Mike White's high school sports chat: 11.10.26
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Mike White
11:01
Another beautiful Tuesday morning. And it's a beautiful time of the year. Class 6A and 4A semifinals in WPIAL football playoffs Friday and quarterfinals in all four classes. I've always said, semifinals in basketball and football are my favorite thing, more than the championships a lot of times. Some quarterfinal games are really good, too. .... But chat is now open. Let's talk.
11:02
Oh, and by the way, official start of basketball practice in PA is a week from Friday. Basketball recruiting news? Indiana's star 6-8 win Aaron Webb is going to make his decision tomorrow morning and sign with a college. I really don't know who it's going to be. He was Post-Gazette Player of the Year last season.
Single A football
11:02
I saw Monessen had 17 players vs Jeanette's 15 players in a playoff game last weekend. How much longer is single a football going to last? It is not good for the health of WPA football to have 30 of its schools playing in the lowest classification.
Mike White
11:06
I hear ya, but it's what we have in Western Pa. I don't see Class 1A going away. But you wonder when might some of these teams swallow and try to go into a cooperative sponsorship with a neighboring school? And this has nothing to do with sports, but I say there is too many schools in Western Pa. Too many small schools. You really wish some of these schools would consider folding. I get it, that there is pride in a school that has been around for a long time. But if you're graduating class is consistently around 20 or something like that, don't you have to take a look at things. Might be better educationally also to merge with someone. Anyway, I'm Just Sayin'.
Soda Popinski
11:06
What genius put Westinghouse on the Eastern side of the state playoff bracket?
Mike White
11:08
The PIAA has done this with western teams before. It's because of the inequality of number of teams in some classes in eastern and western part of the state. Westinghouse plays Karns City Friday at Cupples Stadium. I really feel Westinghouse has a decent chance to get to state finals again. Only way Westinghouse would play WPIAL champ is if they both make it to the state finals because WPIAL champ plays on western side of bracket.
Bald Bull
11:08
Time to go back to 4 classes for public schools and then seperate non boundary schools into a small school division 1A-3A and large school 4A-6A.
Mike White
11:10
Well Bald Bull, that is the thought of many people. But I don't know if I ever see that happening. The bill in the state concerning the PIAA having separate playoffs for public and private/parochial/charter schools passed the state House but is stuck in the Senate education committee. Probably won't be look at again until next year.
Beaver County Fan
11:11
I don't recall if anyone asked you to comment on this in the chat when it happened, but Joe Hamilton passed away during the season. I don't think the younger generation realizes how dominant Blackhawk football once was since, before this season at least, they hadn't been relevant for a long time. What are some of your recollections of Coach Hamilton and those Blackhawk teams?
Mike White
11:14
You are correct, Beaver County fan. Many of younger generation don't realize how good Joe Hamilton and Blackhawk was. He's second on WPIAL all-time wins list with 342. And man, Blackhawk football and basketball with John Miller - at one time they were both top programs in the state. My recollections of Blackhawk football? Them playing home games at old Northwestern school, which I think was right by a corn field. Always will remember the 91 Blackhawk team with Scott Weaver at QB, Kim Niedbala at receiver and DB. Scott went on to play QB at Illinois. They won WPIAL but lost to Strong Vincent, 27-26, in state semis.
11:17
More on Blackhawk. They won three WPIALs in a row in 1991-93 and just missed out on winning a fourth, losing to McGuffey and coach Frank Sworden at Three Rivers. 12-6 was final. I remember those teams with RB Pat Cutshall. Poor Joe lost to Berwick twice in state finals. First time was in 1992 when Berwick had Ron Powlus (QB), who I thought was a good bet to make the NFL. Powlus was so good. I remember his recruitment came to Notre Dame and Pitt.
Marko
11:17
Most shocking moment in wpial history?  Plum beating Penn Hills in 96, or finding out Cam Saddler is Dejuan Blair’s uncle?
Mike White
11:18
Oh Marko. That's a good one. I remember finding out in the early 2000s that Cam was DeJuan's uncle. I didn't believe it at first, but it's true. Cam used to say, they'd be out with some girls and DeJuan would say, "Hey, Uncle Cam" and it would ruin everything. I would say Cam being DeJuan's uncle trumps Plum beating Penn Hills in 1996. Ha ha.
Tim
11:18
Who’s ur favorite in hoops for wpial 5a and 6a
Mike White
11:19
Pretty easy in 6A - Upper St. Clair. In 5A, I'll go with New Castle.
Bob
11:19
When do the wpial basketball preseason overviews come out
Mike White
11:19
Two weeks.
Robert
11:20
Can state college beat central Catholic?
Mike White
11:22
No, no chance. They should forfeit if they are matched up in state playoffs. C'mon. Yes, State College has a chance. State College has been competitive in the state playoffs for a number of years. Some teams are better than others. But this one is undefeated. They beat a good Bishop McDevitt team 27-20 and a very good Harrisburg team, 42-20.
