They REALLY don't play school in Columbus

Submitted by Hotel Putingrad on August 30th, 2021 at 5:50 PM

I saw the highlights on ESPN and social media but didn't realize the backstory. It's apparently not even a real school, just a bunch of kids that work out together.

They played a team from Pennsylvania Friday night, then turned around and played IMG last night on national television. And lost 58-0.

https://twitter.com/NickBaumann/status/1432455002459680768?s=19

No staff, no physical address. Just a charter school/weight room without a charter on file with the Ohio department of education.

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Jack Be Nimble

August 30th, 2021 at 5:57 PM ^

I guess IMG was having a lot of trouble finding non-conference matchups? Are they even in a conference or league of some sort?

If they aren't, I imagine it might be difficult to find 9 or 10 teams every year willing to play them. Might make them not look too hard at their opponents beforehand.

Joined: 10/03/2014

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Golden section

August 31st, 2021 at 12:19 PM ^

Jemele Hill, a Michigan hater from MSU. How she ever got on the air in the first place is a wonder. Then she used her ESPN to advance her political and personal agenda, which often included her openly anti-Michigan bias.

She now writes, mostly opinion pieces, for the Atlantic, where her counter narrative is encouraged.

At least I haven't seen any negative Michigan articles but there's still time.

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KC Wolve

August 30th, 2021 at 6:20 PM ^

Holy shit. They played 2 games in 3 days, they have former JUCO players on their team, AND….their coach has an active active arrest warrant. 

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BlueMk1690

August 30th, 2021 at 6:36 PM ^

Yeah it's a shame that ESPN gave that platform to what is likely a fake school without much of an academic profile that really seems to just exist for the purpose of trying to get kids into college football and is run by adults with a probable financial interest in that.

But enough about IMG.

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leftrare

August 30th, 2021 at 10:13 PM ^

I’d rather not pile on to IMG for being a fake high school.  I’m betting that academics are legit there, as they try to broaden the minds of kids, most of whom have not had the benefit of a high school that would prepare them for the opportunities and pitfalls of the next level.  Hence the term Prep School. 
 

what I would pile on IMG for is their utter lack of vetting of an opponent. The IMG staff would not have to spend a whole lot of google energy to discover there was nothing there, there.  I guess their failure was to trust ESPN to book them a legitimate opponent.  Seems weak to me.  

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NittanyFan

August 30th, 2021 at 11:27 PM ^

Given that IMG played BS (I like referring to them by their initials, it fits) in 2020 ------- it's fair to say IMG had a sense for what they were getting into here.

Like you, I'm not one to pile on IMG as regards their academic credentials.  One can get a legit high school education there, an education that sets one up for college.

But ---- much like a lot of the basketball academies that exist (La Lumiere down in Northern Indiana, Oak Hill Academy, Findlay Prep in Nevada, et cetera) ---- when it comes to on-the-field/court athletics they simply don't exist within the same "sphere" as the other 99% of American high schools.

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matty blue

August 30th, 2021 at 8:11 PM ^

neither one of these places are, you know, “schools,” except insofar as containers for sports.  there’s no difference between IMG and emoni bates’ “school.” the pearl-clutching over this is a damned joke.  better to ask why high school teams are flying all over the country to play semi-pro football for espn’s cameras.

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