Butler football involved in dispute with WPIAL
BUTLER TWP — The Butler High School football program plans to play an independent schedule this fall, but the WPIAL plans on the Golden Tornado rejoining Class 6A football in the district.
“They believe our return to WPIAL football this year was part of our court settlement (in 2022),” Butler athletic director Bill Mylan said.
Butler has a 10-game independent schedule prepared, including five home games, for 2024. A few Pittsburgh City League schools, two schools in West Virginia, and other independent high school football teams are on that schedule.
Football teams electing to play an independent schedule find their own opponents, have no affiliation with any PIAA district and are not eligible for postseason play.
The WPIAL website has Butler listed as one of eight teams in its 6A division for the coming season, joining Canon-McMillan, Central Catholic, Hempfield, Mt. Lebanon, North Allegheny, Norwin and Seneca Valley.
When asked if the WPIAL is trying to force Butler to return to the league, Mylan simply answered: “Yes.”
Where the dispute goes from here is unknown.
“This could go in a number of directions,” Mylan said. “Right now, our solicitor is talking with the PIAA lawyers. We may wind up being forced to play in the WPIAL, a compromise could be reached, we could end up going back in court over this … Who knows where it’s going to go?
“We know what we want to do this season (play an independent schedule), and we’ve told the WPIAL what we want to do. We’ll see what happens from here.”
Butler football played in District 10 from 2020 to 2023, reaching the playoffs twice. The Tornado began the 2023 season with an 87-player roster, freshmen through seniors.
The last two years Butler played in the WPIAL — 2018 and 2019 — the team finished 0-10. The 2019 season included losses to Mt. Lebanon, Pine-Richland, Seneca Valley, Norwin, North Allegheny and Central Catholic by an average margin of 45 points.
Butler had 28 rostered players at the end of the 2019 season.
Representatives from WPIAL declined multiple requests for comment Tuesday.