HSfan
11:23
Many are blaming the increase in blow outs on the 6 classifications. While there is some merit to that I believe the increase transfers are more to blame. Kids aren't going to their schools if their schools are struggling opting to go to a private school, or a near public school. This is creating leagues of haves and have nots.
Mike White
11:27
I hear you HSfan, but sorry. I have to disagree with you a little. Yes, some transfers hurt some teams. But I think more blowouts are for two reasons: 1. Just the style of high school football that is now played. Much more passing. Offenses more sophisticated and wide open. More passing means more incompletions and clock stopping. More time to score. 2. The six classes have definitely been a factor also. Look at the charts in the bigger story I did last week on six classes. I charted three weeks of games in five different years. Look at 2006. 29% were decided by 31 points or more when only four classes. This year, about half of all games in those three weeks decided by 31 points or more. Here's story and charts: https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/high-school-football/2026/11/06/wp...
Dave
11:27
Who gets left off Hopewell sports Mt Rushmore?  Tony Dorsett, Paul Pozlusny, Russell Shell, Bob Pompeani, or Stretch Armstrong?
Mike White
11:28
Oh man, Dave. Tough question. But I'll say this, Pomp's athletic ability is well known and unforgettable. He has to be on it.
Rasputin
11:28
Long time fan Mike.  Back in 2001 you did a preseason article on Tyler Palko and you said in the article that ESPN was filming him and his father for some type of documentary.  Did that ever air?
Mike White
11:28
Hmmm. I'm not sure about that. I don't know of any.
Wpial hoops unfiltered
11:28
With everything going on at Lincoln Park and Sewickley Academy regarding transfers and recruiting, why isn't anyone talking about Neighborhood Academy? I watched them play this weekend, and they have some serious talent. They're competing in 2A, but their roster looks capable of competing with just about anyone in the WPIAL. Are we holding everyone to the same standard when it comes to recruiting, transfers, and competitive balance in high school basketball?
Mike White
11:29
I know Neighborhood Academy gets transfers, but I don't know if they get them from other countries and other states like some other team around here.
Playoff fun
11:29
What upset surprised you the most from last week?  Woody losing to Armstrong?  Any prediction this week? 5A seems most primed- WA over North Hills TJ over Penn Trafford.
Mike White
11:33
Armstrong was probably biggest surprise to me. I saw Woody High early in year. They seemed to have a lot and I really thought they could challenge for a title. I guess Armstrong showed me. North Hills vs. West A. Palk vs. Kasper. What a matchup. Three years ago, I golfed with myself, Eric, Palk and Ralph Blundo. One of the most memorable rounds of golf ever. Just because of the banter -- and the competitiveness of everyone. Was tremendous. But Eric and Palk beat myself and Ralph. I had to go to a chiropractor immediately after because my back was in such bad shape from carrying Ralph. Still waiting for the rematch. As far as Friday, I think I'll take North Hills in a close one.
Who Do You Think
11:34
Greetings Mike. Which team do you think could spring an upset this week ? I am thinking TJ or Trinity. TJ always comes up big in the postseason and Trinity is well coached and sneaky good. Thoughts
Mike White
11:37
I agree with you about TJ. TJ and Penn-Trafford should be one physical game. I'll still take Penn-Trafford. I think TJ will have to come up with a few big pass plays to win. But sorry, Pine-Richland is a strong favorite, although kudos to the job Dan Knause has done again at Trinity. Deserves a shoutout. Did some good things at Cornell, then Char Valley and now Trinity. Trinity had won a total of three playoff games in school history before Knause. He has already won two in five years and won a conference last year.
4A Fun
11:37
I think the New Castle South Fayette game might be one of the better games this weekend. High scoring I think.
Mike White
11:38
New Castle seems to be peaking, especially QB Marino Graham. Love that kid. Unflappable on football field or basketball court. If he was bigger, I think he's be a Division I point guard in hoops. South Fayette is good, though. I think I'll go South Fayette, but a NC win would not be a surprise.
Gales of November
11:38
Edmund Fitzgerald Day Greetings Mike. Who had a worse mid November ? Woodland Hills or the Edmund Fitzgerald ?
Mike White
11:39
All I know is I still remember the melody of the song "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald." Is there a melody for "the Wreck of W-double O - D - Y."
Biggest Upset
11:39
What would you say was the biggest upset of the playoffs so far ?
Mike White
11:40
I'll still say Armstrong over Woody.
PA TODAY
11:40
I am sorry I stole your content without permission.
Mike White
11:40
And I'll let that comment go without any comment.
Interesting What If
11:40
So saw this on Facebook. Someone poised a question regarding the 1988 State playoffs. If USC would've played in them would they have been the first champions? They beat Central in the WPIAL but didn't go to State. In your interactions with Jim Render, has he ever talked about the school boards decision and if he wishes they'd have let them participate ?
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