South Pasadena Football Team Suspended, will not compete in CIF Playoffs

South Pasadena’s Tiger football team’s season ended on Friday night even before the game was played, but the students did not know it. The Tigers won their game against La Canada, the latter team’s homecoming, but the results were moot as the game was deemed forfeited because of an alleged violation of CIF rules. This game determined who would receive an automatic berth in the playoffs. La Canada has now received that berth.
La Canada’s principal, Ian McFeat, is said to have called South Pasadena’s principal Janet Anderson telling her that the team had violated CIF-SS Blue Book Rule 512 that prohibits photographing an opponent’s practice session with that opponent’s authorization. The allegation is that Nick Konrad, the brother of South Pasadena coach Marty Konrad, videotaped the La Canada team practicing.
In a letter sent to parents, Coach Konrad claimed he did not ask his brother to tape the practice nor had he or any member of the coaching staff seen the tape. The letter also explained that Nick Konrad had not coached at South Pasadena for two years and was at the practice session because his own son plays at neighboring St. Francis High School.
Coach Konrad said that he did not know that the game was to be forfeited despite the outcome, although he did not that he was being suspended from coaching at that game. He said he choose not to fight his own suspension since the game was to go on without the students knowing the reason for the suspension. His letter also said that had he known, he would have urged the parents to protest.
Apparently the decision that the game was to be forfeited to La Canada was made by the Rio Hondo League principals and not the CIF. There is some question if South Pasadena could have submitted a bid for another berth in the playoff. They have opted not to do so.

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