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Mike White's high school football chat: 9.25.18
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Jinx
11:31
Do you think that 7 man football could be an option for some of these smaller schools?
Mike White
11:31
I guess if they wanted to start their own league.
HeyMike
11:31
Is there a vote to go back from 6A to 4A any time soon?
Mike White
11:34
Not unless the PIAA wants it - and they are showing no signs of wanting it. Look, six classes have actually helped some teams. Some of these teams doing well wouldn't be as competitive if there were only 4 classes. They would still be in a bigger class and it would be tougher for them. That was one of the things that six classes was supposed to do - even the playing field. Teams wouldn't be playing others that were much bigger in terms of enrollment. But there have been not-so-good things with 6A also. Mainly, it has watered down things a lot. But in 10 years, that might not matter when everyone is used to it by then.
Quad North Fan
11:35
How about an idea like letting butler or Cmac or anyone opt out of games (mutually) and let them find other competition (and forfeit playoffs).
Mike White
11:36
No way. What, let them be in the WPIAL, let them start a season, and once they realize they aren't very good, let them cancel games? Seriously? If you're in, play the games.
Quad North Fan
11:36
PCC vs Butler : PCC gets the win and both teams can schedule better games.
Mike White
11:37
You think it's easy to get games in the middle of the season at the drop of a hat? C'mon.
2AFootballFan
11:37
2a is the best this year.  Plenty of good teams.  The playoffs should be very interesting.  Shady Side, Steel Valley, Charleroi and Washington are all interesting but keep an eye on Avonworth.  Good skill players and a nice big line that is getting better.
Mike White
11:39
I would agree with you. 5A and 2A are the best, at least in terms of depth of decent teams. The uprising of the likes of Charleroi and Shady Side have helped 2A's balance. I still say watch for Washington come playoffs. And also Steel Valley.
Wike Mhite
11:39
What happened to Montour?  They’ve seemed to have a steady level of success leading up to this year.  Now they’ve been shutout 3 games in a row, winless on the season.  Sad to see such a sharp decline.
Mike White
11:40
I have no idea. I didn't think they'd be great this year. But I didn't expect this. Poor Lou. Bringing back memories of the Dick Butkus year. Oh geez.
Ironman
11:40
I look forward to reading your article on the size of teams. Bethel Park cancelled the JV game due to lack of lineman. There is a safety issue with not enough players or putting small kids in a line with bigger kids. The WPIAL needs to work with these schools and combine some schools. Thoughts?
Mike White
11:42
It's not the WPIAL's job to combine schools or make coops. It's the schools. School district mergers are tough. It takes two to merge. Many schools don't want to merge. And some of these smaller schools don't like the idea of a cooperative sponsorship with other schools. They claim they will lose their identity. I understand that a little but this is something that's probably not going to get a lot better. Just worse. Face it, for various reasons, fewer kids are playing football.
Quad North Fan
11:42
Before the season - teams like Butler know they aren’t going to win. Give them a chance to regroup and get the program better. Who wants to play knowing they are going to get crushed every game. Maybe that can jumpstart some
Mike White
11:47
Well then drop out of the WPIAL. You can't pick and choose what games you want to play in a WPIAL schedule. You're either in or out. Butler is hardest school to figure out. One of the biggest schools in the WPIAL and football program is horrible. I don't have the answer. And neither does Butler. But you can't pick and choose what WPIAL games to play. If they don't like it, then drop out of the WPIAL. But I'll bet the Butler fans would just love to play games far away against teams from other states and the like. How about just figure out a way to get a little more competitive.
HeyMike
11:47
Is there still 9th grade football?
Mike White
11:49
Not many. I did a story on this 2-3 years ago. I think now there might be at most 15 schools with WPIAL football. Maybe even less than that. This is a numbers thing. But it's also some coaches believe just bring the 9th graders up to the varsity team. I think in five years they will realize that was a bad move. It's just one more thing to discourage kids from playing football. Because I know there are ninth grade kids who won't play simply because they are intimidated and aren't ready to be in a varsity atmosphere. Even if they don't practice with the varsity kids, they're still around that level. And some ninth graders don't want it. So they don't play.
Stan Kachowski
11:52
On the topic of 6A: is there an actual fix for this?  Since 2010 NA, PR, and PCC have dominated the highest class, and this trend looks to continue for a while.  Before that the WPIAL champions definitely had a little more flavor (with certain teams going on runs, obviously).  I don't imagine that people who send their kids to PR, NA, or PCC have a problem with it, and I think the result is that 4A and 5A have become way more competitive and fun to watch.  I can understand there being some consternation from the folks at the remaining 6A schools, but I genuinely think that the move to 6 classifications - for football, anyway - has actually benefited far more programs than it has negatively impacted.  Thoughts?
Mike White
11:53
That's what I said earlier, Stan. The move to six classes has definitely benefited teams. It's just a shame that WPIAL 6A has only nine teams. Not good. But please remember this. This was not the WPIAL's decision. The PIAA went to six classes. And it's not the WPIAL's decision to have only six 6A football teams. Classes are determined by school enrollment.
Jimmy
11:54
Should ambridge merge with Aliquippa or something I’m concerned with the future of that program in a few years they might be good again but I’m worried all the younger kids will transfer to different schools because there roster is small
Mike White
11:55
Jimmy, like I said before. It's not as easy as saying two schools should merge. There are two sides to a merger. And many times, one of the schools doesn't want to merge. Do you know the Woodland Hills merger in the 1980s was court ordered? Just a thought. Maybe Ambridge doesn't want to merge with Aliquippa. And maybe Aliquippa is just fine having football its own way.
demosthenes98
11:56
What happened to Seton LaSalle?  In the preseason they were ranked fifth in WPIAL 2A.  Now they're tied for fifth in their own conference.
Mike White
11:56
Don't know. There are good surprises. Seton-LaSalle is a surprise the other way. Sometimes you have these seasons. Just ask Montour.
O’Malley
11:57
what would need to happen for programs to be able to schedule their own non-conference games? I understand that some places would have a hard time finding an opponent but it seemed to work fine during the prior two decades.
Mike White
11:59
Schools can schedule their first game in Week 0 if they choose to play that week. The WPIAL schedules all other games the rest of the season, even non-conference. But again, you're either in the WPIAL or out. Take Butler. They're in a conference with nine teams. So they have eight conference games. That leaves one non conference game and a Week 0 game if they want to play. You need to know that many teams want the WPIAL to schedule non conference games during the season. Sometimes it's hard for teams to find non conference games, especially the good teams. Sure, everyone wants to play someone like Butler in non conference. They know it's a good chance to win. But not many like to play the good teams.
12:00
Hey everyone that's it for this week. We'll do it again next Tuesday at 11. And may Butler get a few wins - one of these years. So they don't have to leave the WPIAL.
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