Even though neither Pitt nor the Steelers play at Heinz Field this weekend, the WPIAL championships are being played today instead of tomorrow, but that is not the WPIAL's decision.

The Steelers and Heinz Field officials decide when to make the stadium available to the WPIAL for rent.

"We tell them we can play either Friday or Saturday. It's their call," said WPIAL executive director Tim O'Malley. "We are elated to have the opportunity to go, whatever day it is. When they told us Friday, we didn't ask. We said, 'Thank you.' "

The WPIAL started playing all four championships at one site in 1986 at Three Rivers Stadium. The title games always were played Saturdays until 2002, when they were on Friday. The games also were on Fridays in 2006 and 2007. But the games were moved to Fridays because Pitt or the Steelers also had a game at Heinz within a few days of the WPIAL championships.

This year is different. After the WPIAL games, there is no game at Heinz until Pitt plays host to Cincinnati eight days from now. But Heinz Field was re-sodded after last year's games were played on a Saturday.

"We never made any request for them to explain why Friday," O'Malley said. "But I would assume it is just to have an extra day to work on the field. It makes perfect sense for the maintenance crew there to have one extra day."

It will be interesting to see what the total attendance will be for the WPIAL games. Playing the games on the same day as the Pitt-West Virginia game won't help. And the day after Thanksgiving is a gigantic shopping day.

The WPIAL usually hopes to get at least 20,000 fans total. Last year's attendance was a disappointing 18,525. Two years ago, it was 24,500, and in 2006, 24,614. The record for the four title games was 39,031, set in 2001.

"We're not upset to be going in on a Friday. We're happy just to be going in," O'Malley said.

Woodland Hills coach George Novak has a chance to join an elite group of WPIAL coaches.

If Woodland Hills beats Gateway for the Class AAAA title, Novak would become only the third coach in WPIAL history to win six championships. He has won four at Woodland Hills since the school opened in 1987, and he also won one with Steel Valley in 1982.

The only two coaches to win six titles or more are legendary. Phil Bridenbaugh won seven titles (six outright and one co-championship) at New Castle from 1924-49. Art Walker Sr. won six titles at two schools -- Mt. Lebanon and Shady Side Academy. Walker won five at Mt. Lebanon over a 15-year period (1970-84) and one at Shady Side Academy in 1998.

All four WPIAL champions will move on to the PIAA quarterfinals next weekend. The Class AAAA champion will play State College, and the Class AAA champ will play the winner of Erie Cathedral Prep and Schenley.

The Class AA champion will play the winner of Bedford and Karns City, and the Class A champ will play Conemaugh Township.

FSN Pittsburgh is televising three of the games live (AAAA, AAA and A). The Class AA game is being played at 1:30, but it will be televised tonight after the AAAA game, likely about 11 p.m.

The reason for the delay on the Class AA game is because FSN will televise the Penguins at New York Islanders game this afternoon at 2.

FSN also will have studio shows at halftime and between games. Former Fort Cherry running back Mike Vernillo, the WPIAL's all-time leading rusher, will be the in-studio guest for the Class AAA final.

• The MSA Sports Network will use six different stations to broadcast the championships. WJAS-AM (1320) will carry all four games.

One ticket is good for all four games today. All tickets bought at the gate are $10. Seating is general admission.

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