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Mike White's high school sports chat: 09.26.23
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Mike White
10:59
Like Kenny Pickett and the Steelers offense, we promise a better chat this week. Getting me on the move out of the pocket, enables me to deliver more great comments on the run. So let's get started.
Guest
10:59
Seems to be an excellent central team!!! they win 6a piaa chip? Gateway getting healthy.....who is your mid season selection to take 5a wpial chip?
Mike White
11:02
Ahhhh, yeah. Central is pretty good. Do they win the state? Well, let them get through WPIAL first. You know that NA game was tied midway through the second quarter, but Central definitley the better team overall. As for 5A, I, along with many others, said it was undoubtedly the best class at the beginning of the season, as far as depth of quality teams. I take that back. 5A isn't as good as year's past. But Peters Township is unquestionably the best team right now. And maybe we shouldn't be surprised. Whole defense was back from last year and many offensive players. Three shutouts in five games. Pretty impressive in 5A.
Jeff
11:02
Mike Peters really dominated USC and now is the favorites in 5 A. Gateway is back IMO with Birch at QB. Shaler got throttled by Franklin - WOW ! Do you think Penn Hills or Pine Richland can challenge Peters ?
Mike White
11:03
Of course someone can challenge Peters. Peters is good but they aren't the Steelers of the 70s. Gateway is only 2-3 but has their two playmakers back. Coaches can talk all they want about how it's "next man up." Hogwash. Not when it's maybe your two best playmakers and the guys behind are nowhere near the same.
Jeff
11:03
TJ is looking to be headed for a Showdown with the Quips in 4 A ....bring on the playoffs
Mike White
11:04
Certainly looks that way. And how about TJ winning with the two QB system. Kosko and Evans I think combined for around 300 yards passing last week. It's the BROKE system (Brody and Luke combined). And if it's BROKE, don't fix it.
Jack
11:05
I read Ringgold has a 20 game losing streak and thats currently the longest in the WPIAL.   What happened there?   From when that school was formed in early 70s until 2000 or so, they were good, some really good players and teams.   Now they get blown out every game.   What a shame.
Mike White
11:06
This ain't Joe Montana's Ringgold. Or even Scott Henson, when they won WPIAL title. It really is something what has happened to a once pretty good program. What has happened? I really don't have the answer. But it has happened to other teams as well.
Coach O
11:06
What position do you think best suits Quinton Martin at Penn State? It will be oddly ironic to me if it’s running back considering he almost never gets more than 10 carries a game now. I understand it doesn’t matter in most of their games but against top flight competition like TJ the other night or Aliquippa couples years ago, games they lost, kid should have had the ball 25-30 times, not 10. I don’t buy it’s because they’re keying on him. Every 5,000 rusher in WPIAL history was keyed on. Still got their yards.
Mike White
11:08
He was recruited as a running back. That's one of the reasons he went there. He wants to play RB and I believe he can. But I admit that it is a little strange that he doesn't get the ball that much, especially this year. But we don't know what's going on. Could he be banged up a little. Plus, I had an interesting conversation with Coach Matt Humbert this summer about this. He said it's just not the way they operate their offense, giving one person 20 touches a game. It's his belief. And it has been successful. Plus, he said come the big games in the conference or the playoffs, Martin's touches will go up. It did happen last year. And it's hard to argue with Humbert's success.
Ike from Irwin
11:09
Mike - great article last week about football participations numbers being up. This should come to no surprise to anyone that has been paying attention to the parity that now exists in the WPIAL, ever since the expansions from 4 classifications to 6. Schools or football programs that once lived for decades in the basement of their conference and class are now competing. Just ask districts how their youth numbers increased as their high school programs success increased (young players started going to the high school games and want to be a part of that). Your article delivered positive news and the WPIAL should look at their decision to expand to 6 classes as the reason or catalyst. The only exception to this rule is obviously Catholic and private schools that can recruit, there is no reason these programs should not/will not continue to dominate opponents that are fielding teams with kids only from their communities.
