Folsom Football

Not only did Folsom and Oak Ridge lose in the playoffs this weekend, but their losses may have had longer-term impact. Making the playoffs in 2009 just got harder for our local teams.

In the last realignment, the San Joaquin Section created playoff brackets that contained 3 leagues for both the Division 1 north and Division 2 groupings. Each year, 2 of the leagues send 3 teams and one league sends 2 teams to the playoffs. For the first three years of the realignment, the leagues rotated in a pre-determined structure.

This structure has lead to a lot of criticism. For example, this year a 7-3 (5-1) Ponderosa team did not advance in the Sierra Valley Conference, while a 6-5 (4-2) Rosemont gained a playoff berth based on a third automatic spot for the Metro. Worse, a 3-7 (2-3) Monterey Trail team gained the third Delta River playoff spot, while Franklin 4-6 (3-2) did not get a chance. (While the records are similar, Franklin played a brutal pre-season schedule and has a much higher ranking.)

For the fourth year of realignment, the leagues with the best playoff results from the first three years would gain the third playoff spots. In Division 1, the DRL is 3-7, the DVC is 6-6 and the MEL is 9-4 after the first round of the playoffs. Even if Pleasant Grove goes on to win out, and the DVC loses both of their remeaining games, the DRL cannot match the winning percentages or the total wins of the DVC. Therefore, the leagues with three playoff spots will be the MEL and DVC in 2009.

In Division 2, the SVC is currently 3-8, the SFL is 9-5, and the Metro is 6-5. There is no scenario which would allow the SVC to overtake the Metro with both Oak Ridge and Christian Brothers being eliminated this weekend. So, the leauges with 3 playoff berths in 2009 will be the SFL and Metro.

There is hope that the section may replace the current structure with a power ranking. The way it would work is both of the #1 and #2 seeds from each league would gain playoff spots automatically, The last two playoff spots would then be determined by power ranking of the each of the leauges third place teams. Maybe.

I was reading the Sac Bee today and I saw on the front page a little notice under the category "What to Do". It urged readers to go watch the boys soccer section semifinals today at 6PM at Prairie City Stadium. it's a game that features Oakmont vs. Rocklin.

The only problem is that Folsom's football team should be using the field at the exact same time to practice for their critical game with Sheldon this friday night. Usually Mon-Wed are the critical days for football teams - days when they install their game plans and have their most demanding practices. With a soccer game at 6PM, Folsom will be booted off their field sometime between 5 to 5:30 PM.

I understand that the district wants to make money and one way to do that is to use Folsom's facilities. To have to share the factility with a Vista or Folsom team or band is one thing. But to deny our local teams the right to use the facitlity in favor of out-of-area teams is ridiculous. Our tax dollars paid for that facility. Not the folks in Roseville or Rocklin.

Oakmont or Rocklin could easily host the game. And if you think the crowd is the problem - think again. The game will draw a couple of fans - in addition to some parents. Freshman football games draw much bigger fan bases than varsity soccer games. There is very little gate revenue and very little snack bar revenue.

Meanwhile, rest easy knowing that the Oakmont, Rocklin, Granite Bay and Christian Brothers football teams will not be inconvenienced. They shipped their soccer teams to Folsom for the night.

If you feel strongly about this issue, don't contact Folsom high. They had nothing to do with it. The field is rented out by the school district. I am sure that they will welcome your feedback.