It's Been A While Since I Have Written An Article: Nahki Johnson's Transfer
Nahki Johnson (right), stands next to Pitt football player, Paris Ford (left).
Source: Nahki Johnson (Twitter): @NahkiJohnson
Chris Harlan, High School Sports Writer for the TRIB LIVE HSSN, wrote an article yesterday about how the WPIAL requested an eligibility hearing for West Mifflin transfer, Nahki Johnson.
Johnson is currently a sophomore at West Mifflin as just this past November he helped the Steel Valley win a WPIAL Championship in football in Class 2A. Johnson plays the positions of linebacker and defensive end and recorded 1 reception for 16 yards this past season. He also played his freshman year of football at Steel Valley as well. However, this past December, Johnson transferred from Steel Valley to West Mifflin; but, Steel Valley did not approve the transfer paperwork according to WPIAL executive director, Tim O'Malley. The hearing for Nahki Johnson will be announced at a later date.
Back in January, West Mifflin hired a new football head coach in Rod Steele. Before Steele was named West Mifflin's new head coach, he coached Steel Valley's football team for 9 years. So after the hiring of Steele, Johnson maybe thought to himself "Wow this is nice that my head coach is going to come join me at West Mifflin."
What is really fun about Rod Steele becoming the head coach at West Mifflin is that the former head football coach of West Mifflin, Ray Braszo, got the head coaching job at Steel Valley just a little over two weeks ago. Yes, Steele and Braszo took each other jobs. Life is funny, isn't it?
This is just my opinion; but, it is really worth the WPIAL and PIAA's time to take time out of there day to discuss about Johnson's transfer? Now, nobody but Johnson's family and close friends know why he decided to transfer to West Mifflin. If you don't know why Johnson transferred, you could probably guess a lot of reasons why he decided to transfer. Like, if Johnson wants to play football at West Mifflin rather than Steel Valley, then the WPIAL should let it happen and let him play in the WPIAL football playoffs if West Mifflin is able to make it next year. Johnson's family are the people that had to figure out how he was going to get to West Mifflin High School everyday not the WPIAL. Johnson's family knew that he transferring to West Mifflin was the best thing to make the whole family happier and have a better life. The fact that the WPIAL would try to have a hearing over this transfer is absurd. There is no question that some people would disagree with me on this; but, that is what I think and I usually don't talk about my opinions especially since I am trying to become a sports writer when I grow up and sports writers are supposed to just talk about facts. This situation however, I feel like I have to back Johnson up.
West Mifflin High School and Steel Valley High School are only 10 minutes apart according to Google Maps so if Johnson ever wants to meet up with some of his friends from Steel Valley, I do not think he will have a problem doing that.
Johnson won a WPIAL football championship at Steel Valley and hopefully he could try to win another WPIAL football championship at West Mifflin next year.