JQWL

Mitchell hired Zach See as head coach for the 2024 season.

https://www.wbiw.com/2024/04/10/mitchell-schools-bolstered-their-staff-during-school-board-meeting-last-night/?fbclid=IwAR2-O-MUWBGwx4MMVvr6ULGugW2mwOWaQiojm0u18kSXeiAybEp0mVxVA6Q

20 minutes ago, PCFan1996 said:

Perry is back in 1A next year.  I have a feeling sectional 48 will be:

West Washington

Springs Valley

Forest Park 

Tecumseh

Perry Central

South Spencer

Providence

 

Any thoughts?

I don't see how else they could do 48.

I assume Providence will be good again. I know they had a bunch of seniors though.

Forest Park will be pretty good.

South Spencer only had 3 wins last year but I think they'll be solid. Probably won't be able to win it but they might make it to the finals.

What do you think?

On 3/31/2024 at 10:16 AM, WWFan said:

Both won state! Awesome for MSC. Makes me think. Has any PLAC school won state in any of big 3? I know we have a few runner ups.

I don't believe so. WW, SV, and PC (twice) have been to state finals in football. Paoli and SV have been to basketball state finals. I can't think of anyone making baseball state finals although several have made it to semi-state.

8 hours ago, slice60 said:

Maybe we can start a grass-roots movement in all sports-- the school that wins the highest class tournament is the STATE CHAMPION...the school that wins all of the smaller class tournaments are CLASS CHAMPIONS.

I'm sure most years you can make this statement and be correct but here are exceptions. The 2008 Washington team with Tyler Zeller and Seth Coy were 3A but would have won in any class that year. I have no doubt there are others.

8 minutes ago, RegionFBFan said:

If I read this properly, you actually are proposing going below 32 teams. What CoachMack is proposing is that it would never go below 32. 
 

If your argument is simply opposed to having 32 teams in a class and thus it devalues a championship then you must currently oppose 6A and 5A with32 schools.

I believe what he is saying is that less than 32 teams would devalue a championship. 5A and 6A have 32 currently and have a much less of a chance at shutting down a program before the season begins or not being able to finish because of injury. 1A could begin with 32 and be at 28 by the end of a two year cycle. I know a few years ago (2021?) we had at least two 1A schools shut the program down right before the season began. It's not a ridiculous thing to consider.

I got to walk through the new gyms being built at Crawford County Friday. It's very impressive. I started thinking about which teams in the conference have the best athletic facilities. I'm going to rank them and hopefully I do a bad job and others join in because they feel slighted.

#7 Orleans: Easy pick. No football field. Their baseball field is kinda weird. Everyone is looking down on you and the fence is super short. Softball field is across town. Really like the HS gym and the auxiliary gym is ok. Elementary gym is old and cramped and no locker rooms. Their weight room is in a closet and the equipment is outdated (assuming they haven't gotten anything new since I've been in there.)

#6 Perry Central: I hate their HS gym. Just very uncomfortable to sit in. Small. I'm not sure about that dome gym but we always referred to it as the asbestos dome growing up. They do have a nice elementary gym with that huge mural in it that's pretty cool. Not a big fan of their baseball field. Everything is almost too big. Huge back stop. Huge fence. The football field is always in good shape. The track is always in good shape too. I've never been in their weight room so I can't comment on that.

#5 Springs Valley: The HS gym is great. Auxiliary gym is ok at best and elementary gym is awful. They have a nice weight room. They recently resurfaced the football field and it's in good shape. The track can't be used for home meets because the surface has to withstanding the flooding and that doesn't make it suitable for meets. I really like what they've done with the baseball and softball fields in recent years.

#4 Paoli: I like our gym a lot. My favorite is the sunken style of gym but Paoli's feels very open and I like big crowds. The lower gym that the girls play their volleyball and basketball games in i super nice for a 2nd gym and I think the elementary gym is good too for what it is. Baseball and softball fields are ok, not great. I help coach baseball too and I always feel like the kids prefer playing on the road. Football field and track is in good shape. The visiting locker room is kinda of embarrassing. Before I coached at Paoli, we never used the visiting locker room and now I know why we didn't. Weight room is big and has everything you'd want but equipment is kinda dated. It works though.

