Mission Viejo commits minor rule violation

Mission Viejo's football team committed a minor violation of summer dead period rules during last month's Elite 11 quarterback camp featuring Diablos coach Bob Johnson and Cal-bound quarterback Allan Bridgford, the CIF-Southern Section confirmed today.

Mission Viejo reported the infraction and a sanction was imposed, said Thom Simmons, the section's director of communications.

Johnson and his chief assistant coach and son, Bret, will each be suspended from coaching for one practice.

Bob Johnson, who is entering his 10th season at Mission Viejo, said an infraction occurred July 24 at the Elite 11 camp at Soka University in Aliso Viejo.

On the same day that Mission Viejo was supposed to begin its required summer dead period, the Johnsons were coaching at their Elite 11 camp, which this summer included Bridgford, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound senior-to-be.

Bob Johnson said about 10 of his high school players also participated at the camp July 24.

“We were there the 24th and it was done at 10 in the morning,” Bob Johnson said Monday. “It was the last day of camp. We don't do hardly anything. We give awards and stuff. … Obviously, it's no advantage of any kind.”

At the camp, Bridgford finished third in the MVP race behind Georgia commit Aaron Murray and UCLA-commit Richard Brehaut. USC's Mark Sanchez was among the counselors at the camp.

According to CIF-SS rules, teams are required to take a three-week dead period during the summer in which only weightlifting is allowed.

Mission Viejo opens its season Aug. 29 in Hawaii against Baldwin.

In 2003, Bob Johnson was suspended four practices for violating the association rule at two spring Nike football camps. Bret was suspended two practices.

Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com