Center Grove and Warren Township school districts call fan podcast's comments about Warren Central "disparaging and unacceptable"; host apologizes
Center Grove and Warren Township school districts called comments about Warren Central on the fan-run Inside Center Grove Football podcast disparaging and unacceptable. Host Jeff Paxson apologized and took the episode down, describing the remarks as rivalry trash talk.
Case period:
Published by The Dispute Index editorial teamPublished Updated
Overview
Center Grove High School, in Greenwood, and Warren Central High School, on the east side of Indianapolis, have one of central Indiana's best-known high school football rivalries. USA Today reports that the schools first played in 1997, that Warren Central leads the series 22-18, and that the two programs have won 12 state championships between them since 2003. Warren Central beat Center Grove in this season's opener on August 21, and the teams meet again in the Class 6A regional championship at Warren Central on November 13.
Inside Center Grove Football's YouTube channel describes the podcast as fan-run, independently produced and not affiliated with the Center Grove school corporation. IndyStar reported that the hosts sat in front of an Inside Center Grove Football sign. The episode with the comments was taken down and we could not review it, so the description of the comments here relies on IndyStar and USA Today reporting. On November 12, the channel showed only Paxson's apology video.
Timeline
3 timeline entries on this page. Dates: November 11, 2026
November 2026
Clips of a fan podcast's comments about Warren Central surface
Incident
Clips from an episode of the fan-run Inside Center Grove Football podcast surface online. According to IndyStar and USA Today, the hosts comment on the ages of Warren Central's football players and, in another clip, on their reading ability.
[01]IndyStar: Center Grove, Warren Central condemn podcast comments ahead of regional football showdown
IndyStar report of November 11, 2026, carried in full on Yahoo Sports. It reports that the two districts issued a joint statement that afternoon after a podcast clip surfaced earlier in the day, that the podcast is not affiliated with Center Grove football or the school although the podcasters sat in front of an Inside Center Grove Football sign, and that the hosts commented on the ages of Warren Central's players and, in another clip, on the reading ability of its students. It attributes the statement to both schools, released through Center Grove's director of communications, Wes Anderson.
IndyStar: Center Grove, Warren Central condemn podcast comments ahead of regional football showdownFull article (syndicated copy on Yahoo Sports)[02]USA Today
USA Today High School Sports report of November 11, 2026, carried in full on Yahoo Sports. It summarizes the IndyStar report and the joint statement, says the comments came from a YouTube podcast called Inside Center Grove Football, and quotes host Jeff Paxson's apology video. The report says the video came out on Thursday; the video's upload date on YouTube is Wednesday, November 11. The report's wording of the apology is lightly edited compared with the video.
USA Today: Indiana high school football rivals condemn podcast comments ahead of playoff showdown · USA TodayFull article (syndicated copy on Yahoo Sports)Podcast posts host Jeff Paxson's apology video
Reaction
The Inside Center Grove Football YouTube channel posts a 48-second video in which host Jeff Paxson says he is not affiliated with Center Grove schools, wishes he had not made the comments and describes them as rivalry trash talk. He says he takes the words back, has taken the video down and apologizes.
[03]Inside Center Grove Football
A 48-second video posted on the Inside Center Grove Football YouTube channel. Host Jeff Paxson gives his name, says he is not affiliated with the Center Grove school corporation, Center Grove football or Center Grove High School, and says he is on the podcast. He says he made comments that week that he wishes he had not, describes them as rivalry trash talk, says he respects Warren Central's program, takes the words back, says he has taken the video down, wishes both teams luck in Friday's regional game and apologizes. On November 12, 2026, it was the only video on the channel.
Inside Center Grove Football: November 11, 2026 · Inside Center Grove FootballFull video, 0:00 to 0:48[02]USA Today
USA Today High School Sports report of November 11, 2026, carried in full on Yahoo Sports. It summarizes the IndyStar report and the joint statement, says the comments came from a YouTube podcast called Inside Center Grove Football, and quotes host Jeff Paxson's apology video. The report says the video came out on Thursday; the video's upload date on YouTube is Wednesday, November 11. The report's wording of the apology is lightly edited compared with the video.
