Where are you going Lavelle?

M-Town football.

I will not go into detail on Potts because Im still coaching at Monrovia. Im going on my 3rd year and as time goes by, I will submit my opinion as the season goes.

DAWG

O-line, huh? Nice. Harvard picked up a good o-line kid from somewhere in the southland.

Center and Guard. Long and Short snapper. Of course, a back injury turned me into a camera-man, but at least I still got to travel.

NY,
What position did you play at harvard?

I must be tired. I posted that last one TO Dawh.

Dawg,

It sounds as if you have been an insider at MHS for a bit. Why didn't Potts play defense? Why didn't we make a championship run this year? Things seemed to have been stacked in our favor in league and even CIF, especially in our half of the bracket.

Fan & New York;

You are both right about Potts. I remember Chris McAlister @ PHS, that kid never left the field. Look @ Chris now. In high school, the kids have enough energy to play the whole game all 4 years. Just like Desmond Eric Reed did @ TC.

NY,
I am quite sure that Arcadia won't make the same mistake with Kevan Walker at QB next year.

Fan,
You're exactly right. Potts was by far the best player and that would have been completely obvious to everybody if he had been used on defense (how can you expect to beat good teams if your best player is on the field only half the time. Covina had their QB play middle linebacker, and they had a ton of success during his two years). Hell, it probably would have been more obvious if we had cut him loose to run AND throw. There's gotta be more to it than that, though. I mean, Darryl Moore (MHS QB '97-98) had about half of Potts' tools but about twice the production. I think there was just a more aggressive attitude overall back then. I love turning back the clock. I hope we figure out how to get it done.

NY,
Many coaches get tunnel vision. When it comes to thinking out side of the box, most coaches have a difficult time doing so. I feel Potts was labled from day one, a quarterback, and that's it. And, Monrovia always felt they had to protect him. Like you indicated, he wasn't made out of glass.
Potts gashed Arcadia on a 3rd and long for about 30 yards too.
Your best player should never leave the field at the Highschool level. When Chris McAlister was at PHS, he was the QB/FS/kickoff returner/punt returner.
I actually met Potts a few times and I thought highly of him. I hope he has a great future.

Fan,
You feel my pain on this. Why try to make him only a pocket passer? Play 11 on 11 and let him gash the defense once in a while. Run out of passing formations and pass out of run formations. Why not encourage the QB with Potts' ability to pick up some yards on the ground? That would open the passing lanes big time.

The game against TC: Potts took one around right end and score from 30+ like it was easy. Then, when our little DBs could not stay with TC's taller receivers...why not put our most versatile athlete(Potts) out there in coverage? I guarantee that would have changed the equation. It's not like the kid was made out of glass.

I still ponder why Monrovia didn't cut him loose too. The kid could run. Potts is an intense kid... Eventhough Potts flipped his arm at that LaSalle kid when Davis fumbled, that was still one of the best hits I've saw all year in the SGV. I love a QB that plays pissed off.

Our boy Dick Wheeler may be looking for new work next year. I think the school is finally understanding what kind of creep Wheeler really is.

Sometimes blogs do bring out the truth about rotten people who treat people so poorly it's unthinkable.

If it's true, don't let the door hit you in the back side DICK Wheeler.

W.A.R.

Gladiator Heart forever.

Jim M.

Fan,

Perhaps that JC is a feeder into one of the Arizona schools or even into some other school. For Monrovia kids, I am actually a fan of the kid moving out of the area and getting away from the local temptations of hanging around and re-living the glory days of high school. When a kid goes to a JC, he must be focused and dedicated to taking care of business and transferring as soon as possible. I've seen far too many of my teammates and family friends get lost at PCC, Citrus and Mt. SAC. Hopefully Potts will get it done wherever he goes. He sure has a ton of potential.

