FOOTBALL: Spring practice is nearing, and one of our favorite bloggers, New York, asked this question from another thread ... Also, rosters for Hall of Fame game to be announced on Monday

Finchamp,

I have to completely disagree with you. I don't know about Rambeau being on the dean's list (is that even at Arcadia?) but to judge a kid's character and his PARENTS character for that matter, based on a highlight video made by his friend is ludicrous!

Obviously, he has some talent but he looks a little skinny. I don't know about 4.5 speed, he got caught from behind a couple of times in that video but he seems to be a pretty good football player. Anyone know of any good underclassmen on Arcadia's team. They had one sophomore who started both ways a year ago - #18 Todd Golper. Other than him, I don't know any great underclassmen besides Golper and Rambeau.

i am a friend of Brian's and he didn't make that highlight tape of himself...his friend surprised him and made it for him at the end of the season...so don't be judging his characteristics or his parents without knowing them

i heard arcadia has some good upcoming
sophmores for nex season.

anyone know who they arE????!!!!!!!!!

Relax.. p finchamp..they are only kids. I believe Rambeau happens to be a dean's list student. What type of music would you like the kid to play with his highlight?

Art Kelly?

You tell me.

Naturally I, like many others I suspect, believe Rambeau has parents or at least a guardian. Sadly the Limp Bizkit (or some such spelling) lyrics will do little to ingratiate him to coaches (the youtube video). What do his parents think about the first impression you get when viewing this when the first word out is f___? Is this another example of great talent with an empty head? What kind of influence are his coaches having? Nice statement, great impression!

Big A,

Some SF & monrovia, he's no. 6.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPSti2HR920

Big A,

I found Rambeau's JV highlight. Check it out. He could be good.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5258096039330021508

Anon,

Arroyo is the E-SGV or the trib. Check out Aram blogs.

Anon,

Arroyo is the E-SGV or the trib. Check out Aram blogs.

i read everything you guys posted and i havent heard a thing of arroyo high school... why???
if you think we arent good this year think again because were packed with talent... be ready mission valley league arroyo is going to shut you down

Philliy,

Also, many south LA families moved out to the riverside/Moreno valley areas. Besides shifting the football talent out east, they also brought their gangs.

stang fan,
you really broke it down on why pasadena isnt a powerhouse in football. There are too many high schools in pasadena and coaching is also an issue as well, but the main one is the houseing which makes families have to move out to the I.E. So I say the I.E. needs to thank pasadena for them being such a strong force in football

I suppose after an 11-year career in the NFL Kirshke has made a name for himself...

NY:

Wow!!! Okay, let it be known, that when it comes to WSGV football New York reigns supreme. Bro, you took it back to the nine-deuce and hit it on the number about Sali (top three GREATEST tailbacks ever in the SGV). Your knowledge is quite impressive man. However, Muir lost to Esperanza (and big bad Travis Kirshke- LA Times player of the year as a lineman) in the Semifinals. They beat Servite in the quarters. Those were the days!!!

did anyone attend the all star game at Ganada Hills high school? A few of our SGV kids were eleceted to play.

Stag fan and New York,
Back in the day when Pasadena only had one team youth team and Glendale (had the Hoover, Glendale, Eagle Rock, LCr, LCa and some parts of Burbank for its team) - the two beast teams/leagues were always Glendale and Pasadena in youth tackle football. Pasadena now has too many leagues and unstable coaches and administrators to really make much progress and as such many of the kids go to the Glendale progam - that is why Glendale in youth football has remained strong even though the population demographics have weakend substantially - as shown by their HS's football performances.

Eberhart - the former CV coach who won 5 league title with not the strongest talent would be great at TC.

It would be nice to see him coaching without the nut job parents (perhaps the worst in the SGV and that is saying something) and administration. If he can win 5 titles with that group imagine what he can do at TC.

Stang Fan--

Your 4 points are right on making me come back to a statement I made months ago--just how good would Pasadena schools be if there was no syphon (of better choices)off to area public schools?

Add to you list schools that also draw from Dena, Loyola, RH Prep and possibly Bishop Amat.

Stang Fan,

I was at the 1992 game when big bad FoHi came to PCC and Muir bounced them I think 14-0. Sali broke about a 98 yard run up the gut. It was awesome. Fontana was very highly ranked that season and lost to a VERY good Bishop Amat team (15 wins) in the semi-finals.

The nineties don't seem that long ago, but I suppose they were...I think Muir lost to Esperanza in the quarters that year in the D2 playoffs. Monrovia was at rock-bottom that year though. Duarte had a nasty team that year but lost in the finals. San Marino also lost in the finals.

Do most of the private schools in the area let their players play more than one sport? I know we do, poly does and so does rhp. I realize kids can get hurt playing other sports but you can get hurt walking across the st. High school seemes to be the place to let kids have a good time and try other sports. They may find one their better at or enjoy more. to have coaches the forbid Helping your school out by playing more than one sport seems silly.

