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Mike White's high school football chat: 11.27.18
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Mike White
11:00
Snow is on the ground. That means high school football must be ending - and basketball season must be near. How goes it, everyone? WPIAL finals are now complete and state semifinals this weekend. Basketball starts next Friday. Any questions or comments? Let's begin.
11:04
Sign that the apocalypse is upon us? Well did you know high school basketball players can no longer roll over their shorts. That's right. Stop the rollovers. Rule is now that rolled over shorts are going to be treated like untucked jerseys. Any play can't enter the game with the waist of his or her shorts rolled over. And if they are rolled over during game, official can make player leave game and re-enter when they are all nice. Man, I see many girls players rolling the shorts over the past few years.
WPIALguru
11:04
Do you think Coach Palko would prefer to be a HC at the college level or an asst/recruiter and help potentially somewhere like Pitt?
Mike White
11:06
He would do whatever. Yes, he would be some kind of assistant at Pitt if they wanted him. Honestly, Pitt is crazy if they don't at least talk to him. I mean, really. I think Pitt could use a little help with coaches and players in Western Pa. Who better than to have Palko with that? But really, he still wants to coach also. He might look for a small-college job. But he is done with high schools. He won't say this on the record, but one of the main reasons he is done with high school? Tired of the parents.
Panther MBA
11:06
Are there any new Football coaching changes in the news?
Mike White
11:06
I don't know of any major ones. I'm sure a few have stepped down since season ended, but nne come to mind.
11:08
In case you missed, Shady Side Academy star Skyy Moore committed to Western Michigan last night. Still one of top candidates for player of the year. We'll see how things play out.
Stack56
11:12
I have 2 problems with the PIAA in regards to 5A. And 1 in 6A. 1st one for 5and 6A they dropped the ball not understanding that this is PA in December and not making the semifinals as regionally based as possible . That’s insane to have Pittsburgh and Philadelphia playing each other in the semifinals. My 2 nd issue is having Penn Hills and Wood playing Friday night not taking into consideration that people have to work and travel to the middle of the state for a 7pm kickoff. If you are going to schedule it for Friday move it to 7:30. Both fan bases have to travel at least 3 hours.
Mike White
11:14
Well Stack56. Many are mystified with the Philly teams playing on this western bracket in 6A and 5A. I have a story running in tomorrow paper and on web later today on this. PIAA boss Bob Lombardi explains that board wanted to have some different matchups. OK. Translation some districts were tired of losing all the time in semis. As Pine coach Eric Kasperowicz said, "The squeaky wheel gets the oil."
11:15
Stack56 as for the Friday night games. I think the PIAA tries to have teams who play in Finals on Thursday and Friday this week play Friday this week. They have always had Friday night games at 7. That's their starting time.
Wike Mhite
11:15
Very proud of my South Fayette Lions on giving their best effort Friday in Erie.  Disheartening to see the season come to an end the way it did - it has renewed my interest in whether the state/PIAA end up making a change to the public/private setup.
Mike White
11:16
Don't count on it happening. I think it will only happen if state legislature mandates it, which is unlikely.
Wike Mhite
11:16
Along those some lines, will be very interesting to see how Penn Hills and Pine fair against those private powerhouses this weekend.  I think both stand a good chance but it would be a shame to see us miss the final in all 3 top classes...
Mike White
11:17
Hey Wike, I think Pine-Richland St. Joe's game is a tossup. I would probably favor Wood over Penn Hills. But all it takes is a couple of those big plays from Penn Hills. Wood supposedly not as good as they have been. But people said the same thing about Erie Prep and look what happened to South Fayette.
Joe schmo
11:17
Tell me why cathedral prep is in 4a
Mike White
11:18
Ahhhh because of their enrollment. Classifications are based on enrollment. Not on whether you have a good team or not.
Jimmy
11:23
What’s your way to early basketball predictions. Who’s winning the wpials and who’s making states haha
Mike White
11:24
A lot of teams make states.  Girls preview this week. Boys next week.
