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Mike White's high school sports chat: 12.06.22
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Mike White
10:56
Well, it's state championship weekend for football. Basketball has started. So let's just get started because there's plenty to talk about. Fire away with questions.
Jeff Probst
10:56
How great was the atmosphere at Westinghouse/Steel Valley last week?
Mike White
10:58
Tremendous. Just about capacity. With Westinghouse's side packed and their fans cheering and chanting throughout the game, it brought back memories of when I started doing this job in the early 1980s. "There's a house up on the hill, let's go, let's go, let's go." I didn't hear the "Who said" chant, though. Maybe that's a good thing.
BC Fan
10:58
Any names being floated/rumored for the Central Catholic job?
Mike White
10:59
I'm not throwing names against a wall without knowing there's any truth to them. Let social media do that.
Marsfan
11:00
I see PR is in the State Finals. They did a good job once Palmeri was shifted to QB. WR Gelly also did a great job. My thoughts are that a lot of these players were under the tutelage of Coach K. Once these players graduate, what are your thoughts on their future with the new coach?
Mike White
11:00
Well, they started six juniors or sophomores on offense for the WPIAL final, and five juniors or sophomore on defense. So, something tells me they might be just fine. Finding a QB will be key, though.
Coach15
11:00
What's the deal with S Columbia vs Westinghouse?  I thought S Columbia was down & out this season-
Mike White
11:01
Southern Columbia lost three games in regular season. Unheard of. I talked to Jim Roth. Some kids didn't come through early on, like they thought. And they pretty much have no passing game. But they kept getting better and are now rolling - on the ground. Two 1,000-yard rushers.
Coach15
11:01
Are there any DI standout recruits I should keep an eye on this weekend in the PIAA Football Championships?
Mike White
11:04
A number. In Class 1A, Steel-High QB Erby has thrown for 6,000 yards past two years and only a junior. Already has offer from Pitt and others. Bishop McDevitt has some big-time players. One of them is QB Stone Saunders, only a sophomore and has some big-time offers. Imhotep has a couple of top seniors in state and a couple of top juniors. Plus, they have sophomore RB Jabree Wallace-Coleman, who already has committed to Georgia. Of course, Belle Vernon has Quinton Martin, one of the top juniors in the country. Neumann-Goretti has a few big-time players also. And, of course, St. Joe's Prep. They aren't playing a WPIAL school, but St. Joe's always has a few big-time players.
Bob Smizik
11:05
WPIAL/City League record this weekend?
Mike White
11:05
2-3 or maybe 3-2.
Coach15
11:05
Who are a few of the  basketball teams, statewide that I should be keeping tabs on this season?
Mike White
11:08
The usual - anyone in Philadelphia. Imhotep in 5A has Justin Edwards, a Kentucky recruit rated the No. 2 senior in country by Rivals. Neumann-Goretti's Robert Wright is rated the No. 20 junior and has committed to Baylor. Those are just a couple.
Brian Batko
11:08
Heard Tiquwa Hayes got dinged up last week.  Do we know his status for Thursday?
Mike White
11:08
Coach says he'll be ready.
HSFan
11:08
Do you think the state should rotate who hosts the state title game yearly like other states do?
Mike White
11:09
I'm not sure of that. I might say yes, but there aren't many places who want to host them, or are capable of hosting them.
HSFan
11:09
What do you think of the early hoops start? It’s been a little weird that some teams are playing, but some haven’t.
Mike White
11:10
I'm ok with it. Heck, years ago basketball started around Thanksgiving. Of course, that was before state football playoffs.
Coach K
11:10
Not sure if you have noticed a recent trend in girl participation in sports, but numbers are trending down.  There are now schools in 5A and 6A that do not have JV teams (saw in soccer, now seeing in hoops) due to low numbers.  Any thoughts?
Mike White
11:12
You've got it. At least in WPIAL, girls numbers are down and have been for 7-8 years now. I did a big story on it in 2015 when 5A and 6A teams weren't even having JV teams. Here it is: https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/high-school-basketball/2015/01/16/...
