Some Thoughts On The Football Season So Far
August 31, 2016 at 5:23 p.m.
By Roger Grossman-
The first thing you notice is the number of blowout games. There are always lopsided scores as really good programs work out the kinks against smaller schools or lesser teams, but it seems to me like there are a lot more uncompetitive games through two weeks.
The field turf at Warsaw passed its first test. The monsoonal rains we’ve had over the last few weeks have only helped settle the rubber into the carpet and make the footing better and the field faster. It was pretty cool to walk on it before the home opener against East Noble. With the drainage issues solved and the turf doing its job, the turf was perfectly playable – even with an unexpected light rain falling through a good share of the second half.
If you went to or listened to the game Friday, you were part of history in more ways than one. Not only was it the first game on the new turf, but the 42 points was the most ever scored by Warsaw in a loss.
And Warsaw is also doing something really interesting – they are selling the unused sections of the turf. Some are plain green, some have some gray or orange from the sideline on them. The pieces come in different shapes and sizes for different prices. It’s the coolest collection of carpet remnants ever.
Wawasee is off to its usual good start. The Warriors are 2-0 for the third straight year, and they have a great chance to get a third straight win at home Friday against Northridge (0-2). But then it gets harder, with Concord, NorthWood and Plymouth in the heart of their season. The defense has allowed very little, giving up only one touchdown in the first two weeks, and Northridge doesn’t seem to have found its offensive rhythm yet. Concord, however, will be a different story.
While good starts are common at Wawasee, the exact opposite has been true at Tippecanoe Valley. The Vikings begin conference play Friday at home against North Miami after a nightmare of a pre-TRC schedule in which they were outscored by Culver Academy and Western by a combined total of 112-14. This is the fourth straight year Valley has started 0-2, and they have just one regular season non-conference win since 2010.
Speaking of nightmares, do you suppose when the phone rings at Notre Dame football coach Brian Kelly’s house he makes someone else answer it? Ten days ago, Kelly’s call-waiting got a workout after six players were arrested for their alleged involvement in two different incidents off campus. One player was kicked off, but four others could play in Sunday’s opener at Texas (which is another column entirely).
It’s only the preseason, but nothing the Colts and Bears have shown us this month has given anyone any hope that their seasons will be any better this year. If you are Andrew Luck, you have to wonder if signing a long-term deal to stay in Indy was a good idea.
The good news: both teams are still undefeated in the regular season.
I could copy and paste those sentiments for IU and Purdue.
Now the real fun begins. Conference football is just more fun. College football returns Thursday. The NFL is back next week.
Time to belly up to the football buffet.
The first thing you notice is the number of blowout games. There are always lopsided scores as really good programs work out the kinks against smaller schools or lesser teams, but it seems to me like there are a lot more uncompetitive games through two weeks.
The field turf at Warsaw passed its first test. The monsoonal rains we’ve had over the last few weeks have only helped settle the rubber into the carpet and make the footing better and the field faster. It was pretty cool to walk on it before the home opener against East Noble. With the drainage issues solved and the turf doing its job, the turf was perfectly playable – even with an unexpected light rain falling through a good share of the second half.
If you went to or listened to the game Friday, you were part of history in more ways than one. Not only was it the first game on the new turf, but the 42 points was the most ever scored by Warsaw in a loss.
And Warsaw is also doing something really interesting – they are selling the unused sections of the turf. Some are plain green, some have some gray or orange from the sideline on them. The pieces come in different shapes and sizes for different prices. It’s the coolest collection of carpet remnants ever.
Wawasee is off to its usual good start. The Warriors are 2-0 for the third straight year, and they have a great chance to get a third straight win at home Friday against Northridge (0-2). But then it gets harder, with Concord, NorthWood and Plymouth in the heart of their season. The defense has allowed very little, giving up only one touchdown in the first two weeks, and Northridge doesn’t seem to have found its offensive rhythm yet. Concord, however, will be a different story.
While good starts are common at Wawasee, the exact opposite has been true at Tippecanoe Valley. The Vikings begin conference play Friday at home against North Miami after a nightmare of a pre-TRC schedule in which they were outscored by Culver Academy and Western by a combined total of 112-14. This is the fourth straight year Valley has started 0-2, and they have just one regular season non-conference win since 2010.
Speaking of nightmares, do you suppose when the phone rings at Notre Dame football coach Brian Kelly’s house he makes someone else answer it? Ten days ago, Kelly’s call-waiting got a workout after six players were arrested for their alleged involvement in two different incidents off campus. One player was kicked off, but four others could play in Sunday’s opener at Texas (which is another column entirely).
It’s only the preseason, but nothing the Colts and Bears have shown us this month has given anyone any hope that their seasons will be any better this year. If you are Andrew Luck, you have to wonder if signing a long-term deal to stay in Indy was a good idea.
The good news: both teams are still undefeated in the regular season.
I could copy and paste those sentiments for IU and Purdue.
Now the real fun begins. Conference football is just more fun. College football returns Thursday. The NFL is back next week.
Time to belly up to the football buffet.
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