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Mike White's high school sports chat: 10.22.24
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Mike White
10:55
Another great fall day in Western Pa. - so let's have another great chat.
10:58
This is final weekend of regular season for WPIAL football. Interesting this year in that WPIAL will decide wild card teams. In other words, opinions will matter. Some other interesting questions: Who should be No. 1 in 4A if Montour wins this week - Montour or Thomas Jefferson? Pine-Richland lost to 6A NA last week. Does USC or Pine get No. 1 in 5A? Should Clairton or Fort Cherry get No. 1 in 1A? If Avonworth would beat Beaver, would they have a claim to No. 1 in 3A? Let's start chatting.
The Bumbler
10:59
Any chance Central Valley, Beaver, and Avonworth all get byes in 3A Football bracket?  Seems like all 3 of them are in the top 4.
Mike White
11:00
Good question. I think it all depends on what happens with Beaver and Avonworth, and Elizabeth Forward and Mount Pleasant. If Avonworth wins, I think WPIAL might put Beaver at No. 5, provided EF beats Mount Pleasant. Then EF gets No. 4. But if Beaver would win, I think you could definitely make a point for all three getting top four seeds.
The Bumbler
11:00
Where is the love from Aliquippa for your Mike?  I read your chat last week and saw you apparently aren't allowed to talk to any Aliquippa coach or player?  What's up with that?  Are other PG reporters allowed to talk to them or have they completely blackballed the PG?  I can't remember a single "unfair" story you ever wrote about the school.  Seems really strange when they let all those independent "media" companies on the field that make videos of the kids and show the vulgar language in the locker room.  Will they talk to you in the playoffs?
Mike White
11:04
No, it's just they won't talk to me. It's the superintendent, Phillip Woods, who won't let coaches or players talk to me. He didn't like me writing about their transfers and some things I wrote during their court case. He even barred me from covering one of their home games. Wouldn't give me a press credential. Oh well. And yes, I've probably written a couple hundred stories on Aliquippa over the years. He can do whatever he wants, rightly or wrongly. Ask me if I've lost any sleep over Aliquippa not talking to me?
John Cougar Mellencamp
11:05
Glad to see Carlynton John Tortorea coach have some success there and get them in the playoffs.  He was run out of Quaker Valley a few years ago after building the progrm up only to see his team win the state championship a couple months later.  QV hasn't done anything since that.
Mike White
11:08
Yes, it is nice to see what John is doing. Not good what happened to him at Quaker Valley. Carlynton seemingly has a decent chance at a wild card. Great for them. Last time in playoffs was 2021. Wow!!!!!!
4A FBall Fan
11:08
What a wild one on Friday! 4A seeding hanging in the balance on West A vs. Montour this week. Question about Quippa eligibles though, according to WPIAL Meeting minutes over the past 4 or 5 months - Work (#6), Taylor (#25), Boykin (#29), Bailey (#34) and Miller (#22) are ineligible for playoffs. Is that still the case? Are you aware of any postseason waivers handed down by the WPIAL/PIAA?
Mike White
11:10
I don't know about all of those guys you mentioned. I do know Work and Taylor are not eligible for playoffs and neither is Miller. Not sure about other two. Work is a good player for them. Moon and Brooks are eligible, though, because they transferred after freshman seasons. Others are ineligible becuase they transferred after sophomore seasons.
Basketball
11:11
With the playoffs for football right around the corner, gets me thinking about basketball playoffs, Who would be your favorite, in 6A, 5A and 4A.
Mike White
11:12
6A is easy. Upper St. Clair, Upper St. Clair, Upper St. Clair. 5A and 4A I don't know if you can pinpoint anyone as a definite favorite.
Football Dude
11:12
Mike, ever any contact from the WPIAL about having you on the football committee?  Nobody sees more games than you.  Thinking you and Don Rebel could add alot to the discussion.
Mike White
11:13
Oh, c'mon. Someone from the stinkin' media on the selection committee. Well I never. No way the WPIAL would ever go for that. Besides, with games on TV every Friday and with Hudl, games are much more accessible to the members of that WPIAL football committee.
40stripes-retired
11:13
Mike, you tried to warn me.  I was all hyped in the early season about the NC Red Hurricanes.  You kept telling me "the jury is still out".  I should have listened.  After losing to the Quips, Montour, West A and Ambridge, the Canes can only hope to go out on a high note by beating Blackhawk on Friday and finish 5-4 with a no contest against Highlands.  Still, much improvement for the Canes.  1-9, 1-9 to 5-4 (or even 4-5) is a good step forward.
