Is there hope for Attica?

[Muda69]

https://www.jconline.com/story/sports/high-school/2024/09/05/attica-football-undergoes-revitalization-after-three-years-of-defeats/74794577007/

Quote

ATTICA, Ind. - Football practice is behind schedule at Lewis Bruce Jr. Field during a hot and sweltering afternoon in the first day of Week 2 for the Attica Ramblers.

One of the red and white school buses meant to commute players from campus to Lewis Bruce Field has broken down.

That leaves first-year Head Coach Derek Dean to ferry two sets of players 1.4 miles from the main campus to the football program's storied field.

This is just another of the pitfalls facing Attica, whose football team has lost 29 straight games since 2021. The Ramblers haven't tasted victory since beating North Vermillion in the IHSAA Class 1A sectional playoffs on Oct. 23, 2020.

Dean took over a program that was in ruin. Not only has Attica been losing, it's been doing so in demoralizing fashion. Only one of the 29 losses has come by single digits.

...

It's a nice story.  But all these slowly failing rust belt towns in rural Indiana face an increasingly uphill battle. 

 

[HHPatriots]

It is impressive that he somehow gets kids to come out for football.

[Gipper]

Attica is very similar to South Newton, both in size and location.  Both schools have very proud athletic traditions but can't always be at the top.   They'll win again.

[Donnie Baker]

1 hour ago, Muda69 said:

https://www.jconline.com/story/sports/high-school/2024/09/05/attica-football-undergoes-revitalization-after-three-years-of-defeats/74794577007/

It's a nice story.  But all these slowly failing rust belt towns in rural Indiana face an increasingly uphill battle. 

 

I’d like to see Indiana do the co-op thing over 8 man like Illinois. That and weed are about the only things they’ve done right over there. I swear to God it is. 

[Muda69]

5 minutes ago, Donnie Baker said:

I’d like to see Indiana do the co-op thing over 8 man like Illinois. 

Agreed, although the Illinois taxes on cannabis products are exorbitant compared to Indiana's other neighbors. 

I have relatives who live in a small Illinois community that has a co-op football program.  Seems to work for them.

 

 

[Bash Riprock]

challenging times for Attica....

looking at their history...from 2007 to 2020, they had .500 or winning records.  Makes a person wonder what changed and did it all start during the pandemic?

I did see in the early 2000's, they had some records that align more with the current times.

[Donnie Baker]

15 minutes ago, Bash Riprock said:

challenging times for Attica....

looking at their history...from 2007 to 2020, they had .500 or winning records.  Makes a person wonder what changed and did it all start during the pandemic?

I did see in the early 2000's, they had some records that align more with the current times.

It started way before the pandemic. 

[Bash Riprock]

20 minutes ago, Donnie Baker said:

It started way before the pandemic. 

Not disagreeing my friend...you are far more closer than I....I just noticed the records were pretty solid up through 2020....was decay already in place?

Time flies....do I remember them in a state final once?  Or advancing pretty far in the playoffs?

[Muda69]

20 minutes ago, Bash Riprock said:

Time flies....do I remember them in a state final once?  Or advancing pretty far in the playoffs?

FTA:

Quote

...

How did a program nestled in Fountain County with 14 straight winning seasons between 2007 and 2020 dissolve into such turmoil?

Economic factors, a scandal and lack of enrollment have all contributed to the recent years of debilitating defeats for the Ramblers.

But Attica holds onto hope it will rise again, with a brand-new stadium being built closer to campus and a long-term plan to rebuild the football program under Dean.

Grant's fondest memory involves Attica's 2001 state basketball game, capturing the action from the press box in Conseco Fieldhouse.

"We were down 20 points going to the fourth quarter, and I can remember Blue River Valley's principal going up and high-fiving everybody through the crowd about halfway through the fourth quarter," Grant said. "Next thing you know it, we are ahead. It was quite the turnaround."

Attica went on to win that 1A State Championship 64-62 in 2001.

