Facebook
Fark
Digg
Reddit
Stumble
New Bishop Gorman football helmets are seen on the ground as the Gaels warm up for their game against the Chaparral Firebirds at the Sollenberger Classic on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2011, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012 | 12:52 p.m.
Related coverage
The Bishop Gorman High football team’s exclusion from this year’s Sollenberger Classic was because organizers wanted a match-up that would yield the most competitive game, said Chuck Schmidt, the associate executive director from the Arizona Interscholastic Association.
And, having three-time defending state champion and nationally respected Gorman involved would likely have resulted in an unbalanced affair. Gorman has a 43-3 record since Tony Sanchez became coach in 2009.
Schmidt spoke Tuesday morning at the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association Board of Control meeting at the Orleans to explain the selection process for the annual mid-August game featuring Nevada and Arizona schools. In past seasons, the defending Nevada large-school champ — Gorman — represented the Silver State at the Arizona game. But, with no formal criteria, organizers decided to go a different direction when they announced the participants in April.
That direction — inviting Palo Verde High to face defending Arizona champ Desert Vista — caused an uproar in Las Vegas. Gorman supporters argued the snub was politically charged because of the school’s ongoing feud with the Nevada association in regards to its membership status.
Schmidt said the decision was the result of discussions with officials with the Arizona and Nevada associations, and made in the best interest of having an evenly matched game.
“The dialogue centered around what would be the best game,” he told the board. “We wanted to insure the Arizona team invited had the chance to compete on the field.”
Gorman had represented Nevada the past two seasons, losing two years ago 24-17 to Hamilton High and rallying last year from a seven-point halftime deficit for a 42-22 victory against Scottsdale’s Chaparral High.
Like Gorman, both Hamilton and Chaparral were preseason ranked teams. This year, Gorman is ranked No. 11 by Maxpreps.com while Desert Vista isn’t in the top 25. Still, Desert Vista’s coach went on record in April to the Arizona Republic saying how he would have preferred playing Gorman.
“Do you want to show up and play a game where there is really no chance of winning,” Schmidt said.
Organizers for the event, which also includes a small-school level game between Moapa Valley of Overton and Arizona’s Blue Ridge, have also discussed not inviting Nevada teams in future seasons, Schmidt said.
That’s mostly because the debate about whether or not Gorman should play isn’t in the spirit of game. Played at the Arizona Cardinals stadium, the game is designed to celebrate high school sports and Arizona athletes, not to bring controversy, Schmidt said. It’s named after Barry Sollenberger, a respected Arizona high school sports historian who died in 2005.
“Our focus has been to create a lasting memory for the students who participate, and more importantly, to honor one of our friends,” Schmidt said.
Palo Verde principal Dan Phillips, who is part of the NIAA’s Board, told Schmidt how being included in the game is giving his school’s players motivation to train in the offseason. For most, it will be the highlight of their athletic career. He also said some have never been outside Las Vegas and are looking forward to traveling — and, more important, representing Nevada. Palo Verde is a perennial local power with a 59-6 record since 2007, and was the state runner-up in 2008 when it was the last local team to beat Gorman.
“It is a shame a team that lost four games in the last three years is deemed not worthy by this community,” Phillips said of his team.
Schmidt said the event was willing to expand to three games this year to accommodate Gorman and extended a late invitation for the school to be included. He said Gorman passed on the option.
“It wasn’t about not having anyone,” Schmidt reiterated to media afterward. “It was about who to invite. It was about who would be a competitive opponent and provide a good game.”
Ray Brewer can be reached at 990-2662 or ray.brewer@lasvegassun.com. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21.
Have you ever seen Palo Verde's offense? That will be one horrible 3ours for television viewers and anyone who chooses to attend this game. I would prefer to see Liberty High School play the Sollenberger Classic; they have a better offense and don't have their Principal sitting on the NIAA Board of Directors. The choice of Palo Verde smacks of favoritism.
