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Mike White's high school sports chat: 10.10.23
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Mike White
10:58
Good morning to y'all. Beautfiul fall day. Will we have another Friday with good weather? I don't think we've had a bad weather this year. Not that you care about that. Let's just talk. Fire away questions.
Tiger Woods
11:00
WPIAL Boys' Team Golf teeing it up on the Semifinals today, who would you consider the favorite in AA and AAA?
Mike White
11:03
Some golf talk? I'm all "fore" that. Wooooo hoooo. I'll be here all week. I don't know. For 3A, gotta think of usual suspects. Central Catholic, Fox Chapel, Peters Township. For Class 2A? No idea. You would normally say Sewickley Academy team to beat. They've won 10 of past 11 championships. But did not even qualify for playoffs this year. Sad story with their coach, Win Palmer, dying at end of August. We had a story on this yesterday. https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/hsother/2023/10/09/wpial-high-scho...
Tiger Woods
11:03
As far as Butler's proposal to "relegate down" a class or two in sports....Really, don't see an issue with it, but that team shouldn't be eligible to participate in the playoffs if they aren't playing in the class they are supposed to be in.  Could open a huge can of worms if a team is playing a class or two down and then ends up winning a championship.
Mike White
11:06
If people don't know, Butler presented a plan to PIAA last week where teams could drop down in classification if they have a history of losing over the years. Honestly, I really don't know how I feel about this. I go back and forth. I know a lot of people who say it's silly. They say, "Just get better." Well, whenever you've been a big loser for the most part of two decades it's not so easy to "just get better." People ask why some teams are losers in football for so many years, but not in other sports? Believe me, if someone had answer, they would've fixed it. It might be a number of things. Some of these perennial losers have tried number of coaches.
11:08
Back to the "relegation" idea. I think people have a point where the PIAA bumps teams up in class in football and basketball if they go far in the playoffs for two years in a row. But there is a student-athlete transfer that also is part of that bump up. Everyone always complains about Southern Columbia never being bumped up. Well Southern Columbia says they haven't had the required three transfers to be bumped up.
11:11
Some people like the relegation idea and some don't. Well, there are at least 18 other states that allow teams to move down in classification. I will also say that it can be very frustrating for some teams in sports like golf or tennis. They may be in a section against teams from areas that are much better off socio-economically. And they just can't compete. That's frustrating. Then players don't want to come out for team because they get their heads pounded in. I can understand those teams maybe wanting to be in a lower class.
11:12
And hey there already is "relegation" right here in Western Pa. In hockey, classifications are realigned every year based on success or lack of success over a period of a few years. It seems to work there. I think it deserves to at least be looked at. It just would be hard to legislate over so many sports.
Tiger Woods
11:12
Very sad news out of Sewickley Academy with the recent passing of Win Palmer.  Do you know who the new AD and Boys' Basketball coach is there?
Mike White
11:14
Jim Dudas is the new boys basketball coach. He's been a head coach and assistant at various places. Was last head coach of North Hills girls for two years. And I will say this: Not because of Jim Dudas, but keep an eye on Sewickley Academy boys hoops the next few years and who might be coming in there to play.
Matt Scott
11:14
Alderdice has the potential to make a serious State Playoff run in basketball. Are they the best team in pgh past 5 years?
Mike White
11:15
What? Yes, Allderdice could be good. They were good last year and got knocked off in sub-regional. I liked what Devin Crummie is doing there. They should win the City again, but the best team in the past five years? Please.
FC Dad
11:15
Why would anyone compete in 1A if they had a choice? Glorified CYO. Guess it’s an ego boost
Mike White
11:17
Really? Maybe a kid would just like to play a sport at a small school. Is that so wrong? I guess to you it is, Mr. Superstar.
Hunter B.
11:17
Mike - great article on the kid from Pine carrying 56 times. I remember D.J. Frye in the early 2000's going back to back games with 50+ carries when he played for Rich Niedbala's Western Beaver Golden Beavers. We don't see that kinda stuff too often. Pine vs. Peters would make for a great WPIAL final. What say you?
Mike White
11:18
Well there's a long way to go before championships. I think Peters right now is certainly the best team in 5A. But Pine isn't even guaranteed a playoff spot yet. There are a number of teams that could make some noise in 5A and not just Pine,
Hunter B.
11:19
If you could ask Mike Tomlin one question at his press conference, what would it be?
Mike White
11:19
Do his sons ever mention they lost 9th grade basketball games at North Catholic to North Hills and Mike White?
Hunter B.
11:19
If Central and NA played again, would the result be any different from the first time around?