#3 Crawford County: This might be #2 when everything gets finished. Football field isn't great but the baseball field is good, their basketball facilities will be great when they're done. They are also building an additional multi-purpose gym. I haven't physically been in the weight room since they moved it but I've seen photos and it looks much betters. They also have a new indoor hitting facility for baseball and softball. Overall, things are much better at Crawford County than they were 5 years ago. Also, Crawford County has one of the best Cross Country courses in the state evidently. 

#2 West Washington: They have a really good set up for basketball. They have the nice sunken gym, auxiliary gym, a nice elementary gym and a nice (not sure why the gym floor is black) multi purpose gym. Field is always in good shape. Last time I saw the weight room it was nice. The baseball/softball areas could use some work. I would compare them with ours. Just nothing you can really say. The track is ok but their numbers are normally low in track so I get why they don't do much with it. I really wish we had a facility like the Bowsman complex. 

#1 Mitchell: Mitchell has done a great job with their renovations. Baseball, softball, and football field all turfed. Looks great. Someone on Facebook posts photos of their new basketball facility almost daily and it looks great as well. I almost applied for their football job just to get a tour. I haven't been in their weight room but I've never heard anything bad about it. Their track always seems to be in good shape too. Only thing I can think of that I don't care for is their HS gym. I don't know why. Maybe it's the layout but I don't like going there at all.

Hopefully the 2 other PLAC guys on this forum can tell me why I'm wrong!

23 minutes ago, TigerFan20 said:

IHSAA said over the next couple of weeks

So end of April probably.

1 hour ago, JQWL said:

In an effort to drum up conversation and hopefully others to post some kind of a preview like btownqbcoach1 did, I'll talk about Paoli.

Offensively we bring back 10 of 11 starters, losing only Trey Rominger at Fullback. However Trey will be hard to replace as he finished 11th all-time in the state's history in rushing yards. We bring back our entire offensive line in seniors Jaxson Reynolds (6-0, 200), Jeremiah Hutcheson (6-6, 265), Peyton Baker (5-11, 230 and All-Conference in 2023), Ian Drake (5-10, 220), and Coy Busick (5-11, 230 and All-Conference in 2023). This group has quite a bit of experience as Reynolds started his sophomore year and Baker, Drake and Busick started the second half of their sophomore seasons. Senior QB Fletcher Cole returns (6-0, 180, 655 yards rushing and 12 TDs, 486 yards passing and 5 TDs, All-Conference WR '22 and QB '23). Senior WRs William Baker (6-2, 160) and Garrett Hickman (5-11, 170) return and have been playing a lot since their sophomore year. Junior Cooper Spires (6-0, 155) also saw a lot of time at WR last year. At slot back we return Juniors Dane Padgett (6-3, 190, 761 yards rushing and 10 TDs, All-Conference in 2023) and Treighlin Minton (6-2, 170, 241 yards rushing and 1 TD). Junior Coen Brace (6-0, 175) also started at slot back last year the last 3 games due to injuries and did a really nice job. I'm really curious who ends up taking the FB job. I could see it being Junior Tyler Hannon, or Sophomore Dawson Guidry. Both did a really nice job on the JV last year.

Defensively we bring back 10 of 11 starters, losing on Trey Rominger at Inside Linebacker. We rotated quite a few guys on the defensive line with Busick, Drake (All-Conference in 2023), Hutcheson probably getting the most snaps and Baker and now sophomore Rusty Turner (6-1, 240) getting quite a few snaps during the game. At OLB Reynolds (All-Conference in '22 and '23) returns and Tyler Hannon (5-9, 165) played that spot the 2nd half of the season. Padgett also rotated in that OLB.  At ILB, senior Isiah Apple (6-0 200) returns. Apple played half the season at OLB before moving inside. Hannon also played some ILB last year as well as senior Jareth Nunez (5-9, 180). At Defensive Back we return Cole (Junior All-State), Minton (All-Conference in 2023), Spires, and Baker with Hickman and senior Ashton Jones (5-10, 150) playing quite a big as well last year.

Kicking duties could go to Nunez (All-Conference in 2023) or Hannon. We are going to do our best to not have to punt but if we do, I think Sophomore Justin Thorton (5-11, 180) will do it. 