NY,
The reason why some of these basketball players don't play football because they don't want to get hurt. Then, it turns out they end up substaining more injuries in basketball then they would have in football. Go figure...
I remember Tuttle, Josh Doud, that was still SM days with Nathan Decker and crew. Before all the white families moved to Glendora, OC, and San Diego.

NY:

Okay, I def. see your point now. I guess when I think of the West SGV I think only in terms of Muir, SF, Monrovia, TC and Arcadia. I don't think about all of the other really bad teams or small school teams.

Now as to why we can't keep up with the other areas in terms of year-round enthusiasm...I don't know. But, there are a number of reasons that the Pasadena area hasn't had much on-the-field success lately.

#1 Coaching- all four public schools in Dena have had revolving doors for their coaches. Coaches create programs and we haven't had a program in Pasadena since, maybe EJ and Crutch at Muir, but really since Brownfield at Muir.

#2 Pop Warner- back in the day there was only one Pop Warner team...the Pasadena Panthers (formerly the Bullpups). THe kids were exposed to only a handful of coaches and techniques/systems as you moved through the ranks with the same coaches. By the time the kids got to high school they were football saavy and ready to go. Now we have three teams-Panthers, Ponies, and Trojans. And the kids are exposed to a bunch of wannabee Pete Carrolls who don't know much about the game, except for what they see on tv. Or the kids parents move their kid from team to team any given year cause their son isn't given a "fair shake." Now when they get to high school, you've got to start from scratch.

#3 Population- it's no secret that we are hemorraging kids in Pasadena, especially in Northwest Pasadena, as the housing market drives families out to the IE and High Desert.

#4 Too many high schools- How many public and private high schools are there in Pasadena? Muir, PHS, Blair, Marshall, La Salle, Maranatha, Poly, the two new charter schools, and lets not forget SF, Flint. Prep., and Ren. Acadademy (LC private schools that have quite a few of Dena's finest). All for a population of about 200,00 (which includes Altadena).

There are more reasons, but not enough space or time.

Not that long ago, San Marino also did a great job of facilitating a way for their athletes to play multiple sports. I remember when John Tuttle was an all-league QB, likely some type of all-league basketball player and an all-league pitcher on the baseball team. There is a lot of value in encouraging kids to have fun while maintaining the competitive edge throughout the year.

It's a shame that on many campuses, basketball and football competes rather than cooperates. A lot of 6'3 basketball players could earn scholarships as wide receivers a lot more likely than as a point guard.

Most football coaches do not like their players to participate in other sports(except Rio Hondo Prep) than football.
And if the player does try something different and enjoys it (and god forbid as does well in it), the coach starts riding the kids a$$ about it.
That why my son will not play football anymore, lost respect for the coach.

SI,

You're right, the IE has some weaker teams which SGV teams can beat. However, even the weaker teams in the IE are competitive with us. That's ok. They have bigger enrollments and the students have more of an emphasis on football. The IE usually gets dominated by Santa Clarita and top OC teams. That's ok too. They have more football emphasis and everything else. The old IE powerhouses have gotten spread out with new schools.
Fact remains, though, Muir was the only one of the four Pacific teams to make the second round, but they got beat badly. While the IE players in the Central division might not be absolute monsters, they are still monsters relative to our local teams.

Sadly, the couple teams around with strong talent pools never reach their potential. I wish programs and communities around here would adopt the level of excitement and year-round commitment to sports (football) that the IE, Santa Clarita and OC have. Even the East SGV does a better job of it. Why???

mhsfootball--
The quoted comment about Maranatha's .500 season was from me. Thanks for the math lesson. I was referring to the previous season....

Go back over the last 15 years and see how many football players have been allowed to contributed to the basketball team at LC. I have heard that is made very clear, if you want any minutes, you don't play football. Maybe someone can find an example of a football player being a major contributor in basketball, but I can't. I think that has more to do with it than Wheeler. Either way, when you have limited athletes, it hurts when they don't (can't) play multiple sports.

NY:

As you know when a league has eight teams CIF automatically gives that league four playoff spots. Now does that mean our league deserves those spots? Well that's another question.

BTW, all those teams out in the IE aren't the monsters you make them out to be. True, MANY of them are, but a lot of them are definitely beatable. If Muir's population hit 1800-2000 we would definitely be competing for a CIF ring.

I'm writing a book and I just thought you all should know the title:

The California Athlete

"Held hostage by High School Coaches".

It should be the best time of any kids life. High School Football, Friday Nights, After game parties etc. Growing up playing a game of such courage where you have to work so hard to prepare for battle and line up with friends you hang with the rest of your lives, NOT! That is gone and that is a shame.

Not Jeff S,
Welcome to our nightmare - now take off the rose colored glasses.

Jim M,
The answer is no. Everyone but the brain surgens in the administration saw this coming. They should cut Wheeler loose now and let someone start working with the younger kids before they all bail out too. 07 is lost but it is not too late to start working on 08 - but 08 will be lost if they keep Wheeler in 07.

