PIAA vs. WPIAL: Transfers

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

Allowing student-athletes to transfer easily for the purpose of sports is something that I've NEVER supported.  It was always quaint thought to me that public high school teams were mostly made-up of players that grew-up together playing in the same community feeder programs.

I also realize that in today's high school sports world, certain inner-city public school football programs are struggling for reasons aside from their rosters being picked clean by private schools or bigger suburban public schools. Quite honestly, if I had a son playing for a struggling program and he had the grades and the talent to possibly get a college scholarship, I might consider moving to a private school.

The good news is I don't have that situation, but today I read a story in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette by Sports Writer Mike White that opened my eyes.  

The story entitled "PIAA foils WPIAL transfer rulings" talks about how the state's governing body (PIAA) has overturned 30 of the last 38 WPIAL rulings against transfers.  That's right, the WPIAL, which is apart of the PIAA, denied transfers for athletic reasons and the state overturned that ruling.

To me, it seems that these two organization need to be on the same page when it comes to transfers. 

I applaud the WPIAL for policing its own, as it appears they have in this article.  

Rules are rules and they should be the same for everyone, especially when we're talking about two organizations in the same state that should be working together.

Click here to read Mike White's story.

Lehigh/Monroe/Carbon Wins McDonald's All-Star Classic

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

While most all-star high school football games result in lackluster offensive performances due to rust from lack of practice time, Pen Argyl quarterback Conor Gum didn't subscribe to that theory.

Gum completed 9-of-14 passes Thursday night for 145 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Lehigh/Monroe/Carbon all-stars to a 48-19 rout of the Northampton all-stars in the annual McDonald's Lehigh Valley All-Star Classic.

Click here to read a game summary from The Express-Times.

Ohio Pushes Win Streak to Four over PA in Big 33

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

The Pennsylvania stars blew a 14-point fourth quarter lead Saturday night and then lost 24-21 to Ohio in overtime in the annual Big 33 Football Classic in Hershey.

Ohio pushed its win streak to four straight over the Keystone Staters with four interceptions in the fourth quarter and overtime.

The Buckeye State claimed the victory when Nana Kyeremeth (Thomas Worthington HS) intercepted a Skyler Mornhiweg (St. Joseph's Prep) pass in the first overtime.

Click here to read a game story from the Centre Daily Times.

George Curry Returns to Berwick

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

Who says you can't ever go home again?

Pennsylvania's all-time winningest head football coach George Curry is returning to Berwick.

Curry, who led the Bulldogs to six state titles and three mythical national championships, before retiring after the 2005 season was hired Monday night to replace Gary Campbell, who replaced Curry in 2006.  Campbell is expected to be named the new head football coach at Wahconah Regional in Massachusetts later this week.

Curry, who owns a lifetime record of 413-93-5, did spend three seasons leading Wyoming Valley West after leaving Berwick.  Curry's record at WVW was 26-8.

Click here to read more about the rehiring of Curry from the Citizens Voice.