High schools: Serra's Walsh finds support from other coaches
By Mitch Stephens
Updated 9:37 pm, Monday, January 26, 2015
Serra's football team faces Central Coast Section sanctions after coach Patrick Walsh decided not to play in a CCS consolation round playoff game against Milpitas in December.
The last and most important person Serra football coach Patrick Walsh called before making his decision to not send his team to Milpitas High for a consolation playoff game Dec. 5 was his former coach, Bob Ladouceur.
Ladouceur, the former head coach at De La Salle-Concord, is Walsh's mentor and one of the most respected coaches around - not for the 399-25-3 record he compiled on the field. but for his moral compass, one that inspired the book and movie, "When the Game Stands Tall."
Walsh, with the backing of his administration, had all but made up his mind that the safety of his players was more important than possible sanctions, but sought support for his decision. He got it in Ladouceur.
"I didn't think his timing was good, but as long as he had the backing of his administration, then I told him go ahead," Ladouceur said Sunday night. "He had my support."
Following last week's decision from Central Coast Section Commissioner Nancy Lazenby Blaser to ban Serra from the football playoffs for two seasons - among other sanctions - Ladouceur continues to support his former player and assistant coach. So, too, does a large coaching contingent.
Lazenby Blaser, who Monday announced that she will be retiring from her post Oct. 31, ruled that Serra didn't keep its basic and simple commitment to play in a CCS playoff game after warning all those teams in the consolation football tournament that they would face sanctions if they bowed out.
Walsh and his supporters, especially those in the football community, believe that safety concerns, especially in this concussion age, should trump almost all general regulations.
"From the first day of workouts in the spring to the first day you put on a helmet in the summer to every day after you must be vigilant - even under the gun - trying to figure out how to keep your kids safe," Ladouceur said. "It's a fine line to tread. It's the nature of the game.
"Safety is first and foremost in every drill and everything you do as a high school football coach."
That is why Ladouceur gave Walsh his support.
"If his rationale is that the health of his players was in jeopardy, then I completely agree with his rationale," Ladouceur said. "It's hard for all people to understand it. How many people are in his position as a high school coach to make that decision? Until you walk in our shoes, it's hard to make an informed decision or judgment."
Complicating the issue is that Walsh and other coaches were outspoken about the insignificance of consolation games and that Serra and first-round consolation opponent Palma-Salinas agreed to play what was essentially a friendly scrimmage.
Lazenby Blaser countered that the CCS Board of Managers (primarily school principals) agreed on the consolation "trial run" games by a wide margin (29-8-8) in October and there was no provision to allow her to change it. Once a team bows out of the playoffs voluntarily, under CCS rule, it must sit out of the playoffs the next year. Lazenby Blaser thought Serra deserved a two-year penalty.
Walsh's supporters believe a larger picture needs to drawn.
"Hopefully, cooler heads will prevail and they'll come at a compromise," Sacred Heart Cathedral coach Ken Peralta said. "Patrick followed his conscience and made the absolute right decision for him and his team and ultimately, kids as a whole.
"Bottom line, though: Football is not a consolation sport."
Concord coach Brian Hamilton said high school coaches are getting mixed messages.
"They're lessening practice time due to concussions but adding games," he said. "That makes no sense. Patrick absolutely made the right call."
Said Ladouceur: "If the CIF (state office) accepted the idea and non-champions would move on, then I could maybe understand consolation games. But a trial run makes those games all pretty meaningless."
Serra plans to appeal the sanctions this week.
"I hope they come to some resolution," Ladouceur said. "At this point, who are they punishing? Serra, Patrick or the kids?"
By Mitch Stephens
Updated 9:37 pm, Monday, January 26, 2015
Serra's football team faces Central Coast Section sanctions after coach Patrick Walsh decided not to play in a CCS consolation round playoff game against Milpitas in December.
The last and most important person Serra football coach Patrick Walsh called before making his decision to not send his team to Milpitas High for a consolation playoff game Dec. 5 was his former coach, Bob Ladouceur.
Ladouceur, the former head coach at De La Salle-Concord, is Walsh's mentor and one of the most respected coaches around - not for the 399-25-3 record he compiled on the field. but for his moral compass, one that inspired the book and movie, "When the Game Stands Tall."
Walsh, with the backing of his administration, had all but made up his mind that the safety of his players was more important than possible sanctions, but sought support for his decision. He got it in Ladouceur.
"I didn't think his timing was good, but as long as he had the backing of his administration, then I told him go ahead," Ladouceur said Sunday night. "He had my support."
Following last week's decision from Central Coast Section Commissioner Nancy Lazenby Blaser to ban Serra from the football playoffs for two seasons - among other sanctions - Ladouceur continues to support his former player and assistant coach. So, too, does a large coaching contingent.
Lazenby Blaser, who Monday announced that she will be retiring from her post Oct. 31, ruled that Serra didn't keep its basic and simple commitment to play in a CCS playoff game after warning all those teams in the consolation football tournament that they would face sanctions if they bowed out.
Walsh and his supporters, especially those in the football community, believe that safety concerns, especially in this concussion age, should trump almost all general regulations.
"From the first day of workouts in the spring to the first day you put on a helmet in the summer to every day after you must be vigilant - even under the gun - trying to figure out how to keep your kids safe," Ladouceur said. "It's a fine line to tread. It's the nature of the game.
"Safety is first and foremost in every drill and everything you do as a high school football coach."
That is why Ladouceur gave Walsh his support.
"If his rationale is that the health of his players was in jeopardy, then I completely agree with his rationale," Ladouceur said. "It's hard for all people to understand it. How many people are in his position as a high school coach to make that decision? Until you walk in our shoes, it's hard to make an informed decision or judgment."
Complicating the issue is that Walsh and other coaches were outspoken about the insignificance of consolation games and that Serra and first-round consolation opponent Palma-Salinas agreed to play what was essentially a friendly scrimmage.
Lazenby Blaser countered that the CCS Board of Managers (primarily school principals) agreed on the consolation "trial run" games by a wide margin (29-8-8) in October and there was no provision to allow her to change it. Once a team bows out of the playoffs voluntarily, under CCS rule, it must sit out of the playoffs the next year. Lazenby Blaser thought Serra deserved a two-year penalty.
Walsh's supporters believe a larger picture needs to drawn.
"Hopefully, cooler heads will prevail and they'll come at a compromise," Sacred Heart Cathedral coach Ken Peralta said. "Patrick followed his conscience and made the absolute right decision for him and his team and ultimately, kids as a whole.
"Bottom line, though: Football is not a consolation sport."
Concord coach Brian Hamilton said high school coaches are getting mixed messages.
"They're lessening practice time due to concussions but adding games," he said. "That makes no sense. Patrick absolutely made the right call."
Said Ladouceur: "If the CIF (state office) accepted the idea and non-champions would move on, then I could maybe understand consolation games. But a trial run makes those games all pretty meaningless."
Serra plans to appeal the sanctions this week.
"I hope they come to some resolution," Ladouceur said. "At this point, who are they punishing? Serra, Patrick or the kids?"
