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Mike White's high school sports chat: 03.17.20
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Mike White
10:55
Happy St. Pat's day, everyone. Yes, there are no high school sports for right now. And it's questionable whether there will be a spring season. But we can still talk. Plenty to talk about. Let's be positive - and let's go.
WPIAL Fan
10:55
Hearing Tim Tyree to NA and McConnell to Baldwin
Mike White
10:57
We will hear a lot of things about those two jobs. I will tell you that it's very early in process for NA. Number of coaches probably will want that job. Here's a big thing, though: Will there be a job available with coaching job? That will be key for some applicants.
Realist
10:57
Will there be a WPIAL baseball preview?
Mike White
10:59
Well, Realist, we have planned for a spring sports preview for next Friday in the Varsity Xtra section. Rankings, players to watch for baseball, softball, volleyball. Also a track and field preview. We are going ahead with those plans and I would imagine we will go with it - unless by early next week it comes out that all spring sports are canceled. But unless we hear that, we will do it. It's worth previewing even if they start late.
fat boy
10:59
If spring sports are cancelled will the coaches still get paid?
Mike White
11:01
That's a good question, fat boy. I don't know for sure. Teachers are still getting paid. Then again, they are supposed to be teaching online. So they are working. If spring sports are canceled, coaches aren't working. I'm not sure what contracts say. Might be different school by school. Bottom line, I don't know the answer. Gives me something to check on.
fat boy
11:02
What is a better option for spring sports: cut the season short and eliminate a full section season or have everybody make the playoffs and eliminate the teams with a longer playoff schedule?
Mike White
11:09
It's hard to say without knowing when, or if, spring sports will start. If spring sports start, say, April 10, I think you could still play a full section schedule. But what if spring sports don't start until, say, first week of May. In that case, here would be an idea for baseball, softball: Give teams one week to practice. Starting May 8-9, every team plays each team in their section one time in seven days. Then have a double-elimination tournament in the section over a few days. The first and second place teams go to the playoffs. WPIAL and PIAA championships would then be pushed back. So what. If you can't play them at Penn State, and have to play them at different places, so be it. Wouldn't be the best, but at least it would be something. As for track, that's a different story. I don't know what you could do for track.
Colts Corral
11:09
Is it time for Danny Holzer to go ? One WPIAL title in 25 years. Not acceptable. That one title was one Sean Lee's coattails. Time to give Suzie McConnell a shot with the boys and send Danny back to being the Activities Director at the HS
Mike White
11:13
Woooo hoooo. What a comedy act you have. "Tip your waitresses. Try the veal." Ridiculous statement. First off, Holzer has won 2 WPIAL titles. So you're wrong right off the bat. And sure, get rid of a guy who is good for the school, good for kids, has won more than 420 games in 25 years (17 wins a year), made the playoffs 21 times, won seven section titles (in a tough section), made it to at least the WPIAL quarterfinals 14 times. Yeah, great idea.
Fayette CTY
11:14
2nd year in a row Uniontown has smacked Ringgold twice but they get to go to states? Messed up
Mike White
11:16
You can thank the "follow the leader" system the WPIAL uses. I don't like it, but if you lose in the quarterfinals of the playoffs, I don't know if you really can complain that much. Myself, and many coaches, would rather have "playbacks" for the PIAA playoff berths. The way it is now, you might not be a good team and might be the No. 8 seed. Then you lose to the No. 1 seed in the quarterfinals. The No. 1 seed wins the championship, which pulls the No. 8 team into state playoffs. WPIAL had "playback" games for two years a few years ago. Then stopped. I know coaches wish they would do them again.
Fayette CTY
11:16
Better Basketball job? Peters or Baldwin?
Mike White
11:18
If you just go by what team has won more and been in the playoffs more over the past 25 years, Peters Township is certainly better. But you can't go just by that.
Fayette CTY
11:18
With Vincentian closing does that mean most of their kids go to N Catholic? NA?
Mike White
11:21
FayetteCTY, here's the scoop: If those Vincentian kids go to a public school, they must go to the school where they reside. For example, Alex Griggs lives in Hampton. He has to go to Hampton. He can't go to North Allegheny because he doesn't live there. There are, from what I understand, some NA players at Vincentian. However, those Vincentian kids can go to any private/Catholic school that they choose - and be eligible. They also could go to a charter school (which is actually a public school). But you can't go to a public school where you don't live.
fat boy
11:21
If you believe in momentum what basketball team from the WPIAL do you think will be hurt most if they do decide to finish the PIAA playoffs?  I would say Butler found a groove with all of the come-from-behind wins.
Mike White
11:22
Maybe. But look at it this way. Ethan Morton had badly sprained ankle. Now that will heal. Everyone will be in the same boat, if state basketball ever resumes. I don't think anyone will be at an advantage or disadvantage with layoff.
