You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Mike White's high school sports chat: 11.11.25
powered byJotCast
Prev Page View Full Chat
peter
11:35
With new brass heading the piaa and wpial do you anticipate any significant rule changes?
Mike White
11:35
Not really.
Oldcoach
11:35
Can you explain how the success points work?  How does alquippa have to stay in 4 for making WPIAL final, but Pine has to win make tue state final 4 weeks later?  Isn’t it based on the 2 year cycle?  They have to have comparable transfer numbers?
Mike White
11:37
It takes some explaining. But Pine and Aliquippa situations are different. Let's take Aliquippa first. When a team is bumped up under the competitive classification formula, it doesn't matter what their enrollment is. What matters to a bumped-up team is what class they played in last. Aliquippa played in 4A last. Under the rules, if a bumped up team has five or more transfers over two years and gets one or more success points, they stay up in that classification. Aliquippa has had the five transfers. They didn't have any success points last year, but get one for making it to district final this year. So they stay.
11:40
Now about Pine-Richland. They weren't bumped up. They are in 5A based on enrollment. So, under the rules, a team will get bumped up in class if they have five transfers over two years and get 7 success points over two years. Pine-Richland has the five transfers. They earned 3 success points for making PIAA semifinals last year. To get to 7 success points, they must make PIAA championship this year because you get 4 success points for making PIAA title game. You got all that?
Oldcoach
11:40
I’ve seen a number of HS games this year.  Are The parents in the stands getting worse with what they say?  Buying a ticket and helping on the booster club doesn’t entitle you to say what ever you want.  Telling coaches to stay in the locker room or worse.  Even taking it upon themself to yell/degrade other kids on the sideline and field.  I’ve been on a number of sidelines and still haven’t met a coach who is trying to lose and hasn’t put in hours to prep! Some of these dads and thins need to realize that playing in HS, being good at Madden or coaching a 5th grade team doesn’t qualify you to coach at this level!!! Even at the single A.
Mike White
11:41
There are a lot of good parents out there. Let me say that. But yes, there are a lot of idiot parents. And the number of idiots aren't shrinking. I prefer to try and be positive and think about the good parents. But the bad ones ruin a lot.
peter
11:42
People complain about transfers because it stacks teams but it also takes opportunities away from kids who grew up in the district.  Ask all of the Pine parents who have former football players who now are in the stands or holding clips boards on the side line.
Mike White
11:42
Yep. I know everyone at Pine isn't exactly enthralled.
X
11:42
I haven't seen Aliquippa this season, but I've seen them many times over the past 15 years.  I've seen McKeesport a couple of times this year.  Their d is solid and Spell is phenomenal.  That said, I've seen Aliquippa shut down top running backs in  the past...they've small dbs that have no problem coming up and making tackles in run support.  I wonder if  the Quips will load the box against McKeesport.   The precision passing game of Brumbaugh and McDevitt did more damage to the Quips than I've ever seen a running back do.   QB needs to be able to run or pass.  I think McKeesport would be better served taking a rb or receiver and putting them at QB so they could run read option...mixing in some wildcat with Spell.  So if I'm going to pick an upset this week, that would be the one.
Mike White
11:44
So you wanna run McKeesport's offense? Seems to me their offense has done pretty well. Yes, defenses can slow down good running backs and Aliquippa looks to have a pretty good defense. But that's the biggest matchup. That defense against the run. But I will say this. Spell isn't like most running backs. Another key is McKeesport OLine.
Oldcoach
11:44
does PR had 5 transfers as well?  And why do they have to make the state final not just the WPIAL next week.  I know of 4 transfers off the bat, the 2 brothers from Seneca, WR from Seton and the OT from Shaler. Plus they won the WPIAL last year and lost in the semi. Doesn’t make a ton of sense, and totally justifies the quips fairness argument
Mike White
11:45
Read above. I explained it. Do NOT compare Pine and Aliquippa situations. They are NOT the same. Aliquippa was bumped up in class. Pine was not.
X
11:45
BTW, I kept my receipt from last week...Upper St. Clair did win.   Scoop is awesome, but Woodland Hills has little else.    Interesting with TJ moving up to 5A. They return QB, Eber will be a 3 year starter at running back, their best receiver returns, and they have a few returning guys on the Oline.   How big of a step up do you see from 4A to 5A?   Would you be surprised if TJ wins the WPIAL next year?  Do you think they will be in a conference with Peters, USC, and Bethel?
Mike White
11:46
TJ will be fine in 5A. They should be pretty good next year and no it wouldn't shock me if they won 5A. If there are six classes, TJ would seemingly have to go in conference with South Hills area teams. Remember South Fayette is moving down. Biggest difference if you play in that Allegheny Six, usually are no games against tomato cans. Not like other conferences.
Aliquippa Question
11:46
Kind of a moot point now but If Aliquippa would've lost and gone down to 3A would that mean they would be able to play at the level their enrollment says they are? So, could they have gone down to 2A or 1A if that's what their enrollment is since 3A is where they started?
Mike White
11:48
No. I explained above. If you are a team that is bumped up, it doesn't matter what your enrollment is. Things are based on the class you played last, which is 4A. They could move no lower than 3A next year, no matter what enrollment is. And that's because they were bumped up.
Anonymous
11:48
State Rep Rob Matzie  Beaver County in an article in the Post Gazette 2/28/24 was proposing a bill in the house to make changes to the PIAA. What might the status of the bill be. and also Rep Scott Conklin Centre County proposed a bill concerning legislation on Public vs Private school playoffs, especially for Basketball, what is the status of these two bills.
