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Mike White's high school sports chat: 06.16.20
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Mike White
10:59
Well, the high school sports season would've wrapped up last Friday with the state baseball and softball championships. Of course, it didn't happen because of COVID19. But we can still talk high school sports. Still plenty of subjects to discuss. Let's go.
D9 Dave
10:59
Your thoughts about the PIAA's adoption of a 2 game suspension for coaches and players ejected from games?  Seems a little harsh and unfair particulary for sports with less contests.
Mike White
11:00
I have no problem with it at all, except for football. I still think two games is too much for football because they have only a 9- or 10-game regular season. That's a lot, compared to, say, basketball, which has a 22-game regular season. I would've liked to have seen maybe a 1 1/2 game suspension in football.
11:03
But getting back to the two-game suspension rule. I know the PIAA says football ejections are rising. I go to a game every week and have for years. Honestly, I don't know if I've seen exactly a number of ejections for vulgar or abusive language to an official - or another opponent. Maybe taunting, etc. I don't think the two-game suspension rule will come up often in football.
D9 Dave
11:03
Seems the PIAA didn't want the responsibility of issuing sports specific guidelines for the return of off-season workouts having the schools come up with their own plans to be approved by their own school boards.  Do you think the PIAA will leave it up to individual schools as to whether or not they choose to play football in the fall?  If so, I would think you may see some schools not willing to undertake the risk and costs of playing.  Your thoughts?
Mike White
11:06
Totally disagree with you Dave. You don't see the NCAA giving mandatory guidelines to colleges for returning to practice. You don't see a conference handing out mandatory rules for return to practice. I have no problem with what the PIAA did, putting the onus on the schools. Schools everywhere are so different in terms of resources, manpower, facilities. I agree that a "one size fits all" approach wouldn't be the best idea. It's better off leaving it up to schools.
11:09
Also to D9 Dave. Of course it will be up to each individual school whether they will want to play. PIAA can't force them to play. But as it stands right now, with the way things are, I see no way a school will not participate in athletics in the fall. Too much pressure from parents, etc., to play. Could things change? Most certainly. What if, say, 15 players from a football team suddenly test positive? Maybe the team shuts down for a little. But those are "what if" scenarios. I think we can just go by "right now." And for now, I don't see any schools not participating.
Georgia Steeler
11:10
What High School sports have the best chance of having a season , let alone a close to normal season. ? I'm thinking Golf (don't know how many schools participate)  Also baseball might do well. thanks.
Mike White
11:12
Yeah, I think it's pretty safe to say golf will have a season no matter what. Baseball? That's a year away. Do you know how things could change in a year? As I said above, I think we can only go by the situation right now. I think all sports will start in the fall. I expect there to possibly be limitations on crowds at football games, but I expect them all to start. But again, if this state all of a sudden has a gigantic increase in cases, hospitalizations and deaths, then all bets are off.
Rams Fan
11:12
Saw your article about championship football games at Heinz. Seems like if 1a-5a teams play that weekend for WPIAL championship, they will have a bye before PIAA semi's. I didn't think that was ok anymore?
Mike White
11:17
You are talking about the new PIAA brackets, which will affect the WPIAL championships. The new brackets have the WPIAL Class 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A and 5A champ going to the PIAA semifinals first weekend in Decemeber. The WPIAL 6A champ goes to the PIAA quarterfinals Nov. 27-28. The WPIAL has Heinz Field reserved for championships either Nov. 20 or 21. I don't think all six WPIAL finals will be played that weekend. I think only some of them. Four at the most. Yes, WPIAL teams could have an off week (bye) after WPIAL finals. PIAA talked about wanting to eliminate any byes after district championships, but they never did anything about it. They never passed a rule. Honestly, I don't know they could. You can't tell a district when to play its championship and how many teams to have in district playoffs.
