I knew it was a down year but that's pathetic.

(02-07-2013 09:40 PM)ClairtonPanther Wrote:  I knew it was a down year but that's pathetic.

How many went to Pitt? to PSU? to Syracuse?

Things are looking better for next year...

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/spor...ng-673894/

(02-08-2013 10:35 AM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(02-07-2013 09:40 PM)ClairtonPanther Wrote:  I knew it was a down year but that's pathetic.

How many went to Pitt? to PSU? to Syracuse?

Pitt; 7

PSU; 0

Cuse; 0

PA/WPIAL is becoming cyclical but its still a downward turn regardless.

Not trying to pick on the WPIAL because I've been rooting for the teams here for so long. But with the athletes that Penn Hills, Gateway, and Mckeespot have on a yearly basis those 3 schools should have 4-5 D1A prospects a year. Schools like West Mifflin, Montour, Central Valley should be having 3-4 D1A Prospects while schools like Beaver Falls, and Wash High should be having 2-3. And I'm being conservative. Clairton, Jeannette, Monessen, Sto Rox, and Aliquippa should be having 1-2 a year. Out of the listed schools only Aliquippa goes beyond my expectations. Clairton's 3 this year is certainly an incredible year but that number will drop to 0 for next season and potentially 1 in the 2014 Class as we stand today. You schools like NA, Mt. Lebo, Bethel Park, should have close to 3-4 a year, while schools like WA and TJ should have around 2-3. Then the rest of the WPIAL should round out the rest of the class. I think there is no reason why the WPIAL shouldn't have 30-35 D1A kids during an average year. Not every kid is going to be a BCS Caliber recruit and that shouldn't be expected.

Next years WPIAL Class is at least 22 today. I can see around 10 more added. So even tho next years class will be by far better than this years class. But it really should be just an average year. IMO

Here's an article from eastern PA about the lack of FBS recruits:

http://articles.philly.com/2013-02-07/ne...-prospects

would the new NCAA rules (which go into effect this Fall) allow Pitt to donate jerseys and/or weights to these high schools who can't afford it? That might also be a way to gain a recruiting advantage if/when those boys play at the next level...

I could be far off but Clairton is one of the poorest schools in the state. You should see Clairton's weight room. I really don't know how the boosters can afford new home or away jerseys every year. W/ that said, Clairton is on a 63 game winning streak and it'll probably last till the WPIAL Championship game at least. So we're looking at quite possibly a 76 game winning streak at Heinz. Here's the fact of the matter; Clairton's boys enrollment is only 105 and we sent 3 kids to Pitt. That's the equivalent of Penn Hills(680 Boys) sending 18/19 kids to D1A schools in one year. A fairer comparison would probably be PH sending 11 or 12 because no one could expect PH starting 19 Sr's. And not every Sr. would be a D1A prospect as well. That's how remarkable Clairton's run really is right now.

(02-09-2013 08:00 AM)ClairtonPanther Wrote:  I could be far off but Clairton is one of the poorest schools in the state. You should see Clairton's weight room. I really don't know how the boosters can afford new home or away jerseys every year. W/ that said, Clairton is on a 63 game winning streak and it'll probably last till the WPIAL Championship game at least. So we're looking at quite possibly a 76 game winning streak at Heinz. Here's the fact of the matter; Clairton's boys enrollment is only 105 and we sent 3 kids to Pitt. That's the equivalent of Penn Hills(680 Boys) sending 18/19 kids to D1A schools in one year. A fairer comparison would probably be PH sending 11 or 12 because no one could expect PH starting 19 Sr's. And not every Sr. would be a D1A prospect as well. That's how remarkable Clairton's run really is right now.

That IS impressive! My old high school averages 2.0 players per year since 2007, but there are a LOT more than 100 boys enrolled!

Agreed, what Clairton has done is truly remarkable. That said I don't think NA has the makings of 3/4 DIV 1 kids a year. Look you know I played football and lax there and continue to coach lax there, so I am a bit of an NA mark. But despite how big the district is, the kids are kinda soft but they are smart and they fit systems and play well as teams, They aren't so much physically gifted as on one might think and I mean at a big time D1 level, obviously we have really good athletes. But I would say that we tend to have 1 or 2 D1 instead of 3 or 4 but we have almost 10 D2 or 1AA caliber athletes in each class.