Mike White
11:48
Yes, they were proposing bills. I don't know the status of them.
JBob
11:48
Thought USC/Peters would be played at Bethel Park. Seems like it’s closer to both schools and better facility for parking, etc. than Canon-Mac. How are sites determined?
Mike White
11:49
I can't explain site selection. I know sometimes it doesn't make sense. But like I've said before, you don't know if certain schools want to hose a game.
Aliquippa Question
11:49
Okay once they're down in 3A and don't record success points then they could go to their actual enrollment if they want?
Mike White
11:50
They can't go to 3A until 2028. Earliest they could go to 2A would be 2030.
Canonsburg Screw Job
11:51
Since the WPIAL and PIAA screwed USC last year versus PT with terrible one sided officiating what do you think they'll do to screw them over this year ?
Mike White
11:53
I think they'll inflate the footballs, send a parent to film USC's practice sessions, make Ethan Hellmann play with one arm behind his back and make Danny Holzer call the offensive plays.
Change it
11:54
As for WPIAL going to 4 classifications, this sounds like a move to give 6A teams a better schedule by beating up on 5A teams. Bad move. Let 5A play 6A voluntarily, not obligatory. Really, many overlook these days that WPIAL is bottom heavy with small schools. Enrollments have diminished. Makes no sense to lump all WPIAL schools together and divide by four. You'd still have to have an uneven number schools in each classification.
Mike White
11:56
Your points are well taken. The thing that you have to remember is that plenty of 5A teams don't want to play 6A teams. Yes, WPIAL is heavy with smaller schools. Honestly, I don't know what the answer is. No matter what you do, someone is going to be ticked off. Putting 6A and 5A teams in same conferences during regular season might not be bad idea. But what do you do come playoff time? And guess what. Most 5A teams don't want to be in a conference against Central Catholic or North Allegheny. No easy answer here.
Oldcoach
11:56
Do you foresee the title games moving to Highmark in 2028 when it’s finished?  I know the allure of Heinz field, but 15 thousand seats sure would be a cool environment and field conditions wouldn’t play a factor.   I HS team plays on grass.  I’d guess locker rooms would be an issue, but maybe they could break it up more play 5 A Friday night and the other 3 Saturday?
Mike White
11:58
Sure, I could see it happening. I think Highmark would maybe be big enough. But there is still something special about playing at Heinz. But I think it's something that should be looked at. I think a lot depends on what there all is at Highmark, as far as locker rooms, parking, etc.
WIPSorBUST
11:59
2A Outlook - Seton LaSalle has already beat Wash High in regular season but the Prexies are hot right now.  Tristan Reed is a top athlete in all of the WPIAL not getting enough credit. Steel Valley vs Western Beaver for the 3rd consecutive year in the playoffs.  This time in the semi's and WB first time in semi's since 1995.  Tough to stop another Barksdale.
Mike White
11:59
You should write the Post-Gazette 2A preview.
Y
12:01
Adults on social media come out with rankings, criticize high school kids and coaches, and seem to enjoy having 14-18 year old retweet them or post info about them.  Please explain to me what they get out of it because they aren't making money.  Is it clout? Ego?
Mike White
12:01
You got me?
Mighty Colts
12:02
Hypothetically if they went with 4 classes where would Chartiers Valley play ? With USC, Lebo, Bethel, SF. What do you think Guru of the Classifications
Mike White
12:02
I guess Char Valley would be a 3A team? I would imagine USC, Lebo and Bethel would be 4A.
X
12:03
Yes, I would like to run McKeeseport's offense. I think life will get a lot tougher if they make it to the semi final and final.  There is a school called Twin Valley that is mopping teams up in 4A.  I saw  McDowell with James Conner get mopped up by NA in a playoff game...being held to 7 as I recall I think the other rb for McDowell went to Iowa.     The reality is that if a defense can consistently get penetration, it's not that tough to stop a rb...even one as good as Spell.  It's not to say that Spell isn't tremendous, but life is tough when you have to change direction after one step. I think the lack of a passing game is a big hurdle for McKeesport going forward.  It's not insurmountable, but it change the odds considerably.   One only needs to look at Aliquippa pre and post Warfield...and how teams used to be able to load the box against the Quips in the playoffs.    Archer and Henry were pretty darn good...perhaps better than McKeeseport's backfield.
Mike White
12:05
Sure, good running backs can be slowed. I saw Central hold Shady McCoy to around 40 yards rushing in state semifinals. And the lack of a passing game sometimes hurts, especially late in the year. I'm certainly not saying McKeesport is unbeatable. Far from it. There are always good teams in the east. Aliquippa beating McKeesport wouldn't surprise me, but my pick is McKeesport.
Change it
12:05
Best answer for 6A schools is to play opponents outside WPIAL. This is an issue everywhere in PA but in Districts 1 and 3. District 6 plays a District 3 schedule. District 10 plays Cleveland and Buffalo. Williamsport in District 4 plays District 2 or anyone they can find.
Mike White
12:06
But do you realize there are only a few schools outside the WPIAL that are in the West and in 6A? Like State College. Do you think WPIAL 6A schools want to go play State College?
12:07
Good chatting today, but we're done. Leftover piece of  Mrs. White's birthday cake is calling me. Let's talk next Tuesday at 11. Everyone, be good.
Connecting…