North -South All Star Game

[Impartial_Observer]

I’m pretty sure Cody Parkhurst is at the bottom of this. 

[Whiting89]

Much like the nfl these all star games need to be ended 

they bring little to no value for everyone

financially I’m sure these run at a loss

then add in the injury element

next lack of stars

Finally the reputational risk. Do the stakeholders really want to be associated with what went on?

 

[tango]

I didn't attend in person, but watched the stream and it was sad.  It didn't take a behavioral specialist to see what players were instigating much of the issues, and the matter may have been avoided by simply benching them early on.  Whether the coaches had 3 days or three years, its pretty easy to take a kid's helmet and tell him to enjoy the rest of the game from the sidelines. 

[Bobref]

12 minutes ago, tango said:

I didn't attend in person, but watched the stream and it was sad.  It didn't take a behavioral specialist to see what players were instigating much of the issues, and the matter may have been avoided by simply benching them early on.  Whether the coaches had 3 days or three years, its pretty easy to take a kid's helmet and tell him to enjoy the rest of the game from the sidelines. 

Or even a series. That gets the message across: “Behave, or sit.”

[Miner_Pride]

I watched all of this last night on video.  I think the kids simply emulate what they see on Sat and Sun and on ESPN nightly.  Trash talking....all the over the top attitude.  It got to be about every play where was someone shoving someone.  I thought is was ridiculous... possibly your last game  and you wanna turn it into a street brawl.  I felt bad for the kids just playin the game..and to win and represent their school.  I don't wanna name names or numbers but there were a handful that just seemed wanted to start things.  that extra shove...and mouth runnin.  I expect some of it.. naturally with motors running... but I'm glad the officials did what they did.  Clearly it was going to escalate to the point of a true brawl.  Truly.. I think the only way to reel this type of showing is to warn both teams ahead of time... that it isn't gonna be tolerated.  A few ejections and 15 yard penalties negating big plays would surely make a point.... wouldn't it?  maybe not these days.  

[Bash Riprock]

On 7/15/2023 at 12:15 PM, temptation said:

Zero doubt.

Shaking my head.  Those are very good men as coaches on those sidelines.  At least one of them is a sure fire hall of fame coach that will be on a very short list of one of the best this state has seen.  Unless you were there, on those sidelines, observed what was going on between coaches, players and officials, your are speculating at best. (I'm being kind)

As far as you handling the situation, I have no doubt in your mind that you are definitely the answer.

[Impartial_Observer]

1 hour ago, Whiting89 said:

Much like the nfl these all star games need to be ended 

they bring little to no value for everyone

financially I’m sure these run at a loss

then add in the injury element

next lack of stars

Finally the reputational risk. Do the stakeholders really want to be associated with what went on?

 

I’m going to disagree on a couple of points  as someone who is heavily involved with “a” high school all star game. 
I believe they do bring value to the athletes and their families as a nice way experience to end you high school career. I’ve been thru it as a parent, a coach, and now as they doing all the grunt work behind the scenes. I am a firm believer in them and we work very hard to make it a good experience for the players and their families. 
This has NEVER been about making money. We make enough to cover our expenses, which are sizable, and have enough left over for seed for our winter coaches clinic. 
Kids are always going opt out for whatever reason and that’s OK, it gives an option to another deserving player. Our game has been around longer than (insert stud name here) and it will be around after they don’t show up. 
The IFCA will survive this just fine and come back next year with a great game. You had a perfect storm of knuckleheads one year, move on. 

[hhpatriot04]

2 hours ago, Impartial_Observer said:

I’m going to disagree on a couple of points  as someone who is heavily involved with “a” high school all star game. 
I believe they do bring value to the athletes and their families as a nice way experience to end you high school career. I’ve been thru it as a parent, a coach, and now as they doing all the grunt work behind the scenes. I am a firm believer in them and we work very hard to make it a good experience for the players and their families. 
This has NEVER been about making money. We make enough to cover our expenses, which are sizable, and have enough left over for seed for our winter coaches clinic. 
Kids are always going opt out for whatever reason and that’s OK, it gives an option to another deserving player. Our game has been around longer than (insert stud name here) and it will be around after they don’t show up. 
The IFCA will survive this just fine and come back next year with a great game. You had a perfect storm of knuckleheads one year, move on. 

