Majority of Coaches Say Welch Penalty Fair : Prep football: Poll respondents express belief that Canyon rules infraction called for a meaningful punishment.

A majority of area Southern Section football coaches endorsed the section’s recommendation of a one-year suspension for Canyon High football Coach Harry Welch, saying the penalty is fair, according to a poll conducted by The Times.

Of 33 coaches polled, 18 said that the penalty was fair, 10 said that it was too severe, four said more information was needed and one expressed no opinion. Eleven coaches were unavailable for comment.

Although some coaches sympathized with Welch and accused the Southern Section of exploiting his high-profile status, the majority said that the rules infraction called for a meaningful punishment. The Southern Section executive committee ruled Friday that Welch conducted an off-season practice in violation of section rules.

Many who backed the Southern Section expressed the belief that Canyon routinely violated the rule during Welch’s nine years with the program. The most strident position was expressed by Newbury Park Coach George Hurley. The Panthers have not played Canyon in Hurley’s two seasons as head coach.

“For years that school has been doing what it damn well pleased regardless of what other people did,” Hurley said. “It was only a matter of time before they got caught.”

The suspension came after the Southern Section saw a photograph in the May 19 issue of the Newhall Signal showing a Canyon football player in shorts hitting a blocking dummy in the presence of several teammates and assistant Brian Stiman after school. The photograph was taken May 7.

Southern Section rules forbid football teams from practicing for longer than one class period from the end of the season until May 20 when spring practice begins. In addition, the rule prohibits the use of sleds, blocking dummies and other football equipment.

The results of the poll did not surprise Welch, who attributed the sentiment of the majority to resentment toward a successful program. Welch has posted a 100-19-1 record and his teams won three Southern Section titles in nine seasons. Welch admits that a violation was commited but denies that he violated the rule.

“Most teams that win consistently develop an aura of resentment,” he said. “I don’t think it’s ill feeling. It’s human nature. They think, ‘Doggone it. I’m as good a coach as they are. They must be doing something I’m not.’ ”

Canyon will appeal the suspension to a three-member panel selected by Southern Section Commissioner Stan Thomas from the 17-member executive committee. No date has been selected for that hearing.

The executive committee recommended the suspension after evidence was presented by Thomas, who investigated Canyon two weeks ago. Twice in Thomas’ five years as commissioner, the Southern Section has suspended a coach for one year.

Dick Enright, the Capistrano Valley football coach in 1987, was suspended for one year after he viewed a videotape of an El Toro practice that was filmed secretly. Rich Skelton, the Dana Hills basketball coach, was suspended in 1989 for a year for recruiting violations.

In addition, Valley College women’s basketball Coach Doug Michelson, then the Hart boys’ basketball coach, was suspended for the remainder of the season in February, 1987 for hitting a referee. Hart Principal Laurence Strauss suspended Michelson on recommendation from Thomas, then did not offer Michelson a coaching contract for the following season.

Despite that track record, some area football coaches criticized the severity of the penalty against Welch.

“It was definitely too severe,” Westlake Coach Jim Benkert said. “For a coach like Harry to put in what he has put in. . . . he has been so good for high school football. Definitely a rule was broken and there should be a penalty, but taking a year out of a man’s life for having a couple of bags out there is too severe.”

Thousand Oaks Coach Bob Richards, who has played Canyon 10 times in the past nine years, noted that the penalty not only hurts this year’s Canyon team, but the 1992 team as well. The suspension calls for Welch to have no contact with the team for 12 months. The Southern Section has stayed the effective date of the penalty pending the appeal process and Welch continues to coach the team.

“In reality, this is more than a one-season penalty,” Richards said. “Harry is an outstanding coach who has made a tremendous commitment to the kids at Canyon High School. The kids talk about what a great teacher he is, how he gives 100% in the English Department as well as the gym. I just hope this doesn’t hurt him personally. The kids mean so much to him.”

Mike Herrington, who coaches Canyon’s chief rival, Hart, blasted Welch before the Southern Section recommended the penalty. He now says he is “tired of the whole situation,” but endorses the one-year suspension.

Welch’s colleagues in the Golden League offered differing views. Palmdale Coach Jeff Williams called it fair, but Jack Bowman at Saugus and Brent Newcomb at Antelope Valley said it was too strong. Quartz Hill Coach John Albee was unavailable for comment.