I do appreciate the confidenence and loyalty Big A and Fan show toward Arcadia. I remember last year going into the St. Francis game, I believe Fan predicted Arcadia to win 28-14. Gotta love the true fans out there.

The great thing about league play is that these kids have played against each other for a few years prior to this season. So they know each other and they know how to prepare for each other. Even if one team seems more talented than the other, it still comes down to Muir playing against Arcadia (long-time league rivalry so throw the records out).

I am a bit disappointed that the conversation on the blog has turned to league play rather than: What are we doind in the West SGV to bring home some CIF titles?!?!?

By the way, I know the Pacific League has an extra team (7 instead of 6), but it seems a bit ridiculous that the league gets four playoff spots. The dominant San Bernardino leagues probably get a good laugh at that.

Big A,

As you know arcadia usually has good team everyone year expect last, probably Dimalante worst since he been at arcadia, but next year will be business has usual. These senior to be want it badly, as you can tell by there play last year. Arcadia is never afraid to schedule good teams. Lynwood will prepare the again fast teams like Muir. Why did Bell Gardens take themselves out?

Who said arcadia has no recievers.. hah..you guys just wait, Arcadia has weapons

Who said arcadia has no recievers.. hah..you guys just wait, Arcadia has weapons

Who said arcadia has no recievers.. hah..you guys just wait, Arcadia has weapons

Jim M. -- Are you serious? Those players aren't going to play this year. Why not? Did you talk with them? Tell me it isn't so. That's three good players that LC will need this fall. It can't really be because of Wheeler. What does that guy do? I mean, doesn't he sit in the office during practice? He can't be the reason they aren't going to play. If that is the reason for them skipping the spring, I hope they decide to play in the fall. They might catch the bug, no?

On studentsports.com

arcadia's schedule

Scrim - TC
St. Francis - @Arcadia
Monrovia - @Monrovia
Lynwood - @Arcadia
Burbank - @Arcadia
Hoover - Moyse
Glendale - Moyse
Pasadena - @Arcadia
Muir - @Muir
Burroughs - @Arcadia
CV - @Moyse Field

they are playing monrovia...but remember taht Muir Arcadia game last year went 3 0T with Arcadia missed a 15 yard field goal (partially blocked?) so that game was Arcadia's IMO. Youngblood and some receivers is all I know of on Muir's team and if Youngblood gets hurt like he did last year, Muir is going to have a tough season.

"burbanksports--
Your liking Maranatha to Village Christian seems a little premature. I believe Village Christian had a lot more success. Let's not forget that Maranatha's march to the championship game last year was preceded by a .500 season."

According to maxpreps maranatha went 8-2 during the regular season. Now if i did my math correctly that is an .800 season. overall they finished 11-3, a
.786 record. neither are anywhere close to a .500 record. just thought i'd point that out...

I think if PHS has a little talent that still might not be enough to pull an upset to the heavyweights in the pacific. I think they have to have a good strength of schedule to really get the 4th spot. If not then it will be a battle between them and HOOVER which is not saying much. Sorry but it isnt. Arcadia will have a good season Im sure they will have a great quarterback in Walker and they have great coaches But I still think it will be all walker just to get a win each night.
Does anyone know if Arcadia will be playing monrovia again this season, and if so will they get off their high horse and come over to Monrovia for a good ol' classic. I wouldnt be surprised if they dont but I mean we did beat them at their house its only fair for them to get the shot to try and do it at monrovia right???

So arcadia is at muir's house this year??? If muir cant knock out Arcadia at their house then they can forget about winning league outright, it wont happen, since Arcadia is a supposed power house of the pacific league

Philly B.,

I know that PHS has had their off the filed problems and all, but our league is so weak that they will in all liklihood get that fourth spot. They do have some talent over there (all of whom would be attending Muir if there was no open enrollment in Pasadena).

Arcadia fans:

I love your confidence going into the season, but please don't underestimate the Stangs. We are definitely going to be fighting for that top spot along with Arcadia and Burroughs, and our game with you guys is at our house this year too.

I made a big mistake when I said La Canada might be back this year in football. The running back and the Quarterback are not coming back. Either is the top junior receiver from last years team.

Their top three skilled players have stated they don't want to play for Wheeler so their going to focus on other sports.

Another year another group of seniors being cheated out of the chance to play and compete in the sport of football.

Will anybody ever do anything to fix La Canada Football?

Jim M.

Big A,

I believe his name is Brian Rambeau. He might be the big surprise next year.

the real hsfbfan,

Who is the junior with 4.5 speeed? He must be a burner!

Philly B

Why do you say Burroughs owns Arcadia? Thats a big statement considering Wiggan was the only thing that beat Arcadia other than themselves. Didn't Ahmaz fumble 3 times? 2 touchdowns called back? How is that owning Arcadia. That is a foolish statement in my opinion. But thankfully, we are allowed to express that on this blog.

Oh yeah, that Picard kid is just sick. Before he got hurt (season ending injury) Pasadena Star had him with 4 sacks against PHS. Which was his 1st time playing DE.

