Altoona Football

[qbcoach13]

The problem right now with the Altoona high programis one simple thing....NO TALENT! People can make all the arguments they want about this coach and that coach, but if you have no talent, you can't win jack you know what. Altoona will struggle this year badly, but from word in town, all the "somewhat" talent is in the sophomore class, which Palfey is playing a lot of. Anybody who is on this board who is from Altoona sees that the talent level has dropped drastically. I remember teams from the late 90's and early 2000's having lineman across the board at least 275 and above. You see them now and it is 240 and below. Some very below! Tell me how Sponsky or Smith would compete with this talent against the same teams? The problem at Altoona is the same everywhere at most schools. Kids just do not want to play or put in the work that is required. They would rather sit at home, play X boxes, and get fat. Numbers are down at most schools in Blair County. Tyrone, Bellwood, Bg, all are down in numbers. Maybe Altoona will see an upswing on talent soon, but until then, this is what you are going to get.

[The Ancient Enemy]

No talent at a AAAA school. That's the worst argument I have seen on this site yet, in the 4-5 years I have been here. Get serious.

[Portage Alum]

No talent? Altoona has some of the fastest kids in the state (country) running cross country and track. Not to mention a javelin thrower who had one of the top throws in the nation this past spring and jumpers who have springs in their legs. The athletes are there, they just don't play football.

~PA

[WPIAL~Titan]

I think what qb means is that, RELATIVELY SPEAKING AS COMPARED TO OTHER AAAA SCHOOLS, Altoona has little talent. I agree with this statement. AAAA is whole different ball game as compared to A and AA. Go watch Woody High play Penn Hills, then go watch Forest Hills play Bedford. FH/Bedford would look like slow motion compared to WH/PH. It's all relative. Sure, there are talented athletes at AAHS, but not all of them play football. Portage brings up this point, a good one.

Take a look at AAHS's boys' basketball team last year. They were awful too. It looks like, comparatively speaking, football and boys' hoops are in a down cycle in boys' hoops.

[The Ancient Enemy]

No, wrong again. If the program is in disarray, they need to hire a coach who can get the athletes on the football team and out of the stands. This is the same exact case at every high school in the United States. You can compete at ANY school, you just have to be organized and get those kids to come out. The coach needs to recruit from his own student body and convince the team to help do so as well. ANY school as big as a AAAA school can keep games a hell of a lot closer than 60-0. You are giving this Altoona coach way, way, way too much credit.

If you are serious about competing, find the money and hire a former college coach or assistant who at least coached at the same level as an Edinboro or Juniata. There's probably a thousand coaches nationwide who would jump at the chance to coach a AAAA school.

[kmr]

This is what you get when you hire the favorite of a couple people in the communtiy or the pick of the person who gives money to the school. No matter if you think C Sponsky wasn't the right pick for the job he was a better pick w/ more experience. Altoona is getting what they deserved and the scores and stats show that. Everyone says about the recruiting of BC this and that well who would be better to recruit out of the stands. I think Sponsky deserves a chance. I really don't see a college coach coming into Altoona High even though its Quad A.

[The Ancient Enemy]

Yes they will. There's 10 assistants on every staff at every college in America who all want to be head coaches.

[kmr]

Wouldn't that be a step back?

[The Ancient Enemy]

No. Head coaching experience is invaluable for any coach's resume.