MIKE WHITE’S HIGH SCHOOL CHAT
HIGHLIGHTS
Highlights from Mike White’s high school sports chat, which you can join weekly at post-gazette.com. Questions and answers have been edited for clarity:
• George: At what point here does the WPIAL need to make a decision about when the football season will start? There’s not going to be a vaccine by late August and the virus still will be here then so … what a brutal decision that will be.
Mike White: Well, first off, it’s the PIAA’s decision. And beyond that, it’s more the governor’s decision. But why does PIAA have to make a decision on fall sports now? It’s way too early. I think we would all be better off if people in charge of things stop making predictions about things three months down the road.
Zman: Mike, if kids are back in school this fall but there are still regulations against large gatherings, even a few thousand or so, seems to me for football, schools could just sell tickets in limited amount to maintain say 50% of capacity plus bands and cheerleaders and still have decent semblance of atmosphere?
Mike White: Yes, they could do that. I sat in on a video meeting of ADs last week, and they discussed how there are even computer programs out there that will map out a social distancing stadium for you. Seriously. Imagine that.
CV Fan: Chartiers Valley girls were on pace to tie or break the state win record of 64-0. Now they will need seven wins, and lost a key player in McConnell, do you think they can still break the record?
Mike White: Well, they have four starters back who were sophomores last year. Megan was the one who made things go. Call me crazy, but I think Char Valley still might be pretty good and yes I think they will break the record.
D9 Dave: Hear the PIAA might entertain an adjustment to the mercy rule lowering it from 40 points to 30 points in basketball. Your thoughts on a mercy rule in general for high school sports?
Mike White: I have no problem with mercy rule. It’s good. And how about we meet halfway and make it 35?
Hoops lover: Two questions: The WPIAL has moved TJ and Trinity out of the toughest section in girls basketball (5A, Section 1). Your thoughts on that move? CV, TJ or Trinity could have all been section champs in that or any section. Do you think that will help the teams or hurt them with the loss of that competition?
Mike White: Well, geography might have had a little to do with sections alignments. But why would it hurt these teams by playing in a different section?