Guest DT Posted December 2, 2019 Share Posted December 2, 2019 (edited) What ever happened to good old blue collar high school football? We are now in an era where private schools and affluent public schools are dominating the high school football scene in Indiana. The link between football success and strong socio economic profile could not be any clearer than it is this season. If I were to rate all of the finalist in terms of their athletic-financial profile, I would rate as follows : 1. Private 2. Affluent Public 3. Average Public 4. Below Average Public Rankings as follows : LCC - 1 Indy Lutheran -1 Western Boone - 2 Eastbrook - 3 Chatard - 1 Heritage Hills - 1 Memorial - 1 East Noble - 3 Valpo - 2 New Pal - 2 Carmel -2 CG - 2 Not much room for the Hobarts, Griffiths, Sheridans, Seegers and other Blue Collar football towns of the past. Can the blue collars turn the tide and compete against the affluents in the future? Or is that era of Indiana High School Football a relic of the past? Its doubtful we will ever see a big school blue collar team in the finals in the future. Hammond? Elkhart? Ft Wayne? Decatur Central last year would qualify. Edited December 2, 2019 by DT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustRules Posted December 2, 2019 Share Posted December 2, 2019 I would definitely not put Western Boone, New Pal and Valpo in the same affluent category as Carmel and Center Grove. I'm more familiar with Western Boone and New Pal and consider both very solid blue collar/middle class communities with a fair share of lower income people. And Heritage Hills is definitely not private. I looked up the free and reduced lunch ratios for 2019 and this is what I found (lowest to highest). Carmel 9% Center Grove 19% New Palestine 19% Valparaiso 23% Western Boone 30% Heritage Hills 31% Eastbrook 35% East Noble 36% Based on that I would probably only put Carmel in the Affluent Public category and the rest in the Average Public category. Some of the high schools that fell into the 60% or higher group but still successful: Ben Davis 75% Decatur Central 62% Lafayette Jeff 62% Lawrence Central 64% Merrillville 60% Michigan City 65% New Haven 65% Pike 66% Southport 68% Warren Central 71% 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtimeqb Posted December 2, 2019 Share Posted December 2, 2019 1 hour ago, DT said: What ever happened to good old blue collar high school football? We are now in an era where private schools and affluent public schools are dominating the high school football scene in Indiana. The link between football success and strong socio economic profile could not be any clearer than it is this season. If I were to rate all of the finalist in terms of their athletic-financial profile, I would rate as follows : 1. Private 2. Affluent Public 3. Average Public 4. Below Average Public Rankings as follows : LCC - 1 Indy Lutheran -1 Western Boone - 2 Eastbrook - 3 Chatard - 1 Heritage Hills - 1 Memorial - 1 East Noble - 3 Valpo - 2 New Pal - 2 Carmel -2 CG - 2 Not much room for the Hobarts, Griffiths, Sheridans, Seegers and other Blue Collar football towns of the past. Can the blue collars turn the tide and compete against the affluents in the future? Or is that era of Indiana High School Football a relic of the past? Its doubtful we will ever see a big school blue collar team in the finals in the future. Hammond? Elkhart? Ft Wayne? Decatur Central last year would qualify. Sorry. I stopped reading when you listed Heritage Hills as a ‘private.’ Top quality research there. Keep tilting at windmills! 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DT Posted December 2, 2019 Share Posted December 2, 2019 7 minutes ago, oldtimeqb said: Sorry. I stopped reading when you listed Heritage Hills as a ‘private.’ Top quality research there. Keep tilting at windmills! The lack of edit button is my excuse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Footballking16 Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 1 hour ago, DT said: Its doubtful we will ever see a big school blue collar team in the finals in the future. Warren and Ben Davis aren’t blue collar? Yikes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DT Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 5 minutes ago, Footballking16 said: Warren and Ben Davis aren’t blue collar? Yikes. Indeed they are. Good point Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainHook Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 I can't believe we are white collar. I didn't get the memo. I'm gonna ask for a raise. 3 2 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHgwood Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 I can only imagine the results of this discussion if we were talking about the posters here. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1st_and_10 Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 Western Boone is "Affluent Public"? LOL. Small farming community with 30% of kids on free/reduced lunch = Affluent? I am not sure there is a more "average/blue collar" area than Thorntown, Jamestown, Advance, Dover areas.... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1st and Goal Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 1 hour ago, 1st_and_10 said: Western Boone is "Affluent Public"? LOL. Small farming community with 30% of kids on free/reduced lunch = Affluent? I am not sure there is a more "average/blue collar" area than Thorntown, Jamestown, Advance, Dover areas.... You forgot Max 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 1 hour ago, 1st_and_10 said: Western Boone is "Affluent Public"? LOL. Small farming community with 30% of kids on free/reduced lunch = Affluent? I am not sure there is a more "average/blue collar" area than Thorntown, Jamestown, Advance, Dover areas.... State average for free and reduced is 48%...not that far fetched. