National Football Foundation Academic Excellence Award - Indiana

[tango]

Congrats to the following schools for receiving the NFF Academic Excellence Award for 2024 for the Hoosier state:

Indiana
1A - Greenwood Christian Academy
2A - Indianapolis Lutheran High School
3A - Evansville Reitz Memorial High School
4A - Indianapolis Bishop Chatard High School
5A – Warsaw Community High School
6A - Indianapolis Cathedral High School

Here is the link to all states: https://footballfoundation.org/news/2025/1/28/football-state-winners-announced-for-2024-25-nff-national-hs-academic-excellence-awards.aspx

 

Edited January 30, 2025 by tango

[temptation]

53 minutes ago, tango said:

Congrats to the following schools for receiving the NFF Academic Excellence Award for 2024 for the Hoosier state:

Indiana
1A - Greenwood Christian Academy
2A - Indianapolis Lutheran High School
3A - Evansville Reitz Memorial High School
4A - Indianapolis Bishop Chatard High School
5A – Warsaw Community High School
6A - Indianapolis Cathedral High School

Here is the link to all states: https://footballfoundation.org/news/2025/1/28/football-state-winners-announced-for-2024-25-nff-national-hs-academic-excellence-awards.aspx

 

5 P/P's and Warsaw (in the only class that doesn't have any P/P's), lol.

[Coach Nowlin]

These type of things have to be nominated for

perhaps there were great public schools who could of been in contention, but for whatever reason did not get nominated by those responsibilty for nominations.  Typically there is a criteria for these things, perhaps there were great public schools that did not fit the criteria to be nominated.   

The NFF is not searching and researching 300+ football playing schools to get their winners.  

For those who do not click links to read articles:

Quote

 

The 65 teams will now vie as finalists for the NFF Hatchell Cup, Presented by Bob's Steak & Chop House. The Hatchell Cup winner will be announced Feb. 4, recognizing the top individual high school football team in the nation for excellence in the classroom, on the field and in the community. The Hatchell Cup, named in honor of NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell, comes with a $10,000 donation.
 
Eligibility requirements for the awards include: a minimum cumulative team GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale; superior academic application and performance; and a successful football season. Each state's high school coaches association selects their respective state's winners from a pool of nominees submitted by each school's head coaches. A national selection committee is responsible for choosing one school as the recipient of the Hatchell Cup as the best team in the nation.

 

Good Luck to our 6 teams representing the Nation for Indiana, perhaps we snag the Hatchell Cup

 

I believe Catherdral won a huge national award last year as well.   Kudos to them 

[tango]

What might intrigue me the most may be figuring out where Bob's Steak & Chop House is. I wonder if its like the place off Highway 41 north of I-74. What is it, the Beef House? 

Edited January 30, 2025 by tango

[temptation]

1 hour ago, Coach Nowlin said:

These type of things have to be nominated for

perhaps there were great public schools who could of been in contention, but for whatever reason did not get nominated by those responsibilty for nominations.  Typically there is a criteria for these things, perhaps there were great public schools that did not fit the criteria to be nominated.   

The NFF is not searching and researching 300+ football playing schools to get their winners.  

For those who do not click links to read articles:

Good Luck to our 6 teams representing the Nation for Indiana, perhaps we snag the Hatchell Cup

 

I believe Catherdral won a huge national award last year as well.   Kudos to them 

While this may be true, I believe P/P’s make up less than 5 percent of football playing schools in Indiana…for them to win 83.3% (100% of the possible classes) here cannot be a coincidence…

[Coach Nowlin]

19 minutes ago, temptation said:

While this may be true, I believe P/P’s make up less than 5 percent of football playing schools in Indiana…for them to win 83.3% (100% of the possible classes) here cannot be a coincidence…

There has always been a correlation between private/parochiol schools and excellent academics.    In these awards mention, why would this be a 'thing' to bring a negative tone to this conversation?    

Then goes into, A, how many Head Coaches take the time to follow NFF, if they do, take the time to fill out the application to meet the requirements to go for the award.   

Kudos to the schools who got submitted and for those selected. 

Just don't know why it cannot be a postiive celebratory thread giving a Hats off to these communities.  

 

Instead, we get a breakdown of the winners followed by the "LOL" 

 

[temptation]

27 minutes ago, Coach Nowlin said:

There has always been a correlation between private/parochiol schools and excellent academics.    In these awards mention, why would this be a 'thing' to bring a negative tone to this conversation?    

Then goes into, A, how many Head Coaches take the time to follow NFF, if they do, take the time to fill out the application to meet the requirements to go for the award.   

Kudos to the schools who got submitted and for those selected. 

Just don't know why it cannot be a postiive celebratory thread giving a Hats off to these communities.  

 

Instead, we get a breakdown of the winners followed by the "LOL" 

 

Always been interested in statistics and data…

This is a statistical anomaly.

These 6 schools also combined to go 55-17 in 2024…so they are strong both in the classroom and on the gridiron.

[PHJIrish]

When parents are using household funds to send their young ones to private and parochial schools, they expect excellence in the classroom.  At least my mother felt that way.  

[temptation]

7 minutes ago, PHJIrish said:

When parents are using household funds to send their young ones to private and parochial schools, they expect excellence in the classroom.  At least my mother felt that way.  

Confession.  This thread was my first time knowing Greenwood Christian had a football team.

