City Sacks Van Nuys High

VAN NUYS —  After the Van Nuys High football team was slapped this week with two years’ probation, Coach Mark Pomerantz was hit with something else.

A gag order.

Pomerantz, under order from school officials, declined Wednesday to discuss the rules violations, saying only that he made an honest mistake.

The Wolves were punished for three violations. They practiced in helmets on Aug. 14, two days before City Section rules allow; they practiced in full pads on Aug. 17, four days earlier than allowed; and they practiced twice daily from Aug. 21-25. City rules permit only one practice a day.

The probation runs through the 1996-97 school year. In addition, the team must end each Monday practice this season at 3 p.m.

City Section Commissioner Barbara Fiege dismissed ignorance as a defense for Van Nuys, saying, “We assume that any coach that takes over a program knows the rules.”