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Mike White's high school sports chat: 10.10.23
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Unnecessary
11:34
Hello Mike, how can you justify the Pine-Richland running back carrying the ball 56 times? That was borderline child abuse. IT’s especially egregious with all the research that’s gone into CTE. Why are you glorifying it with your article? Do better mike. What a shame.
Mike White
11:37
Oh, here we go. You're one of the people claiming child abuse. Do you realize offensive and defensive linemen bang EVERY DANG PLAY!!!! Seriously. If you're an offensive and defensive linemen, aren't you hitting someone every play? Nobody says anything about that. Abuse? Please. If a team ran the ball 56 times, what do you think Pillar would be doing on the times he didn't carry the ball on a running play? He'd probably be blocking. Read his comments when asked about people like you saying it was abuse. I thought it was great answer: “Football is optional. I signed up to play it,” Pillar said. “If 56 carries is what it takes to win, I’ll do it. It’s not abuse. It’s football.”
JP
11:37
TJ has a huge win at Belle Vernon and two weeks later lays a egg at Trinity. How does that happen?
Mike White
11:37
I agree, tough to explain.
11:40
And back to the person called "Unnecessary" who is claiming abuse because Pine-Richland's Ethan Pillar carried the ball 56 times. And you blame me for glorifying it with a story. Sure, a kid sets a WPIAL record doing something that has never been done before. And I let the coach and kid explain how it happened. And it's my fault for writing about it? Hey "Unnecessary," I think it's necessary for you to go back to bed.
Pants
11:40
I think HS enrollment is not a predictor or correlator of success in HS football.  Just bc you have lots of kids doesn't mean you're predisposed to wins.  you can cherry pick different schools who are good in one sport but bad in another...proof that enrollment is not correlated...  You need good players..that's the correlation. it's not a great look for butler to ask to go down, but it makes sense, competively...
Mike White
11:41
Most definitely. Look at Hempfield football. Big school. Hasn't done really anything in football for decades. Yet, they're good in other sports.
OaklandViking
11:42
Mike, every year there are reports and complaints that the "draw" or gate sales at The Ac are low for the WPIAL Chips. If this is the case, why would they take the two biggest classifications and make them go through the Sq Hill tunnel to a venue like Norwin? 5A and 6A have the biggest student populations, live in the biggest communities and simply draw better even at their regular season games. You may say its a scheduling issue and if so, then have 5A and 6A play at The Ac, these two classifications will draw more feet to the seats than 1A-4A combined. There are potentially more players in 5A and 6A than all the other classes combined, some 1A and 2A teams barely have enough to players to field teams. The decision to play 5A and 6A at Norwin (not a destination venue) was not well thought out. If 5A and 6A are not playing at The Ac, then they should be at Highmark, South Stadium, CMU or somewhere that is more of a destination for these programs that work so hard to get to their respective championships.
Mike White
11:46
I understand your point. But first off, it is a scheduling and state playoff scheduling issue as explained above. And let's start with this. There is no way the WPIAL wants to pay to use Acrisure for two days. They did it once. Just isn't cost effective. Pitt and Steelers schedules may also play a role. But I'm sure WPIAL thinks having four games there will generate still more attendance than just the 5A and 6A games. Plus, by having four games at Acrisure, you give more kids a chance to play at the place. But you do make a valid point. Maybe they should try 5A and 6A at Acrisure one year. Of course, then the other four classes will complain. As for Norwin, it is out of the way. North Allegheny would be the best site but they're most likely in it every year. No way for Highmark. Not big enough. Neither is CMU. There is no real good answer for this but I will say Norwin is a very nice stadium.
WPIALFAN
11:46
Top 5 WPIAL football teams since 2000? Not including 2007 Jeanette
Mike White
11:49
I'd have to think about it. Can't do right off top of head. Plus, are you talking teams in their own respective classifications. For example, Jeannette was tremendous in 2A, but they wouldn't be 4A state champ. The 2004 Central Catholic team and the Pine-Richland team with Phil Jurkovec in 2017 and the North Allegheny team of 2012 come to mind.
