PREP COMMENTARY: Pirates' bowl envy justifies Carroll's fears

By TERRY MONAHAN - Staff Writer | Tuesday, January 13, 2009 12:10 AM PST ∞

When the idea of a state championship in football was first proposed five years ago, John Carroll had plenty of doubt as to its merits.

Most of all, the Oceanside High coach wanted to preserve the euphoria of the players and the community that went with winning the San Diego Section crown. That, he felt, should be the ultimate experience.

In 2007, Carroll's Pirates won the section title and were rewarded with a berth in CIF State Division II bowl game. The Pirates won that game to become the first state football champion from San Diego County, and the Oceanside community celebrated for weeks.

"I was wrong,'' Carroll admitted several days after his team's bowl-game victory over Novato.

In 2008, though, Carroll was reminded of why he was once so apprehensive of the concept. After winning the CIF San Diego Section Division II title for the fifth consecutive year last month, the Pirates were bypassed for a spot in the Division II bowl game in favor of Cathedral Catholic.

The disappointment of not being allowed to defend their state title almost made the Pirates' section title and their 12-0-1 record seem unimportant.

"When you talk all year about the bowl game and then miss out, you're disappointed,'' Carroll said. "We refused to accept that. I tried to communicate that the bowl game is all political and getting there should be considered gravy.

"The true measure is winning the (section) here. For us, a record-setting fifth straight title was a reason for the team and the community to cheer.

"Would we like to have gone to the bowl game? Yes. Is it a special moment for everyone? Of course.''

It just didn't happen, even though the Pirates haven't lost since the 2007 regular-season opener, a span of 25 games.

"It would have been fun for us to play Cathedral for the right to play in the bowl game,'' Carroll said. "There I go again, not being satisfied.''

Carroll noted that it took a day or two for the disappointment to dissolve on campus. He directed the attention to the unbeaten season and the 23-19 win over Helix in the section final at Qualcomm Stadium. And the interception in the end zone by junior Rene Siluano to thwart Helix's last-second drive.

"Rene Siluano will probably always be remembered for that one play,'' said Carroll, laughing. "That one play puts him up with all the great players in Oceanside history.''

Would Carroll like to see a playoff system established to replace the present format, in which the state's 10 section commissioners select a team from Northern California and a team from Southern California in each of the state's five bowl games?

No way.

"I feel like another game just to get to the state bowl game would be too much,'' he said. "That would leave the section title too far in the past. And that's like asking if anyone remembers who won the AFC and NFC titles but lost the Super Bowl.

"To me, and this is the absolute truth, winning a fifth straight section title is better than a second bowl game.

"The players, including the players from the previous four championships clubs, should feel very proud of what this program has accomplished.''

Contact staff writer Terry Monahan at (760) 739-6648 or tmonahan@nctimes.com.