I'm really not sure why Potts did not take any defensive reps in high school. Sure, he may be a D-1 QB. I coached a D-1 QB a couple years ago, but that did not change our strategy of letting him play as much as his stamina permitted. Hell, he was our best player, and we always wanted our best players on the field. Muir had Mitchel play QB and DB. I'm not sure why Monrovia does not let their QB play other positions. Many successful teams usually have their best player at QB.

Looking at Potts' stature and performance told me that he was a man amongst boys, but he was rarely cut loose.

NY,
I am still confused why Potts is electing to attend a JC in Arionza. What's so special about that JC? I hope he wasn't given any false hopes.

NY,

I remember Ware from Loyola. He won a championship playing QB/FS. His brother was the first running back at Oaks Christian. Ware, I believe, is with the Eagles? Potts is a great fit at safety. With his size and speed, he could cover well in any type of coverage.

I am not taking anything away from Randy Backus. He is a great coach and Def. Coord. I know that SC recruited Des as a cornerback. I was trying to give an example as to where a great player such as Des could have been more beneficial to the team. Such as running back 3 out of 4 years within varsity.

Sorry if you read my previous blog incorrectly.

TC has great coaches and I know most them as friends.

DAWG

DAWG

Dawg,
you love taking shots at Randy Backus don't you? Lets not forget that Desmond was recruited by USC as a CORNERBACK.

Potts look very atheletic against LC in basketball - he is not a great b-ball player - but if he has speed - sort of hard to tell on the court - he could be a great safty

I liked having Potts at QB. I just would have done more with him. I also would have played him at Safety. Anybody here familiar with Ware from Loyola? That's what Potts had the ability to do.

Thanks New York;

My personal opinion about David Potts:

I did not see Potts play to his potential. He is a great athlete, but I strongly believed that his talent and ability would have been utilized at the tight-end position, not so much QB. And as for Eric Brooks, he was better off playing O-line, full-back on short yardage situations for the 3 years that he played on varsity.

These are just my personal opinion on how to utilize the talent when you see as a coach. For example, Desmond Reed should have been a RUNNING BACK in varsity his Soph, JR, and all of his senior year while @ TC. But, he only ran the ball during league his senior year. I bet a lot more records ans stats would be in the history books on Desmond. But, this is an example on how some players are not utilized to their athletic potential. Just because a Def. Coor wants speed at the corner position should not take away from the offense aspect of it. Specially at the RUNNING BACK position.

DAWG

New York is absolutely right.
And while I think that Bulldog-PHS is accurate for other communities. It doesn't apply for LCHS. Parents move to LC for the school system (#2 public school in CA). If their kid is a basketball player they are happy to have them go to LCHS - if he is a football player they send them to private schools - why would you have them play at LCHS - these parents can afford to send them to private schools.
Also New York is right had some of these kids had gone to SF, Loyola et al you would have been reading about them in the Times and the school would have been working overtime making sure they qualified for qualfied for college and not working overtime against them so the coach can say "see it was all me - we didn't have any D1 players on our team and see I won 50% of our games. I am a really great coach. Now let me introduce you to my NEW assistant coaches"

'Dawg,
Nice posts.

I'm from public secondary schools but then I have attended private college and grad school. Furthermore, I have coached at public and private schools, both affluent and not so much. As a product of public schools, I hate to admit that private schools just get it done better than public schools do. My experience is that private schools are better organized and better run. Usually, taking the PSAT and SAT is status quo at private schools. It's just part of the curriculum (almost). It's shocking to think of how many public school kids never even take the SAT and then are not even eligible to go straight to a four-year school. I'm not talking only about athletes.

I hate to suggest it, but I feel that a lot of these guys who are heading to JC would have had different results had they attended SF, LS, Amat or any other college prep school. Those schhols would have realised the value in sending Peterson or Potts to UCLA. And those kids would have been all over the LA Times.

Now, I don't mean to bash public schools, because they are filled with many great individual teachers, coaches and administrators. However, just as a bunch of individuals don't win CIF titles, a fragmented public school will not reach full potential either.

