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The problem (and solution) with PA high school football

ok, tiger, so, the Pr hatred-

odd story, but i guess on behalf of the whole PR community, apologies for your falling and being laughed at. I kinda thought u would have other reasons.

Now- the idea of PR "not playing up." With all due respect, i'm sure it has absolutely nothing to do with NA, it may have been "about" SJP. BUT, here's the deal-

The difference with "requesting to play up" to 6A is totally different than any other levels. So 3 to 4, may be 300 kids to 380. But 6A has no maximum, it just has minimum. PR has like 500 boys, some schools in eastern Pa have like 2000! What friggin idiot school would choose that? A high school choosing an opponent with four times as much? I checked the list 3 years ago- the list shows all schools that chose to "play up." Out of like 100 schools, not one single HS chose to play up to 6A in all of PA. Lastly, 6A in WPIAL is a "dying division." Only 5 teams this year? It's gonna start ot hurt that level not having equal competition. MANY reasons to not "play up" and none of them have anything to do w NA.
Central Catholic is playing up this year
 
Get your meds and Stay on this thread - all yours - seriously, you are the tiger king
I’m not on meds. I just get a little drunk from time to time.

as good as that show was, the tiger king will be in jail for the rest of his life. “The Donald” failed to pardon him
 
After watching the St. Joes prep vs St. Thomas Aquinas game this past Saturday, it really dawned on me how inferior PA football is. People on this forum say that St. joes Is much better than everyone else in PA. Our best can’t even beat a Florida team???

a famous man once said that “don’t complain about a problem if you don’t have a solution” ,so here is mine:

it’s time for the PIAA to combine schools. We simply have to many schools stretched out across PA, therefore there is no real talent anymore.
For example, imagine if NA merged with alliquipa, or if St. joes merged with Lasalle. Those teams would easily be ranked #1 in the nation. I’m sure there would be logistical issues, but I think the PIAA would be able to pull it off.

so what is everyone’s thoughts on this? I believe it would make PA more respectable on the national scene
is the question what is wrong with HS football or what is wrong with HS football in "your eyes". .. it's not the PIAA's job to create a nationally ranked HS football team. If a player want to be part of that type of program there are ones he (better include she just to be safe) can join. If schools did that maybe they would or maybe they would not.. but at the same time the would ruin Friday night lights for thousands of kids / families through the state.. What is so great about HS sports is on any given Friday you have people that might not even make eye contact with you during the week are your partners for a couple of hours..

Did you stop and think that maybe Prep has one idea of what football should be and maybe LS, NP whoever has another.. they both are right.. just because Prep lost a game to another "national" type of team does that make them inferior.. no it means on that day team 1 was better than team 2...
 
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It's the transfer rules that everyone wanted. Eliminate them and you'd see nationally ranked teams. Other states such as Florida are very loose with transferring. You can't have everything.
 
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It's the transfer rules that everyone wanted. Eliminate them and you'd see nationally ranked teams. Other states such as Florida are very loose with transferring. You can't have everything.
But my solution doesn’t need transfers. We can still make teams nationally ranked while keeping the transfer rule consistent. It’s a win-win.
 
is the question what is wrong with HS football or what is wrong with HS football in "your eyes". .. it's not the PIAA's job to create a nationally ranked HS football team. If a player want to be part of that type of program there are ones he (better include she just to be safe) can join. If schools did that maybe they would or maybe they would not.. but at the same time the would ruin Friday night lights for thousands of kids / families through the state.. What is so great about HS sports is on any given Friday you have people that might not even make eye contact with you during the week are your partners for a couple of hours..

Did you stop and think that maybe Prep has one idea of what football should be and maybe LS, NP whoever has another.. they both are right.. just because Prep lost a game to another "national" type of team does that make them inferior.. no it means on that day team 1 was better than team 2...
Yes I guess it is a problem through “my” eyes. But I’m sure others have similar ideas to mine and are to scared to say anything. I agree parents would be the main denier of this plan. My answer: they need to “suck” it up. They must realize that this is the greater good for PA athletics.
 
