Football: Santa Margarita imposes punishment for violation

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Santa Margarita has self imposed a punishment that was accepted by Southern Section Commissioner Jim Staunton and the administrative staff of the CIF Southern Section Executive Committee for a violation of rule 510, undue influence, involving the football program, Southern Section spokesman Thom Simmons said Tuesday.

New football Coach Harry Welch apparently violated Southern Section rules with an open house on March 31 that included inviting local youth coaches and players.

Simmons declined to reveal the sanctions self imposed by the school. Santa Margarita Principal Raymond Dunne has declined to return a phone call.

Said Simmons in e-mail: ‘We cannot comment on the sanctions because they were imposed by the school on their employee, and we are not at liberty to discuss a school’s personnel issues.’

The Southern Section considers the matter closed, but until Welch and the school responds, I don’t think the media considers it closed.

-- Eric Sondheimer