Just about every college football team has one and some pro teams have one. This season, all high school teams in Pennsylvania better have one.

One what? A get back coach.

For those not familiar with the finer points of the game a get back coach is the assistant who yells at the players standing on the sideline to "get back away from the field." He's important this year because of a new rule. And he isn't yelling at just the players.

There is a coach's box off the sideline where coaches had been allowed to roam. This year, only three coaches are allowed in the box when the ball is not in play. When play begins, those coaches must be 3 yards off the sideline just like the players.

The rule is part of a safety measure to keep game officials running down the sideline while following a play from colliding with coaches or players who are standing on the sideline.

The first violation is a sideline warning. The second is a 5-yard penalty and the third and every one after that is a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on a team's head coach.

That's why the get back coach has become an important man. No team wants to be hit with a 5-yard penalty because coaches or players are standing too close to the field.

Quaker Valley coach Jeff Besong said his team got its first official sideline warning this past Friday.

"The [officials] the first game were pretty good about things the guys this past week were watching for it," Besong said. "But I understand why they did it. I have a tendency to wonder out onto the field."

Besong said he was involved in a sideline crash a couple years ago.

"It was on a kick return and I'm running down the sideline and didn't see [the official]," he said. "I went flying and I thought I broke my collarbone. I was sore for a while."

The sideline rule was instituted by the National Federation of High School Associations after an incident in Texas. An official ran into a high school coach while following the action and the coached filed a law suit. The law suit was thrown by a judge but the national federation decided to try and protect officials.

"It's tough for us because we have like 14 coaches," Besong said. "Coach [Dan] O'Neill is our get back coach because he's the most vocal."

While fans have been impressed with the job Jordan Latimer has done at Sto-Rox subbing for injured quarterback Paul Jones. There is another replacement signal caller who has been playing well.

Quaker Valley sophomore Augie Luptak has done a good job filling in for injured junior Pat Conlan, who was hurt in the first game. Conlan is out four-to-five weeks with a sprained MCL. The injury won't require surgery.

"He did it on the third play of the first game," Besong said. "Can you believe it. Pat's such a good player and he's the reason we brought in [assistant coach] Ron Butschle to put in a spread offense to use Pat's ability ... and then he goes down."

Despite the fact Quaker Valley is 0-2, Luptak has completed 20 of 33 passes for 227 yards and two scores. His touchdown passes came in a loss to South Fayette last Friday. He also intercepted two passes in that game.

"He was one of our slot receivers, one of Pat's go-to guys," Besong said of Luptak. "Putting him at quarterback means we now have six sophomore starters on offense."

The Quakers have just two senior starters. The roster has 24 sophomores and Besong said there is a strong freshman group behind them.

"If we can get through the next couple of games we should be OK," Besong said. "Our toughest games are all at the start of the season."

By the way, Quaker Valley entertains Sto-Rox (2-0) tomorrow night and then takes on Seton-LaSalle (2-0) the following week.

Seneca Valley first-year coach Don Holl knew his Raiders would be in for a tough game last Friday when they played at Erie McDowell. That's because Holl grew up in Erie and played for Cathedral Prep, McDowell's main rival.

McDowell plays in the Class AAAA Foothills Conference this season, but is not eligible for the playoffs. Depending on how many teams the WPIAL has in Class AAAA next year, this could be the last season McDowell plays a predominately WPIAL schedule.

Altoona and Hollidaysburg will join the WPIAL in 2010 as football-only members. If the WPIAL has an even number of Quad-A teams next year and does not need McDowell for scheduling purposes the Spartans could be on the outside looking in.

For those not headed to the Upper St. Clair at North Allegheny game or the Fox Chapel at Franklin Regional contest tomorrow evening, here are a couple other games to check out:

Hampton (1-1) travels to take on Shaler (2-0), North Hills (1-1) entertains Bethel Park (2-0) at Martorelli Stadium in West View and North Catholic (1-1) plays host to Springdale (2-0) at J.C. Stone Field in North Park.