But my solution doesn’t need transfers. We can still make teams nationally ranked while keeping the transfer rule consistent. It’s a win-win.
When a team is successful kids/parents want to go to that school. You've seen it before... you can't move even move into a district for football reasons. Look at Pine Richland... Great coach and the liberals hated his success. Nope the days of HS sports is taking a back seat to the WOKE administrations. They really don't care about winning.
 
When a team is successful kids/parents want to go to that school. You've seen it before... you can't move even move into a district for football reasons. Look at Pine Richland... Great coach and the liberals hated his success. Nope the days of HS sports is taking a back seat to the WOKE administrations. They really don't care about winning.
Your rant is a little incoherent, I'm not sure what it means. I don't think I'd agree with many of your views nor would I ever want to.
 
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Your rant is a little incoherent, I'm not sure what it means. I don't think I'd agree with many of your views nor would I ever want to.
I was with him until he brought up liberals. I’m not sure what that has to do with my excellent plan.
 
lucky you considering Mckeesport is in the news almost daily for all the wrong reasons

PR only makes the news for firing their successful coach, and some boy in the school that wants to use the girls bathroom
That’s why it’s important to vote for local elections
 
For people who think that coaching doesn't matter, look at North Hills since McCurray retired. That's really when the mediocrity began. Admittedly the 2000's weren't as good as the '80's and '90's, but they still won playoff games and had strong teams. They have done little since Carey took over. If only McCurry had retired a year or two sooner Kasperowicz could have had the job... Carey was a good player but just isn't a good coach. When he brought in young Zangaro as defensive coordinator (to replace himself) the defense showed marked improvement... and now the offense looks clueless because he is now the offensive coordinator.

North Hills is going to have a really rough season this year but I'll have to give Carey a little break. They have a very tough schedule and a very young team. Not many 5A schools have started 1 freshman and 4 sophomores on defense...
 
For people who think that coaching doesn't matter, look at North Hills since McCurray retired. That's really when the mediocrity began. Admittedly the 2000's weren't as good as the '80's and '90's, but they still won playoff games and had strong teams. They have done little since Carey took over. If only McCurry had retired a year or two sooner Kasperowicz could have had the job... Carey was a good player but just isn't a good coach. When he brought in young Zangaro as defensive coordinator (to replace himself) the defense showed marked improvement... and now the offense looks clueless because he is now the offensive coordinator.

North Hills is going to have a really rough season this year but I'll have to give Carey a little break. They have a very tough schedule and a very young team. Not many 5A schools have started 1 freshman and 4 sophomores on defense...
That’s the problem with PCC. They have far more talent than any team in the wpial, yet they don’t win every year. Their coaching is subpar.
 
That’s the problem with PCC. They have far more talent than any team in the wpial, yet they don’t win every year. Their coaching is subpar.

That has been the knock on PCC for a while. They are trying to change, but the sense out here is that Coach Totten wants things a certain way and their staff seems like it's dominated by old school PCC alums. Coach Totten said last year that next year was his last - look for that to be a plum job if he retires and they get a modern coaching staff in there.

Having said that, PCC did win 5 WPIALS between 2011-2020. P-R had 4, and NA had 2 in that span.
 
That has been the knock on PCC for a while. They are trying to change, but the sense out here is that Coach Totten wants things a certain way and their staff seems like it's dominated by old school PCC alums. Coach Totten said last year that next year was his last - look for that to be a plum job if he retires and they get a modern coaching staff in there.

Having said that, PCC did win 5 WPIALS between 2011-2020. P-R had 4, and NA had 2 in that span.
PCC had like 10 d1 guys last year and they lost by 40 in the championship. 40!!!! How is that even a possibility?
 
