Boys basketball: Northwood rescinds request for CdM forfeit

Barry Faulkner

A change of heart late Tuesday night by Northwood High boys

basketball coach Tim O’Brien eliminated plans for Pacific Coast League

principals to vote Monday on whether Corona del Mar would have to forfeit

Friday’s upset victory over the Timberwolves.

O’Brien, after consulting with Northwood Athletic Director Rick

Curtis, decided the school would not pursue the potential forfeit,

originally requested Monday by Northwood Principal Tony Ferruzzo, citing

a CIF Southern Section bylaw that forbids spectators from using

noisemakers.

“After talking with Rick, I’m not comfortable asking for a forfeit,”

O’Brien said. “The game was settled on the court (a 56-50 CdM triumph)

and I think (the Sea Kings) and (Coach) Paul Orris worked too hard to

have that taken away.”

The issue, raised at the game to CdM administrators and later in an

e-mail from Ferruzzo to CdM Principal Don Martin Monday, was whether a

group of students who beat on drums during Friday’s game at CdM, were, as

CdM contended, an “ad hoc pep band,” or just a group of spectators

violating the section rule.

Northwood, according to O’Brien, had also objected to the use of

megaphones by student rooters.

Section bylaw 1623 states: “No mechanical noisemakers (horns, bells,

victory bells, sirens, chimes, musical instruments other than those in

the band, etc.) will be permitted inside the gymnasium ...”

A group of five CdM seniors, with the approval of Martin, have beat on

drums issued them by the school at all home games this season. Martin

said that since the school has no pep band, he gave permission for these

students to use the instruments to “promote school spirit.”

The section rule, which also includes a prohibition on the use of

megaphones by anyone other than cheerleaders, says violating the rule

could subject the violating school’s team to “possible forfeiture of the

contest.”

Martin said Tuesday afternoon that the student drummers constituted a

loose interpretation of a school band, since they are not supervised by a

school conductor. But, he believes, they did not violate the spirit of

the rule.

“The reason for this rule is to stop things from interfering with

play, interfering with the officials, or blatant abuses of cheerleaders

and a pep band,” Martin said. “It’s not a bonafide pep band, as you think

of it, because we don’t have one.”

CdM Athletic Director Jerry Jelnick said after Ferruzzo protested the

use of the drums and megaphones by students, CdM Assistant Principal

Robert Cunard instructed the students to stop using them when Northwood

had the ball and they complied. Northwood officials, however, said

students used drums and megaphones throughout the remainder of the game,

which, in their view, was a violation.

O’Brien said he had not spoken with Ferruzzo as of Tuesday night, but

he was comfortable his principal would support his decision not to pursue

the forfeit.

Martin had said the use of drums by CdM students would be suspended,

until the issue was resolved by league principals.

With the new development, it is now unclear whether students, whom

some Sea King players call “Corona Crazies,” will be allowed to play

drums when the Sea Kings host Estancia tonight at 7.

O’Brien said his decision to initially pursue the forfeit, was based

on the concept of accountability within the rules, as well as

sportsmanship.