Shrine Prep Game May Return to Old Format

Saying that “it is apparent that the game has lost a lot of prestige,” the managing director of the Shrine all-star football game indicated Thursday that there is a good chance the annual summer event for high school players will return to its old format of Northern California vs. Southern California in 1986.

“The feeling is very positive,” Dom Domino said. “And I think we’re going to do it.”

A decision will not be made until early January, when Dale R. Bacon is expected to be elected potentate of the Al Malaikah Temple, which has sponsored the game since its inception in 1952. But Domino, who has been meeting all week with other game officials, said very little is standing in the way of the change.

Bacon, who will have the final say, is clearly for disbanding the Southern California-only format, which has been used since 1974, and returning it to a state-wide game.

“I’m very much in favor of it,” he said. “If we can get it all put together logistically and everyone going in the right direction, then I don’t see why not.”

This year’s game raised between $70,000 and $80,000, but game officials were clearly disappointed by the estimated crowd of 9,500 at East Los Angeles.

According to officials looking into the revised format, the all-California game would be North vs. South, with the Kern County line as a possible divider.