(02-09-2013 12:03 PM)7fielder Wrote:  Agreed, what Clairton has done is truly remarkable. That said I don't think NA has the makings of 3/4 DIV 1 kids a year. Look you know I played football and lax there and continue to coach lax there, so I am a bit of an NA mark. But despite how big the district is, the kids are kinda soft but they are smart and they fit systems and play well as teams, They aren't so much physically gifted as on one might think and I mean at a big time D1 level, obviously we have really good athletes. But I would say that we tend to have 1 or 2 D1 instead of 3 or 4 but we have almost 10 D2 or 1AA caliber athletes in each class.

And NA is really the classic example of why the WPIAL stinks. When you have a school like that blowing everyone off the field then you'd expect quite a few esp from the S, LB, DL, OL, TE, and FB and the occasional QB. Look at Penn Hills, they had 0 D1A prospect this year. Its not like I'm expecting a Butler or NA to spit out the type of talent Christopher Columbus does out of Miami a year(7,8,9 recruits).

btw, not dogging NA here. Just saying its not their fault other schools w/ athletic ability like Uniontown, Connellsville, McKeesport, and Penn Hills can't get their acts together.

Western PA just isn't the football hot bed it once was. Kids aren't scared for their lives that their only way not to spend their lives in a steel mill is a college football scholarship. Maybe that explains Clairton's success? Those kids are hungry. I can say this about NA because I know that district very well, I was an NA athlete, I still spend lots of time with NA athletes, and there are many really good athletes in NA and most of them are really good kids. But they are not hungry... it hurts us in play off situations a lot. Really a couple Kuglars and a Leftwich moving into the district really got the football team over the hump.

(02-09-2013 03:53 PM)7fielder Wrote:  Western PA just isn't the football hot bed it once was. Kids aren't scared for their lives that their only way not to spend their lives in a steel mill is a college football scholarship. Maybe that explains Clairton's success? Those kids are hungry. I can say this about NA because I know that district very well, I was an NA athlete, I still spend lots of time with NA athletes, and there are many really good athletes in NA and most of them are really good kids. But they are not hungry... it hurts us in play off situations a lot. Really a couple Kuglars and a Leftwich moving into the district really got the football team over the hump.

Your post here is kinda the point I'm making. Maybe I'm being harsh but I just want to see the WPIAL as that hotbed again. Its still possible despite the population decline. 2 reason's why I want the WPIAL to come back w/ a vengeance, I enjoy the HS game, and its the lifeline for Pitt.

Oh no, I wasn't making an arguement... my post was meant to only enforce what you said. I don't know how much WPIAL football can really come back? I think we can have better seasons that this year. I think next year will show that. I also think because Western PA is such a football centric region we will stilll have a better pool of talant than New England, New York and most of the Great Lakes region. However, I don't think we will ever catch back up to the southern and western regions.

I also agree that it is the lifeblood of the Pitt program so I also root for us to be a good HS region. I still think that pedigree will give us more fertile recruiting grounds than somewhere like Syracuse or even Wisconsin.... Its just the Gators and Longhorns of thw world that are outta our league.

Hey... we could be WVU?

My bad bro.

I think it can come back. Local Schools needs to give assistants a chance to take over rather than bringing in retreads. I think in the long term McKeesport would've been better off hiring Wade rather than bringing back Smith. McKeesport's slip up will benefit Clairton because Ward will more than likely take the Clairton job when Nola retires. However I do think West Mifflin stock is on the rise and could potentially be a WPIAL Contender for years to come. Schools like Canon-Mac & Ringold for instance have the type of potential to compete nationally. Both have the perfect blend of farm boys for your lines and athletes for skill positions. For whatever reason they can't put it together. Give each the right coach and watch out. Brownsville & Waynesburg had quality teams in the past.

