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Mike White's high school sports chat: 09.19.23
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Coach K
11:34
Don't overlook Bethel Park in 5A.  Three losses to 6A teams (should have beat Lebo)
Mike White
11:35
There's a number of 5A schools that shouldn't be overlooked because I think a number of the teams are fairly even.
Shambles
11:35
Chartiers Valley isn't gonna have its stadium until the end of the month after it was supposed to be ready at the start of the year. The Football program is the laughingstock of the WPIAL at this point and this stadium fiasco just adds to it. Have you ever seen a program have as disastrous a year as this one ?
Baldwin Demise
11:35
Hey Mike, I'm an old timer and remember the halcyon days of Baldwin football. Why do you think once-storied programs like these go down the tubes so hard? It's not like they've lost population, it's still a big school. Don Yanessa must be spinning in his grave
Mike White
11:36
Yes, when teams go winless and are whipped every game. This isn't something new. I have no idea about the stadium story.
Pryor Auth
11:36
As we've seen from the mess a certain QB from Pine Richland has been at the college level, I maintain the WPIAL hasn't produced a decent QB at the D1 level since Terrell Pryor. Am I wrong ?
Mike White
11:42
Funny you bring this up. I was just thinking other day about looking up who was the last QB to start at a Power 5 school before Jurkovec. Ben DiNucci did start a few games for Pitt. Perry Hills from Central was class of 2012 and became a starter at Maryland. Seneca Valley's C.J. Brown was class of 2009 and also was a starter at Maryland. Class of 2008 had Pryor and Central's Tino Sunseri (Pitt). That's it. But heck, number of Power 5 recruits from WPIAL at any position is way down in past 15 years.
Z
11:42
Why are there fewer and fewer WPIAL football kids going Power 5?
Mike White
11:44
Good question. I've done the story on how numbers have dropped drastically past decade or so. I don't have the answer. People say population. No way. Population isn't all that much different than early 2000s. Yes, it's way different than the 70s. But honestly, I don't have the answer.
Panther
11:44
Mike other than the regular stars at PCC, who else is playing well and standing out?
Mike White
11:44
Do you mean about Central or other schools?
WPIAL Lifer
11:44
Any word if Monessen has suspended or expelled players in wake of recent in-school fights? 28-0 home loss to Bentworth suggests they were far less than full strength last Friday.
Mike White
11:44
Sorry, but I have no idea.
Game of the Century
11:44
Mike did you happen to see the tweet from NA where they referred to Central as the Western PA Vikings? It made me LOL. Kind of crazy for a team to just stir the pot like that.
Mike White
11:46
Yes, I saw it. Came from NA's Twitter football account. I wonder who runs that account? But it was taken down pretty quickly. Adds a little to Friday's game, right? Although I doubt if Central really cares at all.
IndiansFan827
11:46
I read your chat about Parham leaving NH a few weeks ago.  I know the season hasn't started yet but how do you think they will do this season without him?  It seems it will be tough in 5A to make a run without him.
Mike White
11:47
Obviously they will be drastically different without him. Here's a team to watch in 5A this season: Moon.
KAH
11:47
Cam Lindsey seems to be having a really nice senior year for the mighty Quips. Do you think or know if he will enroll early at Pitt? Seemed to really help a guy like Lovelace from Leechburg. (Although expectations may be a little different coming in)
Mike White
11:48
I don't know if Cam will enroll early. I know he is an all-section basketball player for Aliquippa. Purely a guess, but I would think he might like to play his final year of hoops. That's just a guess. I like Cam. He is having a good year. Even running the ball some. Needs some more weight play that LB position at Pitt, but he can put that on.
traveler
11:49
Mike, the whining about Catholic/Private schools is getting tiresome.  North Allegheny & Pine Richland have stadiums and athletic budgets that put LaRoche to shame.  Central doesn't have a home field or community support.  I'd say things kind of even out
Mike White
11:52
Please. Athletic budgets or stadiums have nothing to do with this. I like a lot of the Central people. I really like some of their seniors I've gotten to know. But please don't think things are even. Central isn't breaking the rules, but their four Power 5 recruits are from South Fayette, Norwin, Mars and Steel Valley. Two other kids with power 5 offers are from Canon-McMillan and Aliquippa. You're off your rocker if you don't think they don't have an advantage of being able to take kids from anywhere.
