In the harshest ruling ever handed down by the Central Coast Section, Salinas High School's football team has been banned from the playoffs for two years and the rest of its athletic programs banned for one year for repeated rules violations and sportsmanship issues.
In a letter from the CCS to Salinas Principal John Macias, the school's athletic program was called ``close to careening out of control.''
In addition, the entire sports program was put on a year's probation, meaning if there are any other incidents -- such as a player being ejected from a game, or an ineligible player is used -- further disciplinary actions could be taken by the CCS. The football program was put on two years' probation.
``I believe the sanctions were a little harsh,'' Macias said. ``But it's the hand we've been dealt. I suppose it could have been worse.''
There has been some talk of an appeal, which would come in the form of a letter to the CCS commissioner and submitted to the CCS Executive Committee. The letter from the CCS also commended the current administration at Salinas High for working hard to ``clean things up.''
``We'll reconfigure as a staff and possibly appeal the ruling,'' Macias said. ``It came as shock. I didn't expect this much.''
Already affected by the decision is the girls basketball team, which had qualified for the playoffs. Salinas also has two wrestlers who were expected to contend for CCS titles.
Over the past three years, the football program has come under criticism for ejections and sportsmanship issues, including one player who confronted an official in 2004.
The letter from the CCS, written by Blossom Valley Athletic League commissioner Barbara Beard, was especially hard on the football team.
``The infractions in the football program reflect a lack of leadership, a skewed perspective on the role of football in the educational context of a high school, and an inability to respond appropriately to situations occurring within the program itself.''
When asked if Salinas football coach Mark Ironside would be returning next season, Macias answered, ``As far as I know, Mark is still the coach.''
Salinas was forced to forfeit five wins and a tie in football this season after it was discovered one of the players lived outside the attendance boundaries and did not have an inter-district transfer.
Although sportsmanship issues seemed to be confined to football and boys basketball, several other athletes have been discovered to be ineligible because they too live outside the attendance boundaries and do not have an inter-district transfer.
``The list of athletes with eligibility issues goes through all sports at Salinas High,'' CCS Commissioner Nancy Lazenby-Blaser said. ``That's why the panel went in that direction.
``Part of the problem is when a school is in trouble, it takes one thing to trigger a discussion. Two things trigger a hearing. There were more than two things.''
Asked if the sanctions will result in resignations by coaches, Salinas vice principal Gina Uccelli said, ``I suspect it's a possibility. I would hope our coaches understand the effect they can have on a youth's life. It's not just competitive lessons. It's lessons in life as well. As coaches, we can have an impact on a student-athlete without playoffs.''