USA Today: Indiana high school football rivals condemn podcast comments ahead of playoff showdown · USA TodayFull article (syndicated copy on Yahoo Sports)Center Grove and Warren Township districts issue a joint statement
Reaction
The two school districts call the comments disparaging and unacceptable and say the podcast and its hosts are not affiliated with the Center Grove school corporation. They say neither district condones the words or beliefs and that the podcast removed the episode and apologized at both schools' request.
[04]Metropolitan School District of Warren Township
Joint statement dated November 11, 2026, posted on the Warren Township district's news page. It says the two districts became aware that day of disparaging and unacceptable comments made about Warren Central High School on a podcast called Inside Center Grove Football, that the podcast and its hosts are not affiliated with the Center Grove school corporation or employed by it, and that neither district condones the words or beliefs. It adds that the podcast removed the episode and issued a public apology at the request of both schools, and that the districts' focus is a safe regional championship game at Warren Central on Friday night.
Joint statement from Center Grove Community School Corporation and the Metropolitan School District of Warren Township · Metropolitan School District of Warren TownshipFull statement[05]Center Grove Community School Corporation
Post by the official X account of the Center Grove High School athletic department, which links to the Center Grove school corporation's website. It shares the joint statement of the Center Grove Community School Corporation and the Metropolitan School District of Warren Township as an image, with both districts' logos. The image text matches the statement on the Warren Township district's website, apart from a comma.
CGHS Athletic Dept. on X: joint statement from Center Grove and Warren Township schools · Center Grove Community School CorporationPost text and attached image of the statement[01]IndyStar: Center Grove, Warren Central condemn podcast comments ahead of regional football showdown
IndyStar report of November 11, 2026, carried in full on Yahoo Sports. It reports that the two districts issued a joint statement that afternoon after a podcast clip surfaced earlier in the day, that the podcast is not affiliated with Center Grove football or the school although the podcasters sat in front of an Inside Center Grove Football sign, and that the hosts commented on the ages of Warren Central's players and, in another clip, on the reading ability of its students. It attributes the statement to both schools, released through Center Grove's director of communications, Wes Anderson.
IndyStar: Center Grove, Warren Central condemn podcast comments ahead of regional football showdownFull article (syndicated copy on Yahoo Sports)
Response record
Responses
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3 responses. Newest first.
Metropolitan School District of Warren TownshipPublic school district for Warren Township in Indianapolis, which operates Warren Central High School, in a joint statement with the Center Grove Community School CorporationDirectly involved Before this statement
The statement, dated November 11, 2026 and posted on the Warren Township district's website, opens by saying the districts became aware that day of disparaging and unacceptable comments made about Warren Central High School on a podcast called Inside Center Grove Football, and that neither the podcast nor its hosts are affiliated with the Center Grove school corporation.
"CGCSC and MSDWT share the disappointment and frustration both our school communities feel about the harm these comments have caused. Neither corporation condones these words or beliefs."
CondemnedCase context: Center Grove and Warren Township school districts call fan podcast's comments about Warren Central "disparaging and unacceptable"; host apologizes
Full statement and sources
In a joint statement with the Center Grove Community School Corporation, the Warren Township district says both school communities are disappointed and frustrated by the harm the podcast comments caused, and that neither district condones the words or beliefs expressed.
After the statement
The statement says the podcast removed the episode and issued a public apology at the request of both schools, and that the districts' focus is a safe, student-centered regional championship game at Warren Central High School on Friday night.
Joint statement from Center Grove Community School Corporation and the Metropolitan School District of Warren Township · Metropolitan School District of Warren TownshipFull statementIndyStar: Center Grove, Warren Central condemn podcast comments ahead of regional football showdownFull article (syndicated copy on Yahoo Sports)Why this label?
