At first glance, it looks as though the cancellation of the 2009 ESGs due to state budget problems and the decision to charge athletes a fee to try out may have had an effect this spring. That's strictly speculation on my part, but a quick check of 35 prominent underclassmen from various sports I had figured as logical candidates to participate in the Buffalo area this month turned up only two matches on the roster.

   Rosters are searchable by region and by sport on the ESG site, making it easy for fans to run queries.

   Mechanicville coach won't be back: Joe Loudis, 68, won't return from a leave of absence to coach the Mechanicville boys basketball team following a school board vote last week, The Times Union reported.

   Loudis sat out last season while recovering from bladder cancer. Interim coach Rian Richardson was named by the board as the New York State Basketball Hall of Fame coach's replacement following a 6-14 mark last year.

   "I'm very surprised," Loudis told the paper. "It's a slap in the face. I've been very loyal to them."

   Loudis has won 421 games at Cohoes and Mechanicville. He took Mechanicville to the 2008 NYSPHSAA Class C final shortly after the cancer diagnosis.

   Dr. Michael McCarthy, the Mechanicville school superintendent, confirmed Loudis' departure but said he couldn't comment on personnel matters.

   Pole problems: Longwood High's football stadium is closed until further notice as schools across the country take a close look at light poles following a Consumer Products Safety Commission recall issued Tuesday in the aftermath of 11 serious incidents.

   The Long Island Press reported Longwood and John J. Burns Town Park in Massapequa are among the facilities using poles made by the now-defunct Whitco Co. of Fort Worth, Texas. Eleven of an estimated 2,500 poles made between 2000 and 2005 have cracked and toppled according to the CPSC. The poles are constructed of steel with a galvanized coating, and can range from about 70 to 135 feet tall, and weigh from about one to four tons.

   The CPSC said no one has been killed by the falling poles, but several buildings and outdoor bleachers have been significantly damaged. The commission said 50 more poles have cracks but have not fallen.

   "The district will take all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of students, staff and residents who utilize our facilities,” Longwood Superintendent Allan Gerstenlauer said.

   Though some of Whitco's assets were purchased by American Technologies Group, Inc., in 2006, it appears school districts and other Whitco customers will be on the hook for inspection and replacement costs not covered by their own insurance.

   Monsignor Farrell names AD: Tony Garofalo, 39, a long-time member of the football and track coaching staffs, is the new athletic director at Staten Island's Monsignor Farrell.

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   Garofalo starred at Farrell as a two-way football lineman and track pentathlete and then majored in physical education at the University of Rhode Island. He's coached there since 1994 and will remain as defensive coordinator in football.

   Former AD Lou Baldassano is remaining at the school as a science teacher, The Advance reported.

   UB coach getting results: New University at Buffalo football coach Jeff Quinn is continuing to pick up commitments as he assembles his first true recruiting class at the school.

   With last Friday's non-binding commitment of Honeoye Falls-Lima offensive tackle Robert Blodgett, UB has three New Yorkers (Williamsville South QB Joe Licata, Depew offensive lineman John Kling) and two other players lined up for September 2011. That's on top of retaining most of last winter's recruits after being named Bulls coach after Turner Gill left.

   "I don't think surprising is the right word but it definitely does catch your attention," Jeremy Crabtree of Rivals.com told The Buffalo News. "When you have the ability to go and knock on doors in the spring evaluation process and they know who you are, you have some winning behind your back, you are going to be able to sell some things and that catches people's attention more and more."

   Orange pick up Hunt: Christ the King quarterback Terrel Hunt has verbally committed to Syracuse as the Orange continue to mine downstate talent.

   "Syracuse wanted me strictly as a quarterback, they’re not trying to change me or nothing," Hunt told The New York Post. "They like how I have the will to win, that I take the game in my hands."

   Archbishop Stepinac defensive end Donnie Simmonscommitted late last month. The class arriving on campus this fall includes Xaverian linebacker Mario Tull, Cardinal Hayes receiver Jeremiah Kobena and Canarsie receiver Steven Rene from New York City.

   The 6-foot-3 CTK QB was 86-of-148 passes for 1,187 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior. He also ran 105 times for 533 yards for three TDs.