Lavelle;

Any choice you make is the right choice at the time as long as you are ready receive an education and play football while doing so. Your talent is 1/2 of the contribution toward the NFL and the other 1/2 falls on how you utilize your knowledge while in college. The average running back may play 3-5 seasons in the NFL, but an education is forever.

Good Luck Dog, I'll see you on the field.

DAWG

I dont think that LC's problem regarding talented players going elsewhere is the main issue on not going far in the play-offs. Is not just LC, it is most of the SGV schools, such as Monrovia, PHS, Muir, Marshall, Duarte, Arcadia, San Marino, San Gabriel, & CV. We read it in the papers when a kid @ Amat, Loyola, SF, LS, is a product of the aforementioned schools within SGV and how the players attended some JR high/middle school when they were young. We need to remember that some parents move out of their district or work in different zip codes, which may cause changes within their lives such as transportation issues or childcare stuff. We live in a society that is constantly moving back and forth. Kids/players/athletes/parents/ delinquence amomg some athletes who find trouble may have to attend other schools. Some players have domestic issues with parents who no longer live together and have child custody issues. Therefore, is not merely that "Private" schools recruit, is more of a social factor among domestical, financial, family, juvenile system, or just parents who would like to see their players on a power-house team who may get noticed for D-1 schools.

So lets not point fingers why some schools have great players on the football team when the player should be at another school or cry about why a CIF title is not earned. We need to make excuses and just let the players choose where ever they want to play and hopefully graduate with an education.

For example, I lost many friends and family members to gang violence growing in Pasadena and some friends are locked up and/or are tweakers. Only you can choose the right path out and make the right thing right in life.

Some kids have no choice but to adapt to their environment.

DAWG

Matt,
The Lavelle situation just highlights the problems at LCHS. It is not just a Lavelle issue. Going back the last 6+ years LC has been spoon fed great players from the Gladiator program and he has simply blown it up when those kids got to LCHS. The freshman team that Lavelle started on I think went undefeated as did the one the year before and the varsity can barely win 50% when they are seniors. Kids quit by their junior year, the staff turns over except the head coach and the AD (who should have been retired years ago). The team the year before last had 14 all league players (all Gladiators by the way)and the back to back all area MVP Players and back to back to back all league MVPs and they can only win one playoff game. There is nothing left in the tank - everyone who who any football talent is fleeing - all the good football players and their parents know the situation at LCHS and are going to SF, LS and Loyola or even some of the smaller schools (especially non-Catholics).
Look at how good basketball players flock to LCHS because of Coach Hoffman and how good football players flee to other schools - why would anyone with any football talent go to that school - especially when the parents in LC can afford to send their kids to good football schools and why in the same environment can the basketball program at that size a division school go almost a solid 20 deep with excellent basketball players on the Varsity - the head coach that is why. If this continues LCHS is one year from being Hoover and Glendale - heck wthout Lavelle this year they were those teams. Pathetic and an embarrassment and the administration should be ashamed for allowing it to go on so long.

just a comment as far as Lavelle needing higher SAT, he should take the ACT instead if allowed. I took both and had I known about ACT, I would have stuck with it. It is way easier than the SAT adn the essay they ask you to write is a 4th grader's prompt. His best bet for a better score is to take the ACT because when school's weigh the aptitude tests, ACT scores are converted to SAT equivalents, and my SAT was lower than ACT. just a comment

Look Wheeler is an idiot. How he keeps his job is because he works for idiots. In 2002 The La Canada OC had returning in 2003 an all league QB and three all league WRs. He screwed him and got rid of him and took over the team himself. Every Jumior and Sophmore on that team wanted to quit. They went 2-7-1 the year Wheeler put his genius to work. They should have won league. So he has no football sense. He is insecure and doesn't want to be around people that know what they are doing. They will only expose him.

I think Jim M on another post stated the number of coaches who have worked at La Canada over the past couple of years.