Don't want to knock NA more than I have but I think they made the USA Today Top 25 due to PA's pedigree more than being a top 25 team. NA would be a 7A school in Florida and I think they'd have a tough time competing w/ the size & speed of those teams. Of all of the PA teams, Clairton & Aliquippa has the best shot of competing against Florida or Texas schools of its size.

I still think its a great idea for the WPIAL schools to head out of state for games again. I'd rather see a Penn Hills or Gateway get destroyed by a Lakeland than seeing those 2 destroy a Peters Township. Getting destroyed humbles a team and forces them to work harder.

(02-09-2013 05:09 PM)ClairtonPanther Wrote:  My bad bro.

I think it can come back. Local Schools needs to give assistants a chance to take over rather than bringing in retreads. I think in the long term McKeesport would've been better off hiring Wade rather than bringing back Smith. McKeesport's slip up will benefit Clairton because Ward will more than likely take the Clairton job when Nola retires. However I do think West Mifflin stock is on the rise and could potentially be a WPIAL Contender for years to come. Schools like Canon-Mac & Ringold for instance have the type of potential to compete nationally. Both have the perfect blend of farm boys for your lines and athletes for skill positions. For whatever reason they can't put it together. Give each the right coach and watch out. Brownsville & Waynesburg had quality teams in the past.

Don't want to knock NA more than I have but I think they made the USA Today Top 25 due to PA's pedigree more than being a top 25 team. NA would be a 7A school in Florida and I think they'd have a tough time competing w/ the size & speed of those teams. Of all of the PA teams, Clairton & Aliquippa has the best shot of competing against Florida or Texas schools of its size.

I still think its a great idea for the WPIAL schools to head out of state for games again. I'd rather see a Penn Hills or Gateway get destroyed by a Lakeland than seeing those 2 destroy a Peters Township. Getting destroyed humbles a team and forces them to work harder.

Totally agree with that. For lacrosse we start our seasons going to lax hotbeds even if we get killed it makes us better in the long run. Mt Lebo used to spend their first 5 games in Maryland and then go to Columbus at the end of the year. They used to win the WPIAL with .500 records. Their WPIAL record was like 12-0 or 11-1 though. They take those back to back to back championships over Peters Twps 18-2 records and first round play off bumps.

So, you think Ward will take over for Nola? What is Ward doing now and what the hell happened with that?

Meant to say Wade and he's Clairton's current DC. As far as Ward, he just had the task of making a flexbone into a balanced spread attack. Like Graham he tried to go "all in" the first year and it backfired. Ward would've been better off going w/ an Auburn or Clemson spread. Those 2 Spread O's use tons of flexbone concepts and would've been easier for McKeesports athletes to transition to what Ward eventually wanted to do.

You hit on something there 7 about kids not being hungry. Also I want to touch on how well schools draw for games. The NA-Woody High game barely had over 6K fans. If this area cared about football, like most say it does, that game should have drawed closer to 15K at least. Go to local pubs/bars and asked them how Seneca Valley or NA looks next year. I bet 7 out of 10 could care less. I've had a dude from the Upper St. Clair SD ask why do I care about HS Football so much. You'd never hear someone ask a question like that if we lived in Birmingham, Orlando, or any major city in Texas. The sad thing is that your major football crazy schools are schools that are likely to be closed w/in the next 10-15 years; Clairton, Jeannette, Aliquippa, Rochester, Sto Rox, and Monessen. Fact of the matter is; Clairton-Sto Rox drawed more fans than West Mifflin-WA. That makes little to no sense to me. (The biggest crowd was 6,047 for the Class AAAA game. The Class AA final drew 5,530, the A final 3,851 and the AAA final 3,448.) Despite having a tremendous tradition Woody High should've brought 6K fans themselves. I just can't call that a football crazy school.

The biggest issue I have w/ the WPIAL/PIAA and the fans is the old school mentality here. If schools don't have weight lifting in their curriculum's then they need to do that ASAP. There needs to be Spring football here w/ a spring scrimmage against a school close by. For football to reach that level again it has to become a year long sport. And I can understand why a traditionalist/old timer would hate what I just posted. Hell Wanny, JoePa, and Golden came together to promote this idea. And that was because they understood that recruiting is their life lines esp local recruiting.