Are you ready for some football?
Welcome to the official blog on high school football for the 2013 season.
During the off-season let’s talk about players, recruiting news, teams and everything about high school football.
During the season each week let’s talk about match-ups and how teams did. Let us know what player(s) stood out each week.
2,248 Responses
@Jive
Yes IC does play Roman at Imhotep. They have a gym that holds 500 people.That should be a good game.
Your right jive turkey the piaa should go by roster size no matter where you live but the piaa goes by how many students are in the school eather they play football or not and thats not the way it should be
@Jive
The Imhotep gym holds several hundred. They use it as both a gym and auditorium so they’ve had the entire school population in there (although it looked pretty tight).
I feel catty playing ic last saturday is like catty playing parkland in districts catty has a small area to get there players from imhotep has a big area just like parkland imhoteps roster is as big as most 4A schools
NASHAMINY
@That Guy Philly,
Roxborough is the prime example of a roster size stipulation. Although they have the ability to draw from a AAAA population, they have a AA enrollment, and they only have about 30 kids that play football in their school. There has to be a way for the PIAA to figure this out. A team like Imhotep that has a AA enrollment, but has an 80 man roster, just like Southern Columbia, probably should be moved up to AAAA. We are just a bunch of fans tossing out ideas, there are people in the PIAA that actually get paid to handle this stuff. I think this whole thing sits in the lap of the PIAA, and if they can’t figure it out? Time to hire somebody else who can.
@rrmark,
I said a while back that classifying by population is probably the best option. I think you are 100% right in that aspect. I also think roster size should play a role. Most A, AA teams suit about 25-35 kids, I’m guessing. They just don’t have the numbers to support 22 starters, which is a huge advantage. If a team has 8-9 kids going both ways, how do they compete against a team running out fresh players every series. Nobody finds it odd that a team like Southern Columbia is in the state title hunt every year? When there’s 80 kids on a A roster, that’s gonna happen. Why does nobody have an issue with that? Oh that’s right, they’re not from Philly.
I enjoy reading everybody’s opinions, we could never have a debate if everybody agreed. I’m guessing you didn’t read the conversation between Jim B, Facts, and I. If you did, you wouldn’t still be comparing Imhotep to a private school. However, if that’s what you think, then that’s what you think.
@Facts, quite one, fwgritty,
I don’t know if you are basketball guys or not. Just curious about whether Imhotep has a gym? If so, how many people does it hold? They play Roman next week, and the game is listed on philly.com as being at Imhotep. MaxPreps has them as the #3 and #4 teams in the state, might have to go watch that one. Just to rub a little salt in the eyes of those guys out there that “love” D12, #1 Carroll and #2 Neumann are both in D12 also.
I’m going to try one last time…
@RRMark, Roxborough high school in Philadelphia is a AA school that is also a traditional district run school meaning specifically it is not a charter. They also have the same ability to draw students from the entire city of Philadelphia. Are you also saying that they should move to 4A also even though their school enrollment is only at the level of 2A?
AAAA
West – Central Catholic over Lower Dauphin
East – St.Joes Prep over Neshaminy
AAA
West – McDevitt over Erie Prep (Going to be a great game)
East – Wood over Berwick
AA
West – South Fayette over Hickory
East – Imhotep over Berks Catholic
A
West – North Catholic over Clarion
East – Old Forge over Steel High
Competition should be apples vs. apples. If your school district serves 10,000 people, you should compete against teams that build rosters from a similar number of residents. Then they can go to male enrollment for further differentiation if needed. Just because a private or charter program doesn’t take advantage of the rules doesn’t make the rules equitable. If IC wants to build a big school team from a big school population, they should compete for a big school championship… no matter if they lose to Wyomissing or Berks Catholic or blow them out by 50. This is common sense folks. Apples to apples. Who in this forum has the right to tell others what opinions they can or cannot express here?