Forget the # of D1 guys nonsense. They lost to a "tougher' team, with a great coach in year 3. I was surprised as my power ratings had Lebo only winning by 22.42pts.
I agree they lost to a “tougher” team but that’s just unacceptable. That falls on the coaching staff
 
Hinish was the only one who was D1. I'm not sure who else even signed anywhere. They were very young.
Donovan Hinish- Notre Dame
Josh Altsman- Pitt
Matt Aulicino- Albany
Gannon Carothers-Cornell
Matt Schearer - Bucknell
Brandon Jackson - Robert Morris
Cole Feldstein - Duquesne

Those were class of 2022 that committed to “d1” schools that I can find. They do have some younger guys with offers aswell. You can’t lose 47-7 with that much talent. PCC has the worst coaches in wpial 6a.
 
Donovan Hinish- Notre Dame
Josh Altsman- Pitt
Matt Aulicino- Albany
Gannon Carothers-Cornell
Matt Schearer - Bucknell
Brandon Jackson - Robert Morris
Cole Feldstein - Duquesne

Those were class of 2022 that committed to “d1” schools that I can find. They do have some younger guys with offers aswell. You can’t lose 47-7 with that much talent. PCC has the worst coaches in wpial 6a.
maybe those kids were recruited based on perceived potential, it doesn't mean they were great high school players

Hinish and Carothers are the only ones i heard of, and i only heard of Carothers because i was wondering how he made the Post Gazette's Fab 22 last year, not because he was some stand out player

i assume Altsman is a walk on at Pitt because I would know him otherwise

there was a lineman at Baldwin about a decade ago that had big offers and wasn't even all conference
 
maybe those kids were recruited based on perceived potential, it doesn't mean they were great high school players

Hinish and Carothers are the only ones i heard of, and i only heard of Carothers because i was wondering how he made the Post Gazette's Fab 22 last year, not because he was some stand out player

i assume Altsman is a walk on at Pitt because I would know him otherwise

there was a lineman at Baldwin about a decade ago that had big offers and wasn't even all conference
That may be partially true. However Lebo had a comparible amount of “d1” players who seemed to play “great” in high school. Coaches have a responsibility to fulfill a players potential. Like NA in 2010.

if I ranked wpial 6a coaches
Palko>Walker Jr.>Butschle>Evans>Totten
 
Yeah, roxy! ‘how dare you offend tiger! you’re gonna scare him off! It’s rare to see snow in September, so please don’t melt this snowflake.

tiger, I want you to Stuart smalley for me. You’re in a safe space. Speak your truth.
52vry7.jpg
I’d prefer Mr. Rogers. He’s more near and dear to my heart. Also he’s local.
 
The old man returns. The problem with PA is that the state population is shrinking in many places especially out in the western part of the state. All of the "hunkies" and their sons are gone. The WPIAL is a shell of it's former self. When I graduated high school in 1989 the WPIAL and city league had something like 60+ kids sign D-1 scholarships. That same area gets less than half that now.
 
The old man returns. The problem with PA is that the state population is shrinking in many places especially out in the western part of the state. All of the "hunkies" and their sons are gone. The WPIAL is a shell of it's former self. When I graduated high school in 1989 the WPIAL and city league had something like 60+ kids sign D-1 scholarships. That same area gets less than half that now.
When I was a kid they didn't have the Majors rule. Back in the day they handed scholarships out like candy. But I see your point, the mills and factories closed and in came the soccer moms. It's not iron city anymore... it's the Madden kids that now play football on their TV. If you think western pa is bad, you should see the suburban one now. Gone are the days of Mike Pettine and CBW. (FEW EXCEPTIONS) Hell... I've see coaches that can't recognize an unbalanced line. So the football people do what they can... maybe SJP or other catholic and private schools. It's never gonna be the same! Oh and one more thing.... GET OFF MY LAWN!!!
 