The reference point is the comments the hosts of the Inside Center Grove Football podcast made about Warren Central High School and its football players, including remarks about the players' ages and reading ability. The district says the comments caused harm to both school communities and that it does not condone the words or beliefs behind them, in a statement that also calls them disparaging and unacceptable. That rejects the comments themselves rather than only disputing how they are described, so the statement condemns them.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Center Grove Community School CorporationPublic school district for White River Township in Johnson County, Indiana, which operates Center Grove High School, in a joint statement with the Metropolitan School District of Warren Township released through its director of communications, Wes AndersonDirectly involved Before this statement
The joint statement of the two districts is dated November 11, 2026. The Center Grove High School athletic department shared it on X as an image, and IndyStar reported that both schools released it through Center Grove's director of communications, Wes Anderson.
"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. 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."
CondemnedCase context: Center Grove and Warren Township school districts call fan podcast's comments about Warren Central "disparaging and unacceptable"; host apologizes
Full statement and sources
In a joint statement with the Warren Township district, the Center Grove Community School Corporation calls the podcast's comments about Warren Central High School disparaging and unacceptable and says the podcast and its hosts are not affiliated with the district, are not its employees and do not speak for it.
After the statement
The statement continues that both districts share the disappointment and frustration their school communities feel about the harm the comments caused, that neither condones the words or beliefs, and that the podcast removed the episode and apologized at the request of both schools.
CGHS Athletic Dept. on X: joint statement from Center Grove and Warren Township schools · Center Grove Community School CorporationPost text and attached image of the statementJoint statement from Center Grove Community School Corporation and the Metropolitan School District of Warren Township · Metropolitan School District of Warren TownshipFull statementIndyStar: Center Grove, Warren Central condemn podcast comments ahead of regional football showdownFull article (syndicated copy on Yahoo Sports)Why this label?
The reference point is the comments the hosts of the Inside Center Grove Football podcast made about Warren Central High School and its football players, including remarks about the players' ages and reading ability. The Center Grove district calls the comments disparaging and unacceptable and says the podcast and its hosts have no connection to it. Separating the district from the podcast could on its own be a challenge to how the comments were attributed, but the statement also directly criticizes the comments, so it condemns them.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Inside Center Grove FootballFan-run Center Grove football podcast, in a video on its YouTube channel in which host Jeff Paxson speaksDirectly involved Before this statement
Paxson opens the 48-second video by giving his name and saying he is not affiliated with the Center Grove school corporation, Center Grove football or Center Grove High School, and that he is on the Inside Center Grove Football podcast. He says he made comments that week that he wishes he had not, and that they were strictly in the spirit of a rivalry and trash talk.
"...the spirit of a rivalry and trash talk. I absolutely respect Warren Central and their program ... I take those words back completely ... I truly apologize."
Mixed or conditionalCase context: Center Grove and Warren Township school districts call fan podcast's comments about Warren Central "disparaging and unacceptable"; host apologizes
Full statement and sources
In a video on the podcast's YouTube channel, host Jeff Paxson says he wishes he had not made the comments and describes them as made in the spirit of a rivalry and trash talk. He says he respects Warren Central's program, takes the words back completely and apologizes.
After the statement
He says he has taken the video down and wishes both teams the best of luck in Friday's regional game. He apologizes for being a distraction and for forcing people to use resources on the matter.
Inside Center Grove Football: November 11, 2026 · Inside Center Grove FootballFull video, 0:00 to 0:48USA Today: Indiana high school football rivals condemn podcast comments ahead of playoff showdown · USA TodayFull article (syndicated copy on Yahoo Sports)Why this label?