Mike White
11:14
Oh, 40stripes-retired, I hate to say I told you so, but I told you so. But hey, New Castle is much improved. Just not to a playoff team.
Pittsburgh Dad
11:14
Mike I noticed all of the publicity that Westinghouse is getting for playing a game with 11 players. The thirty or so kids that were suspended for fighting were being shouted out as good teammates. Why are we condoning their behavior? Shouldn’t we be highlighting the fact that the 11 only weren’t suspended because they were in on offense at the time and couldn’t be in trouble for leaving the bench? This isn’t Avella playing with a small roster. This is a brawl that ended a football game. Just have a hard time finding any positives in the situation.
Mike White
11:19
First off, who is condoning their behavior? Secondly, did you see video or know what happened? I saw a little video. Many of Westinghouse kids did leave sideline. That's a no-no. But it's not like there was this 50-player brawl. They all left the sideline because their teammates were in an altercation on other sideline. They should not have left the sideline. Westinghouse coach Donta Green admitted that. He was quoted in a story I did that he takes responsibility and they accepted whatever action came their way. He said his kids were wrong for leaving the sideline, but he said he was wrong for never explaining the rule to them. But let's not act like they were in some riot. They left the sideline and received a one-game suspension. End of story. The reason Westinghouse got publicity was because it is a little unusual for a team to play with 11 players.
Arthur V.
11:19
How do you think the selection committee takes in to consideration teams that had multiple postponements due to weather?  Looking at West Allegheny, playing for a section title vs Montour, but not solidly in due to 2 postponements of games both in which they were winning handedly.
Mike White
11:20
I'm sure that will be considered. I think even if West Allegheny loses to Montour, they get a wild card spot.
TM
11:20
Do all transfers, who are athletes, have to have hearing with WPIAL? Seems like I know of several who have transferred, but I do not remember anything about a hearing for them.
Mike White
11:22
No, not all transfers have hearings. In fact, most of the public is misinformed. Only a few transfers have hearings. Hearings come about usually when a school challenges the transfer. Schools must file transfer paperwork on athletes who transfer. Most athletes are made eligible based on paperwork. It's not uncommon for the WPIAL to have 50 athlete transfers to rule on at their monthly meeting. And maybe one or two are brought in for a hearing.
Tw
11:22
beating a ream 84-0, or 75-0, what does it prove?  Momma always taught, “Whar goes around, comes around.”  I realize some teams are terrible but rubbing their nose in it is not necessary.
Mike White
11:22
Agree.
Chief Powhatan
11:22
How's strong is Sharon's 8-1 record and will it have any problem with Brooke WV, Friday?
Mike White
11:24
I have heard Sharon is pretty good. Worthy of top 10 ranking in state. I have no idea how they will do against Brooke, WV. Have no idea about Brooke. I'm hearing Garth Brooks might be on the sideline for this one.
Wpial
11:24
Mr. White, is this USC team the best wpial team since 2021 Mt. Lebanon? They are crazy good
Mike White
11:25
No. That's crazy bad to even suggest that at this point. Why don't we wait until we see what happens in the playoffs before anointing them the best. USC is very good, but it's not like they have crushed everyone.
Chief Powhatan
11:25
Albert Gallatin is 5-3 and travels to Weir (1-6) WV, Friday.  Is A-G's weak schedule enough to get the Colonials a road win?
Mike White
11:26
"Weir High."
FootballO
11:26
Mike, I noticed that CV plays North Hills this week. 1. It's a really good non league game, but I do not like non conf games in last week of season. 2. Will CV or NH play anyone considering they are both in playoffs?
Mike White
11:27
I don't like non-conference games to end season, either. But it happens. I have no idea if both teams will play regulars entire game.
Slappy
11:27
Who is ineligible for the quips in the playoffs
Mike White
11:27
See above.
Chief Powhatan
11:27
Why doesn't West Greene keep Cameron WV as its season opener?  The schools are only 30 minutes apart.
Mike White
11:28
Because Cameron Diaz nixed the idea.
Pippa
11:28
How could Upper St Clair possibly get the #1 seed over PR? PR played #1 and #2 team in 6A. Beating the #1 team. Upper St Clair played weak Mt Lebanon. Not to mention the team PR played in Ohio on Week 0.
Mike White
11:28
We shall see. You can make a point for Pine getting No. 1 seed. You could also make a point for USC. USC would definitely play with Central, I think, and also NA.
The Montreal Screw Job
11:29
Any idea on how the WPIAL is gonna screw over USC this year ?
Mike White
11:29
Yes, they're making USC alum Sean Casey take over for Mike Junko.
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