Walker will not lead the apaches by himself. He'll do his part like everyone else. Arcadia has enough up coming seniors to make a good run.

Big A,

Arcadia has a great junior WR coming up who has 4.5 speed. This year will be a good one for the apaches. Last year team was led by juniors b/c of the lack of seniors.

The pacific league will come down between Arcadia v. Burroughs.

Philly B,

How can you say Arcadia owns Burroughs when they played once?

BigA,

We shall see if those factors will go into effect this season I still say it will be all on Walker and I'm sticking with that, yeah you have most of your line returning this season but what happened last year and what makes this year any different. Burroughs owns arcadia, and I cant see muir losing to you this year if they can keep their running back healthy

Philly B.

I don't think you've done your research on Arcadia. Eric Willm was all-area as a DB and WR. He got #4 player in the valley by the Mid-Valley newspaper. No help? Troy Ahmaz, the tailback was superb considering his fumbling problems (Dimalante will solve that). With Picard coming back after his injury and 4 line starters returning with their lone sophomore Golper, I don't see this all being on walker's shoulders. He will lead, but it will not be him alone. Arcadia will be in the running for league title this year with Walker leading them.

Stang Fan,

I might be wrong about burbank in the pacific league but I think you are dreaming if you think pasadena will make the playoffs this year. I think they have to many off the field issues to be focused on football, right now. And as of arcadia, I think that they will end up like the atlanta falcons. Walker is like vick when it comes to having no offensive help specificly Wide receivers. It will be all on him this season and he just might make it throughout the season but it will hurt him in the playoffs that assuming if they do make the playoffs

Philly B.,

Burbanksports is right on the money when he says that it's a three-team race in the Pacific League between Burroughs, Arcadia, and Muir. To be completely honest, I don't even think I can put them in any specific order right now, but Burbank is definitely not in the mix. Matter of fact, this is the year that the other team in 'Dena takes the 4th spot and makes their first playoff appearance in years.

1-3. Burroughs, Muir,Arcadia (in no specific order)

4. Pasadena
5. C.V
6. Burbank
7. Hoover
8. Glendale

do we have any names of the guys playing in the hall of fame game?

PhillyB
I wouldn't worry about Burbank in the Pacific League this season. Burroughs will compete with Arcadia and Muir.

In 2001, Mooney led names like Reed, Malczynski, Wagner and several other ALL-CIF players to an undefeated season...

you still wanna talk about how he handles talent Philly B.?

Observantcat,
Mooney to monrovia????/ I doubt that ever Moooney wouldnt know what to do with all that talent in Monrovia, thats not me being bias buts thats just honest truth I mean like New york said we're always stacked with talent its just all that talent sometimes doesnt mold together. I'm really gonna miss seeing mooney on those sidelines but I understand completely why he did it. My teacher left monrovia to go teach at a another high school because he has his wife and children to consider as well, So I understood why Moooney left to San marino and also they're giving him the green light just in case he begins to miss the game to much and temple city wouldn't. Whats that about??? Well I wonder who temple city will replace for mooney and whoever gets the coaching job will it be too much pressure for the new coach. Mooney left some big offensive line shoes to fill so whoever gets it good luck because they'll need it.

Now as far as whos gonna run the table in the Rio hondo and pacific league. I got Monrovia and temple city ties for first and possibly south pas coming up in the top three. But I dont know what san marino or la canada has coming up from the JV squads. That is a mystery to me. Pacific league I hate to type this but I think it will be Burbank and burroughs up at the top two spots, and then if Muir can keep their running back healthy throughout they can come up third. BUt I'm hear to tell you all that muir has all the talent to rule the pacific league but I dont know if the coaching is there, and that sucks to me cuz, like I said they have the most talent.

Burbanksports,

Monrovia and Burbank played about four years ago. The real Monrovia-Burbank rivalry dates back to some state tournament flag football games several years earlier.

Ahhh Finchamp- I thought you'd at least back me up.
Ok New York-we'll keep it all football 24/7.
Monrovia have an open date this season? Maybe a Burbank v Monrovia matchup?

Fred--
Regarding your comment in the beginning about Ruedaflores. History says to bet against Alhambra but sentiment says to rout for him. And, by-the-way, don't let your sentiment get in the way when you make your pick on the RHP/Maranatha game this coming season.

burbanksports--
There you go again with the tennis, and you even capitalized it! I respect the athleticism but guess I'd have to have a kid playing it to watch much less blog about it. All that love stuff and still the short shorts...

New York--
Good post topic. Over 100 comments...of course if you remove all the La Canada talk it's down to 33! Don't think LC got this much attention while they were playing last season.

New York-
You got Arcadia, San Marino and Burbank still in the playoffs...let's support the Pacific and Rio Hondo Leagues.

Burbank,
We talk football on this thread. For tennis, go check Ventura County and your Frontier League.

Hey Fred- Where's the Tennis Blog?

yeah fred what are the rosters for the hall of fame game?

Whats the roster for the hall of fame game

I wonder what would happen if Mooney decided to come to Monrovia?....I see championship Banners hanging for the next ten years. Just a thought.

