Football: Get ready for 'wacky' City seedings
Barring a loss to Jefferson that would rival USC's collapse against 41-point underdog Stanford in 2007 at the Coliseum, Crenshaw will be the No. 1 seed in the City Section playoffs when the pairings are announced Saturday morning at Santee High.
Beyond that, Carson Coach Michael Christensen said, the seedings are up for grabs at another "wacky" meeting--and that's not the way it should be.
"We're clearly the two seed, but you don't even know that because there's backdoor deals made and allegiances," said Christensen, whose Colts can win the Marine League title on Friday with a victory over visiting San Pedro. "It's kind of crazy."
Christensen is calling for a selection committee to end the madness that is coaches sitting in a room deciding their own playoff fate. Stalemates are often won by "arguments," Christensen said, with diplomacy going the way of the wishbone offense.
"It's one of the craziest things I've ever seen and one of the things about the City that bothers me the most," said Christensen, who used to coach at Lakewood in the Southern Section. "The system has to be changed. Everyone has their own interests in mind."
In the Southern Section, Christensen noted, coaches have no input in their playoff fate; section officials determine the bracket and seedings. Christensen said a similar system needs to be implemented in the City.
"There needs to be some type of committee," he said. "There's got to be an increased element of objectivity as far as using a rankings system because there are so many mixed leagues with Divisions I and II, and the types of teams that some of these teams schedule affects everything."
--Ben Bolch
carson's coach is right. the southern section does it right. let cif officials take care of it and get the self-serving coaches out of the equation.
Posted by: mpg | November 12, 2009 at 11:38 AM
I am not so sure Coach Christensen has shaken off his Southern Section Arrogance. He doesn't see any way that his team is not the #2 seed. What if they lose to San Pedro? How about Venice? Yes, the same Venice team that knocked him out of the playoffs last year and only lost a handful of starters from that team? They were only down a field goal to Oaks Christian at the start of the 4th qtr! Bring Back Gene!
Posted by: HSFB Fan | November 12, 2009 at 08:41 AM
Is anyone really surprised by this?
Posted by: City Ball | November 12, 2009 at 08:36 AM
Christenson is an idiot. Carson isn't the clear cut #2. i guess he forgot about Venice, which has a better record and crushed them in the playoffs last year. Get real dope.
Posted by: Chance | November 12, 2009 at 12:11 AM
The City Section playoff format is an embarrassment. How many teams are going to make it with a 1-9 , 2-8 records this year??!?! Coach Christensen is absolutely correct in asking for a selection committee to be formed to sort the football playoffs. Every coach wants the easy way to the championship without earning it. The blame should be placed directly on the Athletics office that continues to buckle to the pressure of the City Coaches. They need to stop being spineless puppets and do what every section in California does, but wait this is LAUSD when are things ever done right in LAUSD?!?!?
Posted by: JG | November 11, 2009 at 06:58 PM
Coach Christensen"s comments are a bit egostistical and maybe off base!! He's clearly the #2 seed? He hasn't even beaten San Pedro yet! He's better than a Venice that beat him in the playoffs last year? The same Venice team that lost 4 starters from that team that knocked him out of the playoffs last year?.....sounds like Southern Section Arrogance at it's best......bring back Gene V!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: HSFB Fan | November 11, 2009 at 06:05 PM
What? Back door deals happening within LAUSD? I don't believe it!
Posted by: Strait Butta | November 11, 2009 at 05:33 PM