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Mike White's high school sports chat: 08.31.21
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Mike White
11:44
I think Penn Hills definitely has some players, but they haven't played a game yet. Central's defense looks really good. 12-6 loss to Imhotep, which is really good. And this Central LB Anthony Speca? Geez, he's looking like he could be next big-time LB from here? He's now about 215 or 220. Put on about 30 pds since last year. Pitt, Penn State, Notre Dame and a few other offers. He's like a "throwback" middle linebacker. Has the looks of one tough dude, too. I really like him. But he's a great interview off the field. Insightful and humorous. Excellent speaker. Check out interview with him and teammate Donovan Hinish on our Varsity Xtra Podcast with myself and colleague - the West Mifflin Wonder Brad Everett. It's on our web site. Maybe you'll enjoy the Hinish and Speca part. Maybe you'll enjoy other parts, too. Or maybe it will turn your stomach. Let me know. There is some pretty good singing on this week's Podcast. It is becoming wildly popular.
Rick Sheidler
11:44
Bethel Park has lost 9 in a row going back to the 17-13 loss to Gateway in 2019. is the problem coaching, youth or just plain lack of talent?
Mike White
11:46
Right away when teams don't have success, people go to the coaching. I don't know. I didn't see Bethel play last year. Looking at scores, they have troubles offensively. They were shut out by Mt. Lebanon last week. But Lebo is very good.
Girty's Ron
11:46
If a school like Butler would want to rejoin the WPIAL could they be denied even though they are a member in other sports?
Mike White
11:48
No, the WPIAL would not deny them. Heck, it would be another team in 6A football and lord knows we could use teams in 6A football. The PIAA will realign again after this school year. It's based on enrollment and classes will be based on current students in grades 9-10-11. New classes will probably come out in December. There are only eight teams in WPIAL Class 6A football. I worry one or two more could be 5A next year. What if there are only six? Then again, that's premature on my part. You just don't know what enrollment cutoffs will be.
RScottPro
11:48
Hey guys. What are your thoughts on USC v Mount Lebo on Friday? I think it will come down to the wire
Mike White
11:48
I'll take Lebo by two touchdowns.
Nat
11:49
I'm a former Western PA graduate, now in Baton Rouge at LSU. I have been seeing Derrick Davis name pop up a lot here. I want to know your opinion about him. He has made some plays in practice and may get some playing time this year at LSU.
Mike White
11:51
Best college prospect in WPIAL Class of 2021. No doubt. We didn't pick him player of year because didn't have great, great year last year. Team played only six games. Can move, has great body on him. Was always a question among fans whether he should play RB or defense in college. I think defense is his best position. What position is he playing at LSU? I'm not surprised if he's doing well. You talk about potential. A lot of it is there with him.
SP guy
11:53
With the declining numbers in football esp in Western PA, what do you think will happen to some of these massive teams and smaller teams? NA keeps getting bigger, Avella/West Greene/etc keep getting smaller. I would love to see 1A-5A instead of the 6A division.
Mike White
11:55
Smaller schools will continue to have numbers problems. Some should merge with another school, but as I've said before, it takes two to tango. Some schools don't want to merge. Only from anecdotal evidence, but I think roster sizes at mid to larger schools have bottomed out and some are getting bigger. Again, just from talking to some coaches at 3A to 6A level in preseason, numbers are up at some schools. But smaller schools, it's still a problem. You are not going to get 6A go away. PIAA doesn't want it to go away.
Nat
11:55
He's playing safety at LSU. Running with the first and second teams. It's nice seeing so many Western PA people in this area, and even better getting to root for one of our own here!
Mike White
11:56
OK. Sorry, but I hadn't heard of Baton Rouge being a destination for a lot of Pittsburghers.
Girty's Ron
11:56
Is WPIAL football still considered to be upper echelon? We don't really have the amount of top D1 talent that we used to have in the past.
Mike White
12:01
I've written about this plenty of times in recent years. The last 10 years, and especially the past five, it's not anything that it used to be. When we're getting only anywhere from 5 to 8 or 9 Power 5 players a year, you know it's not anything like it used to be 30 or 40 years ago. You want some numbers? We had a total of 24 Power 5 recruits in the last three WPIAL-City League classes. In 2008 alone, we had 24. We had 26 in 2007 and 20 in 2006. We had 23 FBS recruits in class of 2021 and only 15 in 2020. In 1990, we had 50 FBS recruits from WPIAL and City. Enough said.
12:02
Well, that's it for now. Gotta run. More work to do. Trying to get birth certificates of Bishop Sycamore players. Everyone be good. We'll do this again next Tuesday at 11 a.m. to noon.
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