from_the_sidelines007

We all know how quickly things change! We are not to Saturday yet. A cancellation is not out of the question. Here you have one school from one county (LaVille .- St. Joseph) and one from another county (Prairie Heights - LaGrange). Now granted, they are using two separate entrances for each of the respective fans. They are limiting the seating. And, the event is held outdoors. The event does have three things going for it. as always, the game is better from_the_sidelines007

Just happened to see this information put out on twitter . . . LaVille Football Scrimmage at Prairie Heights Saturday, August 15, 6 p.m. Physical distancing and masks required Home team to enter one end of stadium. Visiting team to enter opposity end of stadium. Tickets given to family of players, coaches, managers, cheerleaders, etc., Patron will then submit ticket with $3 admission at the gate. Site also mentions JUST A REMINDER Lancer fans, it is extremely important to physical distance in the visitor stands and wear masks for this event. as always, the game is better from_the_sidelines007

Just a public service announcement . . . Just renewed my booster support for THE gridiron digest. Encourage others that utilize this site to consider becoming a booster! It is an easy process . . . took me a couple of minutes. Thanks to anyone that helps support The Gridiron Digest! as always, the game is better from_the_sidelines007

So here a few suggestions to live stream your event: Facebook Live. Instagram Live. Periscope. YouNow. YouTube Live. A few other thoughts: Get a few businesses to sponsor your broadcast Get a couple of people to broadcast - One that would be the play-by-play person and one that would handle the color commentary. With attendance and physical distancing issues, probably got to find a place for the broadcast team to set up shop. Unless your FB pressbox has more than one level, probably not going to be broadcasting inside the pressbox. Maybe the top of the bleachers? Get the administration to rope off 20 feet of the top three rows of a section in the bleachers? Then put a tent over the area to protect the equipment from the weather? Just saying . . . . as always, the game is better from_the_sidelines

Yeah . . . kind of like those that take blood. I've had nurses that it was just a little prick to the skin and the process was not that big of a deal. I've had less nurses that, for whatever reason, could not find the vein, wiggled the needle around, apologized and took the needle out. Bottom line: Depends on the nurse, the experience, and the touch. I will say that most all my nurses did a very good job! God Bless all those nurses (Docs, aides, front-line workers in whatever they do) as we navigate through this pandemic. Mask Up Follow Guidelines Athletes: Make Good Decisions When You Are Away From Practice And Your Teammates. Those decisions are crucial and can dictate if we all get to continue. There are a lot of kids, coaches, parents, patrons, etc., that want to play sports again. as always, the game is better from_the_sidelines007

The answer is: Follow the guidelines . . . mask up (when people are asked to) physical distance (whenever possible) avoid too much contact when not required for sports use hand sanitizer and cleaning materials to minimize contact with surfaces. We are in the situation we are in because people don't want to or think they have to follow a simple guideline. *I get that there are those that may not be able to mask up due to medical reasons. Not everyone has a medical reason. These kids want to play and a lot of these kids are being smart and making good decisions. The coaches want to coach. The parents, friends, community members want to watch football or volleyball or soccer or whatever again. Just follow the guidelines . . . Its that simple. as always, the game is better from_the_sidelines007

Good for you and good for your boy! Best of luck to him in his return to football! as always, the game is better from_the_sidelines007

The present guideline until Phase 5 in late August is 250. My question is . . . Does that 250 include players, coaches, officials, and essential personnel (Press box and/or Scorer's Table)? Just looking for clarification. Thanks! as always, the game is better from_the_sidelines007

According QuestDiagnostics and LabCorp, the two largest laboratory chains in the U.S., the Medicare rates (likely the lowest cost) to process an antibody test is around $50 and $100-$200 for a PCR swab test Who is going to pay for that? The school can not afford that x's athletes/coaches. I'm hearing that some colleges/universities are using a spit test. Spit in a tube and send for testing. The COVID lives in our spit. Anyone know how long the spit test takes to get a result and how long it takes and how accurate is that test? as always, the game is better from_the_sidelines007

Move fall sports to the spring? What about the spring sports? Now we are saying that kids that play football and run track or play baseball or golf have to pick a sport. I didn't hear anyone offering the spring sports a chance to play. Now those 2020 graduates have moved on. What is in the best interest of not just kids, but everyone? The answer is what no one wants to hear. as always, the game is better from_the_sidelines007

