WPIAL may dump state football playoff

[NS grad]

WPIAL may dump state football playoff
Friday, April 24, 2009
By Mike White, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A large majority of district schools say the WPIAL should pull out of the state playoffs if two classifications are added to high school football in Pennsylvania.

A recent survey showed that area schools would rather end the season with the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League championships than compete in six classifications beginning with the 2010 season as proposed by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association.

Currently, there are four classifications in football based on school enrollment.

The proposal has passed two votes at the PIAA level and would be implemented next year if it passes a third vote next month.

Last week, WPIAL officials invited representatives from its 123 football-playing schools to two meetings to discuss the six-class proposal. Each school was given a survey, and the results were released yesterday at a league meeting.

Of the 89 schools that returned the survey, 75 percent (67 schools) said if the six-class idea is passed it would favor the WPIAL keeping its playoff format with only four classifications and pulling out of the PIAA playoffs.

The WPIAL's main argument against six classifications is that it could not play all of its championship games at Heinz Field. Since 1986, the WPIAL has played its title games at Three Rivers Stadium or Heinz Field.

"We are not recommending that we pull out of the state playoffs," said Tim O'Malley, executive director of the WPIAL. "We don't want to go down that path. But that's some of the feedback we've gotten. Our schools have said if push comes to shove, 75 percent are in favor of not participating in the state playoffs."

The WPIAL has taken the stance that all or none of its championships will be played at Heinz Field. If the title games are not at the stadium, they would be played at high school stadiums.

"All we want is for our kids to have what they have become accustomed to over the years [playing at Heinz Field]," Mr. O'Malley said. "It is a major issue and we needed to gather information on what the schools wanted."

Heinz Field officials have told the WPIAL that it doesn't want six games over two days at the stadium, which is home for the Steelers and Pitt Panthers, because of the wear and tear on the grass.

Mr. O'Malley's comments came after two meetings yesterday. The first was with principals and athletic directors in the WPIAL. The second was after a WPIAL Board of Control meeting. Brad Cashman, executive director of the PIAA, attended both meetings.

When asked if the PIAA is worried the WPIAL might pull out of the state playoffs in football only, Mr. Cashman said: "It's a concern because I think the WPIAL has represented themselves very well in our tournaments, and been pretty successful. My personal opinion is that I think it would be very shortsighted if they choose that route."

The state football championships started in 1988 and the WPIAL has won 29 titles. The winners of the four WPIAL championships automatically advance to the PIAA quarterfinals.

"Looking at the big picture, those teams that would have a chance to play for a state championship would be hard-pressed to explain to their parents and players why their season ends with the WPIAL championship," Mr. Cashman said. "I think there would be some political backlash if that would occur."

The other big issue is that the PIAA would like to shorten the season from 16 weeks to 15, which the WPIAL opposes. That proposal also has passed two votes at the PIAA level.

Mr. Cashman threw WPIAL officials a curveball yesterday when he said only a majority vote on the six-class proposal was needed at the next PIAA Board of Control meeting (the WPIAL has three votes on the PIAA Board of Control, which has 31 members). In March, the six-class proposal and the 15-week proposal were voted on as one by the board, and the measure passed by a 17-12 margin. After that vote, Mr. Cashman said the measure would need to pass by two-thirds majority at the final vote.

However, yesterday, he said the two proposals are separate. The 15-week season proposal is a "bylaw" and needs two-thirds majority vote, he said. But the six-class proposal is a "policy" and needs only a simple majority.

Based on the previous vote, WPIAL officials believe the six-class idea has a good chance at passing.
Mike White can be reached at [email protected].

[pats39]

awww how sad they cant play their championship games on heinz field....definitely a good reason to not want to go to state :roll:

[Levelthefield]

I truly hope that the bigwigs at WPIAL thoroughly think through this decision. Its ramifications would reach much further than just football. I find it hard to believe that the PIAA would allow them to pull out for football only. If the WPIAL wants out, it should be out in ALL sports. Now let's think about this: the WPIAL removes itself from the PIAA because it just HAS TO HAVE THEIR DAY AT HEINZ! What about the kids that play other sports? Think about the wrestlers that train a lifetime for the chance to win it all in Hershey. Or how about the basketball players, the baseball players, or track and field? What are they going to tell those kids? Gee, we'd love for you to realize a dream and be a STATE CHAMPION, but instead, we have to let the football teams play at empty HEINZ! Here's some free tickets to this years games! 4 classifications or 6 classifications, who cares? It impacts the playoffs only, and if you take a close look at which schools are in each classification, you still see the same traditional powers will be competing for a title. The WPIAL needs to get over themselves. Accept whichever way the vote goes and stop crying about it. They want a day at Heinz, buy some tickets and go see the Steelers or PITT.

[Bendover12]

Cry me a river

[Sneakers]

I'd love to hear WPIAL Titan's view on all of this...pros/ cons both ways...as a level headed administrator out that way he probably cannot let his opinion on the topic come out here on a message board but i'm sure it has been /will be known as this all unfolds.

[philip's dad]

You call him level-headed. The only thing I agree about him is that he is an administrator from that area.

[deliverance]

This is a very interesting situation. The WPIAL has had very good teams in the majority of all sports. It would only make the state of PA sports weaker by them not participating in the state playoffs, but it would give some smaller schools a greater opportunity to succeed. Keep us informed on how this one plays out.

[WPIAL~Titan]

IF the final reading of the 6 classifications for football passes, then expect the WPIAL, in its infinite arrogance, to "secede" from the PIAA playoffs. Whether the PIAA will allow this without repercussions in other sports remains to be seen.

The way I understand it, the 6 classifications for football will pass and become PIAA policy.

In my opinion, it would be incredibly short sighted of the WPIAL to withdraw from the PIAA playoffs in football. Interestingly, I believe the WPIAL did NOT participate in the first ever PIAA playoffs in 1988.

Those in charge of the WPIAL and a number of "old timers" who coach truly believe that football was invented here and that the world revolves around the WPIAL. They believe that the WPIAL playoffs are the end-all to every football season, and that all games must be played at Heinz Field to preserve the tradition.

HOWEVER, in defense of the WPIAL, the brackets for the 6 classes, particularly the lower classes, are absolutely ridiculous. A lot of district championships would be past history as districts would face each other in the PIAA playoffs, rather than competing for a District 5, 6, 9, or 10 title. I'm not sure the other districts would be happy about this either.

[southpaw]

I agree that the PIAA will up the ante if the WPIAL withdraws for football. I suspect that the PIAA will say all or nothing as a previous poster stated. Six classes should pass its a good rule and 6 classes will soon follow for other sports like basketball, baseball, softball, etc. There should be six classes for all "team sports" and 4 classes for "individual" sports.

[Coach]

The grass at Heinz isn't that great and it really gets torn up. If I were a kid from out that way I'd be just as happy playing elsewhere. It actually looks really weird since it is so empty anyway. I played in a JH baseball game back in the day at 3 Rivers and it was cool for sure...BUT after a few minutes it was just normal. How about playing them at one of the awesome WPIAL stadiums or Cal U or Robert Morris...Maybe a place where they could actually fill the place. A packed house is the best thing you can get in my opinion. Heck, I even think it isn't that great at Mansion Park sometimes because everyone is so spread out. At the D6 AAA final, I was thinking, man this would be even more awesome if it was played at like Tyrone and both sides were jam packed.