The one thing you have to remember however, is that to get a scholarship you have to go through the NCAA Clearnghouse. There is a scale that show what Sat/Act you need based on your GPA. You also have to take core courses. Despite Wheeler being an idiot, if Lavelle hit on that criteria it wouldn't matter.

I wish nothing but good things for the kid and hope it works out ok.

Look Wheeler is an idiot. How he keeps his job is because he works for idiots. In 2002 The La Canada OC had returning in 2003 an all league QB and three all league WRs. He screwed him and got rid of him and took over the team himself. Every Jumior and Sophmore on that team wanted to quit. They went 2-7-1 the year Wheeler put his genius to work. They should have won league. So he has no football sense. He is insecure and doesn't want to be around people that know what they are doing. They will only expose him.

I think Jim M on another post stated the number of coaches who have worked at La Canada over the past couple of years.

The one thing you have to remember however, is that to get a scholarship you have to go through the NCAA Clearnghouse. There is a scale that show what Sat/Act you need based on your GPA. You also have to take core courses. Despite Wheeler being an idiot, if Lavelle hit on that criteria it wouldn't matter.

I wish nothing but good things for the kid and hope it works out ok.

Look Wheeler is an idiot. How he keeps his job is because he works for idiots. In 2002 The La Canada OC had returning in 2003 an all league QB and three all league WRs. He screwed him and got rid of him and took over the team himself. Every Jumior and Sophmore on that team wanted to quit. They went 2-7-1 the year Wheeler put his genius to work. They should have won league. So he has no football sense. He is insecure and doesn't want to be around people that know what they are doing. They will only expose him.

I think Jim M on another post stated the number of coaches who have worked at La Canada over the past couple of years.

The one thing you have to remember however, is that to get a scholarship you have to go through the NCAA Clearnghouse. There is a scale that show what Sat/Act you need based on your GPA. You also have to take core courses. Despite Wheeler being an idiot, if Lavelle hit on that criteria it wouldn't matter.

I wish nothing but good things for the kid and hope it works out ok.

Look Wheeler is an idiot. How he keeps his job is because he works for idiots. In 2002 The La Canada OC had returning in 2003 an all league QB and three all league WRs. He screwed him and got rid of him and took over the team himself. Every Jumior and Sophmore on that team wanted to quit. They went 2-7-1 the year Wheeler put his genius to work. They should have won league. So he has no football sense. He is insecure and doesn't want to be around people that know what they are doing. They will only expose him.

I think Jim M on another post stated the number of coaches who have worked at La Canada over the past couple of years.

The one thing you have to remember however, is that to get a scholarship you have to go through the NCAA Clearnghouse. There is a scale that show what Sat/Act you need based on your GPA. You also have to take core courses. Despite Wheeler being an idiot, if Lavelle hit on that criteria it wouldn't matter.

I wish nothing but good things for the kid and hope it works out ok.

Observantcat,
I can tell you the fans and parents (almost 100% anyway) absolutely love Lavelle. They all have know him since he was a little kid playing for the Gladiators - a program LCHS doesn't lift a finger to help - even though every all league player they have had in the last three years has come from that program. The fans and parents have no idea of the issues Lavelle has had to face because they only see his tremendous accomplishments on the field and assume everything is okay. Several influential parents who all believe rightly or wrongly (my view wrongly) that their younger kids are D1 quality and if LC can't get someone with such unique talents as Peterson a scholarship what does that portend for their kids. They are shocked as they learn of the situation. Stay tuned -these parents can make a lot of noise when it effects their kids - too bad it is too late for Lavelle. But things usually work out for the best in the long run and Peterson ultimately will be better for it.

It is shocking that major D1 schools aren't sending the limos for a kid with with a 3 GPA at LC and the amazing skill that kid has. You can bet someone is working OT behind the scenes to keep him down. There is simply no other explanation. Just watch the You Tube piece again. I think there has to be a law suit in there somewhere. It is shameful.

