Kurtenbach: Decision to postpone fall sports was predictable and just — but was it fair to the athletes?
Bad policy, bad information, bad actors, and bad luck brought us to this moment. No one is to blame, and yet everyone is responsible for the fact that high school football will be postponed — at best — in California this season.
As COVID-19 cases continue to increase around the state and with in-school instruction in serious jeopardy, Monday’s decision by the California Interscholastic Federation to postpone all fall sports to the winter was predictable and just.
But that doesn’t mean it’s fair to the athletes.
One group of athletes that should feel particularly aggrieved are football players heading into their senior year.
And the seniors most affected by the change are those that want to continue their playing careers in college and were counting on their performances this upcoming season to make that dream a reality.
And make no mistake, that’s a larger group than you might think here in the Bay Area. The region isn’t giving
Texas, Florida, or even Southern California a run for its money (in some cases literally) with high school football talent, but it’s no backwater town, either. In the Bay, there are plenty of late bloomers, injured juniors, recent transfers, and kids who waited their turn and were set to get their shot in 2020.
“It’s not the 6-foot6, 290-pound players that everybody knows, but there are some really good football players that can play can play football at the next level,” De La Salle coach Justin Alumbaugh said. “Last year we had an unbelievable running back, Kairee Robinson, who based on his toughness his senior year went to San Jose State . ... Without even starting at my roster, there’s probably 10 kids (on it) that this affects.”
There are countless more players around the Bay Area. How many players like Robinson might fall through the cracks because of the delay in the season?
Even though the hope remains that the season will take place, eventually, even if these players’ senior season happens, their shot won’t be quite the same.
The big issue at hand isn’t actually the delay, but rather the season’s new relationship with the NCAA’s Football Bowl Subdivision recruiting calendar.
The earliest the California high school football season could start is December, but that is the same month as the NCAA’s football early signing period. That means by the time some of these under-the-radar seniors play their full final campaign, putting together enough game film to show they’re worthy of playing big-time college football, there might not be many available roster spots at schools around the country.
Unless other big football playing states follow California’s lead in delaying the season or the NCAA changes its recruiting calendar, players in the Golden State are at a massive disadvantage.
Alumbaugh said when he’s permitted, he’s trying to put together some combines and controlled practices for college coaches to see Bay Area talent. But even that is likely not enough to break through.
“There’s a lot of kids relying on that extra bit of film. Remember, these are teenagers. They change a lot yearto-year,” Alumbaugh said. “I talk to these college coaches, but, understandably, they need that game film. But December 14th is our first day of pads. I can’t show a college coach our kids in pads before the early signing period. It’s not possible ... it’s absolutely wild.”
The delay of the season is going to affect the colleges as well. While big programs like Cal and Stanford have their top prospects identified and often committed well before their senior seasons, there are dozens of other schools that do not have the ability to attract big-time recruits.
“It’s been very helpful for us to be able to evaluate senior tape,” San Jose State director of football operations Ben Thienes said. “There are so many talented football players throughout the state of California, and if someone looks incredible at age 15, well, they probably look incredible to USC as well. One of the great things of our recruiting process is being able to wait and continue to evaluate to find those kids who needed those extra couple months — for whatever reason — to really start to shine and show their abilities.”
Like Kairee Robinson, for instance.
“I’m really not jealous those player personnel guys [at smaller schools],” Doug Samuels, content manager at Football Scoop — a website that covers the sport from prep level upwards — said.
The players who already hold college scholarship offers are also left in a state of limbo by the new schedule.
Will those offers — all that interest schools are sending their way — still be there when other states start playing football but California football stays sidelined? These coaches might be nice now, but the recruiting game can be cruel.
“It is what it is. Whatever school is meant for me, that opportunity should still present itself,” Valley Christian linebacker Dominic Oliver, who has 15 reported offers and better perspective than most adults, said.
Even the star-studded recruits are having to adapt. Both Liberty High-Brentwood defensive end Akili Calhoun and Kennedy-Richmond tight end Jermaine Terry said Monday that they won’t play if the high school football season resumes. They’re both planning on enrolling early at Cal.
“It’s bittersweet,” Terry said in a text message. “But long run this move is for the best.”
The move to enroll for the spring semester is a move that’s becoming more popular around the country as it can give freshmen a jump start by allowing them to take part in spring practices, and for Calhoun, it was always part of the plan.
Not playing in his senior season was not.
“Liberty was a special place for me. When I was there, all the stresses of life would go away. I just went to school and saw my friends and got to practice. I didn’t have to think about anything except the team. That was the way I got through a lot of tough times,” Calhoun said. “It’s sad.”