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Mike White's high school sports chat: 01.09.24
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Mike White
10:59
How goes it, everyone? Back to work this week. Chat is back in action. Let's just get at it.
Quippa
10:59
Do they really think 23 players transferred to Aliquippa? Cmon that’s insane.
Mike White
11:01
Obviously, no. There is a screwup from somewhere or someone on paperwork. What the PIAA does is look at rosters from year to year, of those teams that have enough success points to be moved up. I'm sure that can be cleared up. Aliquippa has not had 23 transfers. Obviously there have been mistakes made somewhere. They had Tikey Hayes as a transfer. He's been at Aliquippa since freshman year -- and really since young age. I'll have more on this in next posting.
11:05
More about Aliquippa. The number of transfers can be cleared up and it will. I reported a story in November that said Aliquippa will be in 4A next year, no matter what. I tried to explain the system and reported Aliquippa had enough success points to be moved to 5A. But at the time, I reported they would stay 4A because they only had two transfers (three are needed to be moved up). I said that because that is what Mike Warfield told me. He's the coach. He should know.
11:07
Last week, when Mike Warfield told me about the move-up to 5A and that the PIAA had them with 23 transfers, he told me that they really had three. Three would move them up, combined with success points. But Warfield's contention is that two of the transfers never played. Were never even on scout team. They just wanted to be part of team. When Aliquippa appeals this, that needs to be brought up.
11:11
I know three transfers are the barometer for move up in class for football. But like I've said for many years, the PIAA and WPIAL sometimes fails to see the big picture. They need to listen to the appeal and ask themselves, "Is this really who this rule was meant for?" Two transfers that never played? Yes, you can say the rule says three transfers and we must follow the rule. You might say, well what is the cutoff point? If a team has three transfers and one of them only played in two games, is that different than Aliquippa case. But my belief is you have to look at things case by case and use some common sense. There aren't that many teams that move up. If they want to appeal, listen and make a judgment, based on some common sense and the intent of the rule.
11:12
I'm not against the competitive classification rule. But the rule was designed to stop teams from having success with transfers. But really, it was just a band-aid to cover up what is still the biggest issue - public vs. private. This rule doesn't really address that at all. Enough said on this - I think.
Suck it Piaa
11:13
I believe in a competitive balance rule but I think it’s better if it’s just based on results and point system. Take away the transfer aspect totally.
Mike White
11:13
The PIAA board thought about that last spring or summer. Voted against it. Because then teams with good programs would be penalized just for having a good program.
TM
11:13
Can Aliquippa after the next 2 year cycle revert back to 1A or 2A where their enrollment slates them? Or is the system set up in a way where once you play up you are always up?
Mike White
11:15
No. According to the rules, ther classification is based on what they played last - and that's 4A. It's not based on what original enrollment was. Aliquippa was Class 1A and elected to play in 3A years ago. That's what started all this. But their claim is they decided to play 3A years ago before rule was enacted.
North2South
11:15
Your team is down 7 with 2 minutes left and you can take one WPIAL basketball player past or present to win you the game - who you got?
Mike White
11:17
Lance Jeter Beaver Falls. Made shot near half court in third overtime to win what might have been best championship game in WPIAL history in 2005 against Aliquippa. Also sent the game into OT with a shot. Had other game winners. He's ICE Jeter.
Larping
11:17
Mike why did the Lebo head football coach quit ?
Mike White
11:19
Because he wanted a teaching job or some job in the Mt. Lebanon school and he was told he wouldn't be getting one. I don't know if he was promised teaching job when he became coach this year? But you better be darn sure you're going to get one if you take the job. You might want to get in writing. I'm not saying Mt. Lebanon promised him one. All I'm saying is you better be positive you're going to get one because you never know with school boards from one year to the next.
Coach O
11:19
Did Neumann G’s 15 point win over Lincoln Park Saturday surprise you at all? LP basically has same team as last year, has Neumann reloaded with some new talent?
Mike White
11:21
Nope. Yes, Lincoln Park is really good. But Neumann-Goretti is ALWAYS good. Remember, Lincoln Park won by only a bucket in last year's title game. And you never know if Neumann-Goretti got some new players. But Neumann-Goretti has players on bench every year that are good. So no, it's not a surprise..
Buckets!
11:21
Thoughts on new foul rule with no 1-1's....I think it has resulted in less free throws....