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1st_and_10 Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 31 minutes ago, Temptation said: State average for free and reduced is 48%...not that far fetched. You really think Western Boone is similar to CG, Westfield, Zionsville, Carmel? LOL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 (edited) 5 minutes ago, 1st_and_10 said: You really think Western Boone is similar to CG, Westfield, Zionsville, Carmel? LOL. I do not but I did not set up the parameters. I would have set up an “above average public” category for schools with free/reduced rates between 30-47%. Edited December 3, 2019 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1st_and_10 Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 (edited) 4 minutes ago, Temptation said: I do not but I did not set up the parameters. DT being DT. His parameters are skewed... So teams that have had recent success are Affluent or Private... Teams that struggle need contraction... Apparently there is no in between. Edited December 3, 2019 by 1st_and_10 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxbat Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 2 minutes ago, 1st_and_10 said: DT being DT. His parameters are skewed... So teams that have had recent success are Affluent or Private... Teams that struggle need contraction... Apparently there is no in between. God forbid WeBo win a third consecutive title ... man just wait until you see what that thread looks like. The IHSAA will bump you up and then likely put you in the Sectional of Death, Sectional 28, along with all of the other "above average" schools. 😉 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 18 minutes ago, foxbat said: God forbid WeBo win a third consecutive title ... man just wait until you see what that thread looks like. The IHSAA will bump you up and then likely put you in the Sectional of Death, Sectional 28, along with all of the other "above average" schools. 😉 Sectional 28 is loaded with “affluent schools.” Try to keep up here LCC...🙄 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gipper Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 27 minutes ago, 1st_and_10 said: DT being DT. His parameters are skewed... So teams that have had recent success are Affluent or Private... Teams that struggle need contraction... Apparently there is no in between. I guess you're a Carmel...or a South Newton. Then again, I did make the move to Lowell a few years ago and from what I hear, the Devils field a decent squad. Not really affluent, not at all private, they just enjoy the game without the political musings as it should be. 24 minutes ago, foxbat said: God forbid WeBo win a third consecutive title ... man just wait until you see what that thread looks like. The IHSAA will bump you up and then likely put you in the Sectional of Death, Sectional 28, along with all of the other "above average" schools. 😉 Not one for the success factor, never has been. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoosier Hawk Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 (edited) I'll say this much... You're not going to find many "blue collar" schools in 6A. Fact is many families are moving away from the blue collar towns in favor of those that offer better education/athletics. Not just to 6A schools, but rather schools that are closer to the major cities in Indiana. I don't know about you all, but I think most people in Indiana would agree that "blue collar" here is just a fancy way of saying "farmers". I know there are a few communities that factory work is still the primary source of employment, but those really seem to be cyclical (see North White). I don't speak for my entire community, but I have little desire to return to my hometown as it would significantly hinder my pay. And if i did, I would be more than willing to drive my child the hour or so to the nearest school that provided them the best opportunity to succeed. Really will boil down to, "How far are you willing to commute". I also blame travel ball and social media 😂 Edited December 3, 2019 by Hoosier Hawk Clarification 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FastpacedO Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 7 hours ago, 1st_and_10 said: Western Boone is "Affluent Public"? LOL. Small farming community with 30% of kids on free/reduced lunch = Affluent? I am not sure there is a more "average/blue collar" area than Thorntown, Jamestown, Advance, Dover areas.... Better start practicing! Pinky out! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muda69 Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 I believe an additional data point would be Marion county/Indianapolis and the surrounding urban sprawl/doughnut counties. 50% of this year's state finalists came from this demographic. 7 hours ago, 1st_and_10 said: Western Boone is "Affluent Public"? LOL. Small farming community with 30% of kids on free/reduced lunch = Affluent? I am not sure there is a more "average/blue collar" area than Thorntown, Jamestown, Advance, Dover areas.... Lots of rich farmers around there. 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1st_and_10 Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 2 minutes ago, Muda69 said: I believe an additional data point would be Marion county/Indianapolis and the surrounding urban sprawl/doughnut counties. 50% of this year's state finalists came from this demographic. Lots of rich farmers around there. Please. Go back to complaining about how Frankfort should be classified 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muda69 Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 22 minutes ago, 1st_and_10 said: Please. Go back to complaining about how Frankfort should be classified Only a 30% free/reduced lunch rate in such a rural, depressed area? Please. Here is a real depressed area: https://compass.doe.in.gov/dashboard/overview.aspx?type=school&id=0997 And frankly you are fool if you don't think a high free/reduced lunch rate has some correlation to the number of students participating in extracurricular activities. 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmsu_aggie Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 8 hours ago, 1st_and_10 said: Western Boone is "Affluent Public"? LOL. Small farming community with 30% of kids on free/reduced lunch = Affluent? I am not sure there is a more "average/blue collar" area than Thorntown, Jamestown, Advance, Dover areas.... DT would have to get out of his recliner, brush off all of the Cheeto's/Dorito's from his shirt, get in the passenger seat of his car so the wife can drive him to Boone County to check out the socio-economics of Western Boone county to be able to make his assessment of the affluence of the area..., and that ain't happening! 🤔 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trojanmp52 Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 (edited) darn I did not know I was rich I am glad some one told me Edited December 3, 2019 by Trojanmp52 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FastpacedO Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 13 minutes ago, Trojanmp52 said: darn I did not know I was rich I am glad some one told me You can practice with @1st_and_10! Pinky out! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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