#GameDay Ben Davis Scrimmage

Get your first look at the Rocks facing another team tonight! We scrimmage Ben Davis at 7pm. As in years past, we'll follow Format B as defined by the IHSAA, which does not include kicking. Here's a quick run down of the format:

• 15 plays from the -35 yard line for each team
• 10 plays from the 10 yard line for each team
• 12 plays from the 35 yard line for each team
• 8 plays of reserves from the -35 yard line for each team
• 8 plays of reserves from TBD yard line for each team

Need directions? We've got ya covered:

2016 Season Photos

I also wanted to note that, on the blog, the season photo album link has been updated. I dump all of the photos I get there, so feel free to peruse. If you have photos you'd like to be added, send us an email. Our contact information can be found in the same link area on the right hand side of the blog.

Green vs Gold

Throughout the season, I'll be providing the "Rock Report" on Sunday nights or Monday mornings. This will include the score and a brief "coach's recap" with shout outs to players that made a special impact on the games.

This weekend, we played the annual Green vs Gold scrimmage. There's no score to report, nor players of the week, but I did want to share a photo from the scrimmage. We had a good turn out and are very excited to start this season right. We can't wait to strap up against a completely different color, and come Friday we'll head over to Ben Davis for just that. Opening kickoff for Game 1 is just 11 days away.

Shamrock Preseason Store

Practice has started. The 2016 football season is almost underway. Next Friday will be the scrimmage with Ben Davis, and then on August 19th, opening kickoffs will be boomed across the state of Indiana. If you're a Rock fan, you should be pretty excited.

If you'd like to wear your excitement, both now and in the games to come, we've been able to set up a temporary storefront for Rocks gear! In the past, we've done this by handing out order forms to players. Then, they will ask friends and family what they want, and hopefully they get to you before the deadline. It worked okay, but we're excited to announce this year that we have transitioned to an online storefront. All you need is THE LINK (access code: 36849) and you can place an order for yourself. Hopefully this will make it easier for Rocks fans everywhere to get some cool green gear.

There is a nice little bonus opportunity. If we order enough, we'll be able to outfit our volunteer coaches, both high school and middle school, with free sweatshirts. So order away! Store closes on Friday, August 14th, so make sure to place your orders by then.

In addition to the online storefront, we're excited to be able to offer car decals. If you've ever wanted to rep the Rocks on your vehicle, we have decals available. These have to be done the old fashioned way, so print off the order form below and find a way to get it in to Coach Gilbert by Friday, August 14th. If you have any questions about this one, there's a number on the form. Again, if we order enough, we'll be able to give a few to our volunteer coaches.

Again, the deadline for both orders is Friday, August 14th. Thank you for all of your support!

Click image for larger view.

Two Items of Note

There are two events coming your way this week that we wanted to post a reminder for:

1. On Thursday, July 14th is the annual Colts Leadership Challenge Blood Drive. We have historically collected a lot of blood for this worthy cause, and would like to keep it up. The blood drive is at Westfield Middle School from 3pm-8pm.
2. On Friday, July 16th, the Rocks will be washing cars to raise team funds at the First Merchants Bank in Westfield from 10am-2pm. Stop by to support your Rocks and leave with a shiny car.

Hope to see you there!

Stacked Shamrocks

Our community is growing by leaps and bounds these days. Grand Park is bringing in a ton of new businesses, and one of those has partnered with our Gridiron Club to tie a fundraiser to their grand opening. Food is free (!) and free-will donations will go to our Gridiron Club. It will be a limited menu, but what a cool way to open! Please consider stopping by to support both the Stacked Pickle and your Rocks.

Here's the full flier:

Celebrating 20 Years

We shared this information via social media yesterday, but I also wanted to follow-up with a post on the blog here. Next year marks the 20th year in the current high school facility, and a celebration is planned to honor all athletes that have played during that time period. The link below will direct former athletes to a google form that can be filled out, letting the Athletic Department know you would like to attend and some information about your time as a Rock. If you are a former Rock athlete, please consider attending and marking the special occasion for our community.

CLICK HERE for the link.