Jumping Classes in WPIAL Basketball

Football is still king in Western Pennsylvania, but I still get excited for basketball season. It's possibly because when I went to high school, we were a basketball school. I watched from the rowdy and packed student section as my Butler Golden Tornado had two consecutive improbable runs in the WPIAL Playoffs. There has also been tremendous talent to come out of the WPIAL in recent years. DeJuan Blair, D.J. Kennedy, Sheldon Jeter, Ryan Luther, Micah Mason and those are names that just come off the top of my head. Frankly if you watch WPIAL over the course of the season, not only are you bound to see Division I talent, but also some very exciting games.

New Castle taking home their 2014 PIAA Championship

But, I do find fault with a WPIAL rule that, frankly, I saw first hand the impact it can have on a section, let alone an entire AAAA season. New Castle and Hampton knew they had teams who could compete for state championships last season and the season prior to that. When they saw this opportunity in front of their programs, these AAA class teams jumped up to the AAAA level.

Classes are determined by school enrollment, a very contrite policy. However, one caveat to the rule, is that teams are able to jump up classes every two years if they so choose. So, Hampton and New Castle both realized that they not only had the talent to compete in Quad A, but rather the talent to chase a state championship. So, up came Hampton and New Castle. And they didn't lose. That's also not a hyperbole. Hampton lost five times in the past two years. Four of those games were to New Castle. New Castle meanwhile lost only once, to a team from basketball crazy Philly. They took home state titles and were extremely impressive.

But guess where these teams are this year? AAA. How is it fair to teams who were in New Castle and Hampton's section? I'm saying these teams would have been bottom feeders this year. But, instead Section 3 has to welcome in Central Catholic, always a tough team no matter what year. So, how is that fair to Butler, North Allegheny, Seneca Valley, Pine Richland and the others. They would have had an opportunity to finally get back at Hampton and New Castle, but instead won't even get to see them. Could you imagine being a player on these teams and after two years of getting beat by these teams, there gone. And you could have had a shot to beat them. Every competitor loves the chance of revenge. Now, Hampton and New Castle will go play a class down and try to compete. I just don't see how it's fair. The ability to play with the big guys when you want to and then to retreat again.

I enjoy WPIAL basketball. It's just this one rule that's always irked me.

Hot Stove and Other Quick Hits

Nobody Asked Me But...

- A.J. Burnett signing made too much sense not to do. Not too many times does a professional athlete take a pay cut to play another season. Burnett spurned $4 million to play with the Pirates. A move that speaks volumes to not only the Pirates organization but the atmosphere PNC Park and the fans of Pittsburgh.

- I'm very upset the Ike Davis situation didn't work out. He seemed like a great guy, great clubhouse leader, solid defender. But, the Pirates can't have a first basemen who only hits 10 home runs and bat .230 on the season. Almost no brainer move by Huntington and crew. But, for Davis' sake- I hope he goes on to have a successful career.

Pedro Alvarez takes the keys to 1st base for the 2014 season

- With Ike Davis being designated for assignment Pedro Alvarez becomes the future first baseman of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Hopefully the move will allow him to focus on the new position, rather than trying to figure out the old position. Also, hopefully he can hit 40 home runs again. Key word: hopefully.

- The Pascal Dupuis news was awful. Between Dupuis and Olli Maata it's hard to not think how much sports is a minute matter in situations like these. But, I also would like to show how much sports helps these situations. Not only does Dupuis have the encouragement and prayers of the Penguins, but he has the full support of the Pittsburgh and all hockey fans. I think there are times when sports fans are able to rally together and show the general kindness in humans. It's one of the beauties of sports; it constantly shows the ability to create cherished bonds between people.

- The Steelers couldn't have a better time for a bye week. Injuries, on and off the field issues are slowly rising, and the Steelers need a break. Despite the roller coaster of a season, "them Stillers" are sitting at 7-4 and if the season were to start tomorrow the Steelers would be a number five seed in the AFC Playoffs. Not a bad situation. They also have a very much realistic chance at the division. But, hampered by injuries to Ike Taylor, Ryan Shazier, and Troy Polamalu among other bumps and bruises on the team. It's just a good week for the Steelers to sit at home and relax.

