The Study of Sports Podcast, Sept. 24, 2025: A passionate discussion on the future of high school football for some programs as the game become more specialized, more expensive

Date: Wednesday, September 24, 2025

in: Podcasts, Sports

Hosts discuss shrinking high school football participation, rising costs, WIAA appeal processes, respect for officials, plus Mariners playoff buzz, a Raiders fan tale, and a new nickname: “Shut Up Paul.”

Reporter Paul Valencia and sports administrators Tony Liberatore and Cale Piland discuss high school sports first, and we also talk pro sports — Mariners fans rejoice — and a new nickname for the podcast: Shut Up Paul

Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com

While none of us are concerned about football as a whole — the sport continues to be the biggest draw in sports television in this country.

But at the local level, there are concerns. Football has become more expensive and requires a larger commitment than 10, 20, 30 years ago, and there have been a number of high school programs throughout the country that have been forfeiting games due to participation numbers or calling off the season. Then there are those schools with smaller budgets trying to compete with more affluent schools.

It’s the Study of Sports, with your hosts Paul Valencia, a reporter for Clark County Today, and sports administrators Tony Liberatore and Cale Piland.

Our podcast format is simple: A longtime sports reporter (Paul Valencia) discusses high school sports, and more, with longtime sports administrators and former coaches. Cale Piland is the former head football coach at Evergreen and Union and is now the athletic director for Evergreen Public Schools. Tony Liberatore is a former assistant coach and athletic director at Columbia River and is now an associate principal at Fort Vancouver.

This week, we share some concerns for football at the high school level.

We also talk about the process for making an appeal in Washington high school sports.

We defend the integrity of officials, as well.

Then we get into pro sports. The Mariners are going to the playoffs! One Raider fan on the podcast shares an incredible experience in Las Vegas this season.

Oh, and we also bring up a new nickname for the podcast: Shut Up Paul!

We’re always interested in subject ideas for a future podcast. Email us a subject idea.

Send us your thoughts at: paul.v@clarkcountytoday.com.