hhpatriot04

They are called "Honest Abe's Formative Years" for good reason though! We are known as the state of vice presidents, not to side-track this very informative thread.

I wouldn't want to be a lost Buffalo on the Run 😉 He's too modest.

People said that about Chatard in 2004. Four D1 recruits. Dray Mason breaks his collarbone early in the game and they lose to HH by a field goal. We are talking about 15-19 year olds ... anything can happen. (No, I don't wish injury on anyone. I want to see the Sectional 32 champion beat Chatard at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Will be tuning in live from Iraq. Tell your color commentator that my wife and I say hello to The Versatile, Mr. All-Around Michael Crews. This thread fell off the first page. One of the biggest games in the state this week. Enough with the niceities. Who is going to be the first to post bulletin board material? Is it true that Gibson is reconsidering a name change to "Mater Dei North" or "Evansville Northmetro" or "Toyota South?" Such a shame that Heritage Hills isn't Abraham Lincoln High School ... North and South Spencer get in big debates about renaming the county "Lincoln County..."

Thanks for the plug of TGD Predictor Tool. There are some recent case samples of Linton and North Knox beating Boonville. Boonville was the Big 8 champ last year and "looks like" a 4A roster. Linton and NK exploited execution problems. The problem isn't with a good 2A or 3A school (with a good line) matching 11 vs 11. It's an attrition problem. Even in 3A, you are really only playing 18-24 players multiple ways. Give me Mater Dei 2001 or Chatard 2003 against any 6A school since if I can split the quarters played separated by a week or two days... It's the 18 vs. 44 players (attrition) that is the issue. I think 7-on-7s have proven that small school position players can match up with bigger schools, especially if you mix in a few D1 recruits and 3-4 DII/III/NAIA recruits at key positions. OK, I'm ready to wear the crazy hat for the next week.

Is Week 5 ready @WCGrad92??? I'm waiting to tweet it!

The IHSAA says it starts from one of the four corners of the state and groups sectionals on a four cycle basis. Whether that's true or not, I don't know. Transparency should be of utmost importance in alignments and tournament draws. I believe the coaches' association is the only entity capable of applying that pressure. Strange to imagine Chatard used to be in the same regional as the SW 3A sectional (24, now 32). Obviously, the population in northern Indiana is pushing the line northward... Maybe time to look at random semistate and regional draws, instead of preset ones...

Threw off the end zone cameras at the last HS game that I was at.

Denny's will usually fill with players an hour or two after the game, but should have seats immediately after. There's also a Wendy's. I believe Lincoln Land pizza going by HH is closed and likely wouldn't be open after the game. On 231, I would turn right into Dale and stop at Jenks Pizza for a local establishment... Probably best to avoid the Chateau in Mariah Hill after the game or Santa Claus Legion... Although if you are feeling adventurous, go for it. Jenks it is then. I suggest the strombolli.

The HH secondary and their conditioning is the big question. I see a lot of GS rushes then playaction at opportune times being the challenge for one dimensional HH.

Thoughts on programs that get bumped to 5A or 6A having to stay longer than two years? Clearly, these are programs which can likely compete at the higher class. In the lower classes, I believe it's more likely to have that once in a generation player or class that can lead to the bump and penalize the freshmen and sophomores.

Cathedral really seems to have great game plans against these teams from other states, but can't get the bounces needed to win. Is it a depth issue? Coaching adjustments?

Chatard

Mike Goebel at Mater Dei. People will say yeah but he coaches a P/P school. He wins because he convinces a bunch of 6-0, 185 guys they can play any position on the field. And yes, his role in the wrestling program plays a big part of that.

Game day! Already half way through the season for half of teams in Week 5, Hump Week. Post scores and updates across the state here or on Twitter @gridirondigest

The city doesn't help itself when there is a "Booneville Inn" or motel sign on the main highway just east of town. I wonder if it's still there.

It was before my time, when and why did Gibson leave the PAC and then rejoin?

Giving up 74 points even if you win isn't what I would call a good thing.

Noted and corrected. In a toss up game like Southridge and Mater Dei, I think you have to give last year's match up some weight. Previously we've included Mount Carmel. I'd list them between North and Linton.

After four weeks, I think we have an adequate sample size... 1. Memorial (4-0) 2. Gibson Southern (3-1) 3. Central (3-1) 4. Heritage Hills (4-0) 5. Mater Dei (3-1) 6. Southridge (4-0) 7. Castle (3-1) 8. North (2-2) 9. Linton (3-1) 10. Jasper (1-3) HM: North Knox (3-1), Mount Vernon (2-2), North Daviess (4-0), Reitz (1-3) This was not easy. Spots 1-3 could be interchangable. As could spots 4-7. Outside of the top six or so teams, the big schools are making it hard to assess where everyone stands. Would North Knox really hang in a game with Jasper or Reitz? I put my neck out there. Your turn... Instead of a new thread each week, let's just keep updating this as the season progresses. Some interesting matchups forthcoming.

Polls have always been a quandry. Over the years, I have come to believe there are two trains of thought: - What team has the best track record this season? - What team do you think will be better in Weeks 10-15? It's a nuanced difference and even college and professional rankings debate their power rankings... There were cases of Luers and Mater Dei (and I believe Cathedral) having losing or close to .500 regular season records. Everyone knew they were likely the best teams in their respective classes, but are they still deserving of top billing ... Thankfully we got rid of poll system, replaced it with the idiotic Cluster System that prevented undefeated teams from competing in the state tournament, and now have an inclusive system wherein anyone can win.

Public source?

Heritage Hills at North Posey - Patriots need to be careful not to look back or forward. Trap game in Poseyville. Good guys win it, but starters have to play longer than desired to secure the win Pike Central at Forest Park - Rangers Princeton at Gibson Southern - This could get ugly in the Terrific Toyota Trophy Tilt, 69-0 Titans Southridge at South Spencer - Raiders control throughout Springs Valley at Tell City - Marksmen defend the honor of SR 37 with a 37-21 victory (Yes, I know technically IN 37 doesn't go through the towns of French Lick or Tell City ... good time of year to travel through the Hoosier National Forest, though)

Man tough decision lie ahead in 3A following Chatard's loss to Cathedral and Gibson Southern's loss at Southport. West Lafayette has the bad loss and Heritage Hills has rolled through cupcake city, but had some injuries against Jasper (as did GS, I believe).

Can you quantify "sufficient level" and "cost" and "benefit?" These seem like arbitrary terms. Should there be statewide criteria or at the school corporation or at the athletics' department level? If bounds are not set, then people with alterior motives can end football programs for "little Bobby not starting at QB" ... I've seen a Hall of Fame basketball coach fired for as much. It's a bit of a transitive argument, but I'm sure it could happen with contracting as well given the right circumstances. Co-oping, similiar to Illinois, makes much sense. Although, I'm not sure if that falls into your contraction mission. Schools like Barr-Reeve and Loogootee have a different times been perennial powers in basketball, but never had football programs (Northeast Dubois, Orleans as well). Surely there are some Amish farm boys in those school districts who would find playing time at surrounding schools.