- No more Pittsburgh Power. It's a shame I suppose...but in a much more real sense, I don't really care.

LaGarrette Blount: Life and Times of a Short Steeler Career

LaGarrette never got it right. In college, the pros- he just can't seem to get it right. Count the seven months he spent in a Steeler uniforms. He was a superb talent running back. He had size, speed, and skills. If he only had a brain.

Blount signed a two year deal with the New England Patriots
on Thursday for a two year contract. 

Blount hit the yellow brick road and had become the wicked witch of the west for fans of Pittsburgh and inside the Steelers locker room after his Monday night adventure. (I think that does it for Wizard of Oz references) Blount left the field before the game ended after being apparently upset that he didn't get any carries. Well, in the NFL not everyone gets a trophy. If the backup running back is not content with being the backup running back, the solution is fairly simple. Play better.

Here's the kicker for the Blount. The Steelers signed Blount, with both parties knowing that he would serve as LeVeon Bell's backup. They had signed a very talented running back to compliment another extremely talented in the backfield. But, Blount came with backstory- a troubling one at best. He had thrown a punch in a game vs. Boise State while he was at the University of Oregon. He had thrown another punch in a practice with the Titans. He did have a successful 2013 season in New England which led to his two year deal with the Steelers.

Not even three weeks into an innocent preseason schedule, Blount aptly lived up to his name when he was arrested for marijuana possession along with his backfield cohort LeVeon Bell. Everybody gets one mistake and everybody deserves second chances. But, the Steelers kept him around because they felt he gave them a chance to win. But, when he walked off the field before the end of the game he walked off the team. The Steelers cut ties with Blount the next afternoon.

Hopes were high for Blount- but he was higher. (I'll be here all week) He fell short of organization expectations and on field expectations. One of those being actually staying on the field for a full 60 minutes.

The Steelers are on a bye this week and they began it with a "buh-bye" to Blount.

Slippery Rock vs. Bloomsburg Preview

The 2014 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Championship heads to Mihalik Thompson Stadium this afternoon. Slippery Rock will play host to the undefeated and top 10 ranked Bloomsburg Huskies. If the match-up seems familiar, it indeed is. These two teams met last year in the championship game, which the Huskies won 42-38 with a touchdown in the waning seconds of the fourth quarter. Coach Mihalik and company look to reverse their fortune as they bring their 8-2 Rock team into the championship game this year.

Senior QB Jared Buck will command the Rock offense
for the 6th week and the PSAC Championship Game

QB Jared Buck, who replaced Zack Newsock five weeks ago, will handle the duties of the Rock's high paced offense. Coach Mihalik said on Thursday nights Sports Soundoff with Matt Clement, the team is shooting to run 80 to 90 plays on offense, which will allow them to control the clock.

Meanwhile on the Bloomsburg side of the ball, it's an offense that ran the ball last year, and will run the ball this year. Their defense also has a +20 turnover ratio,allowing their offense to set up in close field position.

Slippery Rock color analyst Glenn Thompson expects this game to be a back-forth match-up that will feel like new age old time football. Both teams are run-oriented and rely on their defense. However, it's not "huddle up, under center, and two men backfield" offense. Instead it's a no huddle, quick to the line, run as many plays as you can offense.

Preivew
Site: Mihalik-Thompson Stadium
Kickoff: 12:30 PM
TV: PCN
Radio: 97.7 WLER

Sizing Up the MVP Race

Kershaw's ERA for 2014 was 1.77

The Baseball Writers of America will crown a Most Valuable Player for the 2014 season on Thursday night (both American and National Leagues). The Pirates have the defending NL MVP in Andrew McCutchen. He is also up for the award this year. Joining him is Miami Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton and Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw.

