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Mike White's high school sports chat: 11.17.20
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Mike White
11:00
Top of the morning to you. Plenty to discuss. WPIAL championships. ... State semifinals this weekend. ... And there is plenty of interest with project we are working on here at Post-Gazette. This is the 40-year anniversary of the Fabulous 22. To celebrate, we're having a "blue ribbon" committee pick an "all-time" Fab 22, from the 40 years. The names on the list are beyond impressive. But it creates a lot of debate also. Committee is picking 22 players in order of preference. Well, let's get started. Fire away.
Big Dave
11:00
What teams were the most upsetting this year? All classifications.
Mike White
11:01
This isn't pros of even college. I'm not going tag "high school" teams as most upsetting or disappointing. C'mon. Why do that publicly to high school kids or coaches? Let's be a little more positive.
Zman
11:01
Based upon recent history, I’m assuming Wilmington vs BF is pretty much a toss up? Greyhounds can play. Come to think of it, a few years ago didn’t Wilmington petition to get back into WPIAL but were denied? Or was that Farrell? Wilmington would slot in nicely in the conference with other Beaver/Lawrence County teams.
Mike White
11:03
Farrell wanted back in WPIAL. Not sure about Wilmington. They won WPIAL in 1980s. Terry Verrelli legendary coach. It should be a terrific game. Beaver Falls has that great one-two running punch of Hough and Livingston, but two Wilmington runners combined for more than 600 yards rushing last week. Wow! I think this one will be close. I haven't decided yet whether I like Beaver Falls or Wilmington.
‘T’ from Green Tree
11:03
Glad to see Beaver Falls win! That old section up there of Alliquippa, New Castle, Beaver Falls, Farrell, Sharon, etc..was a lot of fun way back. Brutal section. Nick Nardone doing a great job at Beaver Falls.
Mike White
11:04
In the Nick of time, wouldn't you say? That old conference was really good in football, but that's the old Section 3 in basketball. In basketball it was even better.
Ironman
11:04
I was sad to hear that Central had to forfeit their game against Erie McDowell due to COVID. I know that it happened fast and there are hurdles here with the WPIAL and the PIAA, but was there any thought to having North Allegheny go in place of Central? Kinda similar to what happened in 1988 with USC and Central, although much different circumstances.
Mike White
11:07
Well Ironman, WPIAL and PIAA made declaration at start of season that any team that can't play, there would just be a forfeit. The team they beat wouldn't replace them. So there was no thought of NA replacing Central. That already been decided. As far as 1988, totally different circumstances. That was first year of PIAA football playoffs. Before season, about 20-30 schools in WPIAL didn't agree with state playoffs, so their school boards voted not to participate if they qualified. Upper St. Clair was one of them. USC won WPIAL but didn't go to state playoffs. Central did and won state. Unbelievable. All those schools changed their mind after that season. Rightly so.
Be like Mike White
11:08
Hey Mike, fun question for you. In football and basketball, Who are 2 young or new coaches that you would say in about 10 years will have 1 or multiple wpial championships. Not based on talent but just how they run their programs?
Mike White
11:08
That's tough to say off top of my head. Maybe Matt Humbert of Belle Vernon will get one at some point.
Don
11:08
i had a typo so I’ll try again. Can Nick Lakovich do what he did before for aliquippa basketball? Maybe another 30-0 run haha
Mike White
11:10
It's Nick Lackovich. Can he go 30-0 again? Sure. And I can run a 4.3 in the 40 tomorrow. ... Nick is a good coach. But please let's not be expecting 30-0.
Ironman
11:11
Speaking of Central, the basketball team is loaded. Who will compete in 6A with Central?
Mike White
11:12
Upper St. Clair. USC should be No. 1 going into the season. But Central should be good also. Few new players transferred in should help.
not a mask guy
11:12
What are you hearing the chances are for having a basketball season?
Mike White
11:13
PIAA is having board of directors meeting tomorrow. But PIAA boss Bob Lombardi said again just yesterday that they intend to have winter sports teams start practice Friday. They want them to start practice so that they can get in the allotted practices now.
