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Mike White's high school sports chat: 12.07.21
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Mike White
11:01
Well, state football championships are here. And basketball starts this weekend. It's a most wonderful time of the year. So let's get the kickoff for this chat.
DJ
11:01
Where do you weigh in on the Aliquippa situation of possibly being bumped up to 5A?
Mike White
11:05
The story and the competitive balance rule and success points can be confusing and hard to explain. There are reasons - some good - why PIAA put in the rule. But, no, I don't think Aliquippa should be bumped up to 5A - and I'm not sure I know of many people outside the PIAA board who think they should. This story isn't over yet, though. The Quips should at least be playing 3A. That's what they signed up for. And under this new rule, I don't have a big problem with them in 4A because they wanted to play 3A anyway. But that's all the bumping that should go on. Not to 5A.
Football Fan
11:05
Mike-- great job as always, appreciate your work. With PIAA releasing new enrollment numbers this week, do you think the WPIAL leaves things the way they are in regards to 6A only having 7 teams? By that I mean 6 conference games, and 3 cross over games against 5A teams (which forces 5A to have 3 conferences and may be geographically challenging to balance)?
Mike White
11:07
Remains to be seen. Don't know if there's much more WPIAL can do. Two years ago, WPIAL polled schools and asked if they would favor a hybrid approach, where maybe conferences would have schools in two classifications. But the majority of schools were against that. I thought that was surprising. But having maybe 7 schools in 6A is not good. Central Catholic would be 5A, but they have decided to play up and stay in 6A.
Coach O
11:07
No doubt New Castle basketball has had great players/athletes the last 10 years or so but assuming Ralph Blundo doesn’t just roll the ball on the court and tell the kids to go play, do you observe anything in his coaching style, demeanor, strategies etc. that have contributed to the winning dominance they have maintained?
Mike White
11:09
It's all of the above. He's one of the best to ever do it - in any sport. And he's the perfect fit for New Castle. Not anybody can coach New Castle and have the type of success he's had. And not anybody can push those kids the way he does. And not anybody understands those kids and cares for them more than he does. But don't kid yourself. He's not all about motivation. He knows Xs and Os also.
Sunner in Orlando
11:09
Will Lebo win the State Championship this weekend?
Mike White
11:10
Ahhhhhhhh ......... Yes!!!! A lot of people said St. Joe's wasn't as good this year. I was one of them. Then they go out and just crush a good "Kevin" Garnet Valley team in state semis. But I still say St. Joe's isn't as strong as past few teams. Doesn't mean St. Joe's won't win, but I'll take Lebo in a close game.
Old Quad West
11:11
Hey Mike!  Lebo has built quite a legacy at RB thru the years: Mark Hart, Sam Mathews, Brian Young, Luke Hagy, Alex Tecsa…what say you?
Mike White
11:11
What do you want me to say. You pretty much said it. Yes, good tradition of running backs. And remember, Olympic wrestling gold medalist Kurt Angle played RB, too.
demosthenes98
11:11
As far as you know, has any WPIAL basketball player, boy or girl, ever shot 50-40-90 for a full season?
Mike White
11:12
No idea.
Sunner in Orlando
11:12
What will Lebo have to do to contain of St Joseph Prep to keep them from 4 peating this Saturday? They look like a college team.
Mike White
11:12
Read above. I gave some thoughts on game. I think it will be close but I'll go with Lebo.
State Farm Jones
11:12
Mike, what are Quips chances on Thursday? Coach Warfield has those underclassmen playing out of their minds.
Mike White
11:16
Yes, Quips are peaking, but they struggled in first half some in the semifinals. It won't be easy. McDevitt is also good. McDevitt is always good and they are strong at skill positions this year. RB Williams is one of best juniors around. Has a number of big-time offers. But how about this: Has there ever been a state championship game -- really anywhere -- that has two freshmen playing such prominent roles in the teams' offenses. Aliquippa's Tiqway Hayes has rushed for more than 1,600 yards. McDevitt QB Stone Saunders has passed for close to 3,000 yards and has an offer from Michigan. By the way, Saunders dad is strength and conditioning coach of the Baltimore Ravens.
Old Quad West
11:16
The St Joe’s Prep / Garnet Valley score was an eye opener. We know  Prep has plenty of D1 talent, but so did PCC.  Does Lebo’s handling of PCC (not once but twice) make you confident that MTL can match up well with a team like Prep?
Mike White
11:17
Again, read above for thoughts on Lebo-St. Joe's. I think Lebo will play right with St. Joe's. Might be a pick 'em game, but I'll go with Lebo.
Monaca Superstar JD
11:17
Mike-Central Valley survived a real scare last week as you’re aware. I anticipate the possibility of an emotional let down this week and also taking into account that  Wyommissing wants revenge for last years loss. Unfortunately, I am taking Wyommissing in this one. Interested to hear how you see this game playing out?