Silent majority,
Very funny - Coach Fuzzy err Wheeler.

To New York and anyone else who's listening:

The reason that I brought this up is that LaVelle is caught up in what is apparently in what is a lack of respect from not only the coach but the fans as well. It's funny how well you are treated when you win the whole thing and how critical people are when it comes to losing a game or two. Peterson was probably loved by the student body and not so celebrated by the fans and parents in the community. This again is where racism plays a part of our eveyday fight for happiness and equality. In that 78 year there were only 25 players on the team that came from a team of 65-70 freshman and sophmores that banned together as a team and never go scored on. Mr Kearney thought that with just one good black player on the team he could worked wonders. He chose a guy by the name of Dennis Brown to lead the charge. Addmittedly Brown was the fastest guy at the high school at the time, but lacked the true running back experience of his counterparts. Monrovia could be a team like Damien who was ranked #1 at the time and lose the next week to Burbank not that Burbank could compete, but 1 injury to any of the key players put thing back into perspective. Brown Later went to the University of Washington and yes they Won the Rose Bowl. He played Corner at the time. He also ran a 4.175 which is the fastest time ever recorded at UofW. And believe it or not he would have been the Third string runningback for Monrovia High School that year. So with that said sometimes we choosed coaching staffs for the wrong reasons and it looks like LaCanada has fallen into that trap.

Alot of the very best athletes in monrovia go to private schools. There are a ton at SF and La Salle. The best player on Bishop Amat this year was from Clifton middle school. I think the school needs to make a better effort so parents will actually want their kids to attend.

O-Cat, thank you for the historical perspective on M-Town football. What is your opinion of the current environment? As good as we are now, I can only imagine how dominant of a team we would have if the football team were more reflective of the entire student body. And what I mean by that is we would be 80-90 strong, rather than 40-strong at varsity (that is just simple statistics). We need to grow the pie. That added depth would be amazing and it would highlight what a richly diverse school we have. What happened to the days when all young men wanted to go out for football?

This is just a simple observation, and a bit of a derivative of O-Cat's earlier statement.

I spoke with Lavelle at the Spartans boys basketball game on Friday. (He looks in great shape by the way). He said if he gets a high enough score on his SAT, he will likely end up at UCLA. If he has to go to a community college, he said he would go to Citrus. So as one blogger stated earlier, with Audarrius Bailey at Citrus, that would be the valley's edition of thunder and lightning. Either way, it's nice to know we can keep following Lavelle's career.

I can understand quite well what you are talking about Mr. Mulligan. At Monrovia High school there were concerns regarding true predijuice at the school. Monrovia in the 70's were know for racial unrest and it took on it's ugly face on the football field as well. Coach Tom Patton (A LaCanada) resident at the time was the Best Coach ever to step on Monrovia soil. He cultivated a culture of football at the school that no other coaching staff has achieved since. Towards the end of his coaching tenure he was asked to step down mainly because of pressure from some of the Alumni. They felt that some of the White players were'nt getting enough recognition or playing time. Patton had a good recognition for talent whether it was Black or White. Patton was let go in 1977 and was replace by a guy who had no knowlege of football whatsoever at what to most Monrovia Fans on of the most critical times in Monrovia football history. Most football fans can remember greats such as James DeCuir, Dennis Brown, Martin Reynolds and the list could go on....These guys had'nt lost a game since pop warner football and the 78' class was even better going into their Jr. year of football. The then Coach Regis Keaney made a commit and committment to some of the Fas that he was not going to be another Tom Patton and decided to actively search for White players on campus to play in more skilled postions. Hands Down the Best Quaterback that wasn't was a guy by the name of Gary Stultz that would have gone divison 1 in two sports Baseball and Football, As a freshman he was my QB and he set the standard for greatness in an athlete. The first game we ever played as fresman was a scrimmage against John Muir and what he did simply amazed all of the players on the field. He out ran a Muir team that posted sprinters that were all State in their years to come and gave every monrovia player the confidence to completely dominate that scrimmage, from that point on most of our freshman scores were very lopsided including a season of complete shut-outs. Mr. Kearney, given all of this talent decided it was time to get rid of most of the team by being overly demanding of the rules of his short stint as coach. He told players that played in other sports such as track and field that if they were to participate in State finals and were not available to be in spring training during that week they were not going to be eligible to participate on his team. The teams composition greatly transfered from being one of the most feared teams in all of California to just another team. Anyone who knows that era could tell you that The 77, 78, should have dominated any teams they faced, but when you take a school and the players and turn it into a personel matter and let predijuice ruin your team spirit it becomes bigger than the game and any one person. So Jim, It happens from time to time and I do feel for LaVelle that he got caught up in the BS. Things seemed to come back to normal when Regis Kearney was let go. If LaVelle had played for any other school in this matter he would have limouses at his doorsteps. Good luck anyways LaVelle you will find your way through all of this.