Newcomb, whose Antelope Valley team ended Canyon’s 46-game winning streak in 1986, expressed sympathy for Welch but said a penalty was needed.

“I feel he’s done great things for football,” Newcomb said. “You always have to turn it up a notch when you coach against Harry and I do look forward to playing him every year. But he broke a rule and he has to suffer the consequences.”

Bowman expressed strong sentiment for Welch, saying that the Southern Section is overzealous in its actions. Bowman cited Welch’s strength of character, pointing out that Sunday, in the midst of the controversy, Welch took time to visit an injured Saugus football player in the hospital.

“This is hurting a man’s livelihood,” Bowman said. “This affects not only this season, but next season as well. I don’t know what kind of precedent it is setting.”

Still, some in the majority said the penalty was long overdue.

“It’s been common knowledge for a long time and the CIF just seemed to kiss it off,” Ventura Coach Harvey Kochel said. “My feelings are, if you’re going to have a standard to abide by, abide by it.”

Rick Scott, the former Hart and current Buena coach, backed the penalty in the belief that it will help encourage coaches to keep high school athletics in perspective.

“I think we should encourage kids to play more than one sport,” Scott said. “I think we should encourage kids to do other things. Harry just has a different philosophy than other people.”

Welch’s record and the belief that he has compiled it while breaking rules has prompted strong feelings among some coaches.

“How long can people cheat and get away with it?” Newbury Park’s Hurley said. “Why can’t everybody say, ‘Hell, Harry’s doing it, why can’t I do it?’ Everybody reads and sees what a great coach he is. But the reason why he is winning is because he cheats. And if you cheat hard enough, you can win a lot of games.”

Welch steadfastly defends his honor, saying he has never cheated. His assistant coaches and current and former players also have rallied to his defense. Joe Zacharia, a nose guard on the 1983-85 teams that compiled a 38-1 record and won three Southern Section titles, called from Las Vegas in support of his former coach.

“We weren’t 38-1 because we cheated,” he said. “We were 38-1 because we worked harder than anyone else, period. Harry played by the rules. We didn’t practice when we weren’t supposed to. That never went on.”

Still, Chaminade Coach Rich Lawson agreed with the majority of area coaches when he questioned the values that Welch imparts to his players.

“Let’s talk about what we’re trying to teach here,” he said. “Obviously, we’re trying to teach the game of football. But let’s teach life’s values also. And let’s teach that you go by the rules. Be the best you can be, but do it by the rules.”

Staff writer John Lynch contributed to the story.

COACHES’ COMMENTS

Too Too Coaches severe Fair lenient Mark Bates (L.A. Baptist) * Jim Beckenhauer (Crescenta Valley) * Jim Benkert (Westlake) * Dick Billingsley (Oak Park) * Jack Bowman (Saugus) * Rob Dearborn (Moorpark) * Cliff Farrar (Nordhoff) * Richard Fong (St. Genevieve) * Curtis Garner (Fillmore) * George Giannini (Montclair Prep) * Mike Herrington (Hart) * Dennis Hughes (Hoover) * George Hurley (Newbury Park) * Harvey Kochel (Ventura) * Rich Lawson (Chaminade) * Tim Lins (Crespi) * Jon Mack (St. Bonaventure) * Butch McElwee (Burroughs) * Brent Newcomb (Antelope Valley) * Mike Plaisance (Village Christian) * Stan Quina (Simi Valley) * John Reardon (Rio Mesa) * Bob Richards (Thousand Oaks) * Rick Scott (Buena) * Don Shoemaker (Glendale) * Randy Stage (Burbank) * Mike Tsoutsouvas (Santa Paula) * Jeff Williams (Palmdale) *

The following coaches said they would need more information before passing judgment: Joel Gershon (Channel Islands), Jim Nottoli (Paraclete), Sean Porter (Camp Kilpatrick), Kevin Rooney (Notre Dame).

The following coach had no opinion: Gene Uebelhardt (Royal).

The following coaches were unavailable for comment: John Albee (Quartz Hill), Pat Blackburn (Alemany), Andy Boynton (St. Francis), Jack Davis (Oxnard), Larry Edwards (Calabasas), Frank Greminger (Agoura), Ed Knight (Hueneme), Tom O’Brien (Santa Clara), Carl Thompson (Camarillo), Gary Thran (Harvard), Doug Woodlief (Bell-Jeff).