Coach O
11:12
Is Bob Lombardi and the majority of PIAA executive board from the eastern part of the state? They seem to be very indifferent to transfers and private school thing out that way and I’m thinking that’s why their rulings differ from WPIAL on the Imani transfers for example?
Mike White
11:13
The board of directors has representatives from all 12 districts around the state. The appeals board is a little different. They only have to have five board members to have an appeals board. Yes, the PIAA has overturned WPIAL many times. But you never know what evidence is presented at these hearings, if any.
TM
11:13
High schools used to hold traditional (win and advance, lose and play a consolation game) hoops tounraments several times a year locally (tip-off, Holiday, etc...). Now the "tournaments" already have the schedules assigned before the tourney starts. Why did schools go away from the true tournament format?
Mike White
11:14
Sometimes, some schools might be in a tourney with a team they are playing later in the season, and don't want to play them again. Sometimes certain schools want to play a certain other school. But there are still many with championships and consolation games.
CCHS Alum
11:14
Mike, any info on the in-season coaching shake up at Central Catholic? Saw multiple references to a "long-time" assistant or coordinator leaving mid-season, but without identifying the coach. Do you know who left (and why?) Do you believe Totten's sudden retirement is related?
Mike White
11:17
His name was reported. It was Dave Fleming, defensive coordinator. He left in midseason. His son left the team, too, and is at West Mifflin. There is no such thing as a sudden retirement. People just retire and it was time for Terry. It was a rough year on him. He has some issues with his eyesight, too, that made things harder on him. I fully expected him to go after this year. But I will miss him. He was good for high school football in Western Pa. Good for Central, too.
D3 Hoops
11:17
Imani has brought in at least 8 very talented kids over the last couple of years. At what point does the talk shift from recruiting issues/violations to the ADULTS - coaches, athletic direct, principle by simply accepting these transfers are creating a culture that creates an unfair competitive advantage compared to the other single A schools in the state? Does the PIAA have the power to say “I see what you are doing. We are not OK with it. Keep running your basketball program like this and you will no longer be a member of our organization. For the next 3 years you will be classified in 6A.
Mike White
11:19
Nope, PIAA does not authority to just move a team up in classification, unless they have enough "success" points in next two years to move up on class under PIAA competitive-balance rule. Yes, the adults (coaches) should be looked at the most. But the WPIAL and PIAA need evidence that recruiting is going on. That's the hard part with all of this stuff. Not many people want to step up and get involved and are willing to share evidence with WPIAL. It's hard to get evidence, too. Remember, the WPIAL is not an investigative organization.
Jimmy the Geek
11:19
I saw your wrote about Donovan Carney the other day, could he become a major contributor for the Tornados this year and be the next freshman to have a big impact the WPIAL?
Mike White
11:20
Well, he is starting.
Single A
11:20
Mike, any input on Union's opponent; Steelton-Highspire? Usually a name we hear. Would not count out the Scotties though! They seem to have a nose for the ball and create a lot from their 'D'
Mike White
11:21
Definitely don't count out Union. I think we've learned by now not to underestimate the Scotties and Kim Niedbala. Steel-High is very good, but certainly not unbeatable. They have playmakers. But so did Bishop Canevin, and look what happened to them against Union. Steel-High QB Erby is a junior and has thrown for a ton of yards and has Division I offers. One to watch.
Burgh101
11:22
Totten only won 2 state titles after 21 years? That’s unbelievable lol
Mike White
11:22
Why is that unbelievable? Think of how many coaches won no state titles in 21 years from WPIAL and no WPIAL titles. There are some pretty good teams all the time in Eastern Pa., too.
Chick fil A
11:23
Just opened up in Bridgeville. When you're on your way to cover our CV Colts run to a championship we have a sandwich waiting for you. Extra pickles just the way you like it
Mike White
11:23
Woooo hoooo. You're hilarious.
WPHoop
11:23
Hey Mike. How good is Latrobe boys hoops team going to be this year?  Obviously they have Butler back and are young but could they be a team on the rise
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