I think the Herrington brothers (Hart coaches) have also benefitted from the deep talent pool in Santa Clarita. I think Big A could appreciate the brawn up there...haha. I mean Hart, Canyon Country, Valencia...St. Francis boasts of beating Saugus, the number four team in that league! The talent and family commitment to football in that valley is unreal.

As bad as LC will be they will still beat SP and SM. especially if they have several 250 lbs running around - which I seriouly doubt - where were they last year?

As long as a coach doesn't not recruit - he can oversee other programs including putting on clinics and camps as well as running youth programs.

Hart has done it for years - there is no CIF rule against it.

I hope Jim M is right that we do have a few breakout players like Will O or Duke. My fear is the same as the last couple of years with Lavelle and our Gladiators - an undersized line. We have not had a big line in several years, Lavelle was successful because he created and yards after he was hit. Ask our quarterbacks, they had little or no protection - -

Contrary to Not Jeff S, I have HOPES but I have not seen any linemen that are 250lbs. Lets hope that the coaches are better at developing talent and capitalizing on the strength of the team.

One note on junior teams, from my knowledge it is against CIF regulations for any head varsity coach in any sport to be coaching or controlling the junior teams. Be careful in what you post, as you may ruin a program by stating falsehoods. Club teams and summer school leagues are two very different things - -

South Pasadena second? Really? Didn't they lose everything? Mooney will be missed in TC, but not for 2 years. I think they'll be fine. I like:

1) TC
2) Monrovia
3) SP/SM (if LC is as bad as everyone says)

Rio Hondo top three.

1) Monrovia
2) South Pas
3) Temple City

La Canada sucks yeah good luck them all u want but if they could not win with peterson then u definately cant win at all. its all bout them boys in green M-Town

LCFAN423year,
You are wrong it was 17 players were from the Gladiator program and not one player who did not play for the Gladiators was mentioned in any press write up of any game that year - but that was two years ago and this is now. Not Jeff S is correct the program at LCHS is in a shambles as such the Gladiator kids and most importantly the parents are wise to it and they are all going elsewhere - the biggest benficiary is SF - which has gotten four of the best Gladiator players who otherwise would have gone to LC and next year the five of the best players are likewise going to go to SF. Other school such as Maranatha, La Salle, Poly, Loyola, Flintridge Prep have also benefited.
If I were the coach at LCHS i would do like the Hart coaches and take over the junior all american program and not let the kids get away in HS - sort of like what Hoffman does with his summer basketball program (what kid doesn't want to play basketball for Hoffman) -but that requires a very differnt mentality than what is at LCHS.
In fact maybe more than any community because it is so contained and captive and people move there for the academics of the school a dedicated football coach could develop a dynasty by taking over the local jr all american program - much like Hart - and develop the kids so that they have a great feeder system that is familiar with the LCHS system. I hope whenever Wheeler retires that the Administration there get a young forward thinking coach and makes it a requirement that the coach not only handle HS team but oversee the junior program - everybody wins the kids, the community and the HS.
It won't happen because it make too much sense.

Not Jeff S,
14 of the starters of the team year before last were Gladiators and every all league players for the last two years were Gladiators - try again. Only 3 kids from the Gladiator team that won the conference three times that were the seniors and juniors class of this year and last were from Pasadena - try again.
Take the Gladiators off the LC Spartans and they wouldn't have won a game the last two years.

If LC won't make the playoffs, what's the third team from RHL that you think will make the playoffs? My money's on Mooney over at SM. "Money on Mooney"...I kinda like that.

LC won't make the playoffs next year.

While I sense some sarcasm in Jim's last paragraph, I must agree with the rest of his post. I am not certain of all the adversity that Lavelle faced while at LC. If racism was one of them, that is really sad. I am glad that he came out to be such a character guy. The gladiator program could be valuable to the LC program if it were a feeder system. Unfortunately, few of those kids play at LC.

I sure hope that LC does well this year. Good luck with spring football everyone.

Maybe the La Canada people are the only ones who can afford computers?

OH MY GOD!!!! Enough of La Canada football!!! Please someone write about a different school!!!

Does anybody know how South Pas. is looking for next year?

The sad thing is we should all be living under one race and that is the human race.

I know life doesn't always work that way, but isn't it true for kids like Lavelle and how he will be judged, not by the way he handles things in life he can control, but the way he handles the things in life he has no control over? I think Lavelle handled the La Canada situation like a giant and with honor. It's just they way he is and the way he's been brought up.

NO, you won't find him getting arrested or passing out at a party, but he will be the first one there to help out a friend or family member.

He is a Gladiator for life because he was taught life lessons while he played with the Gladiator.

I for one think La Canada has a lot of talent coming up with Will at Running back and Duke at QB and the line everyone is talking about this will be a breakout year for the coaches of La Canada. Congrats and Good Luck for the 2007 season.

Jim M.

