Video: Serra football at MaxPreps/USA Football Media DayThe Serra coach and players discuss the upcoming season at Levi's Stadium.While Tom Brady has been all over the news for the NFL firestorm, "Deflategate," the coach and players of his former high school are dealing with a controversy of their own.
Patrick Walsh, Serra
File photo by Ernie Abrea
received a
two-year postseason ban from the Central Coast Section in the winter after coach Patrick Walsh, with the support of his administration, pulled out of a consolation playoff game to end the 2014 season.
Serra's decision was based on the safety of players, Walsh said, but the CCS decided the integrity of its controversial consolation playoff system and bylaws outweighed the coach's concerns.
The CCS has since abolished its one-year consolation football bracket, which according to NFHS officials, was the first of its kind nationally.
"Football is not a consolation playoff-format sport," Walsh said at the USA Football/MaxPreps High School Football Media Day hosted by the 49ers at Levi's Stadium last week. "Others work, but not football."
Walsh and four of the top Padres were invited to Levi's to talk about the 2015 season and immediately were asked about the ban and how it would effect their outlook. They took on the topic candidly.
"It's certainly there," Walsh said. "Like any other difficult situation we need to take it head on and that's what we're doing. … Thankfully we play in arguably the best league in Northern California (the West Catholic Athletic League)."
They also open the season with the nation's No. 1 team, De La Salle, in an annual nonleague tussle before hosting perennial Southern California power Notre Dame Sherman Oaks. The team's 10-week schedule is one of the most challenging in the state.
Said standout senior wide receiver
Brandon Monroe: "We know we don't have playoffs, but our goal is still to go 10-0. We're out to win every game and prove a point that even though we don't have playoffs, we're still going to work hard and keep playing and we're not going to quit on one another. … It's a brotherhood. … It's tradition."
Walsh talked about how, for the first time ever, he knows his team's end date, which will be Nov. 14.
"We know our death. … I think that's an interesting perspective. … If I knew the day I was going to die I'd go jump of cliffs. I'd be swimming with sharks, doing the greatest things possible. … These players, their friends and our staff have a choice. What path will we take?"