Where is everybody else going?

BigM, any updates on the other Monrovia guys?

Cubana, where is AJ going?

Hey Fred,Long time blogger first time re:You editorialists ask for some good stories,how about taking a trip up to Coach(Fuzzy)err Wheeler's office and clear up this whole mess.

The good news is that if Lavalle does well on his SAT and he doesn't have to do that much better than in the past he has a PAC 10 scholarship in CA waiting for him regardless of all the non help or negative help that the LC head coach and AD gave him per Jim M's comments.
I think it is important to note that Jim M's comments are limited in my view to a few people, unfortunately the most important when it comes to football scholarships, at LCHS. Lavelle has had the good fortune to work with some great teachers and there are those just below the top of the administration that worked very hard and overtime to get Lavelle's paper work in order and wrote helpful letters when schools like UCLA, ALabama and Washington St. were looking for information. Also the good news is Lavelle got a very good education there, but also that is part of the problem. Because LC is a difficult school gradingwise, the number 2 ranked public school in CA, his overall GPA is not as high as it would have been at another school as such it requires a higher SAT score - my view had he gone to a school with an easier grading curve his grades would have been higher and his SAT score would have been just fine.
Obviously to anyone with at leaset half a brain Lavelle is a Pac 10, SEC quality back and if he does well on the SAT that is where he will go.
If not there will be a difficult decision for Lavelle and that family, does he go a non Pac 10 school or go the JC route, where save an injury he will ultimately get that Pac 10 scholarship but risk injury and end up with without one. I also think it is important to note that there are many in La Canada community that have embraced Lavelle since he was 9 playing for the city as LC Gladiators, including the LC local press, youth coaches, the LC kids he played with, former LCHS players, current LCHS players the LC parents of the other kids on his teams over the years and of course Jim M.'s family and extended family - Lavelle has been extremely fortunate in that way. Jim M's comments, in my view should not taint the city, where he has so many supportors who are just as shocked and disappointed at how Lavelle has been handled.

Wow Jim M,

The Wheeler thing does not surprise me. I remember back in the 80's LC was known back then how Wheeler is now. I guess nothing has changed. If the actions you mentioned about Wheeler are right, then he needs to be FIRED! and never allowed to coach in any sport. Wow, wheeler must have really hated Desmond Reed running wild against them!! :)

DAWG

If those aren't the words and feelings of a true FATHER, I don't know what is. Why does a man have to donate his "seed" to be considered a father? Jim has raised a fine young man and he should be proud of the job that he has done and continues to do. There are many people who will talk the talk, but will never step forward and walk the walk.

wow, I played against Lavelle back at La Salle. He was pretty good, cleared our saftey by two feet (jumping over him). But we still beat LC.

I had no idea that climate existed at LC, it's really surprising.

Thank you, Jim

I know that was a hard piece to post... Speaking for the rest of the regulars (I hope you'll let me), truthful, genuine information like this is what makes these blogs worth reading.

