It's sad that a CCS Championship win was marred by such uneven officiating. It's hard to believe that the bias shown by the referees didn't contribute to Menlo's loss. League officials should review the films, talk to the coaches further, and then remove the offending referees from league duties.

take a look at Web Link for one we all saw from the stands, but the official who was 10 feet away missed. CCS officials should be ashamed that they permit this to happen, and should open a formal investigation.

It's not like it was a one-time thing, either. Here's more examples: Web Link . Can't wait to review the films in detail. This is atrocious officiating.

Don't blame the refs -- it's all part of the game.

Exactly my point. Bias **shouldn't** be part of the game.

Must have been tha same refs from gunn/leland game

Typical Menlo parents making excuses. Your team played badly and didn't deserve to win so just accept it

Really disappointing refereeing. Not one holding call on Carmel, facemask calls missed, tackling by the helmet missed, many late hits. Usually these calls balance themselves out. In this case, the statistics are incredibly skewed. On so many crucial calls, the refs were way out of position, often not within 10 yards of the 'infraction'. I don't think I've seen more flags thrown 5-15 yards in my life. It really is a shame that a championship game gets the C team of refs.

"Proof", give me a break! Why are you complaining about the refs? There was no way Menlo could have competed with Carmel. The Padres are having a special year and are unstoppable. Their discipline and execution are second to none. Instead of making excuses, why don't you just take the loss with some dignity? Don't smear Menlo and embarrass them by creating your silly "conspiracy".

Menlo parents have really behaved badly on this thread. Shame on them. Congrats to both teams.

I find it hard to believe that "bad officiating" can account for a 24 point loss. Carmel was clearly the better team, so stop complaining and accept the fact that you lost.

It is quite rediculous that you Menlo parents/players are blaming the loss solely on officiating. I really expected a bit more dignity out of a team in the Championship. Championship caliber teams know when they have failed, and when that has happened, they accept defeat in the face of hardships. It is tough to lose, as we all know, but it is how one takes the loss that separates men from boys. Menlo has clearly taken the loss as a "conspiracy theory" agaisnt them and is convinced the world is out to get them, This is false. I am positive the CCS put out their A team refs for the Championship game. One might argue that the CCS was biased towards Carmel so that they might continue their undefeated season, but this is also false. This is what separates men from boys. Menlo is clearly a group of boys. They do not have what it takes to be a Championship team as can be seen in their reaction to the loss. If you guys manned up and accepted your loss then you might have my respect. But due to your reaction, you have earned 0 respect from me and my colleagues. The Menlo School football team will be without respect for then next 5 seasons. Plus you guys will suck next year so too bad you lost out on your chance for a champioship.

Carmel played a wonderful game. Congratulations on their win. The refs were horrendous, and I hope they don't get to ref another CCS championship.

Clearly, EVERYONE on this thread (Menlo and Carmel fans alike) needs to relax, please...this game was about the players from BOTH teams who gave it their all yesterday on the field and demonstrated the type of play that earned BOTH teams a CSS championship bid. Despite any complaints about officiating, the game is not decided by ref calls alone. Yes, there are arguments both ways about the officiating...if anything, the officials seemed to lose control over the game and it cost both sides at various times and could have been dangerous to players' potential injuries (Menlo had one player taken away in an ambulance). But, in the end, this was about the boys on the field - and since they can give it their all, and at the end of the game shake hands and congratulate each other...why can't all of you? Congratulations to Menlo for fighting hard to the end against a strong opponent. And Congratulations to Carmel for a well-deserved championship title. Hopefully, both teams will continue to enjoy great seasons as their programs develop.

Carmelkyd (Relax), I second your above statement.

I am more concerned at why #2 from Menlo was put back in twice after hard hits. The first hit, near the end of the first half, left him on the field for a while. After his third hit he was taken off in an ambulance. Does anyone have an update? Is he OK?

face it guys ... we got our butts kicked ... carmel was really good

Alright people, here's the deal. Carmel is a much stronger, more talented, naturally athletic team than Menlo is. That said, I think we all saw how Menlo hung with them for the first big part of the game. I think we also noticed that the officiating was decent for the beginning of the game. Somehow, both Menlo's success and the quality of refereeing declined at a similar rate. I am not saying that good referees would have changed the outcome of the game, but I am saying that it would have been nice not to have to guess. CCS, there are plenty of quality refs out there. You could do so much better for the championships, don't you think?

Stop worrying about the officials. Worry about your coaching staff and your trainers.

Start with the big hit that #5 from Carmel put on Menlo's #2 in the first half? #2 was unconscious on the field for several minutes. Eventually helped off the field. People surrounding him when he was on the ground were very concerned. Lots of talk about concussion.

Next thing you know, at the start of the second half, #2 is in the game.

Cracked again and on the ground again in the third quarter. Trainer staff comes out and helps him off the field.

And who is back on the field in the fourth quarter? #2.

Takes a third big hit. (Hits were described by Palo Alto Online writer as "hellacious".) Trainer staff out on the field again.

Got #2 to the sideline where they put him in an ambulance and took him away.

Has anyone heard how/why the Menlo coach let him back on the field after the first hit? Has this coach been paying attention to everything being written and talked about concerning concussions? This kid was unconscious after the first hit. Unconscious = concussion.

He was disoriented after the second hit.

And yet he was out there to be hit hard a third time.

If this coach was at a public school he probably would be fired.

I think #2's dad is a physician at Stanford... no way he'd allow his son to continue unless he thought everything was ok??