The reference point is the comments the hosts of the Inside Center Grove Football podcast made about Warren Central High School and its football players, including remarks about the players' ages and reading ability. In the video, Paxson says he wishes he had not made the comments, takes them back completely and apologizes, which rejects them. He also describes them as made in the spirit of a rivalry and trash talk, which presents them as banter rather than an attack on the players. The apology and the trash-talk explanation point in different directions on whether the comments crossed a line, so the response is mixed. It does not simply condemn the comments, because he explains them as rivalry banter, and it does not minimize them, because he retracts them in full.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Sources
(5)
Official statement
Joint statement from Center Grove Community School Corporation and the Metropolitan School District of Warren Township
Relevant passage: Full statement
About this source
Joint statement dated November 11, 2026, posted on the Warren Township district's news page. It says the two districts became aware that day of disparaging and unacceptable comments made about Warren Central High School on a podcast called Inside Center Grove Football, that the podcast and its hosts are not affiliated with the Center Grove school corporation or employed by it, and that neither district condones the words or beliefs. It adds that the podcast removed the episode and issued a public apology at the request of both schools, and that the districts' focus is a safe regional championship game at Warren Central on Friday night.
- Author
- MSD Warren Township
- Published
- Accessed
Original video
Inside Center Grove Football: November 11, 2026
About this source
A 48-second video posted on the Inside Center Grove Football YouTube channel. Host Jeff Paxson gives his name, says he is not affiliated with the Center Grove school corporation, Center Grove football or Center Grove High School, and says he is on the podcast. He says he made comments that week that he wishes he had not, describes them as rivalry trash talk, says he respects Warren Central's program, takes the words back, says he has taken the video down, wishes both teams luck in Friday's regional game and apologizes. On November 12, 2026, it was the only video on the channel.
- Author
- Jeff Paxson, host
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
USA Today: Indiana high school football rivals condemn podcast comments ahead of playoff showdown
Relevant passage: Full article (syndicated copy on Yahoo Sports)
About this source
USA Today High School Sports report of November 11, 2026, carried in full on Yahoo Sports. It summarizes the IndyStar report and the joint statement, says the comments came from a YouTube podcast called Inside Center Grove Football, and quotes host Jeff Paxson's apology video. The report says the video came out on Thursday; the video's upload date on YouTube is Wednesday, November 11. The report's wording of the apology is lightly edited compared with the video.
- Author
- Joseph Spears, USA TODAY High School Sports
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
IndyStar: Center Grove, Warren Central condemn podcast comments ahead of regional football showdown
Relevant passage: Full article (syndicated copy on Yahoo Sports)
About this source
IndyStar report of November 11, 2026, carried in full on Yahoo Sports. It reports that the two districts issued a joint statement that afternoon after a podcast clip surfaced earlier in the day, that the podcast is not affiliated with Center Grove football or the school although the podcasters sat in front of an Inside Center Grove Football sign, and that the hosts commented on the ages of Warren Central's players and, in another clip, on the reading ability of its students. It attributes the statement to both schools, released through Center Grove's director of communications, Wes Anderson.
- Author
- Kyle Neddenriep, The Indianapolis Star
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
CGHS Athletic Dept. on X: joint statement from Center Grove and Warren Township schools
About this source
Post by the official X account of the Center Grove High School athletic department, which links to the Center Grove school corporation's website. It shares the joint statement of the Center Grove Community School Corporation and the Metropolitan School District of Warren Township as an image, with both districts' logos. The image text matches the statement on the Warren Township district's website, apart from a comma.
- Author
- CGHS Athletic Dept. (@CGTrojansAD)
- Published
- Accessed
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- Title
- Center Grove and Warren Township school districts call fan podcast's comments about Warren Central "disparaging and unacceptable"; host apologizes
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The Dispute Index. "Center Grove and Warren Township school districts call fan podcast's comments about Warren Central "disparaging and unacceptable"; host apologizes". First published: 2026-11-12. Last updated: 2026-11-12. https://disputeindex.com/cases/center-grove-and-warren-township-schools-call-fan-podcast-comments-about-warren-central-disparaging-and-unacceptable