This is really an excellent and generous review of a very exciting game. I'm not sure how it could have been improved, except maybe to point out that the Paly band segued expertly from 'Should I Stay or Should I Go' into 'Africa'.

And there was a wonderful performance with the Little Vikes, along with Dance and Cheer!

We ran out of bodies,’’ Palo Alto coach Nelson Gifford said. “From the perspective of our program that’s something we’ve got to work on. I hate to say it, but I feel like Wilcox has a 30-year head start. Check back with me in 15 years.’’ does this even make any sense? a high school generation is 4 years. 30 years = 7.5 generations. what does that even mean--a 30 year head start? seems that a high school program can change drastically as different years of athletes roll through the system. Where was Wilcox 30 years ago--that would have been 1989? where was Paly in 1989? Is Wilcox really 30 years ahead of Paly? Is Paly really stuck in 1989? and when the coach says to check back with me in 15 years-- is he really saying that he won't be fired for at least 15 years?--oh, that leads to another point-- a football coach should never be the athletic director-- that guarantees the football coach will be around as long as the athletic director wants him to stay--and, since it is the same person for both positions, it is hard to get rid of one without getting rid of the other.

How in any sport is the following a problem? don't all teams in any game want to score early? “In some ways it was problematic for us that we scored so quickly,’’ Gifford said. “They had just enough depth there to wear us out at the end.’’ the quarterback, " was forced to leave the game in the fourth quarter after taking a blow to the head." Maybe the coach is the one that got the concussion and not the player.

@Perplexed Did you attend the game? I don’t think the coach chose the best words after an emotional game where his kids fought to the end. Working on the program means getting the community more involved and more attendance at games. Working on the program means teaching more young kids how to safely play the game so you have more than 30 players and are not dependent on kids playing the entire game on both sides of the ball and special teams. I am a HUGE fan of the coach and see no conflict with him being the AD. Every function has a boss and so does coach Gifford. He is a Palo Alto grad and the community should be the first to support him and not try to take remarks and add their own context.

i understand perplexed's comments. coach and AD do not go together--especially football. nothing against this coach--but, have witnessed the combo that highly favors the football program at the detriment of the other athletic programs--including money distribution, and there is nothing to stop the favoritism. one such AD and football coach told my daughter, who asked about the new uniform policy, to be happy with what her team had, because really girls belong in the kitchen. granted that was several years ago--but, this AD was the football coach and who is to stop this type of behavior?

@Real Slim K:
Is that the Weezer version of "Africa" or the original by Toto?

Also, let me chime in with something about this discussion of "30-year head start" and 15-year projected tenure as coach:
In 1980, nearly 40 years ago, Jm Harbaugh transferred in to the district when his dad took a job at Stanford. Jim lived closer to Gunn but enrolled at Paly. How many Gunn-feeder football athletes have followed suit? Fifty?
Also, with one or two recent notable exceptions, how many Tinsley athletes have gone to Paly?

Gunn last won league in 1970.

Paly is a sports magnet, right? That's an official PAUSD policy, right?

Jeremy Lin?

Getting back to football, and the new Paly coach: he says THEY ran out of bodies???? (Jack Finney call your agent!)

I'm with you Glenn D. The community should come out to the games, to generate more money, which the football team will continue to share with the rest of the Paly sports community. To the others, try attending the game Friday against Fremont. The team will be going for its fifth win of the seaaon and 15th in 1.5 seasons with coach Gifford. For reference, that is the same number of games that Paly won in the 4 seasons prior to Gifford's arrival.

How about we look like the other communities in the Bay Area and fill our stands for a great time as a community? All our sports programs could benefit.

If you are at the game on Friday night you will see that these kids love playing for each other and for this coaching staff. And you will also see how many kids from around the school that this AD brings into the program for video, and even, as far as I have experienced, the only Bay Area Student PA announcer.

On the topic of money distribution? That would be a fun one to look at the facts about. Ticket revenue is shared, and the revenue at the snack shack (which only comes because the boys are willing to play so hard on Friday night for other people's enjoyment) , is shared with every other male and female sports team willing to send volunteers.

Maybe for some levity to measure against the animosity - Now that California college players are getting paid, how about we start a campaign for the high school players to get some of the revenue from the proceeds that are generated by the games they play in?

See you Friday night!

So much to say, but maybe I should have stopped at: why the negativity?