Garbage. For the first time since the classic started a Nevada team won. McQueen was blown out and Gorman has lost 2 out of 3 and suddenly they're concerned about evenly matched teams?
Hey Daniel: It was covered by both of the town's daily newspapers, talked about on sports radio and made television news. I have no problem with you ripping me and thank you for keeping me honest. Today, I disagree.
And now that I think of it the AIA said after it was made public that they had nothing to do with who was sent. That they were given a list by the NIAA and the list did not include Gorman.
And I agree with Ray, it was covered every even Larry Coker on radio. The fact that most of us agreed it should have been Liberty.
High schools who are allowed to recruit will find themselves increasingly on the outside, IMO. The playing field isn't level. Other schools are stuck with whoever from the student body shows up. Gorman "expresses interest" - a euphemism for recruiting.
Daniel would you say there's outrage over Gorman dominating sports? Because if you apply the same standard then apparently Gorman dominating has not really bothered people because there was only one guy from the public who attended the NIAA meeting. So clearly since the same news media that reported on Palo being chosen over Gorman, Liberty, Reed etc.. reported about the NIAA's want to remove Gorman from post season play then there's no uproar for either issue per you.
I'm so fired up for the fall. Can't wait: TeamSG1 and tuasdad going back and forth on the message boards!!!
Definitely can't wait for season to start but could do without SG1's ever pessimistic comments. There's lots of others who's input I look forward yo hearing this season. Got a bunch of different games circled on my calendar this season I'm looking forward to SE teams making it two years in a row of dominating the east side of town
What's B.S. about all of this is that Arizona schools have open enrollment and players can attend schools even without living in their "zone". The high school teams in AZ are stacked much deeper than NV teams. As it was pointed out in this story, Gorman has only won 1 time since being invited to this event....1 time! Now that they've won a game, they're excluded?
....and the "we extended Gorman an invitation to add a 3rd game" was pure B.S......I'm glad Gorman rejected that offer. They only did that to try and save face because Palo Verde is not the 2nd best team in Nevada....not by a long shot. So, it exposed the favoritism for Palo because of their Principal's seat on the board of the NIAA. This reeks of politics and they're trying to hide it behind "we're doing what's best for the schools and competition".....laughable.
Meanwhile, BG will continue to practice and work hard and show these schools what's up.
Ok trying to be objective. 1st AIA lied, earlier in year when they claimed they had nothing to do with BG being selected or not. Now they admit they were involved in decision. 2nd, and this is more important, we all talk about BG in the game or not in the game, the truth of the matter is BG is not what should be important. It's a charity game to honor a man that meant so much to the state of Arizona. That's what's suppose to be important. Not our bickering about which Nevada team is playing or not. 3rd, BG was asked to play in 3rd game and turned it down. Are you kidding? You end up still getting invited but turn it down. BG, you act like a bunch of spoiled crybaby children. Your attitude of entitlement is becoming pitiful. Grow up. You end up getting offered to still play but didn't like how you were asked so you take your ball and go home. WOW! Didn't your attorneys demand phone records from the NIAA over this issue last month? And now you turn the game down. I see you really care about the MAN this game is suppose to represent along w the charity.
Let me understand. First, Gorman is passed over because the game with the Arizona state champion - Desert Vista - will be too "unbalanced" (read lopsided). But now, the AIA grabs Brophy Prep and desperately declares a third game, "some time on Saturday and not sure where it will be". So Brophy, who finished 8th ranked in AZ last year (Max prep) is a "even match up" for Gorman, but the #1 team in AZ - Desert Vista isn't. Sure sounds they are making it up as they go along.
Gorman will not be treated as a 2nd class team....so I'm glad they turned down the "consolation" game. @Grayghost makes a great point....how is playing Brophy more "even" than playing Desert Vista....it's all B.S.
Go Gaels!
