Aptos plays Saint Ignatius (hereafter referred to as "SI") for the Division 3 CCS title on Friday. It's well known that Aptos is a public school, and SI is private. There has been a lot of press serving a public debate about whether it's fair that God's schools plays down a division. I'm going to throw a little gas on the flames. Stand back.
Before I continue I want to say this: none of what I'm saying reflects the belief that Aptos will lose to SI. The seniors mark the first class to play all four years with Coach Blankenship. And the junior group, to put it plainly, Bad Ass. They have been since they were freshman.
And it's not about a belief that SI, or Bellarmine, or Valley Christian has more, or better talent than Aptos. Our freshman team proved this year that they don't. Our boys played their boys head-to-head with the talent each program will develop. They played teams they won't see again until the CCS playoffs of varsity year.
And they kicked the snot out of them. Head-to-head, based on raw talent, we beat them down. Not 'close' games. Beatings.
Out of the 10 schools we played, 8 qualified for CCS playoffs. They're good programs, and the frosh tore through them. Here are the 8 teams and how they were ranked going in:
Terra Nova #1/Open Div.
Archbishop Mitty #5/Open Div.
Alvarez #1/D-1
Los Gatos #2/D-2
North Salinas #7/D-2
Christopher #4/D-3
Sacred Heart Prep #1/D-4
Monterey #7/D-4
The difference between the present, and the past, is we have program now. They have a plan that will develop that talent over the next four years, and leave a mark.
Here's my issue with private schools, and public schools competing for titles:
Once again, those who make the rules, change the rules, when they're faced with them. This is about what the Declaration of Independence promised, but failed to deliver.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed"
No, I'm not saying it's unconstitutional to allow public schools to play private schools. I'm suggesting that those who have money have power, and they use that power to manipulate who is created more equal than the others, or who has a bigger pile of unalienable rights, or deciding that those who are governed, and have money, ARE the consent.
- Saint Ignatius finished 2-5 in league, and finished 6th out of 8. They are a losing football team, yet they're allowed to slip through the back door, and into a championship game.
- Aptos had to fight each opponent, and spill their sweat and their blood, and DEFEAT them, and be the last one standing to get in.
I don't know of any other institution, business, or competition that is given a free pass around the requirement of winning to get there, or that makes such a mockery of the principles in the Declaration. Even the sport's parent program, the NFL, puts equality as the primary objective.
- Each team has the same salary cap of $123 million. The Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots don't get more because they have larger revenues.
- Every year, the teams with the worst records, get the first selections in the draft. The weakest teams add strength before the others.
- There isn't one group of teams who can only pick Pac-12 players, or one who picks exclusively from D-2, and another who lucked out with the SEC. It's equal. It's fair. Like we were promised.
- The changes to overtime are a recent example.
- And the teams in their playoff brackets get in by going in descending order, from most wins, to fewer, until the bracket is full. No one waves their wallet and says "you don't know how difficult it is to be 2 and 5 every year..."
ALL men means everyone. Not just those with money. Not just those with shared ideologies. Not just those who are Saints. Everyone. You WCAL teams remind me of that big, awkward 6th grader who got whomped on everyday by his peers, so he'd hang out on the 3rd grade side of the playground, and boss kids around.
I'm tired of it, even if you are nice people. Aptos is coming for you the same way they've come at everyone. With fury.
We know that our effort, and determination to fight through every opponent, and winning, is the lie we were told while you got entrenched.
If we were "2 and 5", I like to believe we'd refuse the invitation, and request it be given to a team that earned it.
Don't kid yourselves. Men may be created equal, but they're not treated equal. You only need to spend a couple days at the bottom end to know that.
And the people with the most aren't more valuable than the ones with the least, like Saints.
I know you private schools who are out-manned in your own divisions, get it. I think it's why you agree to hold your finger in the air yelling "We're number one!" when everyone knows you finished in sixth place, and this is only the 3rd game you've won all year.
You do it because you also know men are far from equal. You know that because you've seen what those at the bottom are willing to endure to have a shot at the top. You've seen the tenacity, maybe you even knew it once. If you're at the top you took some one down to get there, so the fear of it happening to you is real. That's how it's supposed to be.
The more people who know the experience of both extremes means less fear of either, and more compassion for both. Man, what does that Saint teach you, anyway?
To SI's credit, on the varsity football section of their website they have a 2013 schedule, and playoff projections. This is what it says, typo's or not:
- "semi-finals vs. Christopher
- finals vs. Burlingame
- CIF State vs. Aptos
A look at CCS 2012-2013: (public schools in red)
Last Years CCS Finals: (ALL divisions with a private school team, were won by a private school)
Open Div
St. Ignatius (5-2) 13/Bellarmine (7-0) 10
Div 1 (no privates schools in division)
San Benito 35/Milpitas 28
Div 2
Los Gatos 0/St. Francis 17
Div 3
Valley Christian 51/Aptos 20
Div 4
Sacred Heart Prep13/Menlo 7
This year, 2013
Open: Serra/Mitty (both private)
D-1: Milpitas/San Benito (No WCAL teams)
D-2 St. Francis/Los Gatos
D-3 Aptos/SI
D-4 SacHeart Prep/PG
So, this years finals are set up to replicate last years. No public school in the Open final, all others pit Public vs. Private. Last year,
EVERY DIVISION WITH A PRIVATE SCHOOL IN IT, WAS WON BY A PRIVATE SCHOOL, EVEN IF THEIR RECORDS WOULD'NT HAVE QUALIFIED THEM TO GET IN.
"WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT...."
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