Penns Manor

[Big Ike]

There is not the slighest chance of LV going AAA in football in the next generation, unless gold is discovered in the Laurel and Chestnut Ridges (Marcellus gas is not enough)!

I'll take your word for it. Not the first time I was given bad info, and the stats support what you're saying.

Tbone,
2002: BC 16, Blairsville 7
2003: Northern Cambria 30, Blairsville 12
2004: BC 35, Blairsville 28
2005: BC 33, Blairsville 23

Do you think they will actually consolidate? Seems like that's been looming for years but nothing's ever happened. I'd be surprised if Leechburg left the WPIAL because they have been successful in other sports and I don't think they'd move just because of football. And picking up WestPAC teams would be good for both conferences IMO.
As far as talent goes, Purchase Line had a couple of solid years before falling off the cliff. Blairsville obviously had a great couple of years but couldn't get through. I hope you're right that it's just a down cycle, but the glaring statistic to me is that United was the last team to win the district and that was 12 years ago.

What was the formula United use to get over the hump that year? I felt bad Blairsville never got passed the semifinal hump...In some ways I understand the conference championship "importance" for the heritage...Up until about 5 years ago, and mainly due to the repeat winners, (I.E. TJ , Quip) D-7 held more of an importance for the district title than states...The Repeat winners eventually have "gotten over" the pro stadium lore and these teams rather see a state title now and the WPIAL is almost secondary...I know the heritage is 1 section/conference as opposed to the district...On the WPIAL board we had a discussion that I believe or would like to see the PIAA do and go to at least one additional classification, especially on the "lower" end...I would go Class B as schools 130 and lower...This cuts the tiniest of A schools to thier own class...Assuming most schools like Rochy & Clairton (the bears have only about 75 males) maybe McCort, Carroll would play "up" in Single A this would leave D-5 Heritage teams in Class B and give them a MUCH greater chance of a district or state title...While the LV Rams (of yesteryear) and some D-5 teams recently give a challenge in the states Most that don't have tradition don't expect much outside thier conference or district (D5)...This is why I think they look so much to thier conference championship because they feel defeated before the season begins...Cut the class in half and I think you see more excitement from these schools once districts and states begin...

[Pittfan6]

it looked like ferens was not 100 percent Friday night or was it just me. I know BC's backers are athletic and fast but ferens didn't run like he usually does.

[Baseball07]

Obviously he didn't run like usual. That was the first time they played anyone with a decent defense and Carroll shut him, along with the rest of PM's running game down

[Ghost]

What was the formula United use to get over the hump that year? I felt bad Blairsville never got passed the semifinal hump...In some ways I understand the conference championship "importance" for the heritage...Up until about 5 years ago, and mainly due to the repeat winners, (I.E. TJ , Quip) D-7 held more of an importance for the district title than states...The Repeat winners eventually have "gotten over" the pro stadium lore and these teams rather see a state title now and the WPIAL is almost secondary...I know the heritage is 1 section/conference as opposed to the district...On the WPIAL board we had a discussion that I believe or would like to see the PIAA do and go to at least one additional classification, especially on the "lower" end...I would go Class B as schools 130 and lower...This cuts the tiniest of A schools to thier own class...Assuming most schools like Rochy & Clairton (the bears have only about 75 males) maybe McCort, Carroll would play "up" in Single A this would leave D-5 Heritage teams in Class B and give them a MUCH greater chance of a district or state title...While the LV Rams (of yesteryear) and some D-5 teams recently give a challenge in the states Most that don't have tradition don't expect much outside thier conference or district (D5)...This is why I think they look so much to thier conference championship because they feel defeated before the season begins...Cut the class in half and I think you see more excitement from these schools once districts and states begin...

Big Ike, are you hitman66?

I'll be honest, I didn't really follow football around the district up until around 2000, so I have no idea what they story is on United's '98 team is. I know the D6 final was 22-20 over Forest Hills, but then they got whacked the next round by I think Sharon, 25-0.

