Also, not totally related but to contain it in one thread -

How many Pennsylvania athletes had a better all around year that Kurtis Crossman? You don't see this very much anymore, but here's what he's accomplished across three sports.

Fall - Football: First Team All EPC defensive end AND tight end. Easton-P'burg defensive MVP. All EasternPaFootball defensive end.
Winter - Wrestling: 33-10, D11 runner-up at 215 pounds, PIAA state qualifier (2nd time), Beast of the East round of 12
Spring - Baseball: First Team All EPC first baseman, currently hitting .421, slugging .598 and leading the league in doubles

Crossman has been a varsity starter in baseball since his freshman season, and cracked the football and wrestling lineups as a sophomore. In this era of specialization, it's kind of nice to see a kid who is excelling in three sports. As a younger athlete, I think he was getting more baseball attention. From what I'm hearing, he's got a lot more low FBS, or FCS (lots of the high academic Patriot League/Ivy League types, plus Villanova, New Hampshire, etc.). I don't think solely focusing on football means he'd be getting offers from Georgia and Penn State instead, so isn't it kind of nice that he's doing all three, excelling at all three, and still has opportunities at the next level that probably would be there regardless? Not to get on too much of a soap box, but it's cool.

When it passes, the big boundary school ADs in District 1, 3, and 11 can quickly band together to get the updated playoff system pushed through by the PIAA. I'm disappointed they haven't done so already regardless of the current legislation.

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IF the legislation passes, it still leaves it up to the PIAA as to how to proceed, it's not a mandate. They could leave it alone or put together a separate classification for non-boundary. As Rover said, the regular season schedule wouldn't have to change at all. I haven't looked to see how many teams this might affect, but it might create a scenario where the "non-boundary/private" schools don't play district games and instead are seeded directly into a state playoff, to solve the geographical imbalances. Could you put LaSalle on the opposite side of the state bracket from SJP? It COULD create some intriguing possibilities down the road.

2020sports said:

This is an interesting topic- but I just dont think things are gonna change- PA legislators are really big into the "status quo." there are all kind of "laws" that get approved by Committees, but never even get voted on, let alone "voted yes." I think once they talk about possible civil rights problems, they won't even vote. If this happens- maybe this will change some things- but the problem w Western PA is there just are not that many private schools- and would really be a burden for "scheduling" games during regular season.

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Why does scheduling have to change if the playoff format changes?

No perfect system, but having boundary vs non-boundary in the playoffs is absurd. Burden of scheduling games for a few non-boundary schools doesn't move the needle when compared to all of the boundary schools that continually get blitzed by the non-boundary football (insert other sport) factories.

Fletchster1 said:

Current situation - Non-boundary schools who can pick and choose their student body vs boundary schools who have to take what they get playing in league, district, and state playoff games.

Future situation - Non-boundary schools who can still pick and choose their student body vs other Non-boundary schools who can also pick and choose their student body. Boundary schools who have to take what they get vs other Boundary schools who have to take what they get.

Community vs Non-community - Kids that grow up in a community playing for boundary schools with local pride versus kids that grow up in a community playing for some non-boundary school outside their community. Kids and their families can do what they want, but I believe there is nothing like two rival boundary schools battling on the gridiron with their communities behind them.

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This is an interesting topic- but I just dont think things are gonna change- PA legislators are really big into the "status quo." there are all kind of "laws" that get approved by Committees, but never even get voted on, let alone "voted yes." I think once they talk about possible civil rights problems, they won't even vote. If this happens- maybe this will change some things- but the problem w Western PA is there just are not that many private schools- and would really be a burden for "scheduling" games during regular season.

Current situation - Non-boundary schools who can pick and choose their student body vs boundary schools who have to take what they get playing in league, district, and state playoff games.

Future situation - Non-boundary schools who can still pick and choose their student body vs other Non-boundary schools who can also pick and choose their student body. Boundary schools who have to take what they get vs other Boundary schools who have to take what they get.

Community vs Non-community - Kids that grow up in a community playing for boundary schools with local pride versus kids that grow up in a community playing for some non-boundary school outside their community. Kids and their families can do what they want, but I believe there is nothing like two rival boundary schools battling on the gridiron with their communities behind them.

