Prep football: Tustin going to court

Barry Faulkner

An attorney representing a group of Tustin High football parents

told Golden West League representatives Tuesday he would attempt to gain

the team’s reinstatement into the CIF Southern Section Division VI

playoffs today in court, according to Golden West League President George

Green, principal at Westminster High.

“Their lawyer said they would be in court (today) to seek a temporary

restraining order,” Green said.

Such action could affect the first-round game between Ocean View and

Newport Harbor, scheduled for Friday. If Tustin is reinstated, it could

replace Ocean View, which became the Golden West League’s third-place

entry after Tustin forfeited three league victories Friday due to the use

of an ineligible player.

Golden West League representatives voted, 4-1, Tuesday to uphold the

league’s decision to send Westminster, Saddleback and Ocean View to the

playoffs, a decision made Friday after learning Tustin had forfeited

three games. Without the forfeits, Westminster, Tustin and Saddleback

would be the league’s Nos. 1-3 representatives, respectively.

Tustin Athletic Director Doug Mirich declined to comment Tuesday,

directing all inquiries to Green.

Tustin Principal Larry Carlson said Tuesday night that he had been in

a meeting all afternoon and evening and was not aware of any specifics

involving a court appearance today.

Tustin football coach Myron Miller could not be reached for comment.

Newport Harbor Coach Jeff Brinkley said he would continue to prepare

his Sea View League champions to play Ocean View. The Seahawks were

beaten, 92-0, by Tustin, the day before the forfeits were announced.

Time is obviously a factor in Tustin’s attempt at reinstatement, since

Southern Section Commissioner Jim Staunton has said all first-round games

must be played this week, to maintain scheduling for subsequent rounds.

If Tustin is granted reinstatement, No. 3-seeded Newport Harbor

(8-1-1), could conceivably be asked to play a Tustin team ranked No. 3 in

the final Division VI poll Friday or Saturday for a berth in next week’s

quarterfinals.

Another possible scenario may involve Tustin playing Saddleback’s

scheduled opponent, Laguna Hills, with Saddleback then playing Newport

Harbor.

Laguna Hills Athletic Director Dave Brown said Tuesday that no section

officials have alerted him about such a potential change.

-- by Barry Faulkner