To rail is the sad priviege of the loser. - C. S. Lewis

As parents of #2, we were very confused and disappointed with the inaccurate report of our son's condition in the Saturday evening edition of PA Online. It was reported that he was sent back into the game on Saturday with a "reported concussion." This is absolutely untrue. He was examined thoroughly by the team physician, in consultation with his father and me. He was never sent out on the field with a deficit. One comment to the article stated that he lost consciousness during the game, and that is incorrect. He never lost consciousness. He was taken to the hospital after the game because of a complaint of abdominal pain. He was examined, sent home, and felt well enough to attend school today. We appreciate the comments of all who have expressed concern for his health.

Everyone associated with Menlo School and the Menlo Football Program is very mindful of "safety first" as a threshold issue. For anyone to suggest otherwise is ludicrous.

The extremely inaccurate reporting first published by The Daily is very unfortunate. [Portion removed by Palo Alto Online staff.] It would behoove the Editor to take note and keep Mr. Goode busy reporting on other schools with which he has had/has no affiliation.

Gotta give it to carmel. They were a seriously good team. Not saying this would have changed anything, because a 20 something point deficit is pretty big, but there are at least 2 pictures here of bogus officiating. The helmet grab was ridiculous. And carmel coaches could have come class with a 20+ point lead. They still threw deep bombs downfield when the game was out of reach. And some of those hits at the end of the game, comon now. Champions should show some class, and carmel didn't show it.

Carmel deserved to win the championship, and they were clearly the better team. But it becomes an issue of safety when the refs don't call the game fairly. There were some dirty hits at the end of the game that really were out of hand. It doesn't get much more clear then picture proof. And carmel needs to get some class. With a 20 point lead, you don't need to throw the ball downfield. Run the clock out, and take your trophy.

a tough loss for sure, but an awesome season for menlo. doesn't goode work for shp? looking forward to more "UNBIASED" reporting during the baseball season...ya great

There is no doubt that the coaches at Menlo were first and foremost concerned with the safety of their student-athletes. To suggest otherwise, based on inaccurate reporting, is irresponsible.
The Menlo coaches were very professional and showed good sportsmanship.

All Carmel fans wish #2 well and are thankful he wasn't seriously injured.

Has #2 spoken to the QB yet? He sure hung him out to dry with those passes over the middle. Maybe they hadn't played anyone yet who hits like Carmel? That was like throwing passes into a shooting range and expecting the guy to catch them safely. If they had any kind of running game then maybe the DB's would have more to worry about. Instaed they just got to lick their chops and wait for helpless recievers to come and get their clocks cleaned. And for the fans who complain about late hits... it's legal it knock a guy to the ground even if the ball has already gone past them. In many cases the DB's are on an angle that makes it hard to tell if the ball was caught. The Menlo guys could have done it to Carmel recievers too. I guess they just aren't physical enough.

[Post removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]

Ray- By the way that's the same QB that threw over 4000 yards this year, over 1,700 of them to #2, so I think its more that Carmel had his number red flagged. Also, in terms of late hits, I dont think it was just the balls thrown, but on other plays, just good hits nowhere near the play. At the end of the game it wasn't necessary. Saying that, I'd be proud of myself too if I made hits like that.

The fact is that Carmel showed absolutely no class in winning their first CCS Championship. They continued to lower shoulders into Menlo wide receivers when the ball was out of reach and put a licking on any Menlo player on the field even if they were not close to the play. Also, the officials missed call after call whether it be a late hit, hold, or block in the back. The same refs officiated the prior meeting between Menlo and Carmel, why didn't CCS get a different unbiased group? The CCS really needs to watch this film and talk about firing these refs. This was the biggest game for the two teams in school history and to have so many missed calls is unacceptable. Not only did the coaches not know how to win with class, but also the players were blatantly attempting to injure player after player. Do not take me wrong, Carmel is a great football team and deserves a state championship bid, but they are some of the dirtiest and most disrespectful players I have ever seen. The officials did not lose the game for Menlo, but they did not keep the players safe. They are lucky a fight did not break lose after not flagging a blatant late hit with only a few minutes to go. Menlo had its best season in school history and to end with a loss that could have been less painful due to superior officiating is wrong. [Portion removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]

Dont't get me wrong, I was for Menlo in this game. But, I just don't see any strong points to your argument. Carmel deserved it. They played harder. They hit harder... this IS football afterall. A championship team delivers punishment in all phases of the game, beginning to end. Menlo delivered zero punishment to Carmel. Carmel was much stronger and faster. Good coaches teach their kids to play with 100% intensity at all times on the field. They also teach to take their intensity as far as they can without being penalized. Carmel saw that they were being allowed to deliver blow after blow with no flag, so they capitalized. Menlo could have done the same, but again, they just weren't physical enough. The bottom line is that this game was a physical mismatch. Go check out some of the higher division games. They play with the hard hitting intensity that Carmel does. And nobody gives them a hard time for it...

They were not the same refs. I was at both games as a Menlo fan. Everyone complained about the refs and Carmel won 49-14 and Hopkins ran for over 200yds

How are they dirty?
All hits were clean - they were just very hard.
Menlo was flagged for 2 personal fouls (including a roughing the paser, tackle 10 yds behind the play, and an unsportsmanlike on their bench when Menlo #72 yelled at the ref)

Menlo got beat SOUNDLY. I'm a Menlo fan and I don't get what this is all about. Menlo got better since September, so did Carmel. We did nothing to stop Carmel's offense. They did whatever they wanted.
We got beat. Deal with it.

I don't get it... There are more people in this conversation saying they were there to watch Menlo than there were in Menlo's stands!

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