This morning, I don’t have one issue to discuss so instead, I am just letting you follow my stream of consciousness.
A few weeks ago, I commented about my lack of enthusiasm for the College Football Playoff (CFB). Well, after all four of the teams who earned the bye were eliminated, I realized this is the type of thing that would happen in the NFL playoffs.
Granted, my Ohio State Buckeyes dominated Oregon and played better than I thought, but what college football has created is an environment where your season doesn’t end because of two bad Saturdays.
Another thing I like is this playoff only has one team from the South still standing: Texas.
I liked seeing the SEC teams (Georgia, Tennessee) lose convincingly. Now we are seeing a tournament where – like most Indiana high school sports, and pro sports – if you’re hot at the right time, you’ll make a deep postseason run.
I’ve been a critic of Ohio State football coach Ryan Day, and I still wish the Buckeyes had depth on their offensive line, but I also realized fans just needed college football’s top teams time to bake.
Can any of you think of any team outside the 12 teams selected possibly changing the complexion of the playoff? I can’t.
January 10th presents a dilemma for me. Two of Northern Indiana’s best boys’ basketball teams will clash when the Northridge Raiders visit Warsaw’s Tiger Den. The recent three straight Tiger losses haven’t changed my mind that these two teams are still among the best teams in Northern Indiana.
Ohio State also plays that evening, but I can record that and watch it when I return home from the game, but part of me still wants to see what the Buckeyes do in a live broadcast. Decisions, decisions.
One week from today, another Raiders-Tigers clash, the girls’ basketball teams, will do battle in Northridge’s beautiful new gym. I’m just as excited to be in the gym as I am to watch the action.
Both of Warsaw’s boys’ and girls’ teams will have a tough row to hoe in the postseason starting with the sectionals. With girls’ teams like Washington, and boys’ teams like Crown Point the 2025 postseason run will be tough.
I’m thankful, win or lose, each team’s schedule is chock full of tough non-conference opposition. Much like the other aforementioned sports at various levels, Indiana high school basketball playoffs are set up for the hottest team or the team with the toughest schedule to shine in the postseason.
I posted pictures in social media of Homestead’s gym, and Columbia City’s gym while I was at each facility. People in other states are amazed at the top-flite facilities. When I’ve sent pictures of Warsaw’s Tiger Den, Ohioans were in awe of its size. They were also amazed that at least 25 gyms were bigger.
The Tiger Den has adapted to change with some digital screens, and it’s one of the schools in the area where you can see who is playing, and what their fouls and points are while they are in action. Additionally, the scorer’s table team does an excellent job of staying on top of those stats.
I’ve been to other gyms where at least 2-3 players on the board were incorrect, or not even on the floor. Hats off to our Tiger Den crew.
Kudos to Saquon Barkley, who has over 350 carries already for this season, for sitting out the season finale. The Philadelphia Eagles running back is on a team who is already in the 3-seed position and have no reason to have him get beat up for another week although he is 101 yards away from Eric Dickerson’s rushing record.
I had a Thanksgiving guest say, “it will be interesting to see how the league has scripted this season. It’s all scripted.”
Conspiracy theories have one common thread. They lack common sense.
What competitive pro athlete or franchise would buy into a script where nine of its teams are winning 25% of their games?
What NFL franchise owner, most with big money, power, and big egos, would roll over for a scripted season? Can you imagine the unbelievably detailed choreography you would need among all 32 teams for a scripted ending?
Certain positions can contribute to throwing games more than other positions, but a scripted NFL season requires choreography among 272 regular season games in a league where the coaches have beds in their practice facilities to be able to spend enough time watching film and preparing for the game.
I strongly believe people who live by conspiracy theories do so because their hot take gets them attention and it makes them feel important.
To these folks, just enjoy the season and let it play out without you being the focal point of a conversation that will actually make you look like you lack common sense.
Next week, my column will be used for a long form story interviewing two athletes, so you won’t have to follow my stream of consciousness again.