Wow! What a ride . . . When I started this topic - Football Season Options I was hoping we could avoid politics. How naive was I? Heck, most high school football players are not yet eligible to vote, so that is the least of their worries. These kids, coaches, parents, patrons, etc., want to play. Just throwing this out there . . . If Indiana is still in Stage 4.5 until August 27, social gatherings are limited to 250 people - that would include players, coaches, etc. How many fans get in per team? Correct me if I'm wrong, but that probably applies to high school gyms for volleyball, soccer stadiums, and football stadiums? And possibly tennis courts depending on the fan support your tennis team gets. No disrespect to tennis . . . some schools have more tennis fans than others. I've also heard that large cross country invitationals are being cancelled for this year due to the number of runners and potential patrons watching the runners. There would also be limitations to essential personnel in the press box . . . PA, Game Clock, Play Clock, Spotter, maybe 2 spotters. Unless your school has a large press box, that's probably going to cover the physical distancing. If you have the main level of the press box and a deck above, the deck would have enough space for 6 total people? Probably 2 assistant coaches and camera person for each team? If you are fortunate to have a two-level pressbox and deck, you would have more space for others, like media. Any one else would have to camp out in the bleachers or along the fence line. I would suspect that the sidelines will be limited to essential personnel only, as well. Players, coaches, manager(s), trainer, maybe a team doctor, if your school has a team doctor. Where does that put administrators? In the end zone? Believe me, these are things that school administrators have to talk about and are talking about. Keep the conversation rolling! as always, the game is better from_the_sidelines007

Just to throw this out there . . . 2 teams in this sectional open against each other in 2020. Bremen at LaVIlle, August 21 If it happens, we will all get an early season look at how good Bremen and LaVille could be. Bremen was young and gained valuable experience last year. Sophomore QB threw for almost 1,000 yards, Senior to be rushed for nearly 600 yards, a TD, and one 100+ rushing game. Senior to be top receiver was a little over 300 yards receiving and three TD catches.Defense had eight picks and two recoveries and gave up 28 points per game and held two teams to one score or less. LaVille returns a QB that threw for over 1,000 yards and 10TDs with 7 INTs. Top runner (nearly 500 yards and 9 TDs and one 100+ rushing game) / pass receiver (nearly 500 yards and 5 TD catches) is dangerous. Graduated eight seniors, including 1,000 yard rusher and three receivers with nearly 200 yards each from a squad that advanced to the sectional championship. Top tackler back for senior season for a defense that collected 15 sacks, 12 INTs, and 8 recoveries for a defense that allowed 11 points per game and held six teams to score one time or less. LaVille did win the 2019 week one contest last year at Bremen before winning a second round sectional game at LaVille. Neighborhood rivalry on the line. Both want to start the season off right and build momentum for hopefully a full season. as always, the game is better from_the_sidelines007

I was able to find a local high school that purchases THE Indiana Football Digest. Thanks for reaching out. Not sure if there is a business in northern Indiana - the South Bend area - that might be willing to sell THE magazine? Thanks again to you and all your staff for this undertaking. It is a privilege to read about Indiana high school football through this forum. as always, the game is better from_the_sidelines007

So, you would choose option #5 - Other Suggestion. Just sayin' Thanks for your input as always, the game is better from_the_sidelines007

Lots talking and planning going on now. And, still a lot of talk and planning still to come. With the present mask requirement in Indiana, would a delay help the numbers level off? In your opinion, what are the options for the HS football season? 1 - Cancel the season entirely? 2 - Postpone the season to the spring? 3 - Postpone the season for Weeks 1 - 4 and pick up with week 5 (that would put us at September 18 to start)? 4 - Postpone the season and play the last 4 regular season games (September 25 start with Week 6)? 5 - Other suggestions? What say you? as always, the game is better from_the_sidelines007

All do respect here cpg1970 . . . Throw the dawg in the yard a bone! Doyle is one of 2 QBs in the HNAC that threw for over 1,000 yards last season. Just thought I'd add that to the love that Coach Hostrawser's boys are getting here. Wow! Don't get me wrong, but that is nice to see. LaVille FB has improved a bunch over the last few years. The senior class does have talent and they are a hungry bunch of Lancers! as always, the game is better from_the_sidelines007

I agree, it makes zero sense to shut tennis, golf, and cross country down. I hope that is not what happens. It just sounds like that is what would happen. If one gets shut down, they all get shut down. Time will tell what decisions are made. as always, the game is better from_the_sidelines007