Mark
11:13
Thoughts on my hometown boys Ambridge hoops this year?
Mike White
11:14
Ahhhh, it seems like an almost weekly Ambridge question. They were good last year, but a number of the top players graduated.
GH
11:14
Choosing all-time Fabulous 22 is like choosing which of your children you love the most!!
Mike White
11:14
Good one.
Tom
11:14
Your thoughts on the Thomas Jefferson - Oil City 4A football semi...the OC looks strong.
Mike White
11:18
That's the beauty of state playoffs. Intrigue. Because you really just don't know totally. Oil City is undefeated, but you just don't know about the competition. I have heard Oil City is slick, though. I heard they get along well with the Detroit Pistons. This time is fracking good, too. .... Woooooo hoooooo. I'll be here all week.
Ed cain
11:18
Mike. What do think about beaver falls  vs wilmington this week
Mike White
11:18
Discussed it earlier in chat. Should be a good one. Lots of running in this game.
Tw
11:18
I like the idea of using great WPIAL facilities instead of Heinz Field or Peterson Event Center....all winners remember winning the championship no matter where the game is played!  Hats off to the WPIAL for making the move to high school facilities!
Mike White
11:20
Yes, they do remember the championships no matter where they are played, but don't kid yourself. It's even more memorable when the kids play at a college or pro venue. I'm not one that thinks they "have" to be at Heinz or The Pete, but it does add to it. A few of the games at The Pete in recent years may have had 3,000 to 4,000 fans. Really nice atmosphere, although the atmosphere at Palumbo was the best. I just wish they would allow maybe the students to sit in end seats on the floor at The Pete.
Bulldog
11:20
IF you were czar, would you postpone winter sports, start them now to allow for make ups or cancel them?
Mike White
11:22
Go an as scheduled. Like PIAA boss said, let's at least get required number of required number of practices in now. So if you have to shut down, you don't have to do that in future. I don't think you'll see PIAA order a shutdown. Only one who would do that is the Governor. Now, I think you might have very limited fans in hoops (only two per player maybe), but they're going to at least try. I do think something will be done with wrestling tournaments though.
Quad North Fan
11:22
What's your predictions on WPIAL teams most likely to win PIAA state championships?
Mike White
11:23
Pine-Richland, Central Valley
Bulldog
11:23
Best WPIAL football game you saw this year?
Mike White
11:23
Thomas Jefferson-Aliquippa Saturday in WPIAL 4A final. One of best title games in past 40 years.
huck
11:23
Nardone seemed quite arrogant and angry at the opposition for scoring on his second team, not a very good look on his part, right?
Mike White
11:24
No idea. Wasn't there. Didn't talk to him.
11:28
But speaking of PIAA and title games, I really would urge the PIAA to re-think a few football title games - or at least the site and times. Think of it. The Class 1A title game likely will be next Friday at maybe 11. Really? That should be changed and moved to a high school field Friday afternoon-night or Saturday. Here's why: Either Jeannette or Reynolds will be in the title game. With the COVID pandemic, I can't imagine a high school team wanting to go to a hotel Thanksgiving night and have a bunch of kids together in rooms. Nor would a school want to pay for that with the finances of today. It would be, what, a 4-hour bus ride for Jeannette to Hershey maybe. You have to leave yourself extra time to be safe. So, would Jeannette have to leave at 4:30 or 5 in the morning? That's not right. And what if they would play Bishop Guilfoyle of Altoona. Should we really make two western teams go to Hershey to play? No. Play the game somewhere in the west. This a different season. It calls for different measures.
Tonya
11:29
Any crystal ball predictions as to whether the PIAA will announce changes to winter sports after their board meeting tomorrow?
Mike White
11:29
I just touched on that above. No. No major changes. Maybe a couple suggestions. Maybe do something with wrestling tournaments.
Tw
11:29
Teams that had to move up in classification due to transfers or success, are they moving back to their prior classification?
Mike White
11:29
Nope. They stay up for two years.
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