Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Six classifications in football, update

Word from the meeting at Elizabeth Forward is that, under six classifications, four teams which qualify for the WPIAL Class A playoffs would not be able to win a WPIAL championship.

Those four, including the district's No. 2 seed, would be placed in a PIAA Class A playoff game against teams from another district before the conclusion of the WPIAL playoffs. Not really sure how the bracket that the PIAA drafted works at this point.

12 comments:

Brant said...

Without knowing details, this just seems wrong. The whole tradition of the WPIAL and trying to get to play at Heinz Field would be down the crapper, if I'm reading this correctly. Are you saying that some teams in the WPIAL would have that opportunity, but others, maybe even teams with better regular seasons, would not? Boooooo! I think the WPIAL should secede.

Anonymous said...

I agree with Brant. It might be just the beginning of the PIAA eliminating the WPIAL altogether.
I remember the first year that the PIAA sponsered the high school state playoffs. Upper St. Clair was the WPIAL champ, but did not participate in the state playoffs. Pittsburgh Central Catholic was the WPIAL runnerup and represented District 7 as the Quad A champ and won the state crown. Didn't seem to hurt the USC program at all. I really think the high school football playoffs go on too long. I think Distric 7 should send a message and pull all sports from the PIAA.

Anonymous said...

And what message would that be? Do you think the PIAA would come running back to us with their tails between their legs? No...instead they'll eventually work to eliminate all D-7 teams from participating in PIAA events.

Now, in response to this post think about this for a second. Rochester and Clairton finish the regular season in "A" undefeated and the WPIAL playoff committee has to decide which team gets the 1 seed and which team gets the 2 seed. How do you go back to one of those two schools and tell them "hey, great season...I know you went undefeated and are probably the best team in your class in the WPIAL but we arent going to let you play for the title..." What? Are you serious? I know most of you could care less about "A" football but imagine if that happened to your precious CM, Peters, Central Catholic, TJ or teams like that. There would be outrage. You cant do this. If you're even a half-way descent team in "A" you would have to play up to avoid this from happening to you. Let Mapletown, Avella, Leechburg, West Greene and those schools compete in "A"...schools like Clairton, Rochester, Serra, Monessen and the like would have to move up to "AA".

Anonymous said...

The PIAA would never let the WPIAL schools go without a battle. The PIAA is one greedy bunch of people. Thats why you have teams in some sports, especially basketball , that have losing records, but still make the playoffs.Money talks, thats why the Quad A schools have so much clout, gate receipts. The larger the school, the larger the gate receipts. The PIAA is a business and will do whatever it needs to do to turn a profit.

Dale Lolley said...

Uh, that's the WPIAL that puts teams into the playoffs with losing records. Believe it or not, other districts don't operate that way. You have to have a winning record to make the playoffs.
The WPIAL is the money-grubbing organization. The PIAA is just following suit.
As for pulling out of the PIAA, that's a great idea, so long as you're willing to give up winning state titles in wrestling, soccer, baseball and softball as well.

Anonymous said...

Who cares about football? It's a barbaric sport that promotes the use of anabolic steroids and human growth hormone. I say we here in the wpial get rid of football all together and start emphasizing the real sports like basketball, baseball, and hockey. Those sports require you to be an athlete to participate in, unlike football which has 3 non-athletes for every 1 athlete on the field.

dj sanchez said...

First of all, the anonymous post at 2:42 pm was idiotic. you should probably never speak your mind again because you make yourself look like a fool.

I feel like it would be pompous of the WPIAL if teams did not go to the PIAA playoffs. As an athlete, you love to win your district no doubt. But to win states is incredible. I feel that WPIAL teams should go because we are the best district for most sports and should prove it to the state by competing in the PIAA playoffs

Anonymous said...

This is a clear effort that will benefit the "Super Sized" schools from the eastern part of the state. Classifications with only 11 teams as would be the case if the WPIAL went to a 6A would be ridiculous and would render the WPIAL championship as meaningless as the District 8 City League title.

Anonymous said...

Holy uncompetitiveness batman.

Anonymous said...

WPIAL schools can simply decline membership in the PIAA in football. This is allowed. Not every school has to field a PIAA-playing team in every PIAA sport. In this case, the WPIAL schools would decline to field a PIAA program in football, but hold its own season and playoffs. Didn't West Greene do this - opt out of the WPIAL/PIAA in football only - about 25 years ago? Remember, financially the PIAA can't afford to lose the entire WPIAL in all sports.

Dale Lolley said...

Why can't it?
It certainly survived for a number of years without the Phiadelphia schools.
And now that they're in the mix, they most certainly make up for any loss in numbers the WPIAL could offer.
And not all schools in the WPIAL may decide to pull out. Certainly there would be more than a few - particularly in areas that border other districts - that may want to stay in the PIAA.

Anonymous said...

Changing the subject to PIAA basketball, I did some checking regarding schools entering playoffs with losing records, which I know is prevalent within the WPIAL and found that some PIAA districts do in fact have schools in the playoffs with losing records.Three were from Philly and one from Pittsburgh-Allderdice- AAAA 6 wins 17 losses). So it does happen in other districts.
I also found that private or charter schools won three classes in both boys and girls competition with only AAAA won by public schools. I would imagine recruiting is alive and well in PA.
With the addition of the Philly Catholic League things can only get worse.