Who has the best fan following?

Wow, amazing blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you make blogging look easy.

Your website is amazing. I wonder just how do you manage to write posts so often. I'm very lazy.

who the hell cares? these kids are just HSers... they should be worrying about GPAs and SATs

Attended the Arcadia vs Temple City scrimmage last night. Apache QB Nick Ponce showed why he will be one of the best in the S.G. Valley this year. He connected several times to "the Real Deal" Walker...one was about a 40-50 yarder, and he seemed to possess a calm confidence on the field. At 6'5", he also has an intimidating presence. Arcadia also had couple of RB's (especially #22) who had powerful runs, and the Offensive Line gave Ponce quite a bit of time to set things up. The Arcadia / St. Francis matchup next week should be interesting. But as a previous post stated, you'd better arrive early for any chance to get in!

Maybe none of you have been to a St. Francis Football game. I have to arrive almost an hour early to get a seat. They have to bring in extra bleachers because not everyone fits in the stadium. And the noise is almost deafening. And in last years Semi-finals game the fire department was there turning away people because it was a fire hazard to have so many people there. And at the Cresenta Valley game there was over 5,000 people there. St. Francis has my vote.

Hey Dan...

That complement is for NY... the blogger is acknowleged beneath the post, not above it.

But I like Ed Rycroft too... so I'll accept the props.

BigMLover,
I stand correcred.
and yes it is nice to coach Rycroft back in Monrovia.

"South Pasadena Fans... clearly are the front runners"

I'm not sure how "clear" that is... but I do acknowledge their fans as classy and committed.

Ralph and Ed are doing it right over there.

Having visited several stadiums in the Rio Hondo League, all of the teams have a very solid fan base, with the exception of the problematic Blair. However, I do feel that South Pasadena seems to do it right. They have a fiery commitment to all sports they participate in and they always support their teams by filling the stands, even if their team is struggling. They keep high school sports in perspective as we all regularly call for, yet they compete on a strong enough level to get the stronger players noticed and well prepared for college. I think if you are thinking in terms of overall quality and community value, South Pasadena Fans, in a wide variety of sports, clearly are the front runners.

St. Francis v. Loyola games use to pull thousands of people. I remember being at the game in 1993, and I could not even get a seat at St. Francis. Chris McAlister ( Arizona, Ravens-NFL) was St. Francis's running back, then he transferred to PHS.

Coach Rycroft is the defensive coordinator of the Firehawks. It's nice to see that he will once again be connected to the M-Town D.

Dan...

Leonardis is calling the D... under the watchful eye of Coach Garrison. Randy Bell is the new OC. He's a longtime Cat and the current AD. Josh Knight is the QB coach.

On a per capita basis no one "out fans" Rio Hondo Prep. Any game congers the feeling you are thrown back in time--half expecting to see the old lettermen's sweaters of the past. While it's true that RHP fans often out number there opponents at away games, it is truly a tribute to the team to see a gathering of fans from infant to octagenerians. From the 12 member band to the post-game Alma Mater ritual this school is special.

yes Leonardis played @AHS and is now calling the defense as Josh Knight (Baldwin Park) will call the offense. and as a footnote the two still play minor league football for the Foothill Firehawks (home field @ Monrovia HS)
in the LCFL

Moreno from Arcadia won the Pacific league 100 meters, so he's very fast, but not quick. I believe Coach Leonardis is Monrovia's new d-cord that played his HS ball at Arcadia.

I'd have to say that the best fan base is at Rio Hondo Prep.
for the past ten years i've been involved with the school and i can tell you first hand that the RHP fans almost always out number the the oppositions fans. as for the new kid at Arcadia i don't know him but I had the privilage of coaching these boys as freshmen and I'll tell you that Nick Ponce Chris Robison Ryan Hess and the money man Moreno can flat out play!! Look for the Monrovia/Arcadia game to be BIG!!! just ask Coach Leonardis.

Anyone happen to see the Arcadia scrimmage against themselves on Saturday? I heard the same thing about Arcadia. I hear Kevan Walker is amazing but I need to see before I believe. I asked a parent who has a kid on the team and they said that they are scrimmaging Temple City on Saturday night at 7 @ AHS. Anyone know about Arcadia's stars besides Walker? Someone above said Robison, Ponce, Hess...Who are these kids. Scout.com had Kevin Hess a pre-season ALL-SGV DT.

