H.S. forced to forfeit playoff berth after illegally filming opponent
The football coaches at South Pasadena (Calif.) High School or a big supporter allegedly tried a move right out of Bill Belichick's playbook. Unfortunately, they weren't copycatting the legendary NFL coach's best calls, and their decision cost their players a spot in the state playoffs.
South Pasadena is accused of illegally filming La Canada High School's practice without LCHS' permission.
La Canada's principal alerted South Pasadena's principal on Thursday, reports the San Gabriel Valley Tribune. Their Friday game should have determined a state playoff berth. Instead, the principals decided on the forfeit prior to kickoff. They let the teams play because it was La Canada's homecoming game.
South Pasadena won in convincing fashion, 21-3. The players celebrated, thinking they'd made the playoffs for the first time since 2003. As their bus arrived back at their school, though, the principal was there to explain that they actually had to forfeit.
On Monday she sent a letter to parents explaining that they'd found sufficient evidence that the coaches had violated state rules.
The letter did not name who filmed the practice. According to the SGV Tribune, it was either head coach Marty Konrad, one of his assistant coaches, or Konrad's brother, who is not part of the coaching staff. The coaches did not respond to the paper, but one parent told the Tribune that Konrad denies the allegations.
It's sad to think of the players celebrating even though their coach's actions were about to take that victory away. The principal has taken flack for not telling them before the game, but she said she wanted the players to play out their season.
“It was a tremendous accomplishment,” she told the Tribune's Fred Robledo. “We made it very clear that none of the players’ actions were part of the alleged violation. It was very tough. But I do commend every single one of them for not blaming anyone and accepting it. They were shocked. It was emotional.”
