Mike White: Hello again, everybody ... I sound something like Lanny Frattare, don't I? Well, I'm back. Weekly high school sports chat will be every Tuesday at 11 a.m. You ask questions. I try to answer. At least most of them. Ones that are idiotic - and there will be some - might not be answered. Good to be back. Another season is here. Let's get started.
Smitty: Will Ringgold win a game this year? Two years in a row without a win would be really sad for a one time powerhouse program.
Mike White: Scored 26 points last year. Got blown out in first game this year. He would never say it publicly, but I know Mike Zmijanac didn't know how bad it was when he took job. I understand it's pretty bad. Yes, they could go winless again. Indiana not the greatest. Maybe they have a chance against them? It was only three years ago they were 8-3 and four years ago 9-2. Wow. Shame.
GH: Which high school has the tastiest concession food?
Mike White: Always get this question. I don't know. I don't have an answer. See so many with Chick fil A sandwiches. Nice touch there. But do you have to put those dang pickles on the sandwich, too???!!!!! Totally ruins the sandwich. Even if you take pickles off. Juice is still there. Not to complain.
demosthenes98: How much revenue does a typical football team in one of the larger WPIAL classifications make in a typical year? They aren't financially self-sufficient, are they?
Mike White: I have no idea. You count in home ticket sales and if you have a couple big crowds, that's a nice money maker.
Ballerz: What game will you be at Friday night? What is the most intriguing matchup you find this week?
Mike White: I will be at Gateway at Penn-Trafford. Our game of the week. Gateway No. 1 in 5A. But Penn-Trafford is very good. Love what John Ruane has done at P-T. Don Holl has done really good things at Gateway also. First chance this year to see Derrick Davis.
Ballerz: How good is Derrick Davis from Gateway? Have you seen him? I have not seen him play but to have offers from Alabama and every school possible as a junior is impressive. Is there any chance Pitt lands him?
Mike White: I think you answered question yourself. If Alabama offers, you must be pretty good. I think Florida just offered. Will Pitt get him? Well Derrick has given no indications of favorites. No doubt Pitt will be among his finalists. But I really don't know what Pitt's chances are. It would be unfair of me to speculate on that because he has given no indications. Remember he just started his junior year. He told me few weeks ago that he hopes to decide by next summer. I know Pitt will be in there but I know other ones will be right with them. I think it's interesting what position he will play in college. Says he still doesn't know yet.
Ace Oh’Malley: Mr.White, In your humble opinion, do you think winning 6 WPIAL Basketball Championships in 16 years, with a couple of PIAA titles sprinkled in, is worth of being on The WPIAL Hall of Fame? Thank you for your time.
Mike White: No idea who you are talking about. Why don't you just name the person. This isn't Jeopardy. But yes, that is impressive. However, WPIAL HOF is a strange thing. Obviously there is a person you think should be in, but is not in. But neither is Dorsett, Marino, Namath, Ditka and others. Because they won't come to banquet.
‘T’ from Green Tree: Does a zero week game count for your win-loss record?
Mike White: Of course, why wouldn't it? It's a game. Other non-conference games count in your record. Why wouldn't Week 0? By the way, I've about had it with the Week 0 term. Can we just start calling it Week 1 maybe?
GH: Montour played up a classification and lost to Moon. Why then is Montour knocked out of WPIAL ranking #5 and South Fayette plays up a classification and loses but keeps their #2 WPIAL ranking?
Mike White: It's easy. Montour was No. 5. They still have to prove themselves to keep that ranking. Moon is only 5A and has not been a real good 5A team lately. South Fayette is defending champ was ranked No. 2 and they played at 6A team. An always good 6A team. And it was close. Is that reason enough? We still believe, right now, South Fayette might be second best team in 4A. I don't think you can say now that Montour is fifth-best team in 4A. Big game this week at New Castle.
North/South: Is Peters that good, or Fox Chapel that Bad?
Mike White: Peters is very good. One of best teams they ever had. Don't forget they went to semis last year. And yes, I don't think Fox Chapel is very good.
Ace Oh’Malley: Clairton still the cream of Class A?
Mike White: Hard to say yet. Can't judge off Aliquippa game. I don't think there is a clear-cut favorite in 1A. Laurel team is most intriguing.
Ya Boy Ray: Best Student section in the WPIAL?
Mike White: C'mon, there are lots of good ones nowadays. Student section stuff has really caught on the past 6-7-8 years at a lot of schools. With dressing up, themes, even Moses parting the sea.
Ya Boy Ray: Best WPIAL football Stadium?
Mike White: A number of ones I like. Many talk about the Wolvarena. I really like Belle Vernon's. Of course there is The Pit at Aliquippa. So much tradition, but man, it's in horrible shape. I'll still go, considering everything North Hills' Martorelli Stadium. Sits in that valley, great surrounding and atmosphere. Put a packed house in there, Rowdy Rooters on hill, the mist of night time over the stadium, the bleachers are right on top of the field (no track around it). That's good stuff.