Yeah I've heard a lot about this kid Kevan Walker, the transfer from Virginia. In VA he started as a freshman on varsity for about 3 or 4 games at corner then shared time at safety, then his sophomore year is when he just broke on the scene. I had a chance to go see Arcadia practice and he is no joke. Very fast and agile and he is a very very well tackler who will lay a smackin on you. He looks about 5'11 175-180 pounds. He has great hands and is a very smart ball-player but most importantly he is a great teammate from what i hear. Arcadia also has many weapons such as Robison, Ponce, Hess, and their defense looks solid. Arcadia is looking to make noise this year.

From a long time SGVer who has been transplanted into the OC Prep Sports scene, there are some solid fan bases out there (Monrovia gets the current nod). However, SGVers should travel south to some of the "smaller" schools in the OC and even they have a fan base that blows away anyhting in the SGV. Two programs come to mind right away. Tesoro and Villa Park pack 'em in and travel extremely well. I wish it were like it used to be. I saw several games with 5,000 plus fans in the mid 80's and early 90's, but those days are, sad to say, gone in the SGV.

Teams that win have great followings, which is why San Marino, Temple City and South Pasadena crowds were legendary in the 60s and 70s, or at least I've heard...Monrovia does fill it up, and the RH Prep fan was not joking, they pack it for a school with less than a 100 students...But if we're talking about the present, I don't know if anyone competes with St. Francis...They even have make-shift hospitality seats where food is brought to them....And hsfbfan, I've heard the same thing about Walker, Arcadia's size and quarterback. I think they're going to surprise al of us..

Kevan Walker... This kid is no joke. The real deal. Fred, you might have to do an interview on him. On defense, he is like a heat seeking missle. On the other side of the ball, they have a small kid, that looks like he runs a 4.4 40. There LB's look like 230+ with speed. I believe arcadia will put out a strong showing aganist St. Francis & Monrovia. Arcadia doesn't have the talent like St. Francis & monrovia, but they compensate with coaching.

Ahh, this topic brings back fond memories for me. I can remember San Marino games in the 80s-early 90s where the fans bang their feet on the metal stands and make a lot of noise. Now, the band has to do it because there aren't anymore fans.
And then the old alma mater, TC, still gets good crowds. Not like those days I just mentioned above, but still good.
I like this topic. Not enough to have it on my own site, but I like it.

Hey Fred, the readers have no clue what's about to hit them, do they?

I just spoke with Mayor Bloomberg. The M in Manhattan now officially stands for Monrovia / M-Town.

Out of these choice I'd definately take Temple City then Arcadia. Temple City has some extremly passionate fans.

Rio Hondo Prep has one of the strongest followings around. At most away games the prep out numbers the home crowd. True we do not have the following of a large school like Monrovia or St. Francis, but pound for pound the prep can pack the house just as well.

Rio Hondo Prep has also been one of the more consistent powerhouses in the SGV for the last 10 years+.

The stands full for Monrovia every Friday, whether it's home or away. On Saturday morning at a table in JB Burgers or in a booth at the Monrovian, you'll here next-day quarterbacking and exaggerated tales of football glory. The Old 'Cats at JBB are especially funny!

The games are all cablecasted on KGEM, the community cable channel, and we even have replays shown on a big screen during playoff games!

Everyone who's anyone is there on a Friday night. City politicians, business leaders and local clergy all attend... and hold regular meet-the-people sessions during halftime.

Wildcat football... With the "M" on the mountain lit up every home game, and the legs dimmed after a 'Cat victory, displaying the "V"... it doesn't get any better than Monrovia for HS football.

This is what Odessa, TX must be like...

From the list above, Ive witnessed crowds from Temple City, Arcadia, and Pasadena. These schools have decent home side seating but the seating they give to the visiting school is unfairly much smaller and cheaper. B.L. Bergstrom stadium in North El Monte gives both sides equal amounts of seating, and facilities like snack bar and restrooms and parking. When Arroyo kicks the season off at TC on Sept. 8th, I will have to pay to park in the schools lot and have to squeeze into the small old wobbly bleachers they supply to the visitors! Although Freddy informed us knight fans that we dont get covered by the star-news, I think Arroyo might have the most loyal following of fans. We always overflow your area schools' stands.

Think about it. Monrovia High seems to have all the steam on you site. The Fans are fantastic. They follow their team like college Fans and they love them in Winning situations and in deafeat.

For the best following, look to teams that have good crowds when they are not playing at home and discount the band, drill team, and cheerleaders.