I don't know the names of all the players but they are statements of fact not condemnations, malicious adjectives, or racial criticisms. Saying Lavelle is a black player is true nothing more. Calling him "the black kid" has a negative connotation and nobody should do that. Quit looking for something to judge in my words. I am writing my thoughts about the players’ real perceptions within the LC program. The student athlete in question is a short Asian kid. There is no malice in this statement of fact. When you don't know someone's name you typically assign adjectives that distinguish them. Lavelle was the only black kid on the team...but everyone knows Lavelle because he was a superstar. I didn't know the name of the short Asian guy or I would’ve used his name. Same is true of the safety (my kid said his name is Brian) and the D-lineman (his name is Spencer). For the record, the short Asian kid is Will.

Come back Will and play again. You can help this program continue to move in the right direction. Congrats to Spencer, Lavelle, and Brian on being great players. Good luck in your future football endeavors.

On another note, Jeff S., do your research and talk to some guys currently in the program. Your hopes of a tiny line are more demonstration that you want the program to fail. The players are saying that the line will be big with the exception of the center that started last year. Three of the Lineman will be pushing 250lbs. That's huge for LC standards. I also hear they are working hard in the weight room. Wow! 160lbs…that's some solid use of hyperbole.

Don't sleep on the importance of a good JV program. Most of Monrovia's 1997 Championship team played JV, including Mike Ainsworth for most of the season.

New York,
The answer to your question is yes they did and much worse.

teammate is right so many kids left the LC football program by their senior year that half the team was JV quality - not that there is anything wrong with being on the JV team. it is a place to play and improve so that next year you can start or EVEN STAR on the Varsity the following year - there is no shame being on the JV team which was normal for sophmore and juniors when enough kids used to stick with football.

Not Jeff S,
wrong - i can tell you, we didn't use him on defense because we were saving him for offense - yes he is aggressive - but on defense he has one of the best football minds and instincts of any kid i have ever coach - yes, in fairness, he does get too aggresive at times (so what) - i just could not get them to let me use him on D like I would have liked. It was a mistake (maybe) just like a few other top teams in the league didn't use their best player on D to save them for offensive - look at TC and Monrovia - it has zero to do with understanding concepts and everything to do with unfortuantely mostly being a one man team last. In fact what would the LC community (you know they are understanding) have done to us if Lavelle had gotten hurt on Defense - and he could have as he backs down from no one and insists on taking anyone head on even when he doesn't need to, he simply likes to hit (that will have to change in college). In fact I will go a far to say Lavelle should play defense in college instead of offensive - as Bandit or Sam in a 3-5 Defense.

Not Jeff S. and anybody else,

Please do some research and find the name of the kid you keep referring to, rather than referring to him by his ethnicity. Your statements lose credibility because of it. Makes me wonder if you referred to Peterson as "the Black kid" two years ago when he was supposedly this undisciplined defensive player.

Not Jeff S. - This is Jeff S.
You need to get your facts straight, the double wing never completely disappeared from LC's offense, it just was not the focal offense.
LC's program has been a disaster, coordinator after coordinator come and go. Good coaches develop players and the program. LC ran the double wing years back when they had the personnel to use it effectively, now they have no personnel. (Avg lineman: 160lbs.)

LC will be lucky to be a .500 team. Ask yourself, what happened to all those Gladiator players? Gone to more successful football teams. Too bad -

I sure hope that little Asian scat back comes back to play instead of playing only basketball like so many other kids. I hope he has a monster year so that the critics can be silenced. I hear the O-Line is going to be big and strong. Let’s hope they can open up some holes and get the ground game going again like last year.

As for Lavelle, he may be an amazing hitter but he demonstrated two years ago to be a defensive liability. He can make the great plays that few high school athletes can make on the field, but he also made many mental mistakes two years ago when he was playing safety, LB, and Defensive End. In general, it appeared as if he was an amazing athlete that didn’t understand the concepts of team defense. He could definitely shut down some of the big play potential of the running teams. Bottom line, he was a defensive wildcard and an offensive juggernaut. He has incredible defensive potential yet was undisciplined as a safety. He would have made some great, spectacular plays; however, I am not sure that they needed another guy to get beat deep. I saw that happen several times. Peterson was so aggressive that play action and double moves would have exposed him during the power running games of TC and Monrovia. He is an awesome awesome awesome high school RB. He was an undisciplined safety with incredible aggression, strength, and fierceness. I'm NOT saying he wasn't the best athlete out there (I think he was the best athlete in the league), but #17 knew what he was doing and made the right play most of the time. He demonstrated a working knowledge of the team defense. He was a great high school safety, probably demonstrated better knowledge and discipline than Lavelle during practice.

As a final note, I don't think that Asian kid played on the defense once league started. If he did, it was sparingly.

Teammate (good name),
Please explain why a Varsity squad with 21 players - should have a 5'5" junior guard on the Varsity and getting basically zero playing time makes sense - he should have been on the JV team obviously and developing his skills. Sure bring him up to watch from the bench when they are in the playoffs and their are no more JV games. Obviously he was not really a varsity caliber player last year or he would have played; maybe he will get playing time this year it sounds like a lot of seniors graduated. Don't take this personally - they just are the facts not need to name call.

