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What is the big freaking deal about traveling? Who cares!!! Just stupid for not having the game in Somerset. Championship games should be played at the best venue regardless of who is in the final. Teams in the WPIAL look forward to all season to have a chance to play at Heinz Field. Why can't this be the case for D5? People shouldn't have to wait the week before to know where the championship game is. Have it at the best facility in D5, which is Somerset. End of story.

Little more D5 news i heard they fired the Everett coaching staff???

sportsfever145 wrote:Little more D5 news i heard they fired the Everett coaching staff???

They had a rough year this year.Some claim a little underachievement.Not sure though,they seem to have a revolving door for football coaches there though.

Speaking of District 5 facilities, is Windber Stadium still supposed to get overhauled in the near future? Could be a top notch venue if the right organization puts in field turf and eliminates the old car racing track and gets new visitors bleachers. Plenty of seating available on the home side already there.Could be attractive to any playoff game in D-5 or even Johnstown area since it's so close.......Just a thought!

usatf oldguy wrote:They had a rough year this year.Some claim a little underachievement.Not sure though,they seem to have a revolving door for football coaches there though.

Haven't Waltman and Koontz been the only coaches at Everett for about the past 20 years? I wouldn't exactly call that a revolving door. Can anyone verify this rumor?

D5 does not have a premier venue to host the district championship game like District 7. No athlete in D5 dreams of playing in Somerset. Obviously the opportunity to play at Heinz Field is a lot different than playing at any D5 venue. Lets not compare D7's choices to that of D5.

As such, without an overtly obvious choice to host the district championship, the higher seed should get the travel benefit. There is absolutly nothing wrong with the Bedford facility, and the arguments about turf vs grass are very relevant. In my experience I have not seen much issue with the Bedford field, and given the time off and this week's weather, all in all the grass should be pretty good at Bedford. I think its pretty funny that all of the Somerset county people are now arguing about how much better the conditions are at Somerset. A week ago when everyone was "sure" that it would be an all-WestPac final no one mentioned the superiorty of Somerset's facilities.

I actually live in Cambria County. But a big "A-men" to the best facility for the biggest game.

Since there has been no reason given as to why not to play it at the best facility in the District, then I will assume it is either because of a "home-field" advantage clause or the reluctance to pay the cost of playing at Somerset. Hey, whatever District 5 wants to do is fine with me, but it still doesn't explain why they go to UPJ for basketball. In case you didn't know, the perception of most people around the state is that District 5 is a backwards little district that is light years behind the times. The way you change that is to utilize facilities like Somerset for football championships the way you utilize UPJ for basketball. I mean is UPJ's floor really better than Chestnut Ridge's???

But Seriously, if you are fine with just family and friends attending your championship games, that is okay. If you disagree with the affect a venue can have on attendance, just attend one of the District 6 championships at either Mansion (Football), DeGol (Basketball), or Blair County Ballpark for that matter. The combination of the event and the venue brings out hundreds of non-partisan spectators who are there just watch the game. The stands are packed for football and basketball and even the D6 baseball championships get over 1,000 fans per game. You would be amazed how many people from Cambria and Blair counties go to these games every year regardless of who is involved.

BEDFORD is a neutral site. Trust me say oww, more people than family and friends will show up. More than would show up on a cold night in Somerset, that's for sure. Bedford is easily accessible within :45 from anywhere in Bedford or Somerset and most of Fulton County. Somerset is only that accessible from the western reaches of Bedford County. If you want to get the most people out in 30'ish degree weather, you keep the travel minimal and Bedford has hosted every D5-A Championship Game involving a Bedford County team since they broke away from the D5-6 subregional.

Lots of people who wouldn't ordinarily come, as in D6, come to D5's championships as well regardless of site superiority.

And as for the slap in the face of D5 (looked at as backwards)....I think you're wrong there pal, actually D6 is laughed at for their complete inconsistency with playoffs....different rating systems in different sports, playoff system is not in place many times until mid or late season Look at the gaffe's the past couple years -- Does the 10th date count or not ( 2 or 3 yrs. ago in AA/AAA) ? , 12 teams qualify but at the last second two pull out (this year) instead of having a declaration date, Open tournament in basketball allowing anyone in (only one other district in state does this....VERY backward), blatant officiating problem in Quarterfinal game at Bellwood last week. And let's do neutral sites for all rounds in one sport but let the highest seed host till the finals in others....real consistent thinking there, huh? Or how about the year the 2nd place wrestling team in duals couldn't go to states and had to be replaced....In track several years ago they tried to cheat the system and send 8 Long Jumpers who supposedly all tied at districts for the 3rd and final spot, acting as if they didn't know in good ole D6 how to break a tie.

Why do you think schools want OUT? And D6 holds them like prisoners. They'll take Juniata, West Shamokin or Leechburg possibly for the Heritage and others but other than Somerset, and due to geography they had no choice, the hold Lewistown and Indian Valley hostage when they want to go to D4 and several WestPAC schools and Claysburg-Kimmel when they want to go to D5.

And they had no choice with Hollidaysburg and Altoona in football only since they can't provide a viable AAA and AAAA tournament and are subregionalized anyway.

Not that D5 doesn't have issues/problems from time to time but you better look at your own house before you make fun elsewhere.

S Cube wrote:

usatf oldguy wrote:They had a rough year this year.Some claim a little underachievement.Not sure though,they seem to have a revolving door for football coaches there though.

Haven't Waltman and Koontz been the only coaches at Everett for about the past 20 years? I wouldn't exactly call that a revolving door. Can anyone verify this rumor?

Waltman hasn't been there for 20 years.Koontz has been AD for a good while.

Head Roadie, Great post.

And yes UPJ's floor is better than Chestnut Ridge's.