To what end? 

Make this a series of games instead of one game...

Region I All-Stars vs. Region II

Region III vs Region IV

etc...

I think the interest would be much higher, the logistics much easier, and the rivalry/cooperation much higher!!!

[Impartial_Observer]

4 minutes ago, hhpatriot04 said:

To what end? 

Make this a series of games instead of one game...

Region I All-Stars vs. Region II

Region III vs Region IV

etc...

I think the interest would be much higher, the logistics much easier, and the rivalry/cooperation much higher!!!

Take it to the IFCA man, do whatever you want with it. But the short lived Bridge Bowl series didn’t work out so well. 

[Bobref]

Many years ago, South Bend used to hold a Summer festival in  July that included all sorts of athletic events, including an all star game of area football players. I got our crew to officiate one of the games. Figured it’d be a nice, no pressure, way to get in some field time in the Summer. Back then there weren’t the opportunities to work in the Summer like there are now. Well, early in the proceedings one of the players spit on an opponent and there commenced a bench clearing brawl — one of only 3 in which I was involved in 40 seasons.

[Major]

On 7/17/2023 at 2:38 PM, Bobref said:

Many years ago, South Bend used to hold a Summer festival in  July that included all sorts of athletic events, including an all star game of area football players. I got our crew to officiate one of the games. Figured it’d be a nice, no pressure, way to get in some field time in the Summer. Back then there weren’t the opportunities to work in the Summer like there are now. Well, early in the proceedings one of the players spit on an opponent and there commenced a bench clearing brawl — one of only 3 in which I was involved in 40 seasons.

I wonder if anyone from Plymouth staff remembers?

[Bobref]

1 hour ago, Major said:

I wonder if anyone from Plymouth staff remembers?

John Barron was the coach of one of the teams. I spoke with him last week, but “forgot” to mention that incident.

[BTF]

On 7/17/2023 at 11:11 AM, Bash Riprock said:

Those are very good men as coaches on those sidelines.  At least one of them is a sure fire hall of fame coach that will be on a very short list of one of the best this state has seen.  Unless you were there, on those sidelines, observed what was going on between coaches, players and officials, your are speculating at best. 

Very good men no doubt, but unfortunately not perfect. I'm just wondering who's pointing the finger at themselves saying "I should have done something different." Maybe it's the coaches, maybe it's not, but it's someone. Maybe the players themselves? 

[Donnie Baker]

I have an idea for next year, I swear to God I do. Instead of a penalty , put the offending player in the center of the field with the ball and put 10 badasses that are happy to be there around him and play some smear the queer. I gotta go 

[Yuccaguy]

Ok.  Time to OUT myself!

There wasn't a damned thing that we could do as officials to temper the situation 

That also applies to the Head Coaches involved.  (I have a problem with ONE Assistant  .. but I'll keep that to myself).

I have forwarded suggestions to others as to how to mitigate the problems in the ensuing years.  Hopefully these suggestions will be considered  

We, hopefully realize that the players were not necessarily the 'true' representation of Indiana All-Stars in many cases.   But the majority of them were there to be given a fair assessment of the ability to allow them to perform at the next level  

Sadly,  a few knuckleheads thought this was their star moment to focus on them.  I am sure that scouts/schools decided....NO it's not worth the effort. 

I'm sure that some have a MAJOR response as to what they/wouldn't do....  but I'm totally 'Scott' convinced that I've been there done that at levels that I expect to be, always!  You may never be....

Let's learn, move beyond this incident.  Time to make changes and adapt.  

 

Edited July 19, 2023 by Yuccaguy

[Yuccaguy]

14 minutes ago, Yuccaguy said:

Ok.  Time to OUT myself!

