Blair’s football season in doubt (again) …

Just months after saying it would be able to field a varsity football team, Blair High School is now operating in doubt.

One Rio Hondo League football coach told this outlet that he’s been informed by his athletic director that Blair won’t field a varsity football team this season and to start making other plans.

Calls, emails and text messages to Pasadena Unified District athletic director Gilbert Barraza and Blair principal David Ibarra were not returned as of this writing on Thursday afternoon. New Blair football coach Eric Pineda referred all questions to Barraza or Ibarra, but did say he’s still the school’s football coach.

Blair was forced to cancel its season last year after five games due to safety concerns and low roster size. Barraza made it a goal to restore the school’s football program this offseason, and in late spring, when the Rio Hondo League wanted a decision from Blair about whether it would field a team this upcoming season, Barraza’s answer at the league meeting was a resounding yes.

Since then, Pineda has taken over and the school has had some time to try and build up student participation in the program. If Blair does in fact cancel, the Rio Hondo League will become a five-team proposition and teams will likely either play a nine-game schedule or scramble to find another nonleague game.

The CIF Southern Section office said it not yet received an official letter of cancellation yet from Blair but that the school had asked about its options.