videoman: Mike - is this the most absurd story you've ever covered? The videotaping one I mean

Mike White: In over 25 years of covering high schools for PG, it might be the most absurd. But I've had some other crazy ones. But remember, we had a parent come out of the stands at a Hampton basketball game a few years ago , body slam the official and put him in the hospital. That's pretty crazy, too. But through my job and doing some coaching on the side, I've come to learn this: Never be surprised what wacky things parents do in sports.

cheerleader: Mike - between the Sunseri story, Marcel Farrish, the kid from Buffalo, and now the videotaping -- are HS sports starting to mirror the crap we don't like about the pro leagues? How disturbing is this trend?

Mike White: It has indeed been an interesting football season so far. Everything has a trickle down effect from the pros, everything from style of play (more passing) to bling. But high school sports is big and important to many people. Unfortunately, sometimes people lose sight of the big picture and what high school sports is "supposed" to be about. However, plenty of great things are still in high school sports around here.

cheerleader: What is the worst cheating/unethical thing you've ever covered?

Mike White: I'd have to think about it, but it would be tough to top this. Although I do remember in the 1980s, I did a story in the Post-Gazette North about an American Legion team. I had dealings with their coach in the past. I knew they were playing in a tournament in Ohio. I called the coach when they got back. He told me the team won the tournament, gave me scores and highlights from some of the game. I did a PG North story on it. But he made it all up. The team didn't win the tournament. Didn't even get to the semifinals. So that's up there with the best of them. He got exposed a short time later.

videoman: This seems to be a bad thing on a national level from little league on up -- has it always been this way (i.e. was it just never covered) or has there been a degeneration?

Mike White: Parents are much worse today than they were 30-40 years ago. However, parents did idiotic things back then, too. I played a lot of basketball in my younger years. I remember one of my teammates in elementary school got into a little shoving match with a player from the other team. A parent came out of the stands and jumped on my teammate and grabbed him around the neck. That was about 30 years ago. So, you see, there have been knucklehead sports parents for years. It's just there are more of them now, and they get exposed more. The Shenango story is all over the internet. That wouldn't have happened 25 years ago.

gridiron: Big games this Friday??

Mike White: Central Catholic at Woodland Hills, Hopewell at Blackhawk, Moon at Thomas Jefferson. Good one Saturday afternoon is Clairton and Duquesne. Always interesting when these two get together, no matter the sport. gridiron: So what is the best part of HS sports? Are they maybe over emphasized a little too much though?

Mike White: There are many good things about high school sports. Are they overemphasized? Yes, by some people. But there are people out there who do "get it" and understand what high school sports is about.

DaveC: How is it humanly possible for one kid to get 430 total yards in a 24-minute half of football?

Mike White: You're talking about Max Suter of Greensburg Central Catholic. Actually, it wouldn't be all that hard, considering this: Greensburg Central and Suter are very good. Brownsville, their opponent, is very, very bad. A couple long touchdown runs, a long kickoff return and a long punt return, and suddenly the yardage total is high. I saw Greensburg Central play East Allegheny the first week. It was kind of the same thing. 50-0 at halftime. It was hard for GCC "not" to score every time they had the ball. Some Class A and AA teams are very overmatched when they play a really good team.

lebopride: Should the Central Catholic-Woody High game be dubbed the "Transfer Bowl"?

Mike White: Guess that's supposed to be a joke.

VIC: You ever tape your kids practices?

Mike White: What? I have taped some kids at my "own" baseball practices taking batting practice. Just to examine their swings.

gridiron: More on those good things -- what coaches/districts (and I guess boosters clubs for that matter) run the highest integrity outifts?

Mike White: There are many coaches who have integrity. Most do. I can't sit here and name coaches and schools. I'm sure there are many coaches who are really good guys in whatever the sport.

lebopride: Well, maybe a smarmy remark. But not a joke.

Mike White: Whatever.

VIC: Was joking. I meant their opposition's practice!

Mike White: No, I've never filmed an opposition's practice.

lebopride: Who is worse in these situations? Parents? Coaches?

Mike White: Depends on the situation. Of course some coaches have done some dumb things.

woobie: What is the best football district in the state and why? The worst?

Mike White: That's hard to say because they all vary so much in number of schools. Obviously WPIAL is very good and has most state titles, but it also is the biggest district, by far. The coal region area near Berwick, Southern Columbia, Mount Carmel is very, very good for football in many classes. They are in Districts 2 and 4.

VIC: Obviously there is nothing legally wrong with the practice filming, but ethically it stinks. Do you think people confuse the two too often these days?

Mike White: No. I know the guy didn't break any "laws" filming Mars' practice. But only a moron would think it was OK.

bill: I still don't understand what the arrangement is with the Philly Catholic League ...

Mike White: There is no arrangement with the Philly Catholic League. They are not part of the PIAA. They have their own championships and are not part of PIAA playoffs. The Philadelphia Public League is, however, part of the PIAA and is included in postseason playoffs. PIAA has talked with Catholic League officials about possibly joining, though. bill: I guess that is my question - why are they not in the PIAA?

Mike White: In the past, Catholic League has not wanted to be part of PIAA and feeling has been mutual. A lot of recruiting and moving around goes on in Catholic League in Philly. They would have to change some things to be part of PIAA.

woobie: What about the worst football district, Mike. District 9 or some region out east?

Mike White: Yes, I'd have to say Dist. 9 would have to be up there among the "not so good" ones. But you have to remember, they have mostly A and AA schoools up there. But don't forget about Smethport. They did beat a WPIAL champion (Rochester) in the state semifinals in the early 1990s. Smethport is a District 9 team.

woobie: Is Hampton's Pazkorz going to play RB at Notre Dame?

Mike White: He was recruited to play linebacker. However, Paskorz told me that Charlie Weis told him that they might, I stress might, give him a look at running back. But he was recruited to play LB

lebopride: Here's a question - from a strategy standpoint, how important are coaches in HS football? Obviously they are important in discipline and motivation, but how many truly do novel, creative insightful things with the game planning? it seems at that level, you either have horses or you don't ...

Mike White: I agree with you on having the horses. But high school coaches are definitely important in strategy. Some of these guys are pretty sharp. Some aren't too sharp (ha ha.). I can tell you this. I've talked to college coaches over the years who recruit this area and they all say one of the best things about Western Pennsylvania is the coaching. They won't say this on the record, but they will tell you it's a lot, lot better coaching here than in Florida.

DaveC: Speaking of recruits, what big WPIAL names are going to Penn State?

Mike White: Penn State has two WPIAL recruits. Nick Sukay, WR-DB, from Greensburg C.C., and also Gateway's Jon Ditto, who could be a WR, TE or Hback at Penn State. They also are one of three finalists for Rochester WR-DB Derek Moye (so is Pitt) and I think they have a pretty good shot at getting Central Catholic lineman Stefen Wisniewski.

videoman: So who are some of the innovators you can name?

Mike White: I don't know if I'd call them innovators because a lot of stuff you see in high school is what they get from colleges. But North Allegheny's Art Walker has done some nice offensive things at Central Catholic and NA. Jim Render is not an innovator, but he keeps winning at USC with one of the smallest schools in Quad-A. Heck, McKeesport coach George Smith keeps winning with an offense that pretty much nobody runs any more -- the triple option. He's kind of perfected the thing. Bob Palko has done some nice things at West Allegheny offensively when he had the personnel. Those are a few.

DaveC: Thanks Mike - good chat!

Mike White: Thanks to all of you. I appreciate the interest and feedback. See ya next week. Keep your camcorders at home.