Mike White's high school sports chat: 11.10.26
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Mike White
11:45
Oh baby. Yes, Jim Render has talked about that. Still can't let that go. But there were a number of schools in WPIAL that didn't believe in state playoffs so their school boards voted not to go. How ridiculous. That lasted a year. After they saw what happened to Upper St. Clair, everyone was in the next year. But how about the goofy playoff system the PIAA had back then. How goofy? Well, get this. Back then there was a points system and some teams didn't have to count playoff games in points. So get this: Greensburg Salem lost to Seneca Valley in first round of WPIAL playoffs. Seneca Valley lost to Aliquippa in WPIAL AAA final, but Greensburg Salem got to represent the WPIAL in PIAA 3A playoffs. Total stupidity. Greensburg Salem lost to Perry in state semis and Perry upset Berwick in one of the most memorable state finals.
Youth Leagues
11:45
I also believe the discrepancies in quality of youth leagues play a large part in the blowout dynamic. If you have a top high school football or basketball team nowadays, you probably have a healthy youth league.
Mike White
11:45
Partly true, yes.
X
11:46
I've been vocal about Crampa not playing, but I did go watch him (thx for the suggestion) Friday night. He didn't have many carries, but they didn't need him to.  He was fantastic...great vision and the ability to get to the spot he wants. He doesn't automatically bounce it outside...he takes what the defense gives him.   And then he's a great athlete, of course.  He literally would choose when to go down doing the calculus if he could get away before help came. He's at another level.   I think McKeeseport is a tough out.  The backup running back is quite good...quick, cuts well, has a burst, but not as strong or as big as Kemon.  The qb has some legs and arm looks respectable. I think Montour has their hands full, but Kemon needs more than 15 touches.  What do you think?
Mike White
11:47
Agree with everything you said, X. Kemon Spell is just different. Might be the best RB I've ever seen. Has everything. I've said with him, McKeesport has a chance to win it all. But for them to win, you're right. He needs probably 15 touches and I think he needs to run for at least 200 or 225 yards. And will McKeesport be able to at least complete some passes? They've done it lately. But what against Montour?
Playoff fun
11:48
Seems like some jobs opened earlier than usual with a few making the announcement the night of the game.  Do you think this will be a large coaching turnover off season?  I am sure there will be a surprise resignation as well.
Mike White
11:49
Hard to say. Fox Chapel and Baldwin coaches resigned. Then Gateway's Don Holl is retiring. Will miss him. Did a really good job at few places. Good man. I hope I can still call him for some of his Dad jokes. Hard to say if it will be a lot of turnover. Nowadays, we usually have 15-20 changes every year.
X
11:49
There are some great matchups Friday night.    Which one do you think is the best game?  I'm going to TJ vs Penn Trafford, but I think McKeeseport vs Montour will be a closer game.  I've seen Penn Trafford twice. They are destroying teams despite Yacamelli missing 5 games. I like TJ and Cherp, but they will likely get pounded Friday night.     Also, how good is South Fayette? I haven't seen them yet but they seem quite dominant. USC handled them, but if I remember correctly, South Fayette's qb did not playin that game. Correct?
Mike White
11:50
You are correct. South Fayette QB didn't play. Personally, I pick McKeesport vs. Montour as best game. If you have a chance to see Kemon Spell, go. A generational player. And I'll take Penn-Trafford.
PIAA BBall
11:50
anyways, end of my rant. Do you have any dream PIAA venues for some of the championships? Cumberland Valley does a good job, but there’s nothing like a college/pro/Hersheypark stadium
Mike White
11:52
I liked Hersheypark Stadium because it was just in Hershey. But besides the field and the number of seats, the place was a dump. Locker rooms weren't even locker rooms. More like just small rooms. Couldn't even fit a whole team in there. I think Frankenstein used to live in a couple of those rooms. Cumberland Valley facility is really nice. Great campus. But you don't get that big-time atmosphere. It's still a high school. I don't know what the best place would be. Maybe the new Riverhounds Stadium in, say, 4-5 years?
X
11:53
It seems like there have been an unusual number of coaching suspensions this year and with some prominent coaches.  To me, the public shaming should be a last resort.   I have no idea what they did, but coaches like Wade (pains me to admit this a bit after his crying about Guilfoyle years ago) and Warfield deserve some respect for what they've done for those programs.   It feels political from the outside.
Mike White
11:53
I can't really say anything because it was never really brought out why the suspensions, except for coach Wade reportedly playing an injured player???
Dice Guy
11:57
With basketball around the corner do you know what happened to that D1 kid from Allderdice a couple years ago? His name was Trey Schactor?
Mike White
11:58
Yes, Trey Schachter. He signed with Green Bay. He was supposed to be a freshman there last year. If he was on the team, he apparently never got in a game because he is not listed on the season stats at all. And he's not on the roster this year, so I don't know where he is.
Why
11:58
Why are they using decrepit old Mt Lebanon Stadium with its prehistoric press box for playoff games ?
Mike White
12:00
It's a really good high school stadium, except the press box. Maybe the school can take some of that 100 thousand dollars they took for naming the field after Art Walker (that still baffles me how the school could do that for honoring one of its own legends?) and put it toward a press box. Besides the press box, it's a good place. You know they used to play WPIAL championships there? I was at a few of them.
X
12:00
Will there be any games televised this week? I don't think there were last week.  It's been a fun season, but 6A needs some help. It's an absolute killer with NA down.    As far as State College goes, I pretty much watch them lose annually to a wpial team in Altoona. That said, I've always felt they are very well coached, but haven't had the depth of talent to compete.  This year may be different...with the wins you mentioned and their scores, they seem much stronger than I recall.  Unfortunately for them, Central Catholic is stronger than normal, too.   And sharing load at running back with an easy spiral playoff ahead, CC should be well rested going into states.
Mike White
12:03
I'm not saying State College will beat Central Catholic, I'm just saying State College apparently is pretty good. Maybe better than the past few years. Central beat State College 42-21 last year and 41-19 the year before that. Hey, in 2022 State College beat WPIAL champ North Allegheny, 28-7.
PIAA BBall
12:03
Seeing Pitt vs PSU at the Palestra Sunday night, I’m all out on Hershey as the PIAA basketball venue. Rotate between Pitt and the Palestra. Hershey is a terrible atmosphere being a hockey rink and the middle being reserved for higher priced tickets. Just put it at the Palestra since you’re likely getting Philly teams in some classifications anyways. Probably leads to more attendance. What’s an extra hour 15 for Pittsburgh teams to go to Philly vs. Hershey.
Mike White
12:04
I wouldn't be opposed to that. Palestra is hallowed grounds for basketball. And yes, you would at least get more Philly fans. But here's a problem. PIAA can only go to a place that wants them. I don't think the Palestra has ever put in a bid for PIAA games.
12:06
Hey, really good chat today. Sorry I didn't get to all the questions or comments. Geez, there were a lot of them. I've got some leftover meatloaf in the fridge from Mrs. White that I have to deliver to Don Rebel for lunch. So I gotta go.
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