Area high school teams get ready for football
Are you ready for some football?
Almost would be the appropriate answer as many high school programs started the process with the PIAA-mandated heat acclimatization process this week. Training camps officially open Aug. 13 with first scrimmages five days later and the first allowable playing date set for Aug. 24.
During the heat acclimatization process, players are permitted to wear helmets and shoulder pads for the first two days. On the third day, full protective equipment is permitted and full contact is allowed.
Dan Knause sees a benefit to the heat sessions. The second-year Chartiers Valley head coach recalls his playing days. Back in the mid-1990s there was no heat acclimatization. When Knause played, the Colts hit all day the first day they wore their gear.
“It took its toll on our bodies for sure because we were adjusting to our helmets and all of our equipment for the first time,” said the 1996 CV graduate, who coached at Cornell and Carnegie Mellon prior to his arrival back to his alma mater.
Since 2013, when heat acclimatization was first enacted, most players attending voluntary summer practices have been permitted to wear their helmets. Today, they now have a week to get used to their shoulder pads.
“Overall, I think it’s the right idea for player safety,” Knause said of the week that precedes full-contact football practices.
The week of workouts is designed to “acclimate” players to the hot temperatures and humidity that accompany August and the start of high school football. Many schools, however, have been working out since school recessed for summer.
“We run all summer in the heat,” said Bethel Park skipper Jeff Metheny, “so I don’t really see the need (for acclimatization).”
Mt. Lebanon head coach Mike Melnyk agreed. “Any coach worth his salt has been ‘acclimatizing’ his kids all summer long,” he said.
The Blue Devils really are just extending their summer workouts and getting a jump on the season. Only change is the equipment.
“We work the kids a little more and get some additional time with them but not much more than they were already doing,” Melnyk said. “We get to put shoulder pads on so that is different.”
That difference is critical for teams like Peters Township that have opted to schedule a game in Week Zero of the season. The Indians will participate in the Western Pennsylvania vs. Everyone Showcase to be played Aug. 24 at the Wolvarena in Turtle Creek. The Indians will battle West Toronto Prep from Canada at 5 p.m.
“With us, as well as many teams playing a Week Zero game, we treat heat acclimatization as the first week of camp,” said T.J. Plack, who is in his third season at the helm at PT. “There is a lot of information that needs to be provided to our players, as well as reps that these players need to prepare themselves and our team for that first game. Heat acclimatization provides that for our program.”
Melnyk notes that teams are not supposed to hold double sessions on Tuesday or Thursday during the heat process.
“So hopefully all of the coaches are following that rule and not trying to cram more time in than is allowed,” he said.
In Melnyk’s opinion, though, heat acclimatization is just another “edict” passed down to tell coaches how to do their jobs.
Got your back
Melnyk enters his seventh season at the helm at Mt. Lebanon with a philosophy that is etched with IGY6 on the back of the players’ practice T-shirts. The initials stand for “I got your six.”
“It’s more a reminder of the team bonding that we are trying to create,” said Melnyk.
Since Melnyk is taking over the duties as defensive coordinator, he wanted to create an identity for his team, particularly the defense. He said he adopted the viewpoint from his son, who recently completed his service in the Marine Corps. His son actually addressed the Lebo players during a preseason training session.
“Sometimes hearing the message from a fresh voice, rather than a coach, is more meaningful particularly from someone that has lived that. Our message is for everybody not just the defense. It’s about trusting the guy next to you and fight for the guy next to you. It’s what makes the Marines elite,” Melnyk said.
“No, this is not life and death. Football is still just a game but there is a lot of carry over, a lot of similarities, over battles for turf and territory.”
This season, Lebo wades into new territory as they remain at the Class 6A level and will compete in the newly created Quad County Conference with Butler, Canon-McMillan, Central Catholic, Hempfield, North Allegheny, Norwin, Pine-Richland and Seneca Valley.
Former foes such as Bethel Park, Baldwin and Peters Township have dropped down to Class 5A and will compete in the Allegheny Eight Conference with perennial playoff powers and rivals such as Upper St. Clair, West Allegheny and Woodland Hills. Moon and Chartiers Valley are also in the conference.
SF at USC
Week Zero boasts one of the more interesting local match-ups when Upper St. Clair hosts South Fayette at 7 p.m. Aug. 24. Jim Render, who has 398 career victories, six WPIAL titles and two PIAA championship rings, coaches the Panthers while Joe Rossi, who also has two state titles, multiple WPIAL rings and 133 victories in 11 seasons, steers the Lions.
“We are looking forward to a great night,” Rossi said. “While we wish the game was at our place, we expect it will be jam packed. We are excited to go against them.”
For Rossi and Render, there is an element of drama. Their wives are from the same town. Their first coaching jobs were both at Carrollton High School in Ohio. They participated in camps at the University and even traveled together to Italy.
“We are from similar backgrounds,” Rossi said. “Jim’s a good family friend and a good mentor for me.” Rossi added.
Other interesting Week Zero match-ups on Aug. 24 have Mt. Lebanon hosting Gateway at 7 p.m. The Battle for McNeilly Road will take place at Dormont Stadium when Keystone Oaks hosts Seton LaSalle. Greg Perry, who once coached at SLS, guides the Golden Eagles while his protégée Rob Carter guides the Rebels.