Guest
11:17
Enjoyed wpial baseball pieces touting the Shaler PIAA champs and the MLB draftees of that team
Mike White
11:21
I think that Shaler 1980 is still the greatest team in WPIAL history. Two players drafted in top nine rounds - Doug Maggio and Wayne Schucket. No other WPIAL team had that in history of draft. Three others from that Shaler team drafted in top 25 rounds out of college - Matt Stennett (also played football at Pitt), Rich Schlieper and Chip Peluso (RIP Chip. He passed away suddenly earlier this year). On top of that, I think Ken Karcher would've been a draft pick also, but he was a QB who had football scholarship to Notre Dame. On top of that, the 1980 Shaler team had Tom Weider (excellent career at U. of Maryland), Ed Bodner played at Pitt and Tiger Walsh at Kent State. What didn't that team have?
Guest
11:22
I think that it would have been an appropriate nod to recognize the 1980 teams of Swissvale High, who won the WPIAL
Mike White
11:23
Nice accomplishment. But we can't do a story on every champion. Plus, neither came close to a state title that year. Now that would've been worthy of a story.
Guest
11:23
Any word on who submitted bids for PIAA basketball championships?
Mike White
11:24
PIAA didn't announce that yesterday. I'm sure Hershey still did.
Dee
11:24
Have you heard of schools having basketball workouts as of yet? Seems like that is a tough sport to "socially distance"
Mike White
11:27
Teams will start basketball workouts as soon as school board allows. It's up to the school to come up with rules and suggestions from outlets such as NFHS and UPMC are to start workouts in stages. Talking to basketball coaches, they might start with a workout of maybe 10 players. You could put two to a hoop and do drills that way. But you're also going to see teams not worry at all about social distancing. They will be scrimmaging 5 on 5. Heck, some "all star" or "AAU" teams were playing games in Western Pa. area this past weekend. So, it's "game on" for some.
Bud
11:30
Were there any “ethics” or “moral” considerations when naming the PG Athlete of the Year? Morton says / does all the right things and deserves it.  Another presumed finalist maybe hasn’t been an angel
Mike White
11:33
No. Our high school sports staff voted. Michael Carmody of Mars was the other top candidate. You could definitely make a point for Carmody. He's deserving also. But I can tell you Morton was the unanimous pick.
Bizzee Bee
11:33
Is it true that Buddy Valinsky is looking at becoming a baseball coach?
Mike White
11:36
Yes, he's hoping for a Major League job. Team hopes to play "Buddy Ball."
11:39
Surprised no questions yet about open basketball coaching jobs. Well, Pine-Richland has second interviews this week. Penn Hills hopes to name a coach June 29.
GO
11:41
What ramifications would there be if the WPIAL chose to end football at the individual classes WPIAL championship games and not participate in the PIAA State Championship. If there is any concern associated with Eastern PA teams and COVID-19, this may be a great compromise.
Mike White
11:43
I don't know of anyone in WPIAL hierarchy right now who does not want to participate in the PIAA playoffs. What ramifications would there be? Not sure of that because it's never happened before. But these are certainly strange times in the world, so you never know.
Indians Fan
11:47
Any names we would know in the running for either Penn Hills or Pine?
Mike White
11:49
Bob Petcash is one of the top candidates for Pine job. He has been an assistant coach there. His sons have been very good players. He wants the job and I think he has decent chance to get it - and that would be good for Pine. Former Vincentian coach Tim Tyree also getting second interview this week. At Penn Hills, Chris Giles is one of the finalists.
‘T’ from Green Tree
11:51
Keystone Oaks has a pretty good QB-obviously, one player can’t carry a team-does he have any kind of supporting cast.
Mike White
11:53
You're talking about Logan Shrubb. Should be one of WPIAL's top QBs this season. KO did lose some players, but I see a few back also. Not sure what they have on the lines. They're in a conference that has only six teams. But two of them are Central Valley and Avonworth. Central Valley will be the No. 1 team heading into season and Avonworth won Class 2A last year. It won't be easy for KO.
11:54
Well that's about it for now. Thanks everyone, and look at a high school field in maybe a week or so and you'll probably see teams working out. And that's a good thing. Be good, everyone.
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