State bowl system likely expanding

It appears the CIF-State will expand the state football bowl system, said a report on calhisports.com.

The two largest sections in the CIF-State - CIF-Sac-Joaquin and CIF-Southern Section - have voted to both keep a bowl system and to expand it from three games to five, the report said.

The CIF Federated Council will decide on the measures Feb. 1.

The Web site also revealed Sac-Joaquin assistant commissioner John Williams has said there is some sentiment to have four enrollment-based divisions and one open division, meaning a school such as Oaks Christian could play at the highest level, despite its relatively low enrollment.

An open division is a good idea. Two years ago Oaks Christian was too strong to be competing in the division it was in. It also bodes well for schools stuck in the same division as, say, Concord De La Salle. In most years, De La Salle would probably represent the north in the open division. This would seem to ensure the next-best team might have a chance to represent its half of the state in Division I.