Bishop Amat, Crespi and Alemany will likely not get an at-large finishing fourth in the Serra; the Trinity could get both at-large berths

amatfansA story in the L.A. Times Tuesday grabbed the attention of those competing to get in the Pac-5 playoffs by suggesting that Servite is very much alive to earn a playoff spot in the Pac-5 playoffs even if it finishes fifth with a 4-6 overall record in the Trinity League.
Say what?
Serra, Alemany, Bishop Amat and Crespi are battling it out Friday for the top three guaranteed playoff spots in the Mission, but finishing fourth in the Mission after tiebreakers could be disastrous because that would leave the fourth-place team hoping for one of the two at-large berths in the Pac-5. The top three teams in the Trinity League, arguably the toughest league in the country, are guaranteed playoff spots and the fourth place team, Santa Margarita at the moment, is likely to remain fourth and get one of the at-large berths.
Servite, which will likely lose to St. John Bosco and finish fifth in the Trinity with a 4-6 record could still get in because based on the head-to-head formula that CIF uses to determine tiebreakers for at-large berth considerations, Servite would likely advance over any fourth place Mission team, even if was 7-2 Crespi or 6-4 Bishop Amat because of the points criteria CIF uses to determine tiebreakers.
Basically, because Servite’s opponents have a better win-loss record and because the Trinity will be rated the toughest league, those point totals should be enough to get Servite in over any fourth-place Mission league team.

But here is where it gets dicey. In an email exchange with CIF spokesperson Thom Simmons I asked as the LA Times suggested, if a fifth-place team can advance over a fourth place team?

Simmons, a great guy always willing to help out, gave two hypotheticals as examples. (To continue click thread)

FRON THOM SIMMONS: So, here is the scenario for a potential Q&A (again, this is just a hypothetical and not outlining this year’s standings): If a 5th place Orange Lutheran – at 4-6 — has more points by criteria than a 4th place Santa Margarita – at 7-3– can the 5th place team from the same league be taken over the 4th place team due to their greater than point total?
Answer – No, lower placed schools from the same league cannot be taken ahead of higher placed teams no matter their at-large criteria point value.
However …..
Question – If a 5th place Orange Lutheran – at 4-6 — has more points by criteria than a 4th place Millikan – at 6-4– can the 5th place team from a different league be taken over the 4th place team due to their greater than point total?
Answer – Yes, lower placed schools from a different league can be taken ahead of higher placed teams from another league despite having a losing record if their at-large criteria point value is greater.

I then asked Thom about the language in the playoff bulletin and bluebook that clearly states … “All 3rd place teams would be taken before any 4th place teams would be considered.”

It doesn’t state specifically, as in Thom’s example, that a lower placed team from a different league can be taken ahead of higher placed team from another league. The rule as written simply states that third place teams would be taken before any fourth place teams and so on down the line.

Thom’s response: “That language should have been taken out as it regards to football.”

I asked for more clarification ….because it seemed CIF was making an interpretation to the rule.

Thom’s response: The fact it wasn’t taken out makes no difference, a rule is a rule. The interpretation comes from the 11-Man Football Coaches Advisory Committee. They like the idea that a more deserving 5th place team from a strong league can be selected over a weaker 4th place team from another league based on the quantitative at-large criteria point totals.

That makes sense to me. However, I asked if the advisory committee had written this interpretation anywhere that can be found.

Thom’s response: There was/is no written interpretation from that committee.

My final thought and question to Thom was this: “I hear you Thom, but the rule states emphatically that all 3rd place teams would be taken before any 4th place teams. That’s the rule, saying it only applies to league and not the division is an interpretation of the rule … agree?

Thom’s response: Yes, that’s the rule for all sports EXCEPT football and basketball. It was inadvertently left (out) in the Bluebook and Handbook. That doesn’t mean we ignore the rule due to a typo. Additionally, this is the second year of this rule. That was why Crespi got the at-large last year over JSerra.

I have no reason to doubt Thom Simmons and I appreciate him doing his best to explain the language stated in the bluebook.

I thought it was important to have this discussion because come Sunday, when a fifth-place 4-6 team from the Trinity gets in over the others and you’re scratching your head trying to figure out why, now you know.

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