Not sure how true this is but WPIAL rosters seem like they're shrinking at the very least.
http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2015/09/30/high-school-football-programs/
http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2015/09/30/high-school-football-programs/
OT: High Schools Dropping Football
- Thread starter pittdan77
- Start date
This is not surprising. There have been a few current (and former) NFL players who've said publicly that they were steering their sons away from football. If they don't want their kids playing the game, it speaks volumes about the concerns of those in-the-know.
Lower enrollments in general--the numbers in recent years at WPIAL schools compared to the baby boom era when I grew up (and MY old high school--Duquesne--no longer exists!) are startling--plus a greater perception of the sport as dangerous have resulted in some schools being barely able to field a team. If you follow some of the discussion on the Pennsylvania Sports Board (hopefully I don't get into trouble by mentioning it here, as I don't see it as competition for the Rivals network), you'll see speculation that because of injuries that have already occurred, some of the Class A schools may have to forfeit some games because they won't have any healthy subs.
Participation for youth football is down 29% from 2009.
Folks.....footballing is going the way of boxing.
Folks.....footballing is going the way of boxing.
Our district struggles to roster enough players. Heck, our coach left the team mid-season last year as we was concerned with player welfare (seemed like a bogus excuse). I just don't know if there is a better use for the money that goes toward football when out district seems to really struggle with it. I don't think anyone here (aside from the players themselves) would be too upset if they nixed the program. Or, perhaps some of these tiny districts could merge football programs with the local,Catholic HS. That might at least give the kids a fighting chance and allow the schools to have a healthy roster.
we are getting softer from generation to generation, this is no surprise.. Im ok with youth football going away, kids should play the game at a later age.. No reason to have football before junior high. Maybe have them start around the 6th grade age, younger than that seems pointless. Sports like soccer are more geared for kids under the age of 11, gets all the kids involved better than sports like football, baseball or basketball.
Not worried about football at the high school, collegiate, or professional level. NFL and NCAA is more popular now than it has ever been.. Multi Billion dollar industries don't disappear because a linebacker for San Fran retires in his 20's. One player calls it quits early, 5000 players would jump in the spot in a heartbeat.. High school football is down because there are more options, plain and simple..The kids that played in the 80s who had zero chance of playing would rather play another sport more suited to their interests/skills.. So instead of 65 player squads for Quad A teams, they now have 45 because the 3rd string kids don't want to be 3rd string..
Numbers in these schools are equivalent with numbers in the school. These single A schools who are hanging by a thread cant put up football teams, pure and simple. No one benefits when they get rolled by 70 points each week because they have 18 players, 1/2 of which are sophomores, going up against the Aliquippa and Clairton's of the world.
Not worried about football at the high school, collegiate, or professional level. NFL and NCAA is more popular now than it has ever been.. Multi Billion dollar industries don't disappear because a linebacker for San Fran retires in his 20's. One player calls it quits early, 5000 players would jump in the spot in a heartbeat.. High school football is down because there are more options, plain and simple..The kids that played in the 80s who had zero chance of playing would rather play another sport more suited to their interests/skills.. So instead of 65 player squads for Quad A teams, they now have 45 because the 3rd string kids don't want to be 3rd string..
Numbers in these schools are equivalent with numbers in the school. These single A schools who are hanging by a thread cant put up football teams, pure and simple. No one benefits when they get rolled by 70 points each week because they have 18 players, 1/2 of which are sophomores, going up against the Aliquippa and Clairton's of the world.
many factors at play here. Declining population in the region. Also football is a year-round sport now. If you are a kid who has someone playing in front of you and are looking at a season on the bench, you would really be thinking if that kind of commitment is worthwhile and might be better off playing Lacross or some other sport. Plus the health concerns now.
I don't know how the single A schools can survive. Heck Mt. Lebo's roster looks pretty small this year.
I don't know how the single A schools can survive. Heck Mt. Lebo's roster looks pretty small this year.
Going to look "funny" watching kids play soccer and field hockey in these $5 million dollar HS football meccas that are all the rage these days! Pretty short sighted expenditures on the part of school boards, "Keeping up with the Jones" phenomenon. Our district just ponied up that much for a new complex, when they could have fixed the field where they played in town for decades for much less. Then they say they can't buy books or computers for the kids! Priorities???
what school district is that Freeport? Schools in the south hills have very modest stadiums IMO. Went to a BP-USC game last week, despite USC being pretty affluent, they haven't changed their stadium since I played there in mid 90s (outside of turf now). Actually thought how crazy it was it hasn't improved.. Bethel made some improvements when I was a senior (94) and again, outside of turf, same old stadium. Baldwin's was sweet in early 90's but I don't think they did anything in the last 25 years to theirs. Mt. Lebo is under construction, putting a nice "athletic field house" with an elevated walkway for the students so they dont' have to go outside but are they doing anything to their stadium? I am not sure on that one..
Speaking of bethel, they redid their school a few years back and put in an incredible basketball court, they put in new tennis courts and actually have a nice turf practice field (so you may have a point there.)
Freeport, I got to disagree here with you on this. I am not seeing these incredible football stadiums that you speak of, at least in the south hills. I live in south park, and well, lets just say that stadium is, well.. lets just not talk about their stadium.. I look at stadiums in texas and even Ohio and you have a point there but in western PA, im not seeing it..
Freeport District, Highlands, Pine Richland to name a few....I was at the USC stadium for the NA game. It is already pretty nice, and with the number of "fans" there, and the size of the squad, it was "oversized". No need to expand that.