Mike White
11:19
C'mon. A letdown while playing for state championship? Get real. Central Valley will be ready. Game will be won or lost up front. Wyomissing runs old-style winged-T offense. They throw five times again. Wyomissing has big OLine with a junior Jvan Williams who is 6-5, 300 and has big-time offers. Central Valley's defensive front, led by Pitt recruit Sean FitzSimmons, is really good. So for this one, lay it on the lines. Maybe Landon Alexander will be the difference. I'll take Central Valley.
Canes Cus
11:19
Is Ralph Blundo the best in WPIAL if not the state? If not, who you have ranked higher?
Mike White
11:20
I'm not naming anyone the best in the WPIAL or state. Just not doing it. But he's as good as anyone.
Big D in LC
11:22
Which class is more competitive in hoops, 4A or 5A. Both have their merits but I would think 5A. 4A has Lincoln Park which I feel should be playing up in 5A or 6A. Your thoughts Mike?
Mike White
11:24
Tough question. I don't think 5A is quite as strong top to bottom as last year. But you still have New Castle, Laurel Highlands, Mars, Highlands, Penn Hills, Gateway, Shaler and they're all pretty good. 4A Lincoln Park is the No. 1 team, but Belle Vernon, Montour, Quaker Valley all are good. Don't sleep on North Catholic. But overall, I'd take 5A over 4A. And 6A is probably the toughest of any this year as far as depth of quality teams.
LeboKid
11:26
Mike, aside from its impressive playoff record over the past 5 years, what do you know about St. Joe's Prep? Lebo's offense should continue to roll, but St. Joe's has no problem getting into a shootout. Thoughts?
Mike White
11:29
Oh, St. Joe's still has lots of talent. DB Keenan Nelson is a South Carolina recruit. Josaiah Trotter is a top LB with offers. Son of former NFL LB. QB is only a sophomore Samaj James. Accounted for 7 TDs in PIAA semis. Safety is a freshman Anthony Sacca, son of former Penn State QB Tony Sacca. So there is talent for sure. But Mt. Lebanon has it also. Eli Heidenreich is playing as well as anyone in state now. WR-DB going to Navy. Could play at a higher level? Hard to believe he couldn't eventually get on field and help at a place like Pitt. He's that good.
Blue Devil
11:29
Hi Mr. White!  What is you scouting report on the 6A final.  Can Mt. Lebanon hang with St. Joes?
Mike White
11:30
OK, let me repeat myself. Please read previous questions. Plenty of info on the game.
JP’zee from CV’zee
11:30
Per your comments last week, not sure that place is open in the Quip anymore, but always willing to bring WPIAL champion coaches Lyons and Warfield with me to P-dubs for wings! Tabs on me! thinking_face
Mike White
11:30
OK, DM them on Twitter. And if they don't show up, just keep waiting. I'm sure they will eventually love to meet up with you.
Al Neri
11:30
Mike, Aliquippa who already plays up is getting moved up again.  How does this continually happen, yet the most dominant program in the state, who does not play "up" in Southern Columbia is left alone and untouched.   I don't get it.
Mike White
11:33
Why is this so hard for so many people to understand about Southern Columbia? They supposedly didn't meet the three transfer standard needed to move up the last time. They appealed their bump up to PIAA, claiming their transfers happened before rule went into effect. So they stayed in 2A the past two years. They have enough "success points" the past two years to be bumped up to 3A next year. But it's success AND transfers. If they haven't had three transfers over the past two years, they will stay in 2A. I don't know if they've had transfers.
Big D in LC
11:33
Would the Piaa ever consider going down to 5 classes instead of 6. Would definitely make for better competition
Mike White
11:33
Nope. 6 classes is here to stay Big D. You can forget asking about it.
Tim
11:34
Mike, I love the podcast… Keep them going! Regarding Aliquippa. At first I got your point about the injuries, but I am a retired physical medicine and rehab Doctor Who treated some sports medicine. We always emphasize that fatigue put you at high risk of injury. The bigger schools have depth so that fewer players have to play both ways. Even if they do, they can substitute in some other players to give them a breather. I don’t think most of Aliquippa’s players have that luxury. So they may become more fatigued and therefore more prone to injury. Keep up the good work Mike.
Mike White
11:39
OK, yes Aliquippa doesn't have a lot of students. And yes, fatigue can lead to some injuries. But let's lay out the facts. Regardless of how many kids are in Aliquippa's school, they have 51 players on their roster this year. That's not too bad for Class 4A school. And let's just take another team from their conference. Char Valley had a decent team. They had 61 players on their roster. Not that big of a difference. So it's not like Aliquippa is playing with only 25 players. And have you seen the size of Aliquippa's line? They can put some hurting on opponents. I've written about their size. Their lines are as big and beefy as Pitt and other major college lines. So I'm not all in on this danger of injuries thing. What I am in on is making them play four classes above their enrollment doesn't seem right.
Travo
11:39
what are Serra’s chances
Mike White
11:40
Serra's defense has been tremendous lately. I think it's 21 turnovers the past three games. I see them giving Southern Columbia a game because Serra has enough athletes defensively to do some things. But I don't know if Serra has enough offense to win.
Hoop Dreams
11:43
Any tip off tournaments you are paying closer attention to because of the matchups?  That Central Catholic tournament looks like a good one
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