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Changes could be near for PIAA football playoffs

Sorry, folks, but the PIAA football issue at hand is not about possibly creating a playoff system that separates public and private schools. That division, as we all know, might never be seriously discussed.

Sorry, folks, but the PIAA football issue at hand is not about possibly creating a playoff system that separates public and private schools. That division, as we all know, might never be seriously discussed.

What's on the table now is a proposal to expand the PIAA football playoffs from four to six classifications.

It was presented by Bob Tonkin, a member of District 9's football steering committee, with the primary goal of creating a more level playing field.

"It's really in the infancy stage at this point," said Michael A. Barber, District 1's chairman.

"We've had some preliminary talks about it."

The 16-page proposal also recommends shortening the football season from 16 to 15 weeks.

Last year's titles games in Hershey were held the second weekend in December.

What is the likelihood of the plan's ultimately being approved by the PIAA's board of directors and taking effect in 2016?

"It's kind of too early to tell," Barber said.

The proposal for the state's 581 football schools was expected to be a topic of discussion at this weekend's Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association (PSFCA) meeting at Penn State.

It first has to be reviewed by a strategic planning committee in March and then, possibly, passed on to the board of directors in May. The board could approve the format, shoot it down, or ask for modifications.

"This is certainly a step in the right direction," said West Chester Henderson coach Steve Mitten, whose squad is one of District 1's smallest Class AAAA members.

In District 1 for 2014 and 2015, there are 44 schools in Class AAAA football. The smallest member, based on the most recent PIAA enrollment numbers, is Oxford (502 male students). The largest is North Penn (1,861).

Henderson, with an enrollment of 514, defeated North Penn, 40-13, in the first round of the 16-team District 1 AAAA playoffs last season.

"There's always going to be exceptions to the rule," Mitten said. "But over the years the much larger school wins the majority of the time."

The PIAA's current four-classification numbers: 493 and more students in AAAA; 300 to 492 in AAA; 175 to 299 in AA; and 174 and below in A.

If six classes were established, here is a possible breakdown produced by Cam Melchiorre, Berwick High's unofficial historian: 608 and more students in AAAAAA (94 state schools); 410 to 607 in AAAAA (97); 301 to 409 in AAAA (98); 210 to 300 in AAA (98); 148 to 209 in AA (97): and 147 and below in A (97).

In District 12, that would put La Salle (835) and two-time defending Class AAAA state champ St. Joseph's Prep (717) in AAAAAA. Archbishop Wood (447), which has won three of the last four AAA titles, would land in AAAAA.

Under the proposal, as is the case now, teams can opt to compete in a larger classification.

In 2009, a similar proposal reached the PIAA's board of directors before being voted down by 15-13. From a possible 31 voters (District 1 and 12 each have two votes), a two-thirds majority is needed for approval.

In Pittsburgh (District 7), there is especially strong opposition to expansion.

Representatives of the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) covet their one-day district championship round at Heinz Field, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

But in District 1, where the gap in AAAA is especially wide, many are crossing their fingers that the proposal has strong and lasting legs.