By Tim Peterson
(El Monte) – El Monte, which started the season with decisive wins over Pomona and Alhambra had to forfeit the two games due to an ineligible player.
A statement put out by the school read “El Monte High School is forfeiting our two games due to an internal mistake in miscalculation of academic eligibility on a returning player.”
The Lions, now 0-2, have a bye this week and will face Whittier September 13.
In the fall, An AD at an average public HS has to oversee the academic and transfer eligibility of roughly 100 football players, 60 cross country runners, 40 boys water polo players, 50 girls volleyball players, 20 girls tennis players, 35 girls flag football players, and 8 girls golfers. This is on top of making sure they all got cleared through a physical, etc.
Not to mention, transportation, facility usage, coaches clearance, parent complaints, faculty communication, and so much more.
I’m sure every once in a while something slips through the cracks and a mistake happens. And when that mistake happens, you own up to it and take the punishment.
Academic ineligibility is far different from transfer ineligibility. Academic is typically some oversight in records or GPA miscalculation . Often these kids are not stars or starters . Transfers include more shenanigans with change of residence etc
Forfeits don’t really matter. You remember the wins. No one remembers or brags about a forfeit win. The cheating team gets to jump around and hug the cheerleaders and thats what matters. Wanna stop this. Cheaters disqualified from the playoffs.
Grim Reaper,
What shenanigans do you speak of?! T. Peterson, I suggest you look into such practices. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
Hearing more and more about how the principal at Mo-Town likes to operate, in both the academic and athletic fronts, not at all flattering.
Hint to El Monte, just put the kid on home schooling and the football team as an enhancement program.. that way the kid(s) dont have to step foot in an El Monte classroom.. ever. Any questions call the Monrovia AD and or Principal.
Thanks, guys. I try not to say or write anything unless I’m sure I know what I’m talking about. I’m pretty familiar with how these things work.
I’d be more inclined to look at it from Bottom Line’s angle if this were a transfer-related infraction. A lot of school-vs.-school drama, as well as personal stuff, can ensue with those transfers…
Bottom Line,
You are really into CW’s All American “teen” drama, aren’t you?! Thinking a rival school would blow the lid on El Monte’s ineligible players!!! HAHAHAHAHAHA
Ron Vrooman, AHS stat man,
You sir, are correct.
Agree 💯 Ron . This was internal issue that was self reported
@Ron it was self reported
@ Bottom Line: It’s possible that the athletic department at El Monte High School self-reported the infraction and was willing to accept the forfeits as a consequence. It does happen, because not everyone believes in winning at all costs.
I sincerely doubt that anyone at Alhambra High knew anything about the GPA of an El Monte athlete. Based on what I’ve observed over the course of many years, I don’t believe that we at AHS have the time to get into everyone else’s business. We have enough issues of our own to handle.
So who’s fault is it?
It might be ADs fault for not checking eligibility. Usually nobody is trying to sneak anything (except maybe the kid) in these academic ineligibility cases
They can make up last years deficit in summer school. Some slip
Through the cracks for a week or 2
So why forfeit pull the kid. No cif rule against it
These ineligibility forfeits are usually the result of somebody ratting out the other team due to a personal squabble. This kind of petty backstabbing doesn’t rise to the level of awarding the offended program with a win. No one player can affect the outcome to that extent. I suggest giving the offended teams 7 points for their suffering, and see if that’s enough to get the W. If not, a different tactic should come into play, like getting better coaches and players.
Get this coach a raise! He beat Nogales in the forfeit race. Impressive.
Reality is often stranger than fiction. I hope this sudden turn of events will help spur the Alhambra team to improve as the season progresses. We’re a little on the young and less-experienced side, so I hope that will be the case.
@ Spot: I believe it is. However, academic eligibility rules certainly exist in every school district that I know of. Student-athletes are supposed to maintain a GPA of at least 2.0 (C average) in order to be eligible for competition. The same rule applies for all other extracurricular activities as well.
Any more games being canceled because of the heat?
Is grades a CIF rule? I thought it was more of a score rule to have a 2.0
Was this an important player or starter for them ? Usually it’s somebody that gets a few plays on special teams ; I guess we’ll never know
We 1-1 lol probably the win we going to get this year aside from beating keppel lol