TM
11:49
Peters Twp. is having a good year and really has a dominate D. Is this team as good as it looks or is it because 5A is down more than anticipated this season?
Mike White
11:50
Both. Peters is good. Very good. And 5A is down.
Jeff
11:50
Golf AAA Central FC Peters are annual contenders
Mike White
11:50
Yes, I realdy said that.
LeboKid
11:50
Good morning, Mike. Hopefully you've been able to keep track of Alex Tecza and Eli Heidenreich at Navy this season. Both have had a major impact on the Navy offense, particularly Tecza, who leads the team in rushing (428 net yards) and TDs (3). Two terrific young men, as well.  GO LEBO!
Mike White
11:51
They sure are. It's great to see. Those two were underrecruited - and Bob Palko said so when those two were seniors.
Brah
11:51
Shaler boys golf, section champs, have a nice shot at a WPIAL title
Mike White
11:51
Good for them.
Brian M
11:51
Thanks for taking questions.  Do teams still share film...or in this current age, teams have film on just about everyone?
Mike White
11:53
There is not film "sharing." Just about everybody uses "Hudl" for their games. In other words, they're games are on internet platform. You just have to give other teams permission to watch. Hudl has been great. One of greatest inventions for high school sports. The company making boatloads of money.
Done for
11:53
So USC is basically screwed for the postseason after getting destroyed by BP. Is that what I am to gather ?
Mike White
11:53
They could be in trouble.
Tom
11:53
Hey Mike have you seen that  Cameron Epps Kid from South Allegheny they say the boy can play?
Mike White
11:54
Have not. Yes, he's doing well from what I see. Not real big, but apparently a player. Just saw his brother at fall basketball league game at LaRoche last Thursday. He's a freshman there. Likes it. Other brother I believe plays at Duquesne.
5ADevotee
11:54
What happened to The Fumbler?
Mike White
11:54
He's on strike.
Tim
11:54
Hey Mike how do you think South Allegheny basketball team will look without Bryce Epps?
Mike White
11:56
I think pretty good. I saw them in a fall league game against USC last week. I'm sure South Allegheny was probably missing a few football players. But they hung in. Have some talent. By the way, Upper St. Clair has a 6-8 junior (Robbins) who is getting D-1 looks. Has grown 3-4 inches since last year. Duquesne and Robert Morris have been at his practices.
5ADevotee
11:56
I feel sorry for the guys having to tackle Pillar 56 times in a game... not Pillar.
Mike White
11:56
Amen.
Josh
11:56
How do you see Central Catholic finishing the year? Pine ran it down their throats this past week and their opponents the next few weeks have strong running games, especially this week with Penn Hills' QB. From what I've heard, PCC's staff really struggled to adjust to stop the run
Mike White
11:57
I have no idea what Central's coaches did or didn't do. Central is still really, really good. But obviously not unbeatable, like many thought.
Guest
11:57
What do you make of Pine Richland's Oline play against Central Catholic?  CC had zero penetration to disrupt the run game despite Pine Richland only throwing 3 passes that i can recall.
Mike White
11:57
I would imagine it was pretty good.
WPIAL Willy
11:57
Noticed the RB from South Park is up on the rushing leaders list again, like last year.  But we don't hear much about his   recruitment.  Do they keep it quiet there, or is he just flying under the radar?
Mike White
11:57
You talking about Doerue? I don't know about his recruitment but I haven't heard about him being a Division I guy.
mr head
11:57
Mike do you think 6A will have 8 teams next year ? Peters, PR, Norwin , Hempfield could move up
Mike White
11:58
Hard to say. Can't predict what cutoffs will be. But if I had to guess, I think 6A might have 8 teams next year. But that's just a guess.
Jeff
11:59
Mike the PIHL Hockey Competitive Formula has worked OK over a few years. It misses on thing .....The facts are if you have developmental programs in School Sports you build numbers and this breeds success and wins and ultimately championships. Woodland Hills Football is still reeping benefits of George Novak;s efforts ! It's a culture of success tradition and hard work .....Aliquippa is another example
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