Serra High's decision to forfeit a consolation football playoff game Dec. 5 against Milpitas and the two-year ban of Serra from the post-season by the Central Coast Section has been a story with no joy and no winners.
Serra informed Milpitas on the day of its scheduled consolation title game against Milpitas that it would be forfeiting, later claiming its team was depleted and it had fear for the safety of its remaining players. The CCS, after an approximate month-long investigation, has responded by hitting Serra with the two-year postseason ban, recommending the athletic program be put on probation and demanding restitution for lost monies on the part of CCS, Milpitas High and the scheduled game officials.
Letters sent from Serra and Milpitas high schools to the Central Coast Section and from the CCS to those high schools shed light on the difficult decisions made by Serra and the CCS in the past six weeks.
In a letter from CCS commissioner Nancy Lazenby Blaser to Serra, Lazenby offers her opinion of the situation:
"As commissioner of the CCS, I am very disheartened by the decision that Junipero Serra chose to make in these circumstances. It is terrible to consider and invoke such sanctions on any member school within the CCS and I do so with no joy but only sadness. ... No member school can justify its actions with a claim about its concern for the safety of its student-athletes after its own actions caused the need for concern and which put its own students in the position in which discussing whether or not the game should be played. In addition, no school can impose its subjective value on the importance or lack thereof of any contest on its opponent with sanctions. This particularly true in a playoff format, which Serra voluntarily entered. Serra stands on its statements that this was the right thing to do and that coach (Patrick) Walsh can sleep well at night. There were many options for doing the right thing in these circumstances. Sadly I do not find that Serra chose well."
Financial Restitution Called For
Lazenby Blaser goes on to say that Milpitas High was wronged financially and because of its investment of time in preparing for the game that was not played. She said other CCS schools who followed the rules and bylaws were wronged and the entire membership of CCS schools were wronged "because an individual school does not find the contest important enough."
Lazenby Blaser informed Serra it will be recommended to the CCS Board of Managers at its meeting Wednesday Jan. 28 to change Serra's membership status in the CCS and CIF-State from a member-in-good standing to probationary membership for the rest of this school year and all of 2015-2016 until board action may be taken to restore the school to a member in good standing.
She also will be requesting that to become a school in good standing that Serra "submit a reaffirmation in writing from Junipero Serra administrators (requiring) a Letter of Application; a statement of intent to abide by all CIF, CCS, and, if applicable, league rules and regulations; and to operate their athletic program within the bounds of the CIF and CCS and league mission statements and sportsmanship policies." This will require a two-thirds vote of the CCS board membership.
Explaining Serra's two-year ban, Lazenby Blaser said in her letter to Serra: "The timing of this decision alone warrants sanctions involving playoff participation in excess of one year. Serra's decision to withdraw after notification of what sanctions may be applied if any school did so, adds to the consideration of more than one year of ineligibility of Serra's football team to participate in the CCS playoffs in that sport."
Capping its long correspondence to the tradition-rich all-boys' school that boasts Tom Brady, Barry Bonds and Lynn Swann among its alumni, Lazenby Blaser wrote: "This is a terrible situation created by decisions made at Junipero Serra at all levels of leadership. Serra's response reflects and unwillingness to accept responsibility for its part in creating this situation, an unwillingness to accept restrictions, or even criticisms of its actions in an aspect of these circumstances. While Serra claims to respect the CCS consolation bracket and the CCS Board of Managers, its actions and its statements do not reflect such a position."
Serra Critical of Consolation Early On
Walsh, Serra's coach since 2001 who has led the program to five WCAL co-titles and two section championships, was critical of the consolation round almost from the start. He raised eyebrows months ago with comments to Prep2Prep wondering aloud what would happen if his team played a consolation game and took 96 kneel-downs instead of running actual plays.
But instead of forfeiting its first consolation game against Palma, Serra made the trek to Salinas and competed, winning 28-14 in what some observers have described as a glorified scrimmage, with kicks intentionally aimed out of bounds and bench-warmers and underclassmen dominating the action.
