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Take off your tinfoil hat those kids were in parochial schools long before Altoona and Hollidaysburg went to the wpialTyBiggums17 wrote:Where are the best high school football players from Altoona playing right now? They sure aren't playing for AAHS. Has anyone else wondered how Altoona and Hollidaysburg's move to the WPIAL 8 years ago affected BG's recent success? Do you think it's a coincidence that a huge talent swell started to hit BG once it was clear traveling to Pittsburgh several times a season to get bruised and humiliated by tough competition was way less appealing than investing their talent at BG and building a winning team to dominate locally? If you were to hypothetically ''start from scratch'' by closing down BG, just having AAHS, then open ANOTHER private school in the city of Altoona. Then that new school sets out to build a football program to compete at the 1A level. That ''small school'' would likely be able to find a nice selection of large linemen and talented skill players among the population of Altoona. But they don't have to stop there because they'd also get a trickle of kids coming in from the surrounding area as well.
A few years ago I would have agreed with you but that is no longer the case. Max Sankey played for Altoona last year, Speck played for Huntingdon last year, at least one other starting lineman played for Altoona 2 years ago....and those are just 3 I know off the top of my head. I truly do not believe BG "recruits" as a lot of people say but the ability to have these transfers is an advantage. To not think that is an advantage means you are looking at it thru your purple and gold goggles. I hope they win it all again....but this team has absolutely no business being in single A.lhacfan63 wrote:Take off your tinfoil hat those kids were in parochial schools long before Altoona and Hollidaysburg went to the wpialTyBiggums17 wrote:Where are the best high school football players from Altoona playing right now? They sure aren't playing for AAHS. Has anyone else wondered how Altoona and Hollidaysburg's move to the WPIAL 8 years ago affected BG's recent success? Do you think it's a coincidence that a huge talent swell started to hit BG once it was clear traveling to Pittsburgh several times a season to get bruised and humiliated by tough competition was way less appealing than investing their talent at BG and building a winning team to dominate locally? If you were to hypothetically ''start from scratch'' by closing down BG, just having AAHS, then open ANOTHER private school in the city of Altoona. Then that new school sets out to build a football program to compete at the 1A level. That ''small school'' would likely be able to find a nice selection of large linemen and talented skill players among the population of Altoona. But they don't have to stop there because they'd also get a trickle of kids coming in from the surrounding area as well.
Just so I'm understanding you....Are you saying that all 57 players on BG's roster were in Parochial school up through 8th grade?lhacfan63 wrote:Take off your tinfoil hat those kids were in parochial schools long before Altoona and Hollidaysburg went to the wpial
Yeah, sure. Parochial schools spread out across the region. It isn't until the kids get to high school age that they and their parents decide whether to attend the public high school which district they live in, or to go the catholic school route. Cresson/Gallitzin is the Penn Cambria school district, but is very Catholic. It was never a stretch to see BC banners hanging on porches in the fall. Now, Wheeler still works at PC and has long ties to that area. Would it be a long shot to believe he's been pulling kids who would have otherwise gone to BC or PC? No, that's quite possible. Also, there is a replica of St. Peter's Cathedral as the focal point of the Altoona skyline, BUT it's Catholic high school doesn't even limit itself to Catholics when it comes to taking on students. As far as transportation goes, public school buses and vans are available from as far away as State College.lhacfan63 wrote:Take off your tinfoil hat those kids were in parochial schools long before Altoona and Hollidaysburg went to the wpialTyBiggums17 wrote:Where are the best high school football players from Altoona playing right now? They sure aren't playing for AAHS. Has anyone else wondered how Altoona and Hollidaysburg's move to the WPIAL 8 years ago affected BG's recent success? Do you think it's a coincidence that a huge talent swell started to hit BG once it was clear traveling to Pittsburgh several times a season to get bruised and humiliated by tough competition was way less appealing than investing their talent at BG and building a winning team to dominate locally? If you were to hypothetically ''start from scratch'' by closing down BG, just having AAHS, then open ANOTHER private school in the city of Altoona. Then that new school sets out to build a football program to compete at the 1A level. That ''small school'' would likely be able to find a nice selection of large linemen and talented skill players among the population of Altoona. But they don't have to stop there because they'd also get a trickle of kids coming in from the surrounding area as well.
I'm from Bellwood originally, but live in Bedford now, and I REGULARLY see ''school student'' vans traveling between Bedford and Altoona on I-99. It's only about a half hour drive. I always notice them heading up that way around 2:30 pm. I figure they've got to be public school transport vehicles from down here going up to, PROBABLY BG, to pick up kids.Zebra22 wrote:According to the enrollment report WCCS radio referenced on air last, BG has students from eight different school districts. I'm not sure if they have football players from each of those districts or not.
I went to BA and we had a kid who lived in Antis Township his whole life, but went to the Altoona Parochial schools until 9th grade when he transferred to BA. Big kid, he was a lineman. This was the late 90's, so BA was a better program than BG.Fballrules17 wrote:Just so I'm understanding you....Are you saying that all 57 players on BG's roster were in Parochial school up through 8th grade?lhacfan63 wrote:Take off your tinfoil hat those kids were in parochial schools long before Altoona and Hollidaysburg went to the wpial