Cub Football - Further explanation on comparative equity playoff groupings
Loyola's placement in Division II CIF Southern Section playoff grouping based on new system implemented in 2016
Some of the correspondence received by this writer concerning Loyola being assigned to Division II in football expressed outrage and anger at the Southern Section for what was perceived as an audacious decision to demote one of California's most storied prep grid programs from the major schools division in which the Cubs competed dating back to the early 20th Century. The assignment of the Cubs to Division II was not arbitrary nor subjective.
In 2016 a new competitive equity concept was put to the vote of league representatives and passed in a landslide. Prior to the 2016 season, all teams from each league were assigned to the same playoff division. The most noteworthy disparity in terms of the strength of teams from one league was the Moore League, long dominated by perennial power L. B. Poly. Traditionally it was a rarity that one of the other six football programs in the conference were of Division I caliber, but at least two of the Moore League teams after Poly would be granted guaranteed invitations to the Division I playoffs.
The competitive equity playoff placement allowed teams from the same league to be placed in different playoff divisions based on a power ranking formula that, among other things, factors in win-loss record, wins against top rated opponents and number of playoff victories. The competitive equity program is reevaluated every two years, and based on the Cubs' 8-12 record in 2016 and 2017 and their failure to make the playoffs, the formulae put Loyola in Division II. It was as simple as that. Competitive equity playoff divisional placement is designed to match teams with similar power rankings in the same playoff divisions.
After legendary head coach STEVE GRADY's retirement in the spring of 2005, there have been five head coaches at the helm of Cub Football. There can be little argument that coaching continuity is a key component for success in any sport. Grady was in charge of the program for three decades and most of his assistants were with him for long periods of time. It is not surprising that his teams won nearly 80% of their games and his squads' average season record was 9-3. Six of Grady's teams made it to the CIF Southern Section Division I championship game, and many others advanced to the semifinal round of the playoffs.
It is very tough to win consistently without coaching continuity. The hiring of alumnus DR. RICARDO PEDROARIAS in the spring of 2017 was "a finally got it right" milestone. A 1984 graduate, Coach Pedroarias grew up in a culture that emphasized physicality, fundamentals and commitment. He was a long time assistant under Grady, and he knows first hand what it takes to successfully lead a football program at a Jesuit high school. The improvement in the culture encompassing the above described elements was readily apparent last season. Loyola finished 5-5, but lost three games by a total of just 10 points.
In the last twelve campaigns the overall going has been tough for the Cubs. Of course, the 2015 team that lost to football factory St. John Bosco in the quarterfinals of the CIF D-I playoffs was an outlier during that span. Team MVP MYLES BRYANT (starting slot corner at the University of Washington) would have started on any team in Loyola annals. His teammate DAVID LONG (a starting corner at the University of Michigan) was an All-CIF, All-State, All-American corner. Twins DANIEL and DAVID TOLBERT, who played in the secondary, are standouts at the University of San Diego. All-CIF safety KELLY BLAKE walked on at Stanford before deciding to concentrate on academics at The Farm. Junior QB SEAN O'MALLEY, who is the Cubs' all-time leading passer, started as a true freshman at Lafayette last season. The 2015 squad finished with a 9-3 record and was 17th in the final state rankings.
Then there was the 2011 team that completed the season with an 8-3 record. That squad featured one of the best secondaries in Loyola history, which was comprised of KODI WHITFIELD (a former starting safety at Stanford), CAMERON WALKER (a four-year starter at Cal, CHAZ ANDERSON (a starting wide receiver at Boise State) and EAMON McOSKER (Notre Dame).
There were a total of 105 Cub players from the 2006 through 2017 seasons who played or will be playing collegiate football. Few if any prep teams anywhere can boast of such an impressive number of graduates competing at the collegiate level.. Those are similar numbers to those of the preceding 12 campaigns in which the Cubs competed in the D-I playoffs every season and played in the title game five times. The disconnect? Coaching continuity and sustaining a strong culture.