Mike White
11:24
Still deciding. I think I like it. I'd like to see stats, but you're right. It might cut down on free throws. But that's not the rule that needs looked at. I've seen games again this year. I think it's totally stupid Pa. doesn't have shot clock. I'm serious. I'm one of the ones who think it would make games better. If you're down six without a shot clock and two minutes left - and without 1 and 1's, you're pretty much cooked. I've watched a few high school games with a shot clock this year. Much better.
11:28
As for shot clock, I understand a little about schools worrying about the cost and you have to have people to run clocks. That costs some money and I know there aren't a lot of people who want to help out these days. But if that's the reason you use, then Pennsylvania should just make a rule now that says, "Pennsylvania high school basketball, no matter how silly it sounds, will not have a shot clock until at least the year 3000." Why should you have rule? Because guess what? It cost money to have a shot clock 20 years ago. It cost money to have a shot clock now. And it will cost money 20 and 40 years from now. So with that excuse, Pa. will never have one. Why are other states able to manage it?
WPIAL Guy
11:28
Best atmosphere of any high school basketball game you've covered in the last 5-10 years?
Mike White
11:29
Probably semifinals of WPIAL playoffs or state playoffs. I love semifinal basketball.
Buckets!
11:29
Who wins: WPIAL Boys 6 A champ or Iowa Women?
Mike White
11:30
Well it's not a great year for 6A boys and Caitlin Clark still might put up 40 against a 6A team. But still go with WPIAL 6A champ --- and it might not be even close -- unless Clark can somehow score 50 or 60.
Fix it
11:30
You think the Governor steps in and cleans house at the PIAA ?
Mike White
11:37
The Governor won't. A legislator (Rob Matzie) has called for state legislature to look at how PIAA is run and makes decisions. Is it grandstanding? I don't know. I do know he's on Aliquippa's side. This is just me. But I think all of this controversy could be stopped, and people would be happy, if there was just a rule that said, a team can't be moved up more than two classes of its enrollment. Regardless of whether team chose to play up. Or if you choose to play up, you can't be bumped up more than one classification of where you are playing.
Bias
11:37
Do you think the PIAA has a bias against the Western side of the State ?
Mike White
11:37
No, not as a whole. But some people on that board might.
15010
11:37
Central Valley was technically forced up this past cycle with success points and transfers, but enrollment moved them up anyway. Did they have enough transfers to be forced to stay up or will they be allowed to return to 3A based on enrollment?
Mike White
11:39
They did not have enough success points to stay up and their enrollment drops them down to 3A for next two years.
Bunny
11:39
Does the PIAA encourage athletes or justify its existence?
Mike White
11:39
C'mon, man.
South Hills Fan
11:39
Which coaching job is more desirable, Mt. Lebo or South Fayette?
Mike White
11:40
Maybe the same. But I'd say maybe South Fayette.
Jonah beltz
11:42
hey mike, happy new year. Wanted to take a moment to talk about the Hillel heat. Coach Y has coached these boys into an elite team. One of the most underrated groups in the wipal(next to Allderdice) one of the boys on the team #24 Yussi is only a junior and is getting interest from some d2 schools. These boys could make some serious noise in the wipal. Have you been out to see a game yet? if not I suggest you do
Mike White
11:46
Well Jonah, will I be out to a game? Let me put it to you this way --- No. I'm sure the boys are trying but a couple of things. You say they are one of most underrated groups in WPIAL next to Allderdice. Well, Allderdice is not in the WPIAL. As for Hillel? They are 4-3. With wins over Propel Montour, Environmental Charter, Cornell and St. Joseph's. They just lost to Summit Academy and St. Joseph's. St. Joe's has one win. And Hillel, by gosh, lost to Winchester Thurston, 64-14. Sorry, but I need to point out some facts. You say they're making noise? Who is listening?
BIG-D
11:46
Any timeline on football conference alignment and schedules for next 2-year block?  Will 5A be 3 small conferences or 2 big ones?
Mike White
11:46
No idea yet. Probably January or February. But they do have to wait for PIAA brackets probably.
Wowzer
11:46
Is the collapse of USC's Girls team injuries or inexperienced ?  Or lack of talent ? Can they make the playoffs ?
Mike White
11:47
Well they did lose I think four starters. And one of the best players in WPIAL (Rylee Kalocay) is out for the season with a torn ACL. So I think maybe you can answer your own question.
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