BOYS
6A boys -- Butler, Latrobe, NA, Pine, Bethel, Mt. Lebo
11:27
5A - Mars, Moon , Penn Hills, Woodland Hills.  4A - New Castle, Quaker Valley, Ambridge, Highlands. 3A - Lincoln Park, Aliquippa. 2A - Sewickley and OLSH. 1A need to look at it more.
Terry Bradshaw
11:27
Whewwww... watched the Penn Hills vs WA game on Friday night. Penn Hills is explosive on offense! They will definitely make a run at the PIAA title! Good football game to watch... any observations?
Mike White
11:27
Been their MO all year. A lot of playmakers. Hollis Mathis is good and receivers make big plays. Will have to control Wood's running game.
SF Lions
11:28
Where does WA go from here? Been "confirmed" that Neidbala from Blackhawk is taking over, but some say that may not happen. Do you still see them being a potential power year in and year out without Palko at the head?
Mike White
11:29
Well school board approved long time ago that Kim Niedbala will take over. He's been an assistant with Bob Palko. Experienced. Good coach. Coached college at D-11 level. Played D-11. Point guard on 1992 Blackhawk state championship hoops team, one of best in 25 years.
Wike Mhite
11:29
To Joe schmo: mike is right, it’s all based on enrollment.  Interesting side note though: Most of the D10 4A teams play up to avoid ECP. W/ the last enrollment I noticed that Meadville, G McLane, Warren, Oil City & Franklin all play up in 5A. Poor Fort LeBoeuf is left to get throttled in the D10 championship game. Very interesting to see that - we’d never see something like that in WPIAL as we have strong teams in all classes unlike some of the other districts.
Mike White
11:30
Yes, a lot of people don't want anything to do with Prep.
Mark Cerny
11:30
What is your opinion of the Shaler football program? They made major strides this year, could this be the beginning of a major turnaround?
Mike White
11:31
Made playoffs this year. Nice for them. Moving to 5A helped. Let's take it easy with the "major" turnaround. Yes, they've improved. Are they ready to challenge for WPIAL title? Please.
Stack56
11:31
Mike Allderdice will make it through the city unscathed in boys Basketball. Who do you think they will see in the subregion McDowell or Kennedy Catholic?
Mike White
11:33
Kennedy no question, which is a shame these two have to play this early. If you didn't know, Kennedy is loaded. Oscar What's His Name is first round NBA draft pick kind of kid. Of course, Will Jeffers is big-time sophomore, one of best in country at McDowell. But Kennedy has too many other players. Kennedy, Kennedy, Kennedy.
JustAskin
11:33
Who are your Top teams in 3A basketball this upcoming Season? I already know LP is the Favorite though.
Mike White
11:33
Gave rundown earlier in chat.
D9 Dave
11:33
Do you think an on campus stadium would help Pitt in recruiting local talent and even better out of state talent?  Also, agree that Pitt should talk to Palko as he could definately help recruit the WPIAL talent capable of playing at Pitt.
Mike White
11:34
Here's what helps most in recruiting: Winning. On campus stadium would be nice, but there aren't that many big time players in WPIAL any more. Would be nice to get the majority of them, though, and that isn't happening.
11:35
Allderdice. But they would meet in first round. See what I said earlier in chat.
charlie
11:35
Is Render done? School Board all ready brought in Junko as an asst.
Mike White
11:35
Not sure about ol' Jim. Either this year or next year I think he'll be done.
BigChief
11:36
3A Aliquippa, 2A Steel Valley, and 1A OLSH play District 10 teams that are familiar with the WPIAL (Sharon, Wilmington, and Farrell). Due to roster size would Steel Valley have the hardest chance to make it to Hershey out of the 3 matchups?
Mike White
11:37
Aliquippa has the best chance and Steel Valley has a decent chance also, despite having only 17 players now. I would rate Farrell as the favorite. Out of those games, I'll go Aliquippa and Steel Valley as winners. Incidentally, Sharon, Wilmington and Farrell all used to be in the WPIAL.
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