USC job and you believe he's a Midwest Guy. Maybe he was offered the USC job. Texas and USC are continuously mentioned with Meyer because many believe those are the biggest sleeping giants that can quickly be turned around into CFP contenders. The same would be said for Ohio State if Day wasn't up to their standards. Meyer has been in Salt Lake City, Gainesville, and who knows where prior to coming to Columbus. At this point he may no longer care about his Midwestern roots and be more appealed (his wife too) to live in So Cal/Austin than Ann Arbor, let alone South Bend.