HAHA....every now and then the delusions of people so far outside of the loop make it hard to sit back and not say anything!! PALO isnt the next best team in VEGAS huh, oh really? Didnt Liberty get a shot at PALO a few years back...yes!! PALO WON!! Who holds the record for most rushing yards in a season...umm PALO!! What school set the state scoring record.....uumm PALO!! Who has the BEST Public School record the last 5 seasons in Football.....uummm PALO!! Which public school in NEVEDA holds the rights to saying they have VICTORIES over BG...UUmm PALO!! So for anyone to say that PALO isnt deserving of making that trip is biased and speaking out of turn. Get all the facts or stay scared and posting anonynmously on boards such as this! Keep checking the scoreboards and PALO will keep winning, and just for the record liberty will get their shot at PALO again this season so we'll see who's worthy and its @liberty so that will eliminate that excuse!!.....and as far as BG is concerned the game was created by the people in ARIZONA so they have the right to do with it what they will, there is NOTHING in the contracts agreed to when the game was created that stated anything about it being a game between the 2 state champions, that was just assumed by everyone that that would take place!! The people that run the classic foot the bill for teams from NEVADA to come down and play so again they can do as they please!!
Don't say anything NEGATIVE about BISHOP GORMAN or your coomments will be deleted (unless your team sg1). Unbelievable how comments are deleted on anything slightly negative towards Gorman. C'MON LV SUN. Nothing negative towards a kid, no bad language, yet you delete comments because they're slightly negative towards BG. Do some investigative reporting. The story is there waiting for you to investigate.
I guess we'll see
Arizona is just afraid of Gorman. Nevada is Half the size of Arizona and Nevada football is becoming a better product. Liberty and Reed would of given the Arizona team a great game.
Those of you who still hate Gorman just understand why Liberty and Palo Verde get nationally televised games. Liberty vs Servite and now Palo Verde vs Desert Vista would not happen if Gorman was not a nationally ranked program. So, instead of running away, strap up like Arbor View did and call Tony Sanchez.
Take note of the new programs now "Forced" to play Gorman. Centenial and Legacy will both have their boys seen against nationally ranked talent. Their product will get better and you will see the Longhorn and Bulldog logos on TV more often in the future.
My prediction is that the Bulldogs will become Gormans new and better rivalry game.
G.A.T.A. Its a way of life...
This is why Nevada football is a joke. Nevada has 1 legitimate team with a few others (Palo and Liberty) beginning to make strides. Why water down this game by not sending the state champ and the 1 team that is recognizable across the nation. By Gorman continuing to play and beat top ranked competition, it legitimizes Nevada football. The worst thing that could happen is to send Palo down there to run the scrum and have them get rocked. While I don't think that will happen, it would be a huge black eye. On another note, if, in fact, the AIA chose not to play Gorman to "keep things competitive" I think that is a terrible message to send to AZ teams: we cannot hang with Nevada's best so we'll take on their 3rd or 4th best...
Please. It won't be an even game. Arizona teams are good and Palo is gonna lose bad just like they do to Gorman.
Gorman recruits players....fact. (They will call it something else but a rose by any other name will smell as sweet) All the other LV schools take what they get....fact.
Gorman buys their "championships"...fact (buy good players to fill holes in your team equals buying championships)
Gorman buys their talent and has it delivered to their door step, Palo (along with other LVHS) coaches and develops talent....fact. Gorman coaches merely organize their talent.
The only people in the entire Las Vegas Valley who recognize Gormans championships are people who are affiliated with Gorman.....fact, because the rest of the Las Vegas School District sees the smoke screen and in reality considers the losing team to Gormam as the true State Champion. So continue to pretend that Gorman is a "State Champ", the rest of the School District laughs behind your back. Just a matter of time before the NIAA gets their act together and forces private schools to compete with private schools.....Beat teams who recruit on an even playing field Gorman and you can boast the title of "United States Champion", after all no one but you cares remember? So let's end this once and for all Las Vegas, stop messing around. All schools forfiet your game to Gorman, let them have the win they spent so much money to buy, and when the kids no longer have any games to play, they will finally move on. Ahhh good time for a prayer here.