I think after 26 years she knows a thing or two about football. While I disagree with having an Open Division, it seems it wasn't all her on this. The WCAL dominance has been an issue with many powerful public programs/coaches in the section over the years and the committee which she is a part of approved the consolation format. My difference in opinion is that there is a more practical ways to solve the issue in the playoffs that many have discussed on this board. The CCS did vote for a state bowl, which makes the leaders, not all bad. I also disagree with her on the Serra suspension and probation which I hope is changed on appeal.
Other than that, I think she has done a good job in promoting academics and sportsmanship (and clamped down on programs and their fans that have not shown sportsmanship). There have been some relatively harsh playoff suspensions (e.g., Salinas High), but overall probably only two I can think off (including this Serra one) where I thought it was overboard. Nov 1 still means another football season, so I hope the football playoff mess will be worked out. If the CIF restructures the whole bowl and criteria for selection, maybe the consolation playoff makes sense in getting teams from CCS in a game, but I still think there are more practical ways to restructure the CCS playoffs. This year the consolation playoffs didn't make sense with little buy in to fully participate and maybe not unless CIF changes the bowl format and selection criteria. I hope CCS revisits and addresses the playoffs again.
To be fair, I think she can be said to be innovative. CCS did have an Open division when it seemed to make sense. Good luck to her when she retires. Until then, there is still another beginning to a football season. Hopefully the playoff issue can be hashed out in more practical terms before she retires. I do hope the Serra penalty is overturned. I disagree with this case. Maybe a warning and reimbursement of costs is a better penalty in my opinion.