Mike White
11:12
Central will continue to dominate, even after this year. Not all Catholic schools do, though. As far as six classes, I agree with you. I am indifferent to six classes. No doubt it has watered things down and made 6A in WPIAL extremely boring with only five teams. But what people do fail to realize is what you said. It has helped some teams that struggle year after year to be more competitive and sometimes have a memorable season. Look at all the teams in WPIAL with turnaround seasons this year. If there were only four classes, they all wouldn't be having this much success. Six classes are here to stay. PIAA is not getting rid of it. I just hope something is done with 6A in WPIAL. Maybe combine with 5A for the regular season and break out for playoffs. Or heck, have 5A and 6A together in playoffs. The team that goes furthest in 5A goes to the state playoffs.
Small Ball Fan
11:12
Is it me or does there seem to be a lot of parity in 2A football. Seems like this could be a year where anyone wins the WPIAL. Lots of big games left to play. Wash High has looked impressive. Steel Valley is well Steel Valley. Neshannock coming off 2 big wins including Beaver Falls. And there are other good teams as well? Who do you like in 2A and who are your sleepers?
Mike White
11:14
Without a doubt there is parity in Class 2A and that's not a bad thing. Makes things a little more exciting. I'm not convinced who the best team is in 2A.
Nate
11:15
What happened to South Park? Ranked, looking good, then fell off. Makes me sad.
Mike White
11:18
Well let me send you a box of tissues for your tears. C'mon. They were 3-0 but two of the wins were against KO and Brentwood, hardly two powerhouses. And the losses were against two of the better teams - Beaver and Avonworth. South Park is probably a middle-of-the-road team. That's not the worst.
Big Man
11:18
Funny to see Paul Zeise rather quiet on the NA-PCC dust up. He has been very outspoken about public schools whining about private school advantage, but his hometown does it, and he doesn't provide us with his oh so funny charm. Why so quiet now?
Mike White
11:20
I have not spoken to Paul. I know Paul doesn't want to hear the public schools complaining. But I think some of the back and forth last week between NA and Central was somewhat good-natured. But if it was good-natured, why did NA take down the Tweets a little after they were posted? And I don't think Central really cared.
Big boy pants
11:20
Mike, I saw the post last week about swearing around players. Sports are meant to prepare our kids for the real world. Newsflash buddy, adults swear. What do you want coaches to do? Give them a kiss on the cheek and hand them a widdle wollipop? They’re playing football, not patty cakes. I played high school ball in the big show, Texas, in the 70s and when I’d make a mistake I’d hear my coach yell “Hey butterball, is your brain smooth?” And people would laugh but I promise you: I never forgot my assignments and it made me a tougher, better man. Why is everyone pushing everything to be so SOFT now?
Mike White
11:27
Sorry, everyone's not as tough as you are. The comments last week were somewhat about high school coaches, but even moreso about major college coaches. You really think yelling at kids and calling them "Stupid expletives" on a regular basis is really needed? Or other cussing? Sure, you get upset and you can start dropping some curse words. Every coach does. But don't sit here and tell me that some coaches don't go way overboard with it. Yep, swearing and cussing makes you tough, right? Give me a break. I'm around teenagers a ton. Amazes me how they just cuss and swear, no matter who is around, even women. You think these kids have learned anything about respect? What's one of the biggest problems with teenagers nowadays? Go ask teachers and coaches. They don't respect anything. Where do you think they sometimes get it from?
11:29
I will always remember a story with former Mt. Lebanon coach Chris Haering maybe 15 years ago. Ask anyone who knew him. Haering was a good man who had a lot of respect. His team had just won at North Allegheny. I was interviewing him outside the locker room. His team started chanting in the locker room, using a number of cuss words I won't repeat. He stormed into the locker room. What he said was great. "Stop it! Who do you guys think you are? You think swearing makes you tough? It doesn't make you tough. You wanna show you're tough. Go do it on the field." Amen, brother.