Ace Oh’Malley: Rich Moran, Duquesne High School
Mike White: Oh, yes he did a lot of winning. I don't know. I don't know if he ever has been nominated.
Wpial fan: Central Catholic Def looks to be the real thing . Saw them Friday and wow do they fly around and Big men can move. Anyone besides maybe st joe hang with that d husband yr?
Mike White: Wait, what the heck is "d husband yr?" Do you have your wife on your mind. Ha ha. As for Central D, yes you would think it should be terrific. I've done some things already on A.J. Beatty and Elliot Donald. Have big piece running this Friday on the Allen twins. That's four D-1 kids on DLine. You know they have some other athletes also. How many teams can say they have four future D-1 kids on DLine. Beatty is going to UNC. Donald is a junior and just named his top 8 last night. Bunch of Power 5 schools. Then the Allen twins. No Power 5 offers yet. Mostly MAC schools. But those Power 5 offers might eventually come.
TM: USC @ Peters Twp. Friday night--who you got?
Mike White: Haven't seen either but I'll go with Peters. Peters has all that skill back from last year. The question with them is the lines. They lost a lot of linemen. Line play will be key. So will play of new USC QB Ethan Dahlem. And I really like Peters LB Corban Hondru. People don't know how good he is.
Ya Boy Ray: Any chance the PIAA adjusts the classes next year to get more WPIAL 6A teams? At least two sections.
Mike White: WPIAL doesn't set classifications. PIAA sets classifications based on school enrollments. Only way things would change is if the WPIAL would come up with a 4 class system maybe for the regular season and then somehow break out for playoffs. But I know for a fact that many of the 5A schools are happy not having to play 6A schools that are twice their size. So I think it will be more of the same.
North/South: What team with a new coach do you expect to have the most success this season?
Mike White: I think there are 22 new coaches this year. A few in the spotlight because they are taking over for veritable legends. Brian DeLallo took over for Jeff Metheny at Bethel. I think Bethel has a chance at being very good.
Javar : What’s your thoughts on Sto Rocks This Year? I personally think they are a sleeper coming out of Single A. Seems like all the media is counting them out or isn’t putting g them as true contender for the single A championship.
Mike White: "Lot of media counting them out?" We have them ranked No. 5 in Class 1A. That's not too bad, for a team that didn't make the playoffs this year. I said earlier that I don't think there is a dominant team in Class 1A. No overwhelming favorite. It wouldn't surprise me if they went far in the playoffs. I think we'll know a little more about them after this week against OLSH. This isn't the OLSH team of last year when they won title. But they are still decent. But please don't cry the "no respect" thing already with Sto-Rox. Win games. You'll get respect. If they start, like, 6-0, they might be in top 3.
Albert: What do you think of New Castle in 4A?
Mike White: Intriguing. I think could be pretty decent. Demetris McKnight could be biggest breakout player in WPIAL. Just talked to coach Joe Cowart about him yesterday. Watched a few highlights of McKnight from Friday. Impressive. He was impressive athletically in basketball. Has had some off field issues but coach says he is much better this year. Cowart thinks he is a Power 5 player, if he gets some things together. Hey, Geno Stone from New Castle is having an impact at Iowa. Makes you think McKnight could.
Ya Boy Ray: Canon McMillan, Norwin, Hempfield, Butler? Which program has the best chance of becoming a contender in 6A in the next 5 years?
Mike White: A contender for what? The championship? Please. How about just getting in the playoffs. How about just having a winning record first before we talk about contending.
Wpial fan: Ha I agree I knew about def line but line backers can fly around and hit. They just look way better then last yr. plus looked like they pulled Beatty and Donald after first half. Second team small and young looked good. I think another Hinisch kid coming going to good. Beatty and Allen twins actually looked great on offense blocking. We shall see thanks Mike
Mike White: Yes, another Hinish at Central. Younger brother of the Hinish at Notre Dame. I was over at Central in preseason. Walk in the locker room. Everywhere you look, you see athletes and guys who just look like players. From eyeball test, has to be most impressive looking team in WPIAL. Easily.
Mike White: Avonworth, Burgettstown, McGuffey.
North/South: Do you have a favorite coach that you've dealt with in your time? Cooperative, good quote, fun to be around?
Mike White: No, I don't have ONE favorite. Loads of them have been great to be around. Always a few who are knuckleheads. But all these years doing this, I'd say coaches have been my lifeline. Lot of good men out there. Thing people don't understand, and I'll always remember Bill Cherpak saying this to me years ago, there are a number of good coaches out there that people don't know about because they just don't have the material at their school.
Quad North Fan: SV got beat up pretty good by McDowell last week. Is McDowell having an up year or SV maybe not as good as expected.
