The PIAA (Profiting In Athletic Activities) has just announced another idea (oops, another stupid idea) to move teams up for success.
If you win two state championships in a row, you get moved up. Wow. It’s incredible what rules executive director Bob Lombardi and his crew of merry men can come up with.
Let’s steal from the rich (teams that win) to help the poor (teams that don’t). Unfortunately, there are schools that are just legitimately better than others Don’t take into account teams that are just good, no transfers, no nonsense. But no. They lost to Aliquippa several years ago, so they changed the rule to eliminate health and safety. Hopefully the courts will uphold Aliquippa’s injunction to beat this change.
But since the PIAA is looking for move-up rules, I have a few suggestions for them.
1. If a team gets new uniforms two years in a row, they move up. Obviously financial shenanigans and the uniforms make them better.
2. If a team wins all of its home games two years in a row, then move them up. Obviously a competitive unbalance with home field advantage.
3. If a team wins two years in a row of 7-on-7 camps, move them up. Again, just too good to stay the same. The receivers are much too good.
4. If a team wins half of its games two years in a row by mercy rule, move them up.
It’s time Pennsylvania high schools get some intelligent and meaningful representatives. It’s time they quit making fools of themselves.
Wayne Herrod
Upper St. Clair