Is it time to just put the single A teams in a conference

[Crimson's Ghost]

I will attest McCort has had dwindling attendence the past few years, but more often than not they do travel well. The 2006 AA Championship was packed. Tyrone filled the huge side at Mansion Park, and McCort's side was completely filled. Biggest crowd I ever saw at Mansion Park.

McCort had more fans at the State Championship than a Public school in 2009. I do see where a lot of Catholic schools do not travel well especially from Philly and especially in the State BBall Championships, but some do travel. Some teams like GCC, Lancaster Catholic, and usually McCort put people in the stands.


Last year's A Championship was tiny. I was a little shocked, McCort had more fans when they played in the regular season in 08 and 09 againtst Guilfoyle, than they did against Carroll in the 2010 Championship.

[jack daniel]

Crimson that 2006 district title game was a crazy atmosphere as a fan, I agree thats the most packed I've ever seen Mansion Park. And as for the state title game I was very surprised by who many more McCort fans were there as opposed to Clairton.

[youngbuck]

1. Isn't Clariton smaller than McCort?

2. I would imagine that Clariton's parents are mostly blue collar workers, who might not be able to get off work, like the parents from McCort.

[jack daniel]

Yes Clairton is smaller, McCort has about 250 more students. They are a very small school in fact, which makes what they've done the past few years that much more impressive.

[Eaglealum]

and the AA's in a conference? Like the Wpial does?

No way. It's football communism! If a team chooses to play in a conference with lesser comp. then you reap what you sew come playoff time. Look at the area teams that do anything at the interdistrict level.Bishop Carroll, Bishop McCort, Forest Hills, and Tyrone and Bellwood have all had success. Bellwood plays in the ICC but plays Tyrone yearly and have played teams like Montoursville in the past when they got more than one game outside the league, Tyrone plays at least 3 or 4 AAA and AAAA schools every year. And the Bishops play up every week. Outside of your occassional run every 20 years or so, you'd (this area) be 1 and done after districts most years.
Look at last years AA champs, West Catholic made the AA title game and won it with 3 losses, they didn't play a AA school until the playoffs started. They are 0-3 this year and if they make the playoffs in D-12 they will probably still rep. the East in Hershey. Basicly all I'm saying is man up or shut-up so to speAK. Smaller leagues can work their schedules to allow a game or 2 out of conference to schedule comparable games. But we all know they won't. All that would do is lessen the chances of d5/6 champs at the state level and it's tough enough to do now.

[jack daniel]

and the AA's in a conference? Like the Wpial does?

No way. It's football communism! If a team chooses to play in a conference with lesser comp. then you reap what you sew come playoff time. Look at the area teams that do anything at the interdistrict level.Bishop Carroll, Bishop McCort, Forest Hills, and Tyrone and Bellwood have all had success. Bellwood plays in the ICC but plays Tyrone yearly and have played teams like Montoursville in the past when they got more than one game outside the league, Tyrone plays at least 3 or 4 AAA and AAAA schools every year. And the Bishops play up every week. Outside of your occassional run every 20 years or so, you'd (this area) be 1 and done after districts most years.
Look at last years AA champs, West Catholic made the AA title game and won it with 3 losses, they didn't play a AA school until the playoffs started. They are 0-3 this year and if they make the playoffs in D-12 they will probably still rep. the East in Hershey. Basicly all I'm saying is man up or shut-up so to speAK. Smaller leagues can work their schedules to allow a game or 2 out of conference to schedule comparable games. But we all know they won't. All that would do is lessen the chances of d5/6 champs at the state level and it's tough enough to do now.

AMEN! If teams in the West Pac and Heritage don't want to challenge themselves in the regular season then wonder why they go nowhere in the playoffs let them suffer. Don't punish the schools that play up in the regular season realizing it makes them a 1000 times better come playoffs.

[CRWizard]

I wonder when The LHAC are going to band together and force the A's to play up again. They are getting cheated, slightly, becuase of the Powerpoint system. Its helping the "catholics" but not helping the AA schools. AA versus AA, etc makes sense. if the smallers schools want some competetion, then schedule something big week one, same with the AA.

[StraightOuttaPortage]

Idk about all that but if your in a conference you would think the teams would play in the same district. A conference with 20+ teams is moronic, how would you do the scheduling?

[Crimson's Ghost]

Well the WPIAL has 34 A teams, and they split them into two conferences of 8 and 2 other leagues of 9.
That is only possible is because they are a district that has that many schools. It would be impossible here, because our district is so big, and spread out.

And if it ever came to that, District 5 would almost have to disband. They only have 10 A schools, and they are very spread out is well. But again that would never happen.

So if it did happen you would have 4 leagues, 3 with 8 teams, 1 with 9 teams. And it would allow for some nonconference games, which the WPIAL does allow for their schools.

[davesandstorm]

We basically have this setup now. There's no need to go changing things that aren't really broken.