There wasn't a damned thing that we could do as officials to temper the situation 

That also applies to the Head Coaches involved.  (I have a problem with ONE Assistant  .. but I'll keep that to myself).

I have forwarded suggestions to others as to how to mitigate the problems in the ensuing years.  Hopefully these suggestions will be considered  

We, hopefully realize that the players were not necessarily the 'true' representation of Indiana All-Stars in many cases.   But the majority of them were there to be given a fair assessment of the ability to allow them to perform at the next level  

Sadly,  a few knuckleheads thought this was their star moment to focus on them.  I am sure that scouts/schools decided....NO it's not worth the effort. 

I'm sure that some have a MAJOR response as to what they/wouldn't do....  but I'm totally 'Scott' convinced that I've been there done that at levels that I expect to be, always!  You may never be....

Let's learn, move beyond this incident.  Time to make changes and adapt.  

 

FYI... both Eric and Bud were absolutely wonderful in their management and understanding of the situation.   I  have nothing but the utmost respect for both of them!!!!  

My issue was with one Assistant Coach who believed this was his "Lombardi moment"...

Edited July 19, 2023 by Yuccaguy

[Coach Nowlin]

Folks, its middle of July,  there is not 1 College coach in the nation scouting all star game in Indiana saying, hey we need to offer this kid an opportunity to play at our school that enrolls in 5 weeks or have camp start in 2 to 3 weeks.  

Players who are in the game have already committed to various places, from Indiana Wesleyan to Wabash and in between.

Just wanted to debunk the myth that somehow players who in this game either lost their scholarship/grant opportunity or had teams tell them no thanks due to performance/behavior of a few 15 yard penalties .  

Im with Yuca here,  things happened, it wasn't a bench clearing violent event, nothing close to it, officials separated players, officials then talked to each HC and my guess told them, hey guys we have like 5 mins left here, lets get together and finish, of course next play there was more extra curricular and with 4 mins to go and 21-2 score, it was time to call it a day deemed by the on field crew.   

Lets just pump the breaks on the travesty of entire 54 year or so event and now all of sudden the whole system is wrong and game is pointless.   definition of 0=60 of internetting.    

[BDGiant93]

On 7/15/2023 at 5:27 PM, temptation said:

Should they HAVE to?  

No.

[Bash Riprock]

16 hours ago, BTF said:

Very good men no doubt, but unfortunately not perfect. I'm just wondering who's pointing the finger at themselves saying "I should have done something different." Maybe it's the coaches, maybe it's not, but it's someone. Maybe the players themselves? 

My point is that its easy to point blame sitting in the comfort of one's own living room, while also claiming that they would have resolved it easily.  That's called overconfidence...perhaps even delusion.  Unless people were there on the sideline to see and hear what transpired between coaches, players and officials, they are speculating at best regarding who was at fault.  Claiming to have the answers from afar is nothing more than what social media has evolved....arm chair experts.  Nothing more or less.  

If I am allowed to speculate from the cheap seats, my guess is that the behavior of a select few made it difficult on the entire bunch, and given the experience of the coaches and officials, I am comfortable that the best decision was made to shut it down with the game well in hand....moving on to next year.  My further guess is that following, some smart people will evaluate and look for improvements for future games.  

Bigger issues in the world than this one....

[BTF]

3 hours ago, Bash Riprock said:

My point is that its easy to point blame sitting in the comfort of one's own living room

I am comfortable that the best decision was made to shut it down with the game well in hand.

Bigger issues in the world than this one.

Hard to debate any of that. 

[Miner_Pride]

I have another thing to add...  and that is that I know in Linton and for other men kids from small school football programs, it is a HUGE honor to be selected to play in all-star games... especially with a state north-south game.  These kids are held in high regard for such an honor and the town they represent are extremely proud....  none of these guys is going Div 1 or heading to the NFL... so it truly is a big moment to take the field with fellow players from across indiana.  I don't want to see these events disappear.