Poly says, “Thanks, but no thanks”

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Long Beach Poly, which began the season ranked No. 2 by The Times but stumbled out of the limelight and dropped to No. 10 in the rankings after a 20-7 loss to Birmingham last week, pulled further away from the spotlight Wednesday by declining a television appearance on Fox Sports Network.

FSN hoped to televise the Jackrabbits’ intersectional game against visiting Carson on Sept. 21, but Poly officials turned down the opportunity in hopes of drawing as large a crowd as possible to Veterans Stadium.

Spectators’ presence and participation in the game apparently means a lot to the schools involved -- about $2,000, at least -- and a Poly official has put the projected money for the school if the game had been televised where his mouth is in making the decision.

It was one gutsy, against-the-grain move, reminiscent of, oh, I don’t know, say, former Poly standout and current Heisman Trophy candidate DeSean Jackson, on a recent punt return.

All I can say is this: Touchdown!

In this day and age of highlight reels and over-exposure, that was an inspired move, made for the benefit of a school doing its best to take advantage of a high-profile football matchup in the most positive and productive manner possible.

Read more about it in today’s Long Beach Press-Telegram.

- Lauren Peterson