Good luck to Lavelle... whether it's at a D1 or a JC... his focus and the commitment that you are describing, will insure his success.

It will be a pleasure to follow his progress.

And to LC... get your house in order! If these allegations are true, your school is an embarrassment.

No offense,but why would you sujbect your child to that for 4 years. He could have gone to any school in the WSGV, Public and Private and they would have love to have him..

Jim M.,

When you say "that kind" what do you mean?

Good Evening All: Fred J. you'll be the first to know where Lavelle is going when we make our final decision. You have always been good to Lavelle. Also, we wanted to thank all of you readers of the Star News because of your tremendous support this year.

If the truth be told I stopped sending messages in these blogs because nobody wanted to believe the truth about Rich Wheeler or Randy Boal and how Lavelle was really treated at La Canada.

The last thing Coach Rich Wheeler did was ignore UCLA for three weeks as their recruiting director called and called and never received a call back from Wheeler.

Getting Wheeler to say anything nice about Lavelle is very hard to do. Keep in mind Rich Wheeler called Lavelle "Boy" for three years as Lavelle attended La Canada High School and only started calling Lavelle by name this year because the administration force him to.

Why do you think Wheeler didn't want Lavelle to be captian this year?

Wheeler has made many, many statements about Lavelle and the type of person he is and how he won't allow that "kind" to act a certian way on his campus "or bring that type of swagger on my campus".

Wheeler is the single most disturbing Teacher/Coach that is allowed to bring that type of thinking to a school. He wouldn't last one day if he worked at a Pasadena High School not one day!

It's been for years of hell for Lavelle and Lavelle has shown everyone that he is bigger then the hate Wheeler carries with him daily.

Lavelle will be a success in life because he fully understands that you are judged in life by the way you handle the things you can't control. Lavelle is a wonderful person who cares about all. Who will read to a sixth grade class or attend a birthday party because we get a random call at the house from a parent of a kid who's only wish is to meet Lavelle. That is the type of kid Lavelle is.

Not one drop of this kindness comes from Wheeler.

Wheeler carried this hate around along with others at that school until they were called out on it and were forced to be nice to him.

Many, many situations that are filled with hate go on at that school and Lavelle rose above each and every one of them.

It would make you all sick if you all understood what really goes on there.

Back to Lavelle, he just received a 3.0 on his last report card and is taking the SAT's again in two weeks. It's in Gods hands and we will pray for him to do well.

Schools from all over have called the school and the school just can't bring its self to be easy to do business with when it comes to Lavelle.

We are a very close family and we are a very strong family.

What La Canada High School allowed to happened to that senior class of outstanding football players by having Wheeler coach them was stealing from their lives and the love of a sport they all shared since they were 9 years old.

They never even watched game film during the playoffs.

Lavelle has made visits to PCC, Citrus an GCC. We will also visit College of the Canyons. We will see how the SATs go and see if we can go Division 1 or be very proud to represent one of the Junior Colleges in the area.

Right now Lavelle is in the weight room 6 times a week and blowing himself up. He is at 211 lbs and his recent 40 time is at 4.3. The goal is to get Lavelle to come in around 220 lbs. by the start of next year and just be thankful for what we have and what is in our football future.

We don't understand why a coach who is filled with so much hate for a kid like Lavelle, but we do understand that our family has never been closer.

The truth about Wheeler will come out before next season that I promise you and they are going to be a lot of people who have followed Lavelle since his days as a Gladiator and these same people are not going to be very happy with our "boy" Wheeler.

Most of us live under a world of one race the human race. I just wish everybody did.

Jim M.

It's hard to write about your kid when you love him so much, but it gets really hard to see people respond to these blogs and try to cover up hate.

