Wood has been in existence for 50+ years. Until about 10 - 12 years ago, they played with kids from their traditional feeder schools and were mediocre. They then decided to specifically recruit football players from anywhere in Bucks County, Northeast Philly, West Oak Lane, Mount Airy, etc. As if that wasn't enough, they decided to start poaching players already on other high school teams. I guess all
these things aren't considered cheating....
Things worked so well,they decided to do it in basketball. They were always poor in hoops also but have now won one state title and will probably win another one this year. And yet someone posted they are considered a good soldier in the PCL.
I guess there is a disconnect somewhere...
The feeder school thing you gotta get over. Kids can go to whatever Catholic school they want. That ain’t coming back or relevant anymore.
The second point is legitimate and for multiple reasons. Poaching players in high school problematic for multiple reasons. First the slope is slippery from a morality standpoint. Who contacts who, professional courtesy of other programs etc. Second from a financial standpoint if you are aiding a football players tuition it’s cheaper to do that for one or two years as opposed to four years. Don’t need a masters in finance for that math. Plus it’s less of a guess after they have played high school so yes that’s an issue.
Couple things I’m uncertain of at this point. I thought after a transfer from 10th grade on kids were ineligible for a year in playoffs? What playoffs? That didn’t appear to happen this year. I don’t know the rule or if exceptions were applied for but I know multiple kids who transferred after 10th grade year who played in playoff games this year I witnessed. Both in District 1 and District 12. So either I don’t understand the rule, am not privy to multiple waivers or it’s just a BS thing no one is following.
As for Wood in 6a not sure that is good soldier material. There is a formula that moves you up due to past success, number of transfers etc. So they may be mandated up. Don’t know that as fact but there are success points etc being placed in a formula from what I’m told. At this point I’m not sure the PIAA can either make rules or effectively enforce much of anything. Always thought any private to public transfer would be bounced once financial distress claimed. Pandora’s box with this transfer thing.