One of Central Indiana's best high school football rivalries over the last two decades has been the nearly annual showdown between Center Grove (IN) and Warren Central (IN). With the two scheduled to play once again on Friday, Nov. 13, in the regional round, a podcast not affiliated with either school may have added some more fuel to the fire.
According to a report from Kyle Neddenriep of the IndyStar, part of the USA TODAY Network, the two schools districts issued a joint statement on Wednesday, expressing “disappointment and frustration”following podcast clips that appeared earlier in the day.
While the podcast is not directly tied to Center Grove, statements came from a podcast on YouTube called “Inside Center Grove Football.” The commentstook
shots at Warren Central football players, stating that the team had multiple 20- and 21-year-olds.
In another clip that surfaced, the two hosts also took shots at the reading capabilities of the players.
“Today we became aware of disparaging and unacceptable comments that were made about Warren Central High School during a podcast called Inside Center Grove Football,” Center Grove director of communications Wes Anderson said in a statement released by both schools. “Neither this podcast, nor its hosts, are affiliated with Center Grove Community School Corporation. The participants are not Center Grove employees nor do their views represent the beliefs of CGCSC.
“CGCSC and MSDWT (Metropolitan School District of Warren Township) share their disappointment and frustration both our school communities feel about the harm these comments have caused. Neither corporation condones these words or beliefs. The Inside Center Grove Football podcast has removed the episode in question and issued a public apology at the request of both schools. Moving forward, the focus for Center Grove and MSD Warren Township is solely on a safe and student-centered Regional Championship game Friday night at Warren Central High School,” the statement concluded.
Jeff Paxson, one of the hosts on the podcast, released a solo podcast episode on Thursday, issuing an apology for the episode and the comments.
In the episode, Paxson also acknowledges that he has not direct correlation to Center Grove High School or the school system.
"This week I made some comments I wish I hadn't," Paxson says in the video. "They were strictly in the spirit of a rivalry and trash talk. I absolutely respect Warren Central and their program and I'm really sorry to anyone that I offended.
“I take those words back completely and have taken the video down. I wish both teams the best of luck in the regional on Friday at 7:00. I'm sorry to be a distraction and sorry to force people to have to use resources in this matter. I wish both teams best of luck. I'm Jeff Paxson and I truly apologize."
Friday night's meeting between the two schools will be the second time they've played this year as Warren Central (10-0), the No. 10 team in the USA TODAY Sports Super 15 Midwest rankings, won the season-opener between the two 24-20-14 on Aug. 21.
The two first played each other in 1997 with Warren Central leading the all-time series 22-18. They've also been two of the most dominant programs over the last two decades, combining for 12 state championships since 2003.
Follow Sports Reporter Joe Spears on X at @joe_spears7 or via email: JSpears@usatodayco.com. For additional high school sports coverage, be sure to follow USA TODAY High School Sports on Instagram and X.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Indiana high school football rivals condemn podcast comments ahead of playoff showdown