As far as splitting up classifications, I don't think it will happen with how the WPIAL championships are set up. They love Heinz field, I love watching them the day after Thanksgiving. I'd want to see the numbers on how many schools would be in each classification. I know when 5A and 6A were proposed they tried to keep each classification around 100 schools.
You bring up tradition, I look at a school like Windber who has tradition out the wahzoo and have played in D6 in the past and done extremely well. You also bring up Laurel Valley; Coach Page did a great job over there. I think Greg Page has the potential to do the same thing at Homer-Center. And I don't think you can go into the season already defeated. Why play the game then? I'll bring up the Marino quote where he asked Bill Packer if he was ready to go to Mansion Park. Obviously,they had high hopes for this year's team, they just couldn't get it done.

Pittfan6,

Ferens had a bum shoulder, but I was under the impression that was it.

[Big Ike]

What was the formula United use to get over the hump that year? I felt bad Blairsville never got passed the semifinal hump...In some ways I understand the conference championship "importance" for the heritage...Up until about 5 years ago, and mainly due to the repeat winners, (I.E. TJ , Quip) D-7 held more of an importance for the district title than states...The Repeat winners eventually have "gotten over" the pro stadium lore and these teams rather see a state title now and the WPIAL is almost secondary...I know the heritage is 1 section/conference as opposed to the district...On the WPIAL board we had a discussion that I believe or would like to see the PIAA do and go to at least one additional classification, especially on the "lower" end...I would go Class B as schools 130 and lower...This cuts the tiniest of A schools to thier own class...Assuming most schools like Rochy & Clairton (the bears have only about 75 males) maybe McCort, Carroll would play "up" in Single A this would leave D-5 Heritage teams in Class B and give them a MUCH greater chance of a district or state title...While the LV Rams (of yesteryear) and some D-5 teams recently give a challenge in the states Most that don't have tradition don't expect much outside thier conference or district (D5)...This is why I think they look so much to thier conference championship because they feel defeated before the season begins...Cut the class in half and I think you see more excitement from these schools once districts and states begin...

Big Ike, are you hitman66?

I'll be honest, I didn't really follow football around the district up until around 2000, so I have no idea what they story is on United's '98 team is. I know the D6 final was 22-20 over Forest Hills, but then they got whacked the next round by I think Sharon, 25-0.

As far as splitting up classifications, I don't think it will happen with how the WPIAL championships are set up. They love Heinz field, I love watching them the day after Thanksgiving. I'd want to see the numbers on how many schools would be in each classification. I know when 5A and 6A were proposed they tried to keep each classification around 100 schools.
You bring up tradition, I look at a school like Windber who has tradition out the wahzoo and have played in D6 in the past and done extremely well. You also bring up Laurel Valley; Coach Page did a great job over there. I think Greg Page has the potential to do the same thing at Homer-Center. And I don't think you can go into the season already defeated. Why play the game then? I'll bring up the Marino quote where he asked Bill Packer if he was ready to go to Mansion Park. Obviously,they had high hopes for this year's team, they just couldn't get it done.

Pittfan6,

Ferens had a bum shoulder, but I was under the impression that was it.

No Sir I am not Hitman but I know he is on the WPIAL board also, lol...It is funny I never really became a fan of D-5/6 until I went to IUP (97-00) and that is what was covered, lol...I also had friends from Blairsville and they were normally strong those years...I just remember the "shock"/surprise in the Gazette that they had beaten FH. A year before Jesse Jones (?) and the Tyrone squad that seemed to be the only team from the west to beat the Mt. Carmel dynasty...I absolutely love heinz field too, of course the debate on the other board is the surface of Heinz which I think maybe should be fieldturf...It is a blast for kids to play on, especially for those that don't make it down there often...You are right I probably should not say any team besides those with "tradition" go into a game "defeated" but I would love another classification, and we should have one...Any team can win any year but the much smaller schools I would love have thier own championship....My small class A (Class B) would be schools 130 and lower...I think you would see some Heritage or ICC's make a run for district and state titles on a greater scale...One thing is on a State level the interest for another class is probably dictated more by the Big schools...Meaning another would be added as Class 5 A because there would be literally a half dozen or so I believe out east or spread very thinly amongst Eastern Districts...One thing is I believe they mainly play LHAC style conferences that have multiple classifications within a league...It is plausible for a "Class B" team with an 1-7 record move on to states to represent that that class despite a tough W-L record because of who they play.

