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Mike White's high school sports chat: 10.31.23
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Mike White
10:52
WPIAL football playoffs start Friday. It was only 108 years ago that the WPIAL played its first championship game instead of naming a champion. And no, I didn't cover that first championship game. ... Let's chat.
YURM
10:53
Mike, I know you don't have any official #'s, but is there any speculation on which 5A schools, if any, will be moving up to 6A for next football season?
Mike White
10:55
It is impossible to know for sure because you just don't know what the cutoff line is 6A. Classification cutoffs are done by enrollment and the cutoffs are supposed to be released in next few days. But I think it's possible you could three or four teams move up from 5A to 6A, namely Hempfield, Norwin, Baldwin, North Hills and Fox Chapel. But you don't know if teams from east also had enrollment increases. Just have to wait and see.
Larry Byrd
10:55
What are your thoughts on the new rule change in hoops where no longer shooting 1 and 1 after 7 team fouls instead 2 shots after 5 fouls every quarter?
Mike White
10:56
I don't really mind it. It does take some of the pressure off a free throw shooter in a close game if he has two shots instead of one-and-one. I'm taking a wait-and-see approach, but I don't mind it. College women use the same rule. They say they like it. We'll see.
FootballFan
10:59
I can't even begin to fathom how stupid it was that Union was seeded two spots higher than Cornell. On the field, Cornell won by double digits. Union was not a conference winner. Make it make sense? Or good luck trying to make it make sense.
Mike White
11:01
FootballFan, I must say that I agree with you. Doesn't make sense to me, either. I know they are from different conferences, but they have same record. And when two teams are tied for a playoff spot in conference, head to head is the tiebreaker. And it's not like Cornell squeaked by Union. Cornell won, 30-14. I think the WPIAL football committee did a lot right this year, but this is a head scratcher. Here is what WPIAL COO Vince Sortino said when I asked him how Union got higher seed over Cornell: “There was some discussion on who played in those games, what players were injured. The committee still felt the stronger team was Union and not Cornell.” Guess 30-14 didn't matter.
Jeff
11:01
Mike  Tough break for USC not making 5A Playoffs and probably could have had a chance of winning a game if they drew Penn Hills or Gateway. Peters is the favorite and Pine Richland is interesting ? Would you agree
Mike White
11:03
Agree. But after Peters, I think there is some parity. I know Penn Hills beat Pine and Penn Hills should be the No. 2 seed because of that. But I think right now that Pine is the No. 2 team behind Peters. I would take Pine over Penn Hills if they meet, although Julian Dugger can be an equalizer.
Jeff
11:08
3A - Im taking DUKE Johncour's Avonworth Antelopes to knock off Bell Vernon and win the WPIAL Title ! Can East Allegheny, EF or West Mifflin challenge ?
Mike White
11:09
I like an Avonworth-Belle Vernon final. West Mifflin is a dangerous team, though.
TM
11:09
In regards to 5A playoffs...to me the easiest solution is the top 2 teams from each conference get in. And WPIAL committee picks the final 2 teams...sort of like NCAA does with March Madness. I think 8 teams is enough for playoffs, if they are the right 8 teams. Do you think there needs to be more than 8 teams in 5A playoffs?
Mike White
11:10
Youre missing the point. The issue is not how the teams are picked for the playoffs or if there are too many. The issue is that Class 5A only got 8 teams while Class 4A through 1A got at least 16. At least four teams from all conferences in those classes get in. Inequity is glaring.
2A Enthusiast
11:11
Mike, I've always loved this segment. My question to you is do you think Neshannock can finally break through and win the WPIAL 2A?
Mike White
11:11
Of course they can. I think they've proven they are very good. But so is Steel Valley - and a couple others.
Tw
11:23
Some schools are consistent winners in almost every team they field…..North Allegheny, Upper St. Clair, Neshannock…..what school would you rate “the best” athletic program in the WPIAL?
Mike White
11:23
North Allegheny, hands down.
Coach O
11:23
Peters has had a great season so far and obviously deserving of #1 seed and favorite role. But I like Pine to win it. They are on same roll as last year and simply put, if Central Catholic with power 5 D1 recruits all over their interior defense couldn’t stop the wildcat, why is Peters going to be able to?
Mike White
11:23
Pine is a definite possibility to win 5A.
Stefan Djordjevic
11:24
On the phone with my bookie right now. Need at least one sleeper pick (5 seed+) in each classification.
Mike White
11:24
Check out Jimmy The Greek's chat.
Poppy
11:24
Who is the new boys bball coach at sewickley? Word on the street is they are open for business and scholarships are available for local top hoopers.
Mike White
11:24
Jim Dudas is his name. His last head coaching job was girls at North Hills.
Smitty
11:24
Did you see the ref on TV who got made fun of for his pittsburgese?  First DAHN!
Mike White
11:25
Yes, good stuff. There are many others just like him.
40stripes
11:25
Hi Mike.  Nice article on the 5A football playoff format.  Definitely needs some changes.  8-2 USC sitting while other classes represented with sub-500 records.  I understand what the WPIAL is up against, but there has to be something better.
Mike White
11:26
It all depends on if state playoff brackets are the same and 5A champ plugs into quarterfinals. If that is the case, I think it's pretty simple. Take 12 teams to the playoffs in 5A. It would take some creative scheduling, but finish the 5A regular season after the ninth week. Teams that don't make playoffs can play each other in 10th game if they want.
11:37
Sorry for delay in chat. PIAA just release classification parameters for next two years. Story will be posted shortly. Now back to chattin' with you.
Smitty
11:37
Is Julian Dugger really going to play QB at Pitt or will he end up at a different position?
Mike White
11:38
He was recruited as a QB and they will no doubt try him there first. He has loads of athletic ability and good size. But as I've said before, needs work and refinement for at least a couple years. If it doesn't work out, I think he'd make a pretty good rush end or even tight end, or mabe receiver?
BC Fan
11:38
I think 4A is going to be the most competitive bracket. Lots of blue blood programs involved including Quip, McKeesport, TJ, CV, WA, Montour plus Mars with Kasper. Quip is no lock this year
Mike White
11:38
Class 4A is better than I thought.
Mr Gardner
11:38
Please get rid of Gardner Points. WPIAL is literally the only league in the country that uses them. Its a dumb and unfair system. Somebody gets screwed every year. Junk it
Mike White
11:41
You are a little misunderstood. It's not very often that Gardner Points break a tie nowadays. Remember, head-to-head is first tiebreaker. If three teams tie and they are all 1-1 against each other, most often they tie in Gardner Points. That's when tiebreaker points are used. Tiebreaker points are not Gardner Points. Don't get them confused. Tiebreaker points are based on comparative scores where you can get up to plus 10 for a win and minus 10 for a loss. That is what often breaks three-way tie. Then system reverts back to head to head. Confused yet?
WPIAL Bias
11:41
I firmly believe the WPIAL or PIAA administrators and game officials have a bias against certain schools. Because they didn't like when they were in high school or their kids played against them and they lost to them. Whatever it is, it exists.
Mike White
11:41
Sure.
Yinzer
11:41
How do you feel about the ref getting all the National attention?
Mike White
11:41
I love zebras. They should get attention.
Hoopfan25
11:42
Better basketball team 2014 New Castle or 2007 Aliquippa?
Mike White
11:43
Very different teams. Aliquippa had all that size. But I'll take that New Castle team. They had the "it" factor. Just knew how to win and kids tough as a $5 steak.
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