Running the "Don Marham" Double Wing might be a good idea for La Canada. They would really need to commit to it though. It is a system-based offense. It allows average-to-good athletes to be competitive. Check out his three coaching tapes at www.coachmarkham.com

Anonymous

Catchy name. I don't have to defend this little asian kid. He is the starting point on Hofmans spring team that just played Fairfax and will play taft next week. Hofman carried 4 juniors and 15 seniors...only one junior played much and thats why his stats were so low...he didn't play. Almost all of the tops 7 seniors did NOT play as juniors in Hofmans system...should they have been on the JV team?? Idiotic statement. For this kid to even be considered a starter...not bad for a 5-5" kid at a high level basketball program. He is no Billy Hofman just like he is no Lavelle but if he belonged on the JV team in football, 15 other kids belonged there too and there would only be 15 players on varsity. You talk as if LC was some power house football program. You can talk about the running back at LC for the next 15 years (or maybe ever) and you will never find another Lavelle or even Hopkins...so does that mean the rest should play JV?? Or just quit??

Yet another opportunity for Mulligan......

anyone on the LC team is not going to look good in comparision to Lavelle on defense, the best hitter on last year's team by far.

Teammate,
The kid should have been on the JV team last year in football. He was 9th on the team in tackles; not so good for a kid who played every game; over 11 games that is less than 2 tackles a game. Further he re: him being the starting point guard try again unless the 4 assist he had ALL SEASON somehow makes him the starting point guard - again he should have been on the JV basketball team there also. I will say for his size he is a tough kid, but could have used the seasoning of playing on the JV teams - there was no reason to have him back there on defense this year and All Everything Peterson on the bench or on the bench in basketball when he could have been actually been playing on the JV team. Anyway if he is the best they got so be it - I wish him well - he seems like a good kid from a far - he is just going to suffer big time after following Hopkins and Peterson - who were both monsters, with NCAA D1 skills.

Re: the QB, a good athlete who is not a good QB - he could be. But if he misses all summer like last year, he will have a 30 rating again this year and should stick to baseball and give some else who wants it a chance.

I'm confident that Coach Garrison and his staff will keep the boys hungry and focused this year and have them peaking as the playoffs come around. Because the truth is that the 'Cats can sleep-walk and win the RHL with Mooney gone, but that would be five weeks of not preparing for a CIF Title run.

Any word on how Tip is doing at Blair? I know there have been distractions on campus with dicussions about the proposed Charter school.

My vote for the new Head-Coach at Temple City: He is ready to take over the Rams and ready to make the program a success.

Matt Malczinsky.

Good luck Matty.

DAWG

That's what I am saying. Give them a fair chance. We can reopen the discussion after this season gets going. Things appear to be changing and moving in a good direction.

Maybe TC can get the guy who was coach at Sun Valley Poly for a couple of weeks and Burbank High for a day.

My son is a teammate of both the 5'-5" 130 lb running back and the 30 rated qb at LC. First, the qb has hardly had a chance to play. He was brought up mid-way from JV last year while he was having a good season and sat on the bench behind Trumbo for the rest of the season. Then, sits again this year behind Schmidt for 1/2 the season then all of a sudden thrown in at the Monrovia game at half. Give him a chance! The small running back is one of the toughest kids on the entire team...ask the players and ask Lavelle. He led the team in tackles against Duarte and had 10 tackles and 5 assists against the colorado team. He too was never given a chance to play much....20 carries in 11 games?? 8 of those came in one game. Always ran behind the 2nd string o-line, on a team where the 1st string o-line was not that great either. As far as speed, again, ask the players how fast he is....in practice, even Lavelle and paneno couldn't catch him. Both of these kids are the victims of horrible coaching with very few reps in games or practice. All this may be moot....many new assist coaches, Wheeler goes back to the double wing, the QB and RB decide to concentrate on baseball and basketball respectively. By the way, the QB is one of the best baseball players on the team and the "tiny" RB is the starting point on the varsity basketball team. You all may want to just give these kids a chance.

Well that's just i, I don't want to report on rumors, but if I learn from TC's adminstration and if they want to report who has applied or shown interest in the position, I'll report it. Or if a coach applying goes on record, we'll report it too. All the rumors and hearsay should stay in here.

Not Jeff S,
you really are just making it up. There was not one negative comment from anyone from LC when Hoffman got ejection for doing next to nothing - go back and reread. Having gone through this football program twice i can tell you - you are going to be very disappointed - my recommendation transfer if you are serious about your kid playing football.

TC has received over 20 inquiries about the HC football position within 24 hours of story breaking. Some of the individuals who are applying might surprise us all. Fred. Are you going to keep us posted or are we going to feed off of rumors?

p finchamp,

if you look at the IE schools, everyteam is very good. Upland who beat some great teams last year didn't even make CIF. JW North (14-0) went to the wire with Canyon to play DLS for the state title. If JW North didn't take Mater Dei out of their schedule this past year, they would have been in the state title game.
Santiago (corona) beat Servite 23-9 and they didn't even make CIF, and servite lost to edison 28-21 in CIF. What does that tell you? The IE & riverside county is no joke.