Central Skeptic
11:52
Hey I'm not bitter. And yes lebo got stomped—by legs that look molded by performance enhancing drugs...which PIAA DOESN'T TEST FOR. And Mr. white doesn't seem to care to investigate!
Mike White
11:53
Sure, I'm supposed to go a school and demand drug testing of athletes and then demand to see the results. Thanks, Mr. Brightness.
11:54
That post may be the most ridiculous thing said on this chat in years. I shouldn't have even posted your comment. Shame on me.
Coach O
11:54
Quips new stadium is tremendous. But once again, atmosphere and ambiance greatly reduced by stands on only one side of field. Let’s look at trees or an empty field across from us. Exciting. Is it just me or does this bug you or other people?
Mike White
11:56
I take it you might know me or heard me talk about this before. I had high school stadiums with seats on only one side. Yes, it bugs me. Ha ha. But in Aliquippa's defense, there really isn't much room on that other side once they took the condemened bleachers down. There's a hill. I'm sure it would've cost another pretty penny to seats on that side. I don't even know if it would've been possible after they put up the scoreboard.
Confessions of a Concessions Stand
11:56
If you are given a cheese option on the burger at a game, who you going with?  American (the traditional go to), Cheddar (Mild or Sharp) or are you throwing out a wild card and going with something a Pepper Jack or Provolone, or Swiss?
Mike White
11:58
Oh, best question of the week. Depends on my mood. If it's a big crowd, I'm all jacked up and going Pepper jack. Otherwise I'm sticking American. But wait. I have yet to be at a high school refreshment stand where you get a cheese option. I'm just trying to play Ketch-up on this. .... Wooooo hooooo. I'll be here all week. Try the veal. Tip your waitresses.
WPIAL Lifer
11:59
Just adding 2 cents to the question above regarding lack of Power 5 QB's-recruits locally. From QB perspective, football has evolved to the point where spread offenses, RPO's and overall development favors the southern-western climate. As early as midget leagues, those kids are outdoors year round getting schooled on the offenses that most colleges now run. Plus, the population has followed same path. But, one would think that WPIAL could still produce plenty of Power 5 lineman-linebackers and others.
Mike White
12:01
Sorry, I disagree with you some. With all these indoor training places now, QBs are going everywhere to train. They have personal trainers. And so many high school teams, especially bigger schools, have workouts on their field starting in the spring. It's like they have spring ball. And a lot of them, starting when school lets out, go 4 days a week with workouts at their field, some for 3 hours a day. There is plenty of practice and time for skill guys.
Z
12:01
Any thoughts on why high school Football coaches can swear at their players but no one else can? It is amazing some of the things you hear HS football coaches yelling at their players (I'm thinking of both some legends and some newbies) with the ADs standing just feet away - nothing is done. Then a coach in a lesser sport gets reprimanded for saying the same or less.
Mike White
12:06
Thank you, Z. Great comment. Honestly, it bothers me, too. You know how coaches gather their teams around them on the field and address the players after the game? There are all kinds of people around, too. It amazes me how much cussing some coaches do, within earshot of many people. And then the players fall right along. And don't kid yourself, there is plenty of cussing with some basketball coaches also. I've been to numerous practices at Division I college basketball over many years. The language is incredible. I've asked some coaches about this. They say it's what the kids are used to hearing. It's their world. But can't coaches maybe try to show that you can be an upstanding man without constantly cursing kids out or dropping F bombs left and right.
12:09
About the earlier point on cursing. I will tell you a story about a college basketball coach locally from a few years ago who had a former star WPIAL on his team. I went to practice and was amazed at how there was pretty much no bad language. I said to the player after, "Wow, it was kind of nice to watch a practice without all kinds of cussing." The player said, "Yeah, imagine that. He actually treats us like human beings." Enough said. I've been to college practices where I'd be ashamed of myself later if I talked like some talk. One of the reasons you gotta love Westinghouse coach Donta Green. You swear, it's 25 pushups on the spot. Including coaches.
12:10
Lastly, I understand dropping some "F" bombs here and there when you're a coach. But it's really bad at some places. And does it have to be that way? What are you showing the kids?
12:11
OK, ehough of the lecture. This is the end of the chat. I swear.
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