PT Hoops
11:23
Did you Peters Township is looking to hire Tim McConnell
Mike White
11:25
I wish I had a dollar over the years for every time someone said to me, "I hear Tim McConnell is getting the xxxxxxx job." I can tell you this. Tim McConnell has not interviewed for the Peters Township job and is not seeking it.
Fayette CTY
11:25
same story every year Fox Chapel deeded way higher then they deserve because cupcake section. They would’ve barely made playoffs in south or north section.
Mike White
11:27
First off, give Fox Chapel some credit. They have had some good teams over the years. Zach Skrinjar has done a fine job there. Secondly, I agree that they shouldn't have been the 2 seed this year. I contended they should've been 4. Thirdly, their section was weak this year. But in the end, they still have a very good program. Just haven't figured out yet how to win many playoff games.
fat boy
11:27
Danny Holzer is underappreciated.  Shame on you colts corral. They got stopped by the most talented team in the WPIAL in  both district and state playoffs.
Mike White
11:27
Amen.
Colts Corral
11:28
Only 2 titles in 25 years is not that impressive. And when was the last time he won anything ? Not saying he isn't good for the school but USC can do better. Give someone else a shot
Mike White
11:28
Are you in quarantine?
Joe
11:28
How do you you see the rest of the state playoffs playing out? Would PIAA just end the season as is or wait it out and play the games at some point even if it’s May/June?
Mike White
11:33
No one can predict what will happen. Like I wrote in story, it ultimately is up to Governor's office and if they order shutdown of things. Me personally? I'd wait forever. Heck, play in late May or June if you have to. Why not? I've heard people say players would need one to two weeks practice before they play a game. Give me a break! They're kids. Heck, Aliquippa kids and others finish football season one day, and play a basketball game two days later. I'd give them three days of practice. Then do like Indiana does. Bring four teams to a site on a Saturday for the quarterfinals and semifinals. Play two quarterfinal games at 11 and then 12:30. The two winners come back to the same place at 7 that night and play. The winner goes to the state championship maybe 4 days later. And if the championships have to be at a high school gym, so be it. It might not be the prettiest basketball, but so what. Ask all the teams. Would you rather we cancel state playoffs or play them over a brief period of time in late springl
11:34
I've also heard that if you play basketball playoffs in May, it would interfere too much with spring sports. Again, give me a break. That can be worked out. I have a hard time imagining a baseball player who is a starter on the basketball team not wanting to play baseball and practice and play basketball for maybe a week.
D9 Dave
11:35
With the CDC's announcement that there should be no gatherings of 50 or more for at least 8 weeks which takes us to mid May, don't you think this spells the end of the PIAA basketball playoffs and spring sports?  Would it be better for the PIAA to make an announcement now rather than leaving people in limbo?
Mike White
11:38
The PIAA has said it is waiting to see what the Governor's office says. I would say two things: 1. It would be nice if in the next few days, the PIAA and the Governor's office makes some kind of statement one way or another. 2. It's just me, but I think the PIAA and Governor's office should say, we are not canceling anything yet. We are going to wait and see where things are by early April. Like I said above, I think you can still do things starting in May. What would it hurt to wait?
Zman
11:38
Curious Mike for your preview sections, especially football which is the most detailed, how do you guys gather information to have a sense who top top teams and players in each conference will be? Send questionnaires to each coach? Speak to couple coaches in each conference to get their opinions, etc?
Mike White
11:41
We do a number of things for previews. We send out questionnaires for some coaches for some sports. We look at them. But basically, we do talk to some coaches. But the biggest thing is looking at what a team did in the previous year, and do they have many starters or returnees? Traditions matters also. Let's talk football, for example. Thomas Jefferson lost a number of key players from this year. But I think you're pretty safe putting Thomas Jefferson in the top three teams again for next year. Don't you think?
Hoop fan
11:41
Do you think tyree can handle the job at a big school such as NA? Sure did a lot for vincentian these last couple years
Mike White
11:43
Why not? Coaching at North Allegheny is much different than Vincentian, for sure. Different things involved. But just because you are at a small, private school doesn't mean you CAN"T coach at a big school. It certainly is nice to have players, no matter what the level. For some reason, better players make better coaches.
fat boy
11:43
Hey, Colts corral.  USC isn't playing in a vacuum.  There are a ton of great teams, coaches, and programs in 6A.  If you win one district championship in your career it is a huge accomplishment.  The mindset that USC can do better makes me laugh.  I can make a argument that some of the best coaches in the WPIAL have never won a championship.  Stick to watching the games... wannabe.
Mike White
11:43
OK.
D9 Dave
11:43
Since you are a junior high basketball coach yourself, I would be interested in your take on the biggest changes in high school coaching that you have seen over the past 10 years?
Mike White
11:48
Are you talking just basketball? I'd have to think about it, but I'd say a few would be the 3-point shot becoming more and more popular; more kids going to personal trainers; the Euro step (ha ha); more schools popping up around the country that are just "basketball schools." Some of them are fly-by-night "schools" and some kids think they are better off there.
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