I hope no one mistakes my opionion on JC's. I mean I went to one and transfered of course the right way but I did get out of their. But for a talent like Peterson, if he chooses any JC let it be Citrus or somewhere not local, maybe even RCC or better yet Mt. Sac, now those are some really good JC's for football, PCC is not the place for Peterson or Potts, they're better than that you know

WOW! What a football player! I love the way a guy with his speed is able to finish the run, always falling forward and actually initiating contact. He almost never runs out of bounds and keeps the clock rolling.

After watching Lavelle's high-lights, several thoughts ran through. Lavelle reminds me of Barry Sanders, Bobby Webster PHS '89, Anthony Olivas Arroyo '02, and Sweetness Bears '85. Wow, it takes a great player to stand next to these aforementioned names. I would love to see Lavelle play @ Citrus. Wow, Citrus is a few one blocks from my crib.

Best of luck Lavelle.

DAWG

Philly B.,

Adduarius Bailey will be playing running back at Citrus JC next. If LaValle goes there, then they will have their own version of thunder and lightning.

Jim is not his dad, he is his guardian. Lavelle is a great kid, but he has been in special ed. classes because of a learning disorder. It's not for lack of effort or studying, he works hard and if he has to go the community college route, we should all cheer and support him.
LC supporter.

Hey Lavelle,

Isn't it something how everyone is now offering their advice on where you should attend college? It was not long ago when your father, Jim, sat here on the blog trying to get support about that screwed up coach at LC High and no one wanted to lend their input. Wherever and whatever you decide is your business. Keep them wondering!

Steve Smith and Chad Johnson both attended Santa Monica Community College and look @ them now!!!! Maybe a year or 2 will help them with their grades and/or SAT scores. In additon, time will prevail at the end. Shoot, I will go see a few PCC or Citrus games.

DAWG

I hope that lavelle and Potts arent going to a JC. that highlight film was amazing, just how he can break takcles so easily. I have a friend that attends univ of Ariz. and they were hearing about peterson during league when he was getting records left and right. PCC is in need of a quarterback but I hope that that is just a rumor and not true. And if lavelle is going to junior college let it be citrus they actually have a good team. I've been to all the games at pcc and for levelle to go their will be a setback for him

Heard another rumor that David Potts is considering going to PCC..If Lavelle is going the community college route, he should go to PCC too. Wouldn't it be nice to see these two continue in our backyard.

He has the talent to be a good player at thenext level. My guess is that the reason he hasn't signed is grades, SAT or both. Pick a good JC and do there what you did in high school and your options will grow tenfold.

Wow, impressive. He has great vision, good speed. His size reminds me of Maurice Jones Drew. He can definately do some damage in a D1 program. If he continues to do what he's doing, someone will find him from the JuCo's. I'm not comparing him to Steve Smith or Chad Johnson but they both did go the JuCo route, so we know it works. Can someone please give Carl Dorrell a call because I'd love to see him in a Bruin's uniform.

andrew roxas has probably the most impressive Offensive line highlight tape i have seen but i dont think i can put his video on here because its only on rivals.com

Anon,
Lavelle is quite impressive. Lavelle, please let us know your future plans. You could start at any 4 year. Don't go to a juco.

concerning lavelle:
we're not going to see another talent like him for at least another decade! if he's advised to go to a juco than someone has messed with his future!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSrZmg_ULdQ
South Pasdena-San Marino rivalry

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OanKUZROSb4
If you haven't seen Braggin' rights about the Muir-PHS Turkey Tussle, watch this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_Wh7k_wKnc
David Potts, Monrovia

We can have a lot of fun with this. If there are any parents or video guru's filming games throughout the playoffs, put a highlight package together and put it on YouTube. You can do what hsfan did and copy the link to this thread to share with other bloggers. Each week I'll start a new YouTube thread with video you send to me, or stuff I find on YouTube that promotes West Gabriel Valley high school sports.

Thanks hs fan, this is a great way to localize the West San Gabriel Valley talent floating around on YouTube. It's great having video to go with the people we're talking about.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrKgk6o2aNs