The program is in excellent hands with coach Pedroarias and his dedicated staff, which includes nine former Loyola players.
Some of the correspondence received by this writer concerning Loyola being assigned to Division II in football expressed outrage and anger at the Southern Section for what was perceived as an audacious decision to demote one of California's most storied prep grid programs from the major schools division in which the Cubs competed dating back to the early 20th Century. The assignment of the Cubs to Division II was not arbitrary nor subjective.
In 2016 a new competitive equity concept was put to the vote of league representatives and passed in a landslide. Prior to the 2016 season, all teams from each league were assigned to the same playoff division. The most noteworthy disparity in terms of the strength of teams from one league was the Moore League, long dominated by perennial power L. B. Poly. Traditionally it was a rarity that one of the other six football programs in the conference were of Division I caliber, but at least two of the Moore League teams after Poly would be granted guaranteed invitations to the Division I playoffs.
The competitive equity playoff placement allowed teams from the same league to be placed in different playoff divisions based on a power ranking formula that, among other things, factors in win-loss record, wins against top rated opponents and number of playoff victories. The competitive equity program is reevaluated every two years, and based on the Cubs' 8-12 record in 2016 and 2017 and their failure to make the playoffs, the formulae put Loyola in Division II. It was as simple as that. Competitive equity playoff divisional placement is designed to match teams with similar power rankings in the same playoff divisions.
After legendary head coach STEVE GRADY's retirement in the spring of 2005, there have been five head coaches at the helm of Cub Football. There can be little argument that coaching continuity is a key component for success in any sport. Grady was in charge of the program for three decades and most of his assistants were with him for long periods of time. It is not surprising that his teams won nearly 80% of their games and his squads' average season record was 9-3. Six of Grady's teams made it to the CIF Southern Section Division I championship game, and many others advanced to the semifinal round of the playoffs.
It is very tough to win consistently without coaching continuity. The hiring of alumnus DR. RICARDO PEDROARIAS in the spring of 2017 was "a finally got it right" milestone. A 1984 graduate, Coach Pedroarias grew up in a culture that emphasized physicality, fundamentals and commitment. He was a long time assistant under Grady, and he knows first hand what it takes to successfully lead a football program at a Jesuit high school. The improvement in the culture encompassing the above described elements was readily apparent last season. Loyola finished 5-5, but lost three games by a total of just 10 points.
In the last twelve campaigns the overall going has been tough for the Cubs. Of course, the 2015 team that lost to football factory St. John Bosco in the quarterfinals of the CIF D-I playoffs was an outlier during that span. Team MVP MYLES BRYANT (starting slot corner at the University of Washington) would have started on any team in Loyola annals. His teammate DAVID LONG (a starting corner at the University of Michigan) was an All-CIF, All-State, All-American corner. Twins DANIEL and DAVID TOLBERT, who played in the secondary, are standouts at the University of San Diego. All-CIF safety KELLY BLAKE walked on at Stanford before deciding to concentrate on academics at The Farm. Junior QB SEAN O'MALLEY, who is the Cubs' all-time leading passer, started as a true freshman at Lafayette last season. The 2015 squad finished with a 9-3 record and was 17th in the final state rankings.
Then there was the 2011 team that completed the season with an 8-3 record. That squad featured one of the best secondaries in Loyola history, which was comprised of KODI WHITFIELD (a former starting safety at Stanford), CAMERON WALKER (a four-year starter at Cal, CHAZ ANDERSON (a starting wide receiver at Boise State) and EAMON McOSKER (Notre Dame).
There were a total of 105 Cub players from the 2006 through 2017 seasons who played or will be playing collegiate football. Few if any prep teams anywhere can boast of such an impressive number of graduates competing at the collegiate level.. Those are similar numbers to those of the preceding 12 campaigns in which the Cubs competed in the D-I playoffs every season and played in the title game five times. The disconnect? Coaching continuity and sustaining a strong culture.
The program is in excellent hands with coach Pedroarias and his dedicated staff, which includes nine former Loyola players.
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