P.I.A.A. News & Notes...

[usatf oldguy]

Crossover how can you not be convinced of the dominance of the privates.The numbers have been posted in basketball many times on here. Just the fact that an "A" public boys team hasn't made the finals in 6 years should throw up a flag. I coached track and field for 15 years and watched private schools own more than their share of state track titles.Heck I think at one point milton hershey girls won the piaa AA girls title something like 13 out of 16 years running.Again I believe a red flag should go up.Football is another sport were in small schools privates seem to be the mainstay.In the the 30 something years since the PIAA let privates in I would bet they have won better than 50% of the small school titles(TEAM SPORTS).If one group of schools is dominating across the board they need to adjust a system that is meant and was made to allow schools an equal starting point.That is not the current system.I really don't know why private supporters are so worried there kids would get the same exposure to college scouts in an all private championship as the current system.

[usatf oldguy]

Just did a quick scan of the PIAA site tonight and came up with these numbers for the year so far.In the following sports - girls volleyball,boys and girls soccer,boys and girls cross country, football, boys and girls golf, wrestling and girls and boys basketball ,the number of public team state champions is 4 and the number of private state champions is 12.I feel these are the major sports to this point in the 2008-2009 season.Pretty sobering numbers,these were small school classifications A and AA (golf has only 1 classification). That is a 3 to 1 edge from a 10% sector how interesting!

[THE CHOPS]

Now! that's what I call { P-A-R-I-T-Y } :lol: :lol: :lol:

The Chops...

[wickedcrossover]

Ok,
1. Why is it that way?
Privates don't blatantly recruit, the overall number of transfers aren't that great, tuition has to be paid (granted some aid may be given)

2. What is your proposal to rectify the situation?

3. My proposal would be to increase the overall desireability of the public schools so that parents would have no reason to send their children to a private school.

4. Of course, as most posters on BC seem to believe, most parents are sending their children to privates for sports. Thus, it would seem obvious that the privates offer greater, as in superior, sports programs and also greater, as in superior, coaching. That is evident by the number of championships. Right?

[southpaw]

To respond...

1. Yes they do blatantly recruit. Number of recruits? They don't blatantly recruit duds do they? Only takes one or two marquee recruits especially in basketball to make a huge difference at an A school.

2. To rectify...either have a private school classification or all privates schools play in the highest classification.

3. Finally this has been a topic on BC for the 5+ years of its existence. Nothing really new here is being unearthed. People are entrenched with their opinions on the matter.

[wickedcrossover]

Hey Doc Holiday,
Do you really believe that privates can openly recruit and not be turned in by a parent who turned down a private's offer? Ahh forget it, stupid question.

[once a runner]

Ok,
4. Of course, as most posters on BC seem to believe, most parents are sending their children to privates for sports. Thus, it would seem obvious that the privates offer greater, as in superior, sports programs and also greater, as in superior, coaching. That is evident by the number of championships. Right?

Why is it that the private schools have all their "superior" coaches at the A/AA level? If there are superior programs at the lower classifications, why not the higher ones? Please give us your thoughts on why the private schools don't dominate the 3A/4A levels. It seems odd that that they have many more superior programs and coaches at the lower levels.

My suggestion is to have small private schools play in the 3A bracket and large private schools play in the 4A bracket. It's easy to say that the public schools should shape up their programs. How do you suggest they do that wicked? Put more money into the sports? That would go over well with the taxpayers. Hire better coaches? You will find that most public schools are having increasing difficulty filling coaches positions. There are coaches out there now who never played the sport they coach, but they were the only ones willing to take the job. Great coaches are just not available for all sports at all public schools. I'm interested in hearing your suggestions on how public schools should improve their sports programs.

[El-Moldo]

Maybe that's why schools like McCort take in ANY athlete at ANY age. Salem might be afraid that turning these kids down for admission just might cause the parent's to raise a stink. THEREFORE, Salem will take ANYBODY for ANY REASON, and then let them participate in sports of course. So when a kid like Merriman shows up for 11th grade, Salem will just take him in. And then measure him for his uniform the same day. I remember when Billy Bruce transferred. School had hardly left out for the summer at Conemaugh Township when Bruce was with McCort at Pitt's passing camp. He didn't even know the kids he went with. Unbelieveable!!!

[southpaw]

Hey Doc Holiday,
Do you really believe that privates can openly recruit and not be turned in by a parent who turned down a private's offer? Ahh forget it, stupid question.

You said it not me.

[longball5]

anyone thinking that public vs. private is a level playing field in any aspect is sadly delusional....public schools take all-comers--academically, athletically, financially and socially...private schools can pick and choose, thereby eliminating some distractions and problems (to a point)....different set of rules...

and I'd love to see the reaction if public schools put on their websites an ad to where donations can be sent....