WestPac Preview 2012

[MountainMan99]

Great write-ups SRV. I was back home this past weekend and a few things I am hearing from my area of Somerset County. Shade feels this will be the most talented team they will have had in over 10 years. They are expecting big things. Tough opening schedule though from what I see. The word out of Berlin is that they will have their best offensive line since Hankinson, Chonko, and Crew roamed the fields in 2004. Also their freshman class may be the most talented class to ever step foot onto their field. Meyersdale would be better off feeding the ball to the Berkley boy 20 times a game. I had the opportunity to see him play last year and he is tough. I am not sure they will do that though. Thanks again for the great write-ups and keeping us in the loop.

[6 Sports]

SRV -- Just got a chance to read the preview. Great stuff! Tons of info. Thanks for putting it together.

[S Cube]

Awesome preview SRV!

[WildCatz]

Nice write up SRV! Looking like a d5 team will have a good shot and taking the west Pac. I know its early but Can anyone see any of the d6 teams making a potential impact in the playoffs?

[GreenMachine]

Nice write up SRV! Looking like a d5 team will have a good shot and taking the west Pac. I know its early but Can anyone see any of the d6 teams making a potential impact in the playoffs?

Well there is only four District 6 teams in the WestPac

1) Portage

2) Blacklick Valley

3) Conemaugh Valley

4) Ferndale

Outside looking in i'd say Blacklick and Portage would be the two that have the chance to make the playoff's, now to actually win a game in the playoffs is a totally different story.....

[bomborivera]

As far as the Ferndale preview...Eisenhuth is one of the best QB's in the Westpac...he and Mason have been starters since their sophomore year; they didn't pass then, and Coach Penna, and I use the term "coach" lightly, ain't gonna pass now. Plus Toth, who you have listed as an OL starter, just graduated. Perhaps you should do a preview on the players who aren't playing because Penna IS still the coach; because of this, there is simply no depth to finish games. The 2010-11 team had the talent, but that squad was woefully outcoached that year finishing 0-9. More of the same this year...and any year as long as Penna is still there.

[SRV]

Bomb,
Sorry to hear your depressing thoughts... I know for a fact that Ferndale reached out to hiring new coaches but they couldn't get any "qualified candidates." Maybe you should thank Coach Penna for coaching so that this kids can play...and then critique his coaching philosophy. (They may still be accepting applications if anyone is interested)

[bomborivera]

Thank Coach Penna? For what? He was supposed to be a stop-gap for his son, who didn't even have the stones to directly address his team that he was leaving for GJHS; the players found about it on the 6:00 AM WJAC news. No qualified candidates? Was the position even advertised? It was back in '09 when Junior was hired. No mention in the school board minutes of that being done this year. Also, check the board minutes on the school's website, and notice that he was retained by a 5-2 margin, with Mrs. Penna being absent from that meeting, a majority yes, but hardly a unanimous endorsement. Point is parents and student/athletes are not happy that he was retained, which is why numbers are down. As far as critiquing his coaching, I witnessed that, painfully, every week back in 2010.

[Coach]

Easiest excuse ever... Blame the coach. Great athletes don't do that.

[SRV]

I believe the position was advertised in May??? My son saw it posted in the Tribune Democrat and thought about applying but his job would not allow him to do so.

If the board approved for him to continue coaching then you need to take your problem up with the board...not a vendetta against the Penna family.