Steve Bogan
(We asked some local coaches where they saw high school sports/football being in the next ten years.)
“Hopefully things don’t change too much, except for administrators realizing that learning takes place “everywhere” not just the classroom.
My concern is that we might see athletics move in the direction of “club sports.” They will probably use school facilities, and carry names connected to the “area” and/or “school,” … but be separate entities.
If this happens many who just come out for sports to “see” if it for them – will not. And 90% these players have great experiences. The problem is I have had at least 5 to 6 players, per team, who did this and ended up starting for me … and some who have gotten scholarships. If it was a “club type” situation those guys, most likely, wouldn’t have come out for the team at all. It would be cost prohibited.
The answer is for “the powers that be” – principals, superintendents, and CIF – ending the “competitive equity” concept which is flawed, and put “like schools” in the same geographic areas together in the same leagues. It is that simple. Then the stadiums will fill up again because the rivalries will be reborn. … there will be three to four real rivalries in each league, plus a possible non-league as well, which will mean full stadiums and ASB’s with much more money $$$$$$$$$$ to help fund ALL sports at the school – not just football.
When South Hills was in the same league as Covina and Northview, and had West Covina on the schedule (even though they had 1,000 more students), we had cash $$$ rolling into our ASB and PTA because of the filled stadiums and snack bar proceeds. For a few years Charter Oak was on the non-league schedule, and when they weren’t Los Altos was. Our ASB coffers were very full, even though we went through streeks of winning and losing against each of these non-league opponents. In the league now we have to travel way too far and only have one real rivalry – Charter Oak.
This does require that principals take serious the hiring of “good” coaches and schools being willing to fight and compete their way out of losing.
Right now a socialist philosophy is too pervasive in the process – it killed Baldwin Park many years ago – not a good thing. Recently the result is schools like Charter Oak and South Hills, both with similar populations of around 2000 students end up in a league with a private school and others with around 3000 students. Add to that that 1/2 the league is 40 minutes plus away. At the same time, West Covina competes in a local league and their numbers are up around 3,000 students. Are we surprised that a good West Covina team didn’t even get challenged in the playoffs and scored over 80 points in the title game???? When that happens something is terribly wrong. A 3-7 team, us, lost to WC by an extra point (and we had 5 turnovers) and Covina took them into over time. Had either of our games been playoff games the place would have been packed and money $$$ would have been flowing into the schools and CIF. Picture a rematch situation like in 2004 when Mt. Sac was packed. We beat W.C. in a close league title game and then lost to them in a close CIF title game … both with packed stadiums.
When the San Antonio League and Miramonte League cross scheduled it was very competitive and local. If they would recreate that and add some cross scheduling with other local schools in, say, the Valle Vista league I think you would see more stadiums filled up … a good thing.
If not …. we could end up with a “club sport” situation … I hope not.”
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