[Ghost]

I love watching the WPIAL championships, but I hate that they are at Heinz. I agree with whomever said that they should be played somewhere like Cal U of PA or Robert Morris. You've got the 'Backyard Brawl' Friday night and WPIAL championships Saturday. Luckily, the Steelers are away this weekend, otherwise it might be a repeat of the Miami 3-0 debacle. At least Jeff Reed could kick back then! Sadly, the Rooney's like the grass, so that's what Heinz is going to be. Just as long as the Black & Gold keep winning!

You are right I probably should not say any team besides those with "tradition" go into a game "defeated" but I would love another classification, and we should have one...Any team can win any year but the much smaller schools I would love have thier own championship....My small class A (Class B) would be schools 130 and lower...I think you would see some Heritage or ICC's make a run for district and state titles on a greater scale...One thing is on a State level the interest for another class is probably dictated more by the Big schools...Meaning another would be added as Class 5 A because there would be literally a half dozen or so I believe out east or spread very thinly amongst Eastern Districts...One thing is I believe they mainly play LHAC style conferences that have multiple classifications within a league...It is plausible for a "Class B" team with an 1-7 record move on to states to represent that that class despite a tough W-L record because of who they play.

You lost me with this. You keep switching between 'Class B' and 5A. Do you mean 1A (130 and below), 2A, 3A, 4A, and 5A? I also don't understand what you mean by a 1-7 team moving on. That just doesn't seem plausible (Although, last year Old Forge (10-0) lost to a 3-7 Riverside team.), and what would be the purpose of multiple classification leagues other than strength of schedule rankings?

Personally, I think they should look at redrawing the district lines (considering that the city league is going to be gone in the near future), or at the very least look at how districts 5/6 and potentially 9 are structured. You have a Curwensville team playing in District 9 that is 30-45 minutes or less from about 5 or 6 different D6 teams. OR get rid of district lines all together and just go based on overall record into the playoffs and figure out a way to schedule based on regular season wins and losses. Similar to a BCS fashion with bids. That won't happen because of travel costs unless you limit it to something like 4 zones; North, East, South, and West -- which are essentially what districts are anyway.

[woninthetrenches]

Why change it, it works ok. The problem everyone has with it is that their team isn't winning. Teams from this area have made it to state championship game.

[Ghost]

5 schools, 6 appearances, 1 champion out of 84 title games for D5 & 6. Nice.

I don't care if they change it or don't change it. Big Ike is just suggesting an option for the smaller enrollment A schools versus the larger. They're going to talk about (and probably push for) 6 classifications at the next PIAA meeting from what I've heard so whatever happens, happens.

[Blueandwhitelion]

Why do people have to bash the Heritage schools. The conference is set up of schools in one area Indiana county also Northern Cambria and LV. You can drive from one end to the other and never leave the Heritage. Come to one of our game and see how many fans there are. Keeping football local is not a bad thing. Last year in the playoffs United played BG in the first round. BG had maybe 150 fans. The next week United played PM and had over 3000 at the game.

As for not winning I think they (Heritage) have done well 3 AA D6 titles and 8 A titles. Thats 20%.

Penns Manor got out coached (just like United did). I sat next to the BC coaches at the United - PM game and he told me what we should have done and what they were going to do and they went out and did exactly what he said. Great coaching and great kids. PM kids had a case of I'm better than you so just bow down so we can move on. Every reporter and paper in the area had them going to states and that got the kids way to cocky.

Farens got hurt in the United game (shoulder)

[VAD1]

Ligonier Valley will NEVER be accepted into the LHAC - they blew their chance by asking "what can the LHAC do for us". I expect to see LV remain in the Heritage until they're booted out (not saying that will happen). The next two teams to enter the LHAC will be Chestnut Ridge and Central. Also, Leechburg has already made it clear they want in the Heritage, but the WPIAL said NO. Why would the WPIAL let them go? It would create 8 openings in the schedules of the teams who already have them on their 2011 schedule. The Heritage had a chance to make their football schedules better by getting into an agreement with the Westpac. No, the Westpac is not great, but there are some good teams in there (Portage, Conemaugh Township, Windber, another team that's on a good run of kids). The Heritage told the Westpac thanks but no thanks because they thought Leechburg was coming in. Now they all have an open date next year and maybe for years to come. Other than Saltsburg (picked up Shade) and United (picked up Ferndale), the rest of the conference will struggle to find a beatable opponent.