It the same argument over and over.Simple if you starting a football team do you want 30 kids to pick from or a 100 if you have a 100 you have an atvantage,but you still need coaching talent and an overall program.IF this system is so unfair why arn’t all the coaches and A.D screaming to the PIAA.Do i think their holes in the system that give some school certian advantages yes.But their with in the rules.so if you feel so strongely about it start a petitiion and submit it to the PIAA
Jive and Facts
Ok, I am trying to understand this and I think it just clicked for me. Please allow me a learning curve.
It’s the school choice, not the Charter school, that allows for powerhouse teams to be assembled in Philly. And what IC has now, is nothing new. The good players in Philly always flocked to certain schools for years. I actually do remember Gratz in Basketball, and Olney in wrestling being very good year after year. Someone mentioned both of them.
I honestly didn’t know Philly had school choice until one of you guys explained that on this thread. I thought, for years, Philly was full of “neighborhood” schools. Again, I am not from Philly.
@Jive
How getting dressed outside in the rain, sleet or snow.. If you ever visit the City of Philadelphia and want to know if a kid plays for a charter, public or Catholic school; when you see a kid walking home or on public transportation with their dirty practice pants on and carrying their full equipment, you will know they are a charter school and may be from a Catholic school. That is the difference.
No matter how much we tell them Jive, they fail to comprehend it. Do you guys understand that any Public in the city can build a powerhouse if they want too? It would be easier for them because they can receive kids from anywhere in the city. Meaning a school like Washington or King can get a kid from as far away like South Philly (25 minute express Sub ride) and as far north as Chestnut Hill (free public school bus).
There has always been schools that were very good for a couple of years (Cheltenham, Mastbaum, Dobbins etc) then afterwards were not as good. Maybe IC will fall into this category, maybe not.. You guys crowned them powerhouse and they have not won anything yet..
@Jive and Facts
You guys have been on this thread longer than I have. I’m seeing the same thing here, complaining why this team is winning, the advantage of charter vs public vs parochial vs private! When it’s all said and done, the games still have to be played on the field. Good coaching, good execution, and good preparation all play a factor in who wins and loses. IC has no locker room, no private practice facility or training area. What they do have is a good opportunity to play for a competitive team. There are 60+ student athletes competing for PT. And for the record, as for transfer students, they lose more than the gain. Several RB’s, QB’s and Rec’s have left to play and started(All Public/City) at other schools.
Well PIAA fans and foes, IC will be competitive next year also, so what’s the next excuse?
@Facts,
I’ve been trying to explain it, my friend. For some reason people don’t, or don’t want to, understand. This has been going on since D12 joined the PIAA. Aside from a few decent people, it has been, “let’s try to find a excuse as to why that city team is better than us”. Happened with LaSalle, West, and now Imhotep. This whining isn’t the first of it’s kind, and it certainly won’t be the last.
I said no advantage or disadvantage between traditional public and public charters, I was wrong. Traditional publics have locker rooms, on-campus facilities, and most have an on-campus stadium. When it rains, traditional publics can practice in one of the 4 or 5 gyms they have in the school, a lot of charters don’t have 1 gym. Some how, some way, walking to a playground 6 blocks away, in the pouring rain, hoping the rec leader turns on the lights, will be turned into and advantage.
This weekend’s winners:
A – Old Forge, N. Catholic
AA – Imhotep, S. Fayette
AAA – Wood, Erie Prep
AAAA – Neshaminy, PCC
@Jim B
Furness Charter School was 1-10 this year
Delaware Valley Charter School was 3-9 this year
Olney Charter School was 4-7 this year
Boys Latin Charter School was 4-8 this year
School of the Future was 4-8 this year
Gratz Charter School was 5-7 this year
Prep Charter was 7-4 this year
Mastery Charter North was 10-2 this year
Imhotep Charter is 12-2 this year
PLEASE TELL ME WHERE IS THE ADVANTAGE!!