Wrote Walsh in a statement to CCS: "We 'won' the (Palma) game and earned the right to play the following week. The sentiment on the field was that Palma had won and we had lost as we had to tackle another week of the consolation bracket. My very being was being taxed as I was asking kids to lay it on the line for a game that mean nothing to anyone. Our community, players, coaches, administrators and parents were battling with a strange situation the best they could."
Walsh went on to describe how his team became more depleted after the Palma game with players withdrawing due to injury, grade concerns and winter sports demands.
"A few kids withdrew on the Thursday before practice, citing concerns about injuries and indicating their parents wouldn't let them play," Walsh wrote in his letter to CCS.
Walsh said mainly what remained for the Milpitas game were freshmen, sophomores brought up from varsity the week of the Los Gatos game and juniors who didn't play much in 2014. He said only nine starters were available to play against Milpitas and some of them were banged up.
"My only goal of the Palma game and the Milpitas game was to avoid injury," Walsh said. "I realized the second time around, if this is our only goal then the game should not be played. I finally listened to my heart and my heart told me the right thing to do was protect the kids."
Serra, Milpitas Discuss Format
The letter from Walsh to CCS and a missive from Milpitas coach Kelly King to the section explains how the week before the scheduled second consolation game un-folded.
Walsh left a message for King the day after the Palma game and exchanged film with the Milpitas coach via Hudl, obviously intending at that point to play the game. Sunday, King returned Walsh's call and there was a discussion about the "format" of the game, as Walsh put it.
After speaking to King, it was Walsh's impression Milpitas was going to play its first-string offensive and defensive line the whole game because its back-ups didn't know the schemes, but that King would play his sophomore quarterback and some young skill players.
"I asked him what his main goals were and his team goals were to finish the season on a high note and to be 12-1," Walsh said. "I told him I don't begrudge him for that and if I were 11-1, I would probably do the same thing but that I was very concerned, given that my team was severely depleted. He said he did not want to make any alterations of the game on special teams and to play a regular game ... it was my impression that we were to play the game straight up with no substitution plan."
Walsh Expresses Concerns
Walsh said he spoke with Kelly again on Thursday before practice, again expressing his concerns.
"My starting QB went down with an arm injury during the week and my frosh QB would be starting. Kelly said that he wanted to play the game and check in with each other at each quarter. I suggested that I would hold a three up in the air to let him know my 3s (third string) were in the game. I told him that I appreciate him getting young players in at the skill positions, but with one starter left on my offensive and defensive lines combined, I was very concerned. He told me the plan was to take some of the starting offensive linemen and play them on the defensive line since they didn't get a chance to play any defense (during the) year. It was my understanding that his (starting) O and D lines would be playing the full game.
"Friday I called Kelly to let him know that I decided to withdraw from the game."
This is King's version of conversations with Walsh, as expressed to Lazenby Blaser:
"I spoke with Coach Walsh on Thanksgiving weekend ... he wanted to know if we would agree to adjust the special team portion of our game like they had done vs. Palma. Kick off out of bounds, do not rush the punt or extra points/field goals and fair catch the punts. He was concerned for the safety of players. I felt that we should play it straight up. He asked if they kick out of bounds would we make them re-kick and I said we would take it at the 35. He asked about what I about the consolation games. I told him we were using it as extra time to get ready for next season. He said some of his players were not playing. I told him we were starting the sophomore quarterback and that some of our players with little injuries did not play against Oak Grove. He asked what I thought about these games. I told him I realize this is not the Super Bowl and it had been difficult to play in the game against Oak Grove, but we snapped out of it and started to play.
As King noted, Walsh contacted him again later in the week.
"He told me he was not playing his starting offensive line and his quarterback had a hurt arm and would not throw in the game. He wanted to know if we could run the clock if the game got out of hand and I said of course. He also wanted to know about communicating during the game to let each other know about using second- and third-team players. I told him it was not a problem. I told him we were going to play our first group and then follow that group with our junior team as much as possible. I also let him know that it would be difficult to sub out the entire offensive line due to not enough players who can run the varsity scheme.
"I spoke with Coach Walsh about noon Friday. He told me they were going to forfeit and that it was (out of) concern for his players' safety. I told him OK and that was it."