I expect we will look something like this coming into the season barring injury or a family moving to Wyoming. We have some young kids that played JV last year I'm excited to see how they've changed. I could see us trying to figure out how to use some of these kids. Hopefully it's a good season for us.

Forgot about Oscar Lewellyn (5-11, 290). Oscar has started at NT for us the past two years. Sorry Oscar.

In an effort to drum up conversation and hopefully others to post some kind of a preview like btownqbcoach1 did, I'll talk about Paoli.

Offensively we bring back 10 of 11 starters, losing only Trey Rominger at Fullback. However Trey will be hard to replace as he finished 11th all-time in the state's history in rushing yards. We bring back our entire offensive line in seniors Jaxson Reynolds (6-0, 200), Jeremiah Hutcheson (6-6, 265), Peyton Baker (5-11, 230 and All-Conference in 2023), Ian Drake (5-10, 220), and Coy Busick (5-11, 230 and All-Conference in 2023). This group has quite a bit of experience as Reynolds started his sophomore year and Baker, Drake and Busick started the second half of their sophomore seasons. Senior QB Fletcher Cole returns (6-0, 180, 655 yards rushing and 12 TDs, 486 yards passing and 5 TDs, All-Conference WR '22 and QB '23). Senior WRs William Baker (6-2, 160) and Garrett Hickman (5-11, 170) return and have been playing a lot since their sophomore year. Junior Cooper Spires (6-0, 155) also saw a lot of time at WR last year. At slot back we return Juniors Dane Padgett (6-3, 190, 761 yards rushing and 10 TDs, All-Conference in 2023) and Treighlin Minton (6-2, 170, 241 yards rushing and 1 TD). Junior Coen Brace (6-0, 175) also started at slot back last year the last 3 games due to injuries and did a really nice job. I'm really curious who ends up taking the FB job. I could see it being Junior Tyler Hannon, or Sophomore Dawson Guidry. Both did a really nice job on the JV last year.

Defensively we bring back 10 of 11 starters, losing on Trey Rominger at Inside Linebacker. We rotated quite a few guys on the defensive line with Busick, Drake (All-Conference in 2023), Hutcheson probably getting the most snaps and Baker and now sophomore Rusty Turner (6-1, 240) getting quite a few snaps during the game. At OLB Reynolds (All-Conference in '22 and '23) returns and Tyler Hannon (5-9, 165) played that spot the 2nd half of the season. Padgett also rotated in that OLB.  At ILB, senior Isiah Apple (6-0 200) returns. Apple played half the season at OLB before moving inside. Hannon also played some ILB last year as well as senior Jareth Nunez (5-9, 180). At Defensive Back we return Cole (Junior All-State), Minton (All-Conference in 2023), Spires, and Baker with Hickman and senior Ashton Jones (5-10, 150) playing quite a big as well last year.

Kicking duties could go to Nunez (All-Conference in 2023) or Hannon. We are going to do our best to not have to punt but if we do, I think Sophomore Justin Thorton (5-11, 180) will do it. 

I expect we will look something like this coming into the season barring injury or a family moving to Wyoming. We have some young kids that played JV last year I'm excited to see how they've changed. I could see us trying to figure out how to use some of these kids. Hopefully it's a good season for us.

Do those that believe a qualifier is or at least should be coming think that will apply to all IHSAA sports or just football?

13 minutes ago, Footballking16 said:

Pretty telling that the IHSAA has continuously decided to completely devalue a 9 week regular season for as long as they have. Glorified scrimmages.  

2 questions:

Cathedral is independent, correct? Would you feel different about a devalued regular season if they were in a conference?

Do you feel like the current system is holding Cathedral back from post-season success?

12 minutes ago, Bobref said:

All I can say is that you’re dead wrong about all of that. Take a look at a state like Ohio. That last weekend of the season, you have de facto elimination games, where whether you get in or not depends on that last game. You think those teams, their fans, the coaches, the media, don’t keep track of their Harbin points, and those of other playoff contenders? The last few weeks of the season all they talk about is potential playoff scenarios based on “what ifs.” Just like the pros … and college … and every place else but Indiana. 

Then I hope you can find an Ohio Football Digest and save your posts for them.

36 minutes ago, Bobref said:

A very typical “objection” to a qualifying format: all emotion and supposition. No facts or logic.

