Here’s is what’s happening with Charter Oak’s 2009 football schedule. The champs already have scheduled Aliso Niguel, Diamond Bar, Rancho Cucamonga, Damien and Etiwanda. But filling week one has been so difficult that Chargers coach Lou Farrar said they’re now searching by posting a games wanted on CIF’s website. Strangely enough, Bishop Amat is about six spaces down, also looking for a week one opponent, but don’t expect the two to meet on the field anytime soon, too many politics involved at the top, which have nothing to do with coaches’ desire to play each other. Charter Oak wanted to schedule big, and were in discussions with powerful Mission Viejo, Farrar confirmed, but the two schools couldn’t agree on a home-and-home. A one-year deal might have worked, but with re-leaguing set to begin in 2010, coaches weren’t ready to commit on a two-year deal. “We talked three or four times about it,” Farrar said of a possible meeting with Mission Viejo. “It was just too tough to nail down. The door isn’t closed, but they have a couple more games to fill than us. It might have worked if we played them another week and moved a few games around, but that would have gotten complicated.”
Now, what? Farrar said he will see who contacts them from the “Game Wanted” post, but he wouldn’t mind playing one of the best teams from the Southeast Division, depending on who’s available. That could mean Muir, Arcadia, Crescenta Valley. Or, La Serna, California or Santa Fe. “We still don’t know what’s going to happen,” Farrar said. “But playing one of the better schools in our division is always good to get an idea of how our division is going to be.”
Fred’s take: I know I’m beating a dead horse, but Bishop Amat and Charter Oak makes so much sense than it makes no sense why they haven’t inked this deal. Like I said, it starts at the top, if the administration from the two schools agree, it will happen. It’s as simple as that. I loved the thought of Charter Oak playing Mission Viejo too, but if that has fallen through, nothing makes more sense that Bishop Amat. If the Chargers want to be considered for a state bowl game next year, a game of this magnitude has to take place.