This weekend’s winners:
A – North Catholic, Old Forge
AA – S. Fayette, Imhotep
AAA – C. Prep, Wood
AAAA – PCC, Neshaminy
@Jim B,
Some other schools do field a JV football team. The problem we have here is athletics vs politics. Take politics out of the equation and it makes it very simple to understand my comments. You are hung up on the word charter. When it comes to athletics, charters are no different, in any way, than regular public schools. The only place worth mentioning the word charter, would be on the political side. For some reason those of you that are not from Philly think being a charter school offers some great advantage athletically. No advantage, no disadvantage, no different than a traditional public school.
You don’t agree with my needing more schools comment, however, you gave 2 examples that proved my point. They needed more room, they split the schools. Has Hazelton not seen a spike in their population recently? You can’t build a school overnight. If they sustain their population, I’m sure they will start to build.
Jive
There are 25 teams playing football in the Philadelphia Public League. That is where I got the number 25 from. Do these other 55 public school not have football teams? I honestly don’t know, I’m not from Philly.
Anyway, 25 or 80, does it really matter, though? Either way, it’s a lot more than 99.9% of the other districts in this state. Can you name any district in the state, besides Pittsburgh or Philly, that has more then four public high schools?
And let me clarify, my comments are in the context of sports, not politics. I am not debating why/how Charter schools are here. I just wanted to express and share my thoughts on Philly Charter High School athletics.
Lastly, I don’t agree with your comment about other districts not needing more schools. There are actually school districts in this state that need more schools. Pocono Mountain High School recently split, and is now two high schools, PM West and PM East. For years, it was just one High School, Pocono Mountain. Same thing for East Stroudsburg High. It split, and now there is East Stroudsburg South and East Stroudsburg. I have friends in Williamsport and Hazleton, both AAAA high schools. I hear both of these districts, despite there size, are overcrowded, and deperatly need another high school. But, it’s just not that easy to “build more schools”. So, I don’t see what you are trying to say here?
LIncoln Leadership is a Charter in Allentown. Decent basketball squad but no football.
TSAF77
I didn’t mention anything about “private/cultural characteristics”, because I really don’t now what you mean. Again, there is only one Charter school in my district. It’s an elementary school, and I don’t attend class there.
Maybe you can explain what you mean to me?
@Jim B,
After reading your comment for a second time, there were a few things that didn’t seem quite right. First thing is that Philadelphia has 80 public high schools, not 25. Another thing is, the reason other districts don’t establish charters is because they don’t need more schools. If they needed more schools, they would build more schools. If you read my last comment, you see why Philly implemented charters. We are closing public school buildings down at a rapid pace in Philly, we don’t need more, just politicians washing their hands of the Philly’s youth. One thing that I agree with you 100% on is that people outside of the city have no clue what a charter school is. Let me tell all of you again. A charter school is an independently run PUBLIC SCHOOL!!!!
There is a medical charter school in catty but they dont have sporys
I always joked that Curry should have went to the Vo-Tech school and been able to pull in kids from Berwick, Southern Columbia, Central, Bloomsburg. To me it is what is. If I was a parent in the 80’s or 90’s I would have moved my family to Berwick in a second if I knew I had a child who could play football. Heck if my kids were 10 years older now we would move back to Berwick with Curry there. Not only do you get the best coach but he works to get kids in college. He has also been known to help kids at other schools to get looks from colleges. Not just D-1 schools. Small and big he tried to get kids in college. So do I personally like that these schools can basically “recruit” NO but do I think they shouldn’t NO. You do what the rules tell you that you can do and the rules say they can go wherever they want. Shocking I’m from Berwick and don’t mind it…LOL Listen I can remember being in high school and kids failing in 8th grade just so they’d be bigger and stronger for high school. You do what you have to do. I am a Berwick fan and hope they can win…Though I won’t be crying in my cheerios the next morning if they don’t. I’ll be counting down the days till next year so we can hopefully get revenge! That to me is sports. Learn from year and come back the next and improve!