Birmingham football's quest for first CIF State title setting new program standard
MISSION VIEJO, CALIFORNIA - Not many high school football coaches begin to think about next season moments after a CIF State title game.
Maybe, for California programs the elk of Mater Dei, St. John Bosco, San Mateo Serra or De La Salle, where playing for a state crown is the expectation.
In its own right, Birmingham Charter can be added to that shortlist.
"I think that's the goal now," Birmingham coach Jim Rose said. "You always want to win your section, but where we are as a program, it's (CIF) State or bust."
The Patriots made their second CIF State final appearance in three years Saturday in the Division 3AA final at Saddleback College where they fell to Lafayette Acalanes 35-23.
Birmingham reached the state championship on the heels of a fourth consecutive Los Angeles City Section Open Division title. Since 2019 (excluding 2020 due to COVID-19), Birmingham has won four section titles, two regional titles and earned two state final appearances.
The program's first CIF State plaque has eluded the Patriots, but Rose believes it's time to make getting to the season's last game a program standard. He also believes Birmingham is inching closer.
"We did a lot better in this year's state final," he said with a cynical chuckle. "We got blown out last time."
Birmingham lost in the CIF State Division 3A final to Oakland McClymonds 54-7 in 2021.
Birmingham is not overconfident in thinking it can reach the CIF State final again in 2024. Quarterback Kingston Tisdell and running back duo Ronnell Hewitt and Dredon Fowles return. Hewitt is only a sophomore. Tisdell and Fowles are juniors. Top junior linebacker Eddie Plaza returns, too.
The Patriots have outscored their opponents in City finals 142-54.
LEGACY PLAYERS
Birmingham's four-year, legacy players further solidifies its consistency on top of the Patriots' current 42-game winning streak against City Section schools.
Milton Knox ('08), Mason White ('19), Arlis Boardingham ('22) and Peyton Waters ('23) all won City Player of the Year at Birmingham. All were four-year standouts.
"That's one of the things I'm most proud of," Rose said. "All those guys are four-year guys. They stay. We are proud of that."
Rose has been at Birmingham since the late 1990's. He served as an assistant in 1996 and 1997 before leaving to coach college. He came back to coach as an assistant under Ed Croson in 2002 before taking over as head coach in 2009.
Rose was asked which Birmingham players would be on his Mount Rushmore.
"It's too much pressure. I'd have to think about it," he said.
WORTH NOTING
The City Section is 3-12 all-time in CIF State title games after going 0-3 in 2023.
The City is 0-11 since 2018 and in search of its first state championship winner since 2017 when Narbonne and Crenshaw each won.