Mike White
11:20
It very well could be. Remember, the first game was tied midway through the second quarter. I'm telling you that NA is stil good. They can play with Central. Some mistakes and turnovers killed them. I know Central is good, but I wouldn't be surprised at a close game the next time. The Central loss to Pine is still shocking.
Tiger Woods
11:20
I'm noticing a disturbing trend at the varsity football level.  Noticing way more "dads" who want to be assistant coaches on their son's team.  I'm not talking about the guys who were always on a staff and just happened to have their kids come through the program, but the dad who only want to be on the staff when there kid is a player on the team.  I know some head coaches are desperate for assistants, but curious to get your thoughts on this.
Mike White
11:21
I really don't have any info or numbers on Dads who are assistant coaches. Yes, there are Dads who want to be an assistant. Some are qualified and some are not. I do know most coaches I know frown on a Dad wanting to be an assistant coach just when his son gets to varsity.
GH
11:21
Thanks for the article on Dick Butkus.
Mike White
11:23
Was a ridiculous situation 18 years ago. I wouldn't have blamed Lou Cerro if he quit over Montour agreeing to have Butkus be the coach. Oh well, RIP Montour coach Butkus. Here's the story: https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/2023/10/06/butkus-chicago-bears-mo...
Jeff
11:23
Mike Put the curse on TJ with loss over Trinity WOW !! Who saw that one comin ?
Mike White
11:24
I put the curse on TJ???? How so???? That is definitley one that no one saw coming. Or Pine over Central.
Jeff
11:24
Mike 5A Pine Richland beats CC are they a contender ? Gateway continues their push and here's a real dark horse Franklin Regional .............who I expect to win out including over Penn Trafford and finish 8-2 .......couple of good RB's Hudock is real deal at WR and they can score points
Mike White
11:25
Is Pine a contender? They just beat everyone's top team in the entire WPIAL. I'd say that might make them a contender. As for Franklin Regional, I think a definite sleeper team. As far as Hudock, one of most underrated players in WPIAL. Haven't seen him this year but saw last year. Really like him.
Jeff
11:26
Mike 1 A How good is Fort Cherry ? Can they win it ?
Mike White
11:27
No, they have absolutely no chance to win it. C'mon, man. They're ranked No. 1 now in Class 1A. I'll go out on a limb and say they have a chance to win it. I'm going to see them Friday night against Cornell. Looking forward to it. I'll let you know more next week.
Tiger Woods
11:27
Looks like Farrell is seriously considering returning to the WPIAL after repeated acts of racism at others schools in D-10.  Would the WPIAL have to take them if they left D-10?  Not that they (the WPIAL) are against it, but is it an automatic switch if Farrell does want to change?
Mike White
11:27
No, the WPIAL does not have to take them.
Shaun
11:27
Here's a fun one for you...Let's say each county in the WPIAL created an all-star football team. Allegheny County would obviously be the runaway favorite, but which county would put up the best fight against them?
Mike White
11:28
That's an easy one. Beaver County.
WPIAL FAN
11:28
A few teams have played absolutely brutal schedules, who is the best team who will not make the playoffs this year?
Mike White
11:31
Someone in Class 5A. Because only eight teams make the playoffs. There will be one third place team in a Class 5A conference that doesn't make playoffs. That's a shame. It's because 5A and 6A playoffs have to be done a week earlier than other four classes. Because they plug into state playoffs in quarterfinals and not semifinals. So, Class 5A can only have three weeks of playoffs and not four. It's a shame. Hopefully this changes next year with realignment. Or WPIAL should think about starting 5A playoffs the same week that everyone else finishes regular season. That's just an idea.
Coach O
11:31
While the Butler administration’s proposal for playing down in classification due to lack of success would likely make the football team more successful, wouldn’t it lead to these kids being subjected to non stop “well you should beat us, you have 400 more kids than us”. The more they succeed, the more it would get demeaned by others. Not sure kids would enjoy that too much more than current situation.
Mike White
11:32
Sorry to disagree. I think Butler would have some trouble in 5A also. But do you really think they'd still rather play in 6A and get pummeled every week. C'mon.
Dr. John
11:32
See all that wildcat we ran? I know central did. Who do you remember as starting the wildcat trend in the WPIAL? Bob Palko and Mark Davis ring a bell at West A. Maybe Shell at hopewell. Do you know anything prior to those?
Mike White
11:33
Bob Palko I remember was one of the first to run the no-huddle with Tyler at QB. I remember watching him run it as a senior at Moon. And yes, they were one of first to run wildcat, too. And RIP Mark Davis.
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