So at one time, I read a graphic that had our various sports placed in different categories of risk. The highest risk were sports like football, wrestling, and basketball because of contact. In the moderate category were sports like soccer and volleyball, once again due to contact. In the lower risk category were sports like golf, tennis, cross country, once again due to contact. Obviously I did not name all sports . . . no offense to the other sports. Please don't take my point wrong. Would the state tell the student-athletes in the higher risk categories they can't have a season, but tell those student-athletes in the lower risk category they are allowed to have a season? Not trying to be a smart guy here . . . . just asking. My thought would be that if the IHSAA shuts down, they shut all fall sports down. as always, the game is better from_the_sidelines007

Hey Uncle Paul Condry! Hope you are doing well . . . Thanks for all the hard work that you and your staff do in putting Indiana Football Digest together. Any chance IFD could make a deal with a business in northern Indiana to sell THE magazine? as always, the game is better from_the_sidelines007

Tell you all a little story . . . a true story. Family friends live in Indianapolis area. Members of said family went to get test for COVID. Filled out the paperwork and handed it in to the folks at the testing site. After handing in the paperwork, they found out the wait was going to be over two hours. Not wanting to wait two hours, they left. A few days later one of the members that filled out the paperwork received a call. Was told they had COVID. That family member said, "No, I don't" The medical person on the other end of the line said, "Yes, you do. We got your results back and you are positive." That family member said, "I don't have COVID because I was never tested. We left because the line was too long. You never tested me because we left and never were tested." How do things like this happen? And if this is just one case of false reporting of a so-called positive test, how many others are out there that are being falsely reported? As always, the game is better from_the_sidelines007

I would venture to say that many schools are developing a plan for indoor athletic events, as well as outdoor athletic events. For many, that development is still being created. Many that work around the high school athletic arena are familiar with the boxes that need checked to prepare for hosting an athletic event. If one is not aware of the many, many boxes that need to be checked, here are just a few: Concessions Event officials Handling team personnel Locker facilities Parking Press box Restrooms Seating arrangements, if there are any Security Sideline procedures Spectator limits, if there are any Ticketing Video/Media broadcasting plans And I certainly could have missed something . . . if I did, pardon my error. But I think many of you get my point. There are a lot of details that need to be covered within a set of guidelines, offered by the state, which changes frequently. I would imagine that this is one of the toughest challenges our athletic directors have faced because of the constant change. From what I have heard, things are still progressing forward. However, if things do not change I would not be surprised if they all came to an abrupt stop in the near future. How long is anybody's guess but with the current volatility of the virus and increased infection rates that are worse than when this thing started - the outlook does not look good. I hate to sound so pessimistic, but we are going to be lucky to play any games this fall. The silver lining is that, until they tell us differently, we continue to press forward and many schools are exercising caution to minimize risk of everyone. There are many folks out there that are doing the very best they can to help a lot of kids, parents, grandparents, community members, coaches, officials, media members, etc., etc., compete again. This is to all those out there that are hoping and praying for athletics to make a successful return! As always, the game is better from_the_sidelines007

Amen, brother! as always, the game is better from_the_sidelines007

Hey Gipper! So iyo how would you rank the schools listed? Glenn LaVille Mishawaka New Prairie Triton for South Bend families to choose from if they were to go looking? Do all those schools provide some sort of transportation from the South Bend area back and forth? I do know that some send buses into another school district to pick kids up to help with transportation. I did see someone indicate that the bus system could help the South Bend kids to Mishawaka. as always, the game is better from_the_sidelines007

All: Just a heads-up if you want to pre-order 2020 Indiana Football Digest. The cover charge is $15, add Shipping of $10 . . . takes us to $25. Good so far. Then you get ready to check out and an additional shipping charge is added in. There are two options, the least of which is $8.25. Plus Uncle Sam's dip in your pocket Makes the ultimate hit on your credit card for $35.58. If you get the rush mail delivery, you could get bit for over $53 smackeroos! I live in northern Indiana and we don't have a store up here that sells IFD to my knowledge. So, if you decide to pre-order the Indiana Football Digest and have them mail it, plan for a minumum shipping charge of $18.25 plus tax. That is unless Uncle Paul Condry can give us a code that will help give us a discount. Don't mind paying the $10 for shipping, but then get hit with an additional $8.25 takes gas out of the old Vehichle! as always, the game is better from_the_sidelines007