Serra Contacts CCS
Correspondence obviously was heavy after this turn of events. Serra wrote a letter to the commissioner that was signed by Walsh, athletic director Dean Ayoob, principal Barry Thornton and school president Lars Lund. The letter says, in part:
"The consolation bracket was ratified at the CCS vote on Oct. 22, mere weeks before the CCS playoffs were to begin. (Normally), decisions regarding schedules and formats have a first and second reading and the changes become effective the following school year, not within a season already begun. This timing allows those involved to carefully consider the consequences. A primary motivation for the decision was the possibility of the winner of the consolation bracket going to the state tournament. However, this proposal had not been approved by CIF. Thus, the consolation bracket was communicated as a trial run for the state tournament. The concept of a trial run lacked clarity and purpose. Given this, few people understood the rationale, purpose or motivation for the bracket. With the confusion and the late decision, there was little time for our school administrators, coaches, parents and most important, our players to prepare appropriately (particularly as our team was closing in on a WCAL championship). "
Lazenby Blaser Disputes Claim
Lazenby Blaser is not buying the confusion or ill timing argument, as she expressed in her letter to Serra.
"The board action reflects clarity about the proposal on which they voted," she said. "Leagues had discussed the proposed changes at their league meetings and delegates came prepared to vote. There was a normal amount of discussion and questions at the CCS board of managers meeting prior to the vote occurring, but none that reflected confusion about the proposal or its impact."
Regarding the "late decision" Lazenby Blaser said in part: "No description (was provided by Serra) of what adjustments or preparation Serra would have undertaken if this had been approved in May of 2014. Serra had four football games left in its regular season at the time the Open Division format was approved. Serra knew about this proposal in mid-May and knew it was being forwarded by the CCS football committee to the CCS board of managers soon thereafter. How would administrators, coaches, parents and most importantly players need to prepare specifically for the possibility that Serra might be involved in a consolation football game?"
The commissioner blamed the depletion of the Serra roster prior to the Milpitas game on Serra allowing players to drop off the team for various reasons, including a desire to move on to winter sports, or at their parents' request.
Wrote Lazenby Blaser: "Serra's decision to develop a new protocol that allowed players to quit the team prior to the end of Serra's last scheduled contest directly and solely caused the perceived risk of injury to its remaining players. It is reasonable to determine that Serra has a policy that normally does not allow players to quit the team prior to the conclusion of the season without some consequences for that player. This finding is based on their reference to developing special protocols in this case after they lost in the first round of the playoffs. They state that these players were allowed to quit since the consolation rounds would have gained them a fifth place finish at best."
Milpitas Community Reaction
The Milpitas community, overall, was not pleased by Serra's actions. The Trojan team captains said so in a letter to CCS which says in part:
"We felt disrespected and heart-broken. Not only did Serra take our last game as a Trojan, but as a high school player. We practiced all week during a time where we could have been studying. The team and school lost money as all the food was purchased for the snack shack. Our hearts were broken because the last game was stripped from us, and worst of all, the news came only a few hours before the game ... We were all looking forward to playing one last game for coach King and out teammates that we call our brothers. ... We personally take this (as an) offense and something needs to be done."
Said Milpitas athletic director Jeff Lamb in a letter to CCS: "Not playing the game was a huge disappointment to our football players, our football coaching staff, our students and our community. Seeing the faces of some of our seniors once they found out that they were not going to be able to play their last game in high school was troubling. The team had practiced all week and was well-prepared to play that night's game. For our players it was not a meaningless game just because it did not lead to going further in the playoffs."
Added Lamb: "Not playing the game on that Friday was an enormous disappointment and a huge inconvenience to our team, coaches, booster club, athletic department, school and community. A lot of time and money were was wasted on the part of Milpitas High School, preparing to put on an event that did not take place due to the last-minute forfeit by Serra High School."
Online Petition Initiated
The Serra community is not happy either. An online petition started by a recent Serra alumnus is gaining momentum. The 2014 Padre team captains also wrote a letter to CCS that says in part:
"As players and leaders of the storied Serra football program, we believe that the idea of putting one's body in harm's way for a 'trial run' is ludicrous. Furthermore, the mentality of playing for fifth place will never be accepted do long as this program remains in existence."
Serra will have an opportunity to appeal the sanctions by CCS, according to the section's press release.
