Based on what was presented at the CCS meeting on Wednesday (and no decisions were final), Palma will never see Division IV again as long as it wins the league title -- which it has done 25 out of the last 28 years.
Meaning if it automatically gets bumped into the Open Division, it will never have a chance to play for a state title unless it wins the Open Division and gets a Northern California Division I regional game.
Remember, based on enrollment, Palma is a Division III school for state purposes.
And the Open spot from Northern California is always going to be De La Salle.
John Devine has been writing about high school sports in Monterey County since, well, practically since he was an athlete at King City in the days just after leather helmets. In PrepNation, John has even more in-depth analysis of the latest results and news he's brought to you in The Herald and in his weekly videos.
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4 comments:
The fact that the CCS Open champion has to play in either the Open Division or D1 Division at the state bowl level is a CIF rule. It does not seem that it would be too difficult to convince CIF that the CCS Open champion should be eligible for a state bowl bid at their enrollment size. There is no logical reason why that should not be true. I'll be curious to see if schools like VC and Palma enlist Commissioner Blaser to petition CIF to get this rule changed.
"Commissioner" Blaser has shown nothing but spite towards Palma and VC. She backed this CIF Open/D1 rule being put into plce in the first place. Will she even show up to present Palma as a DIII candidate?
What a mess. As far as I'm concerened, the CCS opt-up or stay down thing was fine the way it was. It's the CIF that needs to accept the way the CCS does things and not keep a DIII (or II) sized team who wins a higher section title out of the lower division bowl games. Why didn't the CCS petition to CIF to see if this could be changed before messing around with the section's already existing format?
There are only 4 D1 section playoff divisions in northern CA considered for the state Open and D1 bowl as it is. NCS D1 (DLS), CCS Open (Bells), CCS D1 (Serra) and SJ D1 (Granite Bay). The state bowl can come from any divison, but in most years the state bowl northern CA Open divivon play in will be NCS 1 (DLS) and one of CCS Open, SJ D1, and proably SJ D2 (DelOro) or SJ D3 (Vacaville)..this year Marin Ctholic in NCS D3 would be considered over Vacaville (due to thyeir win over Vaca high). Bells would probably go against DLS this year in Open if there was playin, but in many years it could be a team like Grant (SJ D1) or St Mary's-Stockton (SJ D1). So there would be many years the CCS Open divivon winner wouldn't face DLS. In strong years, the open champ would play DLS and that is okay. To be th best in CA, you have to go through the best. Don't think any other coach would want it any other way in th state bowl. In D1, if a Palma got through that game, they would go against a very good Socal team, but Palo Alto did that last year. For the most part, the games have been relatively competitive for norcal teams. In gret years, Palma can compete at a very high level.They probably should play in D1. Poblem is the NCS has the ability to have a more competive D3 because of more teams and quality teams. CCS could have a very competitive D3 if they just had D1-D4 and you would get the VCs, SHC, Palma in that division, but then the publics or not so strong privates would have to face those teams. CCS would dilute it's chance to get a bid in both the Open and D1 (because one D1 division would be eliminated,bbut the state Open can still pull teams from lower divisions). Palma is at a disadvantage of a state title compared to the NCS D3 teams, but truthfully...if you are to win a state title 3 is missing many of the best socal D3 teams like Oaks Christian and St Bonnaventure that were bumped up as well like Palma. D3 state bowl title isn't as pretigeous as a D2, D1 or Open state title that has the states best teams. Palma should be competiting in the CCS op divivon when it wins league. If they lose league, they will be placed by enrollment and have a good shot at getting in the bowl as long as they have a strong nonleague schedule (win against Cardinal Newman and schedule marin Catholic or other top teams). The once in a while second in league ould still put them in hgh considertion. This year BCS was very strong. Not always the case where two undefeated teams face off for title.
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