This

Fletchster1 said:

Common sense will prevail. Excited to get back to all playoff games between two communities versus the lopsided mess we often see when a non-boundary plays a boundary.

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I'll be interested in how this works out in practice. How will it affect public schools in Philly? Will it apply to all sports? How will this actually work, for instance, with sports like track, lacrosse, or soccer? And how will it work if boundaries become more porous because of demographic changes or because certain programs are offered in one district and not in another?

I'm also interested in your expectation that the change will result in playoff games between communities. I don't think it's accurate to say all boundary/public schools are community schools and all non-boundary/private schools are not community schools. Things are not the same in all parts of the state, and a lot has changed in recent decades. Also, there are different kinds of communities.

A long time ago I lived in Scranton for a few years. I remember seeing the big crowds at Memorial Stadium and at other venues. Much has changed since. Will putting Scranton Prep in another playoff classification increase attendance at Dunmore or Valley View games?

Common sense will prevail. Excited to get back to all playoff games between two communities versus the lopsided mess we often see when a non-boundary plays a boundary.

I’m no lawyer (and don’t pretend to be one), but it seems like this is simply a matter of time. There’s so much “smoke” around the issue that it now feels inevitable. I’m not advocating for/against; just making an observation.

BradlyPitt said:

it's been 5 years, year 6 didn't start yet, though they probably won't win it next year

4 championship appearances in 6 seasons, that is great

what is great to you?

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What would be great would be you, Brad Pitt, trying out a new angle. How about starting off a comment by saying, "You know, I never thought of that. Great point!" instead of, "You're wrong, I'm right!" Why are you always in what appears to be a fight?

This upcoming fall I'm hearing Southmoreland's QB - Anthony Smith (Syracuse offer) is transferring to Seton LaSalle for the Catholic education...

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northalleghenytiger said:

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it’s boring in my eyes because when classifications split and 6A shrunk to just a handful of teams, the prestige of winning a WPIAL title in the highest class really took a hit. it's hard to celebrate a championship when you’re playing in essentially a mini-league of five or six teams. It feels more like a round-robin trophy than a real gauntlet. I hate to say that as an NA fan, but no one really care about their wpial title wins, as evident by people on this forum

Back when 4A was the biggest classification, winning the WPIAL was a war. You had legit powerhouses like Woodland Hills, Central Catholic, North Hills, McKeesport, Upper St. Clair, Gateway—20+ top-tier programs competing. That gave WPIAL titles real weight, even without a state championship. So while they won zero state titles, Woody High’s early-2000s run meant something because of the depth of competition. That’s why a lot of people speak fondly of them, even on this website

I believe the only 6A teams that will be remembered are 2017 Pine-Richland and 2021 Mt. Lebanon. They transcended the watered-down format by statistical domination and winning states

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ok, I hear ya- but this stuff only really effects 6A. Still pretty impressive to win at 1-5. And, even though there are negatives, there are a lot more teams benefitting from the 6 levels- better chance for winning records, playoffs, which keeps more kids playing football, so that is a positive.

For 6A, the reality is if it was 4 levels, imo, PR and Peters are the only teams that would have given any challenge to PCC and NA in the last 3 years- things would not have been much different- imo, 99% likely NA would have still won in 23 and PCC would have still won in 24. 22, not sure, maybe PR could have wo 6A.

imo- there's a whole lot of things the WPIAL could do to make postseason better- better media coverage, better "free access" to watching on TV or streaming- and how about this- ALL home playoffs games? Except for the final, which would NOT be played at Norwin, which is terrible- maybe Highmark Stadium, or Robert Morris Field

northalleghenytiger said:

It’s boring for sure. The only interesting year really was 2021, with lots wpial public schools winning states. 2023 NA vs Central was also entertaining. Other than that, pretty boring. Last year was dreadful. Hopefully the go back to 4 classes

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BP or tiger- what in the world do you mean by "boring?"

If you mean it's the "same schools" that's just not true. Seton Lesalle and McKesport have not won a wpial title in 20 years.

And tiger- if we had only 4 classes, there would be LESS variety. Over the last 3 years there have prob been like 20 different schools competing.

There are many things the wpial could do, to make this better / more exciting, but they either don't care, or don't understand what would make it better.