[foxbat]

Have not yet found a corresponding set of data for 2024-2025, but here's the info for 2023-2024 in terms of candidates and winners.  From the data points below, a couple things pop out:

• In some areas/classes, it may be possible that only one or two teams appeared to represent the entire state of 300+ teams and, at least 32 teams in class.
• It seems less likely that the advantages of p/p won the award vs. the mere fact that p/p schools possibly applied or were nominated at a higher rate.  For example, in 1A, out of 64 plus teams, less than 10% of the schools applied or were nominated and half of those were p/p.  In 2A, out of some 63 teams, a little more than 3% applied or were nominated ... i.e., 2 teams ... and one was p/p.  In 5A, only a single team applied.
• Note that 3A had no p/p schools that applied or were nominated.
• As you dig into the details further, it appears that nominations did not all necessarily adhere to / fit the guidelines in the way that one might expect at quick review of the guidelines and only focusing on the winners.  Not to disparage, but two of the six teams in the 1A candidates, both public schools, had records of 6-4 and 4-6.  One of the p/p schools had a record of 5-4 and all of their wins came over teams with losing seasons.  Frankly, it came down to three teams: one with a 13-0 record, one with a 12-1 record, and one with an 8-3 record.  The 12-1 record team won the award.  Yes, successful season is in the eye of the beholder and there can be many measures, but unless you are talking about extreme adversity, it's hard to say that a 4-6 or even a 6-4 team had a more successful season than a 13-0, 12-1, or even an 8-3 team.
• In 2A, you have an 8-2 team that didn't make it out of the first sectional game vs. a 7-4 team that made it to the second round of sectionals.  Roughly a coin-flip, out of two teams, for "successful season."
• Odd man out, in 4A was Brebeuf.  6-5 hardly seems successful, until you realize they were playing up a class and made it to third round of sectionals.  The other teams?  6-5, made it to second round of sectionals. 12-3, made it to state.  9-4, made it to regionals.  7-4, made it to regionals.  In 4A, at first blush, you'd probably say 12-3 and made it to state was successful; and I would certainly not disagree.  If you are digging further and, without seeing their packet, I would expect it would definitely mention that they are playing up a class.  Given that, it's probably a dead-heat with the other three teams.
• 6a ... did I mention that the team that won it is playing up two classes and hasn't played in its enrollment class in over a decade?  8-4 and made it to a regional ... two classes up.  The other teams?  13-1 and made it to state.  11-2 and made it to semi-state.  Playing two classes up, and again, I didn't see the application packet, and being out of enrollment class for a decade should be in that packet.  That makes an impression on detatched judges most likely ... right, wrong, or otherwise.

In essence, the idea of conspiracy theory diminishes somewhat when you get the data points, at east from last year's contest.  If anyone finds this year's finalists, I'd be happy to take a look.

Here's the link for the info below: https://rrsn.com/indiana-team-national-finalists-for-the-2023-24-nff-national-hs-academic-excellence/

The Indiana Football Coaches Association congratulates our Indiana Team National Finalists for the 2023-24 NFF National HS Academic Excellence Award presented by @RoseBowlLegacy

1A
Greenwood Christian
Indianapolis Lutheran
Park Tudor
Covington
West Central
Fountain Central

2A
Heritage Christian
Alexandria

3A
Hamilton Heights
West Lafayette
Danville
Fairfield

4A
Columbia City
Northwood
Evansville Reitz Memorial
Indianapolis Brebeuf
Martinsville

5A
Lafayette Harrison

6A
Indianapolis Cathedral
Westfield
Crown Point
——————————————–
The following are State Champions and are eligible to be a National Champion:

1A – Indianapolis Park Tudor
2A – Heritage Christian
3A – West Lafayette
4A – Indianapolis Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory
5A – Lafayette William Henry Harrison
6A – Indianapolis Cathedral

Edited January 31, 2025 by foxbat

[tango]

And still no one has given any info on Bob's Steak & Chop House..

[TigerFan20]

1 hour ago, tango said:

And still no one has given any info on Bob's Steak & Chop House..

It’s a steakhouse chain mainly in Texas, but has locations in other states.

Edited January 31, 2025 by TigerFan20

[coachkj]

20 hours ago, PHJIrish said:

When parents are using household funds to send their young ones to private and parochial schools, they expect excellence in the classroom.  At least my mother felt that way.  

Exactly.  Most private school dads have said to their kids, "If you're going to be lazy you can do that for free and the bus will pick you up and bring you home." 

[oldtimeqb]

2 hours ago, tango said:

And still no one has given any info on Bob's Steak & Chop House..

They may have great steaks and chops, but no way are they #1 on the list for shrimp cocktails. 

[Coach Nowlin]

3 hours ago, tango said:

And still no one has given any info on Bob's Steak & Chop House..

Louisville will be the closest trip for us Hoosiers 

I am Steak Snob from Chicago.....my list is extensive and its amazing 

[Sparty]

3 hours ago, coachkj said:

Exactly.  Most private school dads have said to their kids, "If you're going to be lazy you can do that for free and the bus will pick you up and bring you home." 

“Free”

[Rodney]

It's because them cheatin Catholics are recruiting good students from the public schools

 

They should be in a class of their own Its not fair

[coachkj]

On 1/31/2025 at 5:32 PM, Sparty said:

“Free”

Yes.

[Sparty]

1 hour ago, coachkj said:

Yes.

Lol

[Coach Nowlin]

Congrats to Bishop Chatard who earned the overall State champion, but fell short on going to Sizzler, I mean Bob's Steak & Chop

https://footballfoundation.org/news/2025/2/4/football-hemet-high-school-ca-announced-as-2025-recipient-of-the-nff-hatchell-cup-presented-by-bobs-steak-chop-house.aspx