Mike White: Hard to say yet. You know, McDowell has had some pretty fair teams sometimes in past years. It was first game of year. I don't want to read too much into it. Seneca plays Central this week. That should be a good barometer.
Ballerz: Who is your pick to win 6A football this year? Hard to go against P-R after their run the past few years but CC looks to be right there. Thoughts?
Mike White: Definitely Central.
Ya Boy Ray: What Happened to Hopewell's football program? Used to always be in the mix.
Mike White: Tony Dorsett graduated and then Paul Posluszny graduated and then Rushel Shell graduated.
Quad North Fan: You know anything about the teams PCC and NA played? Nice wins but hard to tell about competition.
Mike White: I really do not.
WashCo Washup: Mike who you got - Clairton vs McGuffey?
Mike White: I'll go McGuffey. I think McGuffey is pretty decent. Ed Dalton has done a good job there. Not winning championships but they're decent.
Quad North Fan: Lebo took it on the chin vs Gateway. Growing pains at Lebo or more of the same even with Palko?
Mike White: First off, let's get something straight. It's not like Mt. Lebanon was bad under Mike Melnyk. I know there are only nine teams but heck they were in 6A semifinals last year. They were 7-4 only three years ago and lost a tough playoff game to Seneca Valley. Bob Palko is a tremendous coach, obviously. But don't judge things on one game or even one season. Mt. Lebanon won't be world beaters right away, but I would imagine they will play hard and physical. Hey, West A wasn't exactly killing it when Palko first took over there, either.
Quad North Fan: PR vs PH was close. PR defense played well and O was adequate. But I wonder how good PH is? Good win or no?
Mike White: I really don't think it was that close. Two quick scores in three minutes. Penn Hills moved the ball some, but do you think P-R ever was really threatened. Penn Hills will be fine. They're not going to win the state this year, but they'll still be good.
Javar : What you think Steel Valley is going to do this year? Do they win that conference? Or do they take a drop? Avonworth, and EA should be very good.
Mike White: Let me put this bluntly. That conference isn't very good. Might be a tomato can or two show up in that conference. I'll take Avonworth in that conference. Yet to see Steel Valley play a game but they lost an awufl lot. But I think Ray Braszo is a good coach.
HSfootballfan : Back to best stadium in area... What about Cupples? I know the city doesn't pack them in, but back the city as a backdrop is awesome... and back int eh day when the crowds would show up the guys on McCardell added to the atmosphere!!
Mike White: Yes Cupples is very nice. I would put it up there. It's a shame what has happened to crowds in City League though. I loved those olden days when crowds were good and overflow of people would watch from the bridge. Or should I say people who didn't want to pay watched from bridge.
Mike White: I actually remember covering WPIAL playoff games at Cupples. Heck, the 1981 WPIAL 4A championship (largest class back then) between Mt. Lebanon and North Hills was at Cupples. It was just South Stadium then.
WashCo Washup: A lot of folks had Baldwin picked to compete with Bethel, West A, Peters in their 5A conference. They got killed by some out of state team last week. Will they be OK?
Mike White: Hard to say. Yes, I think Baldwin will still be OK. Hard to judge games against out-of-state teams you know nothing about. That conference Baldwin plays in is loaded, though. USC, Bethel, Peters, West A, Baldwin, Woody High, Moon and Char Valley. Then you look how weak one of the others is, with the Northern area teams. Baldwin is another one of the intriguing teams.
HSfootballfan : or guys who wanted to watch the game with a 6-pack!!
Mike White: Exactly. Ha ha. I still remember the City championship games that were played at 10 on a Saturday morning and the place would be packed. Think of that. 10 on a Saturday morning. But City League has some promise this year. University Prep beating Farrell was eye-opening. I know Farrell might be a little down but that's a good program. Farrell is defending state champ in 1A. Great win for UPrep. Allderdice lost by only one to Kiski. Westinghouse had a big lead against defending WPIAL 1A champ. Nice to see.
Javar : Does Burgettstown have any real competition in there conference? Maybe Seton? But they will probably run away with that conference.
Mike White: Burgettstown and Seton this week. I think Seton might be pretty decent this year. But that conference is on the weaker side. Then again, who would've thought South Side Beaver would've come ouf of that conference and make the WPIAL title game last year.
Mike White: How long til' basketball season?
Mike White: Shameless Post-Gazette plug. Don't forget by Wednesday of every week we will have our Varsity Xtra's This Week In High School Sports show posted on video on web site. Yours truly, Brad Everett and new face this year. Young blood Steve Rotstein. Still got predictions and some new stuff. So if you're really bored on a Wednesday or Thursday or Friday, check it out.
Mike White: OK all yous, that's it for now. Thanks for the questions. Keep them coming. Remember, every Tuesday at 11 a.m.
First Published: August 27, 2019, 1:55 p.m.
Updated: August 27, 2019, 4:00 p.m.