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The old man returns. The problem with PA is that the state population is shrinking in many places especially out in the western part of the state. All of the "hunkies" and their sons are gone. The WPIAL is a shell of it's former self. When I graduated high school in 1989 the WPIAL and city league had something like 60+ kids sign D-1 scholarships. That same area gets less than half that now.
Yes! Sadly, less people, less kids, and less "football crazy" people. In the 70s and 90s, most PA folks loved football. Now, in HS, football is competing w soccer, lacrosse and ice hockey. Tough to fill all those sports, with "less kids" and a shrinking tax base. AND more of those kids are only playing one or two sports by the time they hit HS.
When we were kids they didn't have the Jackie Sherill rule. Back in the day they handed scholarships out like candy. But I see your point, the mills and factories closed and in came the soccer moms. It's not iron city anymore... it's the Madden kids that now play football on their TV. If you think western pa is bad, you should see the suburban one now. Gone are the days of Mike Pettine and CBW. (FEW EXCEPTIONS) Hell... I've see coaches that can't recognize an unbalanced line. So the football people do what they can... maybe SJP or other catholic and private schools. It's never gonna be the same! Oh and one more thing.... GET OFF MY LAWN!!!
 
When I was a kid they didn't have the Jackie Sherill rule. Back in the day they handed scholarships out like candy. But I see your point, the mills and factories closed and in came the soccer moms. It's not iron city anymore... it's the Madden kids that now play football on their TV. If you think western pa is bad, you should see the suburban one now. Gone are the days of Mike Pettine and CBW. (FEW EXCEPTIONS) Hell... I've see coaches that can't recognize an unbalanced line. So the football people do what they can... maybe SJP or other catholic and private schools. It's never gonna be the same! Oh and one more thing.... GET OFF MY LAWN!!!
Coaching has fallen off as well but there is a reason for that as well. IN PA football coaches are recycled .
 
Coaching has fallen off as well but there is a reason for that as well. IN PA football coaches are recycled .
if that’s true, then we need to expand upon my plan.

step 1. Get Mike Tomlin and the eagles coach and/or PA college coaches to advocate for high school football. I believe that will help the coaching problem.

step 2. Combine schools to make better teams
 
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if that’s true, then we need to expand upon my plan.

step 1. Get Mike Tomlin and the eagles coach and/or PA college coaches to advocate for high school football. I believe that will help the coaching problem.

step 2. Combine schools to make better teams
Nobody cares....... I'll pizz people off but I'll say it again. The liberals who control education in this state don't care about a powerhouse football program. The administrations, school boards and teachers are not into winning. It's all about a socialistic approach where everyone is equal. In PA it's OVER! There's a reason why pa has slipped in regards to football scholarships... Colleges compare it to TX, FL and to an extent CA and see these kids aren't coached very well coached. It take a freak athlete to get a full ride in PA now a days. Not to bust your bubble but D1 Colleges don't have the time to coach kids up to those states I mentioned football knowledge. It just bigger in the southern part of the country. Football is king. It's over man!
 
Nobody cares....... I'll pizz people off but I'll say it again. The liberals who control education in this state don't care about a powerhouse football program. The administrations, school boards and teachers are not into winning. It's all about a socialistic approach where everyone is equal. In PA it's OVER! There's a reason why pa has slipped in regards to football scholarships... Colleges compare it to TX, FL and to an extent CA and see these kids aren't coached very well coached. It take a freak athlete to get a full ride in PA now a days. Not to bust your bubble but D1 Colleges don't have the time to coach kids up to those states I mentioned football knowledge. It just bigger in the southern part of the country. Football is king. It's over man!
No man, it’s never over.

“whatever it takes” -Tony stark
 
No man, it’s never over.

“whatever it takes” -Tony stark
Let me give you some facts. Let's take 4A until 5 and 6A were added. It was basically Pittsburgh team winning half the championships. But then CBW and Pettine went on a run. Winning 4 and losing a 5th in OT. Since Pettine/Carey retired or moved on it took exactly 4 years for district one to become non factors. My opinion is that the coaches in the suburban one were no longer held to a standard of coaching that Petting brought to the league. There was Schmitt from Neshaminy who won a title, but he moved onto Imhotep... BANG winners. Theres Dick Beck from North Penn but Mike Carey was with him when they won their title. Carey moved onto Wood... BANG winners. That's when Wood and SJP took over the east. Look where the scholarships go to... teams I named. Did you know that in this year's draft there wasn't a single player drafted that played HS football in PA. DONT TELL ME SCHOOLS CARE ABOUT DEVELOPING TALENT AND WINNING!
 
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