Grant was also at Lucas Oil Stadium when Attica made its only state football championship appearance in 2000, a 1A loss to Adams Central 29-21. Leading the Ramblers was future Navy safety Josh Smith, who went on to become the leading tackler who helped the Midshipmen end their 22-year drought by capturing the Commander-in-Chief's trophy in 2003.

...

 

[Donnie Baker]

23 minutes ago, Bash Riprock said:

Not disagreeing my friend...you are far more closer than I....I just noticed the records were pretty solid up through 2020....was decay already in place?

Time flies....do I remember them in a state final once?  Or advancing pretty far in the playoffs?

I’ll give a Donnie Baker analysis of what happened after I get some dates and numbers and immunity from the admin because it will get reported as political when it’s actually reality. I swear to God it is 

[Basementbias]

1 hour ago, Bash Riprock said:

Not disagreeing my friend...you are far more closer than I....I just noticed the records were pretty solid up through 2020....was decay already in place?

Time flies....do I remember them in a state final once?  Or advancing pretty far in the playoffs?

Yep 2000. Had Mr Smith that went to Navy. Lost to our Jets 29-21 but put up a good 2nd half come back.

[Donnie Baker]

1 hour ago, Basementbias said:

Yep 2000. Had Mr Smith that went to Navy. Lost to our Jets 29-21 but put up a good 2nd half come back.

And led the basketball team to the 1A title as well. 

[Basementbias]

4 hours ago, Donnie Baker said:

And led the basketball team to the 1A title as well. 

Yep, big come back that they got that time. They were 1A football runner ups & 1A Champs in hoops while AC was 1A football champs and 1A runner ups in baseball. 

[hondo17]

8 hours ago, Donnie Baker said:

I’d like to see Indiana do the co-op thing over 8 man like Illinois. That and weed are about the only things they’ve done right over there. I swear to God it is. 

I think that's coming..with most young people graduating and moving to bigger cities, smaller towns and schools will decline. 

I see co op coming within 10 years or so. 

South Newton/North Newton 

West Central/North White

Attica would go with Fountain Central?

[Muda69]

11 hours ago, hondo17 said:

I think that's coming..with most young people graduating and moving to bigger cities, smaller towns and schools will decline. 

I see co op coming within 10 years or so. 

South Newton/North Newton 

West Central/North White

Attica would go with Fountain Central?

Agreed. To add to your list:

Clinton Central/Clinton Prairie (or one of these and Rossville. This may be a way for Hornet athletes to finally be able to play football on the cheap)

[Gipper]

12 hours ago, hondo17 said:

I think that's coming..with most young people graduating and moving to bigger cities, smaller towns and schools will decline. 

I see co op coming within 10 years or so. 

South Newton/North Newton 

West Central/North White

Attica would go with Fountain Central?

Could work, but Newton County is a logistical nightmare.

[Mod22]

Attica practiced for the 1st time on their new turf field on Monday.  

[Gipper]

"Even the darkest night will, and the sun shall rise..."

[cpg1970]

Schedule Benton Central..both teams are struggling, and it is only 30 minutes away.   BC might need to consider changing conferences as well.

[Rodney]

can someone explain what a co op football program is

[Donnie Baker]

53 minutes ago, Rodney said:

can someone explain what a co op football program is

2 or 3  schools combining their athletes to play sports. Illinois has done it for years 

Edited September 26, 2024 by Donnie Baker

[Gipper]

1 hour ago, cpg1970 said:

Schedule Benton Central..both teams are struggling, and it is only 30 minutes away.   BC might need to consider changing conferences as well.

They're almost a perfect fit for the Midwest.

[Punttheball]

On 9/25/2024 at 10:18 AM, Mod22 said:

Attica practiced for the 1st time on their new turf field on Monday.  

They put in a turf field?  

[Donnie Baker]

2 minutes ago, Punttheball said:

They put in a turf field?  

Yes

[Gipper]

In addition to the Midwest, the Hoosier Heartland and Wabash River would be viable.  There's also this Monon thing or even Sagamore, but BC is a basketball first conference....