USC Alum
11:29
Junko isn't the answer. They'll never win with him as head coach. This program has become the laughingstock of the WPIAL
Mike White
11:32
Ahhhh, the Mike Junko hater is back. Where have you been, in your cave? Yeah, it's the laughingstock of the WPIAL. They were in the WPIAL CHAMPIONSHIP LAST YEAR!!!! And they're 4-1 this year. You know who is a laughingstock? You on this chat. Please don't come back. But it's my fault. Why do I even post your absurd comment. I apologize to my millions of chat followers.
Carol
11:32
Dear Mr. Michael White, My son plays for the Canon-Mac Big Macs, and my nephew plays for the Northgate Flames. I noticed on the schedule that they don’t play each other. I’ve emailed the PIAA, WPIAL, and both schools about this. None have gotten back to me. I feel like it would be very good for the family if they played against each other. Would you be able to set this game up? It would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Carol
Mike White
11:33
Sure, maybe we can make Big Macs over the Flames on grill. Would that be OK? Why does this chat bring out the crazies and idiots?
Quips on Top
11:33
Hey Mike, with another win this week, Aliquippa moves to 4-0. They’ve shown for years that it doesn’t matter what classification they’re in, they're always gonna find a way to come out on top. They have the number of students equivalent to a 1A school but are likely the best team in the WPIAL. I remember someone mentioning that their 2021 4A state championship OL had a higher average weight than the Steelers OL. There isn’t even a 6A team that matches that. Is there any chance they’d ever schedule a week 0 game against a local FCS team? Obviously not a Power 5 school, but like a Duquesne for example. Think of the press/excitement around that game and I think Quips would shock the world.
Mike White
11:35
Once again, this chat brings out the idiots. All I will say is this. Aliquippa is NOT the best team in the WPIAL, regardless of class. Yes, they are really good for 4A. What do you think Central would do to them? Yes, they would be competitive in 5A, but they wouldn't be going to the championship every year in 5A. Not a knock against the Quips. How can you not love that program? But ask any coach with an IQ above 50 how different 5A and 6A football is than 4A?
Guest
11:35
PR vs NA score prediction
Mike White
11:35
North Allegheny by at least two touchdowns.
Guest
11:36
What has happened to New Castle football?  It is my understanding that several players left to play at other schools.
Mike White
11:37
They had some decent years under Joe Cowart. Were in WPIAL final when they had Geno Stone. Hard to figure out. But it happens. I could name other schools in WPIAL who were great decades ago and now look at them. Look at Butler under Art Bernardi. But they left WPIAL because they couldn't compete. There are others. It happens. If someone knew how to fix it, they would.
Place Your Bet
11:37
Now that HS players have NIL (I think, I could be wrong. You'd know better) how soon before somebody starts a gambling website for degenerates to gamble on HS sports ?
Mike White
11:38
There have been secret lines on some high school football games for years. I know it.
Joey
11:38
NIL money for some wpial guys has been rumored to be offered in the 7 figures from some colleges.  Who is demanding the highest number in the area?  How much does Pitt and PSU get for their top recruits?
Mike White
11:43
Don't know about exact figures Penn State and Pitt give recruits. I wrote a story about this a few weeks ago. Pitt and Penn State have a deal where scholarship freshman all start out with the same base amount from a collective. I've been told Pitt freshman football get maybe $1,000 to $1,200 a month. But there is opportunity to make more as years go by and also for top players. But I know one district basketball player who is very heavily recruited and I've heard the seven-figure amount floated with his name. We'll see.
Snoop
11:43
I know its football season but I can't help but wonder why the Western PA Vikings can't recruit better for their hoops team.  Thoughts?
Mike White
11:43
Not going there.
Inquiring Minds
11:43
So rumor has it the Pitt recruit from Aliquippa was at the White Out game. Do we make anything of that or is it just a kid at a college football game ?
Mike White
11:43
Who is it?
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