I agree, plenty big enough, a far reach from being considered extravagant or even anything from any other typical high school stadium. I haven't been to Pine Richland or much of the stadiums up north, I could see a recent investment in some of those areas.. Hey, the man/myth/ and legend Eric K is coach there, Pitt's own son, let's get this man the facilities he deserves.. North Hills looks nice but i havent been inside it. There is actually a little restaurant / diner type place right on the main drag there and its on the hill, overlooking the stadium. It would be cool if the owner of that place, made it a bar, built a deck and you could chill out on the deck, pounding beer while watching the game.. OK, im off track now..
Rainbow Bar, across the street from Schwartz Field, "Downtown Freeport"(If there is such a thing), huge halftime business! It will be missed..................
agree to a certain extent. But it is nice that most schools have upgraded to field turf from grass. Those old grass fields were a joke to play on in mid-late October. The Wolvarena used to turn into a huge mudpit and made footing near impossible.
In the district in which I teach, we have seen our 7-12 population decline from 760 in 1995 to 540 in 2015. It's really quite sad that this region is suffering - generally speaking there are many great communities to raise a family, yet few districts are seeing a population influx (Seneca Valley is probably an anomaly to the north of Pittsburgh). Coupled with safety concerns - it is just not surprising. Soccer's popularity has impacted some schools success by taking marginal athletes off the roster. As a coach friend said to me: "Ah soccer...for the marginal fast kid not tough enough for football and not bright enough to be in the marching band..." A funny quote, but not really the whole story of what HS football teams are facing. It is difficult to pin this on any single aspect, but when they add up - big problems are found.
I think the PIAA should sponsor 7 on 7 football as an alternative to "tackle football." I love watching football but its a brutal sport that kids should NOT play.....ever.
Then the lineman can't play! You kill the sport for the fat boys! Yes it's dangerous, but in all honesty, for kids who just play maybe 2-3 years their entire life, it's not all that dangerous, I survived it, I wasn't a great athlete, the worst injuries and dementia happens to those that play for long periods, like pros, doing it into their 30s, I was 18 the last time I strapped on my helmet. Heck, my daughter's JV soccer team has had a torn up knee, a broken ankle and a concussion in the last 2 weeks! Anything you do could lead to injuries. But oh well, I agree the game is likely dying in the next couple decades.
I tend to agree. If HS sports are to survive the budget demands and the flux as kids switch away from football, it seems to be a good way to keep things going.
A few years back Cornell and OLSH teamed up and now Cornell and QV team up.
The time has arrived for a new look ay football. I hate to bum out the traditionalists, but the days of long ago are gone and they are never going to return.
I'd like to see TJ and Clairton merge and go to a quad A program. That would be a nice program, they'd easily compete with the USC/BP/Lebos of the south hills. I'd say Baldwin but I bet both programs could beat Baldwin right now..
Demographics. Population of PA is getting older. Single Mom doesn't want to be bothered with football and thinks it's way too dangerous. Plus, it's getting too expensive to run football for a schools that will struggle to fund their pensions, let alone teach your kid.
Club sport. Traveling teams. But I think the sport's best days are behind it.
Club sport. Traveling teams. But I think the sport's best days are behind it.
Baldwin redid their stadium a few years ago when they redesigned the entire HS. It hasn't seemed to help the football program! I saw it at a 40 year reunion last year and except for the sound system, it looked very nice.
yeah, someone posted earlier that high school football may go the club sport route. I think that is a very real possibility.
You mean only a couple of people will make hundreds of millions of dollars for a boring TV spectacle like Floyd Merriweather fights?
The number I cited (drop of 29%) is not a Western Pa number, but a national number
The Rainbow? Isn't that the place on Police Academy where they sent those two goobers to go "party"?
Your coaching friend was making a joke or is totally clueless on athletes in soccer. I would guess he is an overweight, ex lineman who has to catch his breath after walking up the stairs. One of those guys who still relives the glory of his HS playing days. Oh, I know those types of people well.
Last week the PG had an article on the 6A (AAAAAA) and 5A school proposal. They outlined what WPIAL schools would fall where and shockingly, the Single A bucket still had the largest number of schools. In some of the rural areas like Elk, Cameron, Potter counties this is unavoidable in rural areas but it is inexcusable for districts, especially in Allegheny County and surrounding areas. No way Clairton, Wilkinsburg, Springdale, Cornell, Leechburg, Avonworth, Char Houston, Jeannette need not exist anymore Some of those in Southern Greene Counties maybe unavoidable.
One of the two Precusor school districts (Har Brack) to my Adopted Mother (Highlands) just celebrated its 50th HS Reunion (Class of 1965). That class had 450 kids. Har Brack merged with Tarentum in like 1968 or 69 I dunno. Tarentum probably had 250 kids. So Highlands had class sizes around 700-750 to start. In fact, when they built the HS, it only held 11th and 12th grade because of class sizes. By the time I graduated in the 80's, we had like 450. In fact, during my time there they moved the 10th graders in. Now, they have like what 270 280 per class, and 9th through 12th are housed in the Senior High.
Fact is, when population was strong and much younger, these school districts merged. Now, when the population is shrinking and much older and tax base shrinking, we refuse to merge because everything nowadays is about power and politics instead of back then where people thought more of what was overall good for the community and tax payers.
Fact is, when population was strong and much younger, these school districts merged. Now, when the population is shrinking and much older and tax base shrinking, we refuse to merge because everything nowadays is about power and politics instead of back then where people thought more of what was overall good for the community and tax payers.
LOL, soccer is way harder than football for the strong, husky lineman kids. That was my joke earlier, if football goes away, what will the fat boys do? They already killed most of the wrestling teams.He was definitely making a joke. And yes, an ex-lineman!
I think this is why Ohio has so many classifications.....to distribute the smaller schools more equitably.
