Five Questions with George
MESSENGER: When Pitt loses a game like it did last Saturday against Bowling Green, what’s going through your mind? MESSICH: It really doesn’t matter who Pitt plays if they lose, it bothers me a little. There’s a lot of memories there. I went to two bowl games with the team and I know coach (Dave) Wannstedt very well. He was a grad-assistant when I was there and he kind of took me under his wing. And Pitt’s offensive coordinator, Matt Cavanaugh, was the quarterback when I was there. I’d not only like to see the program win, but I’d like to see it turn around for those two guys who are fine coaches and men.
MESSENGER: You’re one of the most experienced coaches in the WPIAL. Do you ever think about retirement?
MESSICH: People ask me that all the time. This is my 31st year as a teacher, and I’ve been coaching for 25 or 26 years. My answer is simple. When I lose that excitement of being on the sidelines on Friday night, then I’ll retire. Last Friday, I was like a little kid. I still really have that drive and I’m not close to retirement just yet.
MESSENGER: Work-ethic aside, who were three of the most talented athletes you’ve coached at Mapletown?
MESSICH: Certainly at the top of the list is Derek Bochna. He left here and was a starter four years at Penn State. Tim Caldwell as well. At one time, he was Bethany’s all-time leading rusher. And my son Matt. He was a first-team offensive lineman for me at Mapletown, and he’s now in his fifth year at California University of Pa. after red-shirting a year. There’s probably 10 or 12 other players I could name as well.
MESSENGER: What’s the difference between kids today and when you first started coaching?
MESSICH: Today, there’s so many things for kids to do. Back in the 1970s, you didn’t have computers or Nintendos. Kids still rode bicycles and you never heard of a four-wheeler. You were lucky back then to get usage of a car for a date on Saturday night. Today, if you look at the school buses in the districts, they’re three-fourths empty. Everyone has a car. Lots of schools are losing athletes because there’s so many other things to do and some of the kids don’t want to put the time or work in to playing.
MESSENGER: If you could go back and replay one game, which one would you pick?
MESSICH: There’s so many games I’d like to relive between Mapletown and Carmichaels because it’s been such a great rivalry. One game that really sticks out in my mind is a few years back when John Grim kicked a field goal for us with less than a minute to play to put us three points ahead. But Carmichaels threw a Hail Mary pass and their kid caught the ball and scored a touchdown to beat us.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The game occurred on Sept. 24, 2004. Grim kicked a 33-yard field goal with 54 seconds remaining to give Mapletown a 15-12 lead, but Carmichaels’ Derek Maynard got behind a Maples’ defender, caught a bomb from Mikes quarterback Jeff Lapkowicz at the 15-yard line and raced into the end zone for the winning score. Carmichaels improved to 5-0 overall and 3-0 in the Tri-County South with the win, while Mapletown fell to 2-3 overall and 1-2 in section play.