By the way in a top 50% qualification format, you can add a 10th regular season game and the number of games played in the season, in total, is the same as it is now, so the experience is not “minimized.”

If you have a problem with an objection based around the kids playing the game, then we are involved for different reasons. I've noticed over the years your posts have changed. I enjoy the ones where you answer officiating questions. You're pretty knowledgeable with the rules.

It does seem like with what you're wanting to do is add a 10th which according to you would add a meaningless game. It wouldn't make it a playoff atmosphere for teams trying to qualify because we'd use some kind of mathematical formula to determine if you're in the top half that wouldn't come out until you know the scores of all the games Saturday. If you're not in the top 50% after week 9, then it won't change much after week 10.

A buddy of mine coaches in Florida at Oak Ridge. He grew up here in Indiana. He hates their format. To qualify, your district games are the only ones that factor in to qualification. The other games truly mean nothing. For context, 5 of the 9 games they played were essentially exhibition games. They knew when their season was ending after 8 games because they had lost 2 district games week 7 and 8. I'm not sure how that is a better system.

It always amazes me on a forum that should be for promoting football in Indiana, the amount of people on this forum that either want to eliminate teams completely or eliminate teams from playing games. There is nothing wrong with the all-in. Kids get very few football games to play in their entire lives and once it's done, it's done. Let's not try and minimize the experience just so fans can feel like it "means more."

27 minutes ago, BTF said:

Good point. Things are certainly different now than what they used to be. If I'm doing the math right, doesn't the risk for a player getting injured before the postseason go up approximately 10% by adding another game? Is it really worth it? 

I don't think it does. The risk of injury in a scrimmage is already present. So the risk is essentially the same. (Maybe the increased risk would be in a scrimmage, you can play in fewer snaps than an actual game.) The only difference is, you could get injured in a glorified practice game or an actual game.

3 minutes ago, BTF said:

As a fan, I don't care one way or another. I would imagine, as a coach, you're probably in the minority with regard to eliminating the scrimmage. I'm guessing most coaches would rather knock heads against another team in a practice game before kicking off when it actually counts. 

I don't think that's true. I haven't spoken to a coach that feels the official scrimmage is as important as it used to be with the current summer guidelines.

4 minutes ago, US31 said:

Punish is your word....not mine.😁

Persecution is a more fitting word.

8 minutes ago, btownqbcoach1 said:

Forest Park 1A? 

Correct, Forest Park should be 1A.

Orleans doesn't have football.

1 minute ago, WWFan said:

212 in Mitchell can't be correct one bit.

I think their attendance rate is pretty low.

It's posted. I can't attach it for some reason. 

6 minutes ago, First_Backer_Inside said:

No, it was a good pitch. You just have to think about the same problem that arises with the coaches poll every year. Unfortunately as coaches, you don't have all the time in the world. You also don't see a lot of the teams in your sectional. Yes you can have an idea of who is good but you don't necessarily get to see them on film, see who they play, etc. so trying to have the coaches seed a sectional would be difficult if you don't see everyone because records can be deceiving. Not to mention opinions of other schools, relationships between coaches, I have respect for a lot of coaches all over the state. I also know other coaches I trust about as far as I can throw them if you are catching where I'm going with this.

I do. I also thought about cross class rankings. Such as coaches from sectional 48 ranking 40 and vice versa. The rankings wouldn't directly impact the voters but the teams are in a similar region and should be somewhat familiar with the schools. Nothing will be perfect. Just improve upon what we now have.

3 minutes ago, First_Backer_Inside said:

This wouldn't work

Because we need to meet in person for hours upon hours to decide who is the best team in your sectional?

37 minutes ago, oldtimeqb said:

I get that they do it for wrestling - an individual sport.  But when would you and @jets propose the meeting?

Saturday morning after week 9?  That could be possible in 1-4A, but would be much easier in 5 & 6 where you would still have two weeks to prepare.  

Let's say Saturday morning after week 9, the coaches of the 8 sectionals rank the teams, excluding your own team. Do it via Google Forms. The Forms get sent to the host school that's in charge of the money for the year. Then shared to each AD. Ballots have to be submitted by noon. If you do not submit a ballot, you automatically get seeded last.

I guess I don't know why there has to be a next step. Just seed it. Play it. Stop.