What are McCutchen's chances of taking home the award in back to back years? Unfortunately not likely. Clayton Kershaw has thrown for numbers that have not been seen in years before. (http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kershcl01.shtml?redir) It's hard to compete with numbers along those lines. What does McCutchen have going for him? Kershaw is a pitcher though. They don't win these awards too often. Justin Verlander won the MVP in the AL in 2011. The last NL pitcher to win was Bob Gibson back in the 1960s.

McCutchen's worth is easily measured. When he was injured in August, the team went into a tailspin that included 10 consecutive losses. He was worth that much to this team.

My guess: Clayton Kershaw is the 2014 NL MVP. He was just that good.

Steelers vs. Ravens Preview

The Baltimore Ravens take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in a game that will have significant implications in the AFC North.

The Ravens beat the Steelers 26-6 early this season.
Both teams sit at 5-3.

The Steelers are coming off, one could argue, their best game in the last three years. A 51 point performance from the offense and a career game from Ben Roethlisberger has Pittsburgh feeling pretty good about its football team.

The Ravens, meanwhile, are playing confident football of their own this year. Joe Flacco has been able to develop connections with new WR Steve Smith as well as his go to's in Torrey Smith and Dennis Pitta. Their defense has proven to be a force this year as well. With veteran Terrell Suggs anchoring the middle along with Haloti Ngata, their defense is as formidable as ever.

The Steelers, with questions still surrounding their defense, need this win Sunday night. It would improve their record to 6-3 and have upcoming games against the New York Jets and Tennessee Titans. The Steelers could easily find themselves at 8-3 heading into Thanksgiving. The win would give them room to work within the division as well, as they have already split the series with Cleveland and a season split with Baltimore is the best option at this point.

RUNDOWN

Kickoff: 8:30 PM
TV: NBC
Odds: Baltimore (-1)

What's Wrong With Pitt Football?

After another loss for the Pitt Panthers, another proverbial nail has been placed in coffin for another season. It looks like Pitt will finish with a 6-6 or 7-5 season, records that have become the standard of mediocrity for the Pitt program.

So, why is the Pitt program stuck in mediocrity? The obvious answer is that they are just not good enough. But, that reason is never enough to satisfy the masses. People want to know who's responsible for the team's inability to show ability.

Wannstedt went 42-31 in 6 seasons as HC.
The Panthers are 19-20 since his firing.

For me, it all started back in 2010 whenever Dave Wannstedt was forced to resign. It was only 2 seasons earlier, Wannstedt led the Panthers into the top 10 and had them threatening for a Big East title. They finished with a 10 win season, the first time since 1982. In fact, Pitt gave Wannstedt a 2 year extension to run through 2014. Little did they know, the Pitt Football program would go through three head coaches in that short time.

The Wannstedt resignation was the biggest blow to the Panther program. He was a local guy, who was able to recruit, and was the first coach to get the Panthers into the top 10 for the first time in 25 years. The suits and higher ups in the Pitt Athletic Department believed there was more on the horizon for Pitt Football. Meanwhile, no other coach had put Pitt in the top 10 since legendary Johnny Majors did it.

So, out went Wannstedt and Athletic Director Steve Pederson hired Miami (OHIO) head coach Mike Haywood. The media responded questionably to Haywood's first press conference. The players were even more lukewarm. He was hired on December 16, 2010 and by January 1, 2011 he was fired. He was arrested for domestic violence.This was the beginning of head coach turmoil for the Pitt program.

Pitt announced the hiring of the good ole southern boy, Todd Graham as their head coach on January 2011. He promised to make Pitt Football, "High Octane," and then they went 6-6.

By December 14, 2011 Todd Graham had accepted the offer to become Arizona State's new head football coach. In less than a year, the Panthers would be looking for their third head coach.

Then on December 22, 2011 the Panthers hired Paul Chryst from Wisconsin. Now, in his third year at Pitt, the Panthers appear to going for another six or seven win season.

Stuck in mediocrity.

At least this is better than what Wannstedt would have done. I mean this guy couldn't win the big game!

At least we were talking about playing in big games with Wannstedt. But, personally, I'm looking forward to another trip to the BBVA-ABC Care Care Pizza Compass Bowl.