Fox Chapel, for the third time, is proposing a new alignment that would be based on a team’s win-loss record and roster size.
Last week, Fox Chapel High School’s Athletic Director asked Pine-Richland to mitigate a game, or in essence, a mercy rule.
A.D. Michael O’Brien tells The Big K Morning Show they did the same thing last year with zero fanfare. Pine-Richland won that game 71-0.
“It wasn’t about a lack of toughness in any way shape or form,” said O’Brien. “It was about protecting the second-string kids, even the starters when they get tired in the third and fourth quarter and they’ve given their all and they’re just so exhausted and you put them out there in harm’s way. It’s just a recipe for disaster.”
O’Brien adds he didn’t want a 150-pound back-up to get hurt by a starter on the other team that is physical bigger and stronger.
Even with the new rules in place, the Rams beat the Foxes 63-3.
The new alignment would be seven divisions that would be organized by “current and past performances, roster numbers and a program’s current standing” as well as keeping teams as close geographically as possible.
” All we are asking for is to try and level the playing field a little bit,” said O’Brien.
O’Brien says they haven’t heard back from the WPIAL as of yet and that they don’t plan on asking any other team to adjust to a mercy rule for the rest of the season.