I love this blog, I can't wait for Saturday Morning Quarterback again.

Some people were complaining when Hoffman got ejected from the Semi-final game. THEY MADE THE CIF FINALS AND PEOPLE IN LC WERE COMPLAINING THAT HE GOT EJECTED. Amazing! I heard people say things like, what kind of coach loses his cool so that he can't coach the most important game of the season. From watching that game, it seemed like they were going to lose the semi-final without his complaining. The LC community can find fault anywhere. Give them $50 million and they'll wonder why it isn't $100 million. Make the playoffs and lose to a better team then the coaches are idiots and the team underachieved. LC was a third place team and people think they should’ve won CIF. With the right coaching they would have won a CIF title. It is completely ridiculous.

As for the past season's leaders, I can't say a ton. My son was not on the varsity team. Still, I didn't see any leadership from anyone at the games besides Peterson, #17, and the smallish DL guy (#36?) that screamed: "I am leading the way." I did, however, see a lot of negativity and general disinterest from various other seniors. This is just a perspective of a fan that has a growing interest in the program as my kids travel through it.

Anon 9:41 -- Some fault can rest on coaches but they haven't run the double wing for six years. Perhaps he isn't as involved as some of the other area coaches, but shouldn’t that excludes him from blame? That is, unless you want him to be calling plays and running the double wing which seems to work at some schools.

The real question is why can’t you realize that some parents & players have been undercutting everything that supportive parents & most players are trying to accomplish? Parents that say coaches are idiots, true or not, do not encourage a team mentality. Rarely will teams come together because of coaches. More often, they come together because of players and senior leadership. My guess is that some of the past kids cared more about themselves than their team. You could see it as LC players came off the field last year. Some fault can rest with coaches...but not all of it.

Maybe this year’s team will come together, maybe not. But you have to give them every opportunity to succeed. Giving individuals the opportunity to blame other players or coaches is a "me-first" mentality. Blame, especially in hindsight, is cowardice. Parental selfishness, superiority, and “infinite-wisdom” is pervasive throughout high school athletics; still, I have not found a less conducive atmosphere for building athletic programs than the LC community. When things are good (Water Polo, Basketball) it is really good. When it is bad (baseball, softball, football) everyone knows what’s wrong and how to fix it. It is a bad situation for everyone that is trying to make it better...except for those parents that participate in the infantile blame game. “It’s never my fault, there is always someone else to blame.” Enjoy a life with that mentality.

BigMLover can't believe you of all people would let the head coach off the hook - are you sure you are the same guy from last year who was so knowledgeable about football. It is the head coaches job to make it work - Peterson and Hopkpins and those seniors the hardest working/ best kids around with nothing but leadership. Not Jeff S is ...... ah never mind you will see what happen this year - it won't be pretty because you will see what it is like to not have no senior leadership, no talent and as per normal very limited coaching. You don't see people at LC complaining about Hoffman do you?

Seriously Not Jeff S, what are you smoking? WOW!

Excellent post by NJS...

Teams are directed by the head coach... but the Senior class leads. I have witnessed many teams that have imploded due to the lack of locker room leadership.

I hope that LC rights their ship... and the community/parents buy-in to the team concept.

Keep drinkin' the Kool-Aid, Spartans...

LC wouldn't have won a game without the two super stars of the last 2 years. What are they going to do know with no players and they never had any coaching? LC should have made a change long ago - it is too late.

Who fault is it that they are a team? Start and end with the coach. Please enough of the no one can possibly follow logic. How do you think LC would have done with Mooney over the last 2 years instead of Mr. Double Wing - Please enough people know too much about football on this blog for such nonsense.

Congrats Coach Mooney! I hope you enjoy your new life and find time to build new relationships in the SM community and (especially) maintain your old ones while you were at TC. Enjoy the extra time in the Fall to be with your family & friends.

I am certain that ALL the problems at LC are not rooted in the head coach. Certainly you can agree with that. What might be a perceived problem with the head coach might be a problem with one’s understanding of the program. Without a doubt, wins and losses are not always the fault of the coach. Some responsibility can be placed there, but culpability can not rest entirely on the shoulders of one individual. I don't think that LC consistently under performs in football either, unless you think the entire RHL under performed last year. Maybe they weren't that good. You have to acknowledge that possibility. One great player with three other good players does not make a great team. Just as one coach is not solely responsible if a team wins/loses. I said it before and I'll say it again: Teams win football games, not players. For an example: Temple City the last five years. TC had good players and good teams. Monrovia had great players & athletes but didn't develop the team concept like at TC. I would argue the same is true at LC. Team, team, team. Teams win football games. Parents need to share the responsibilities of becoming a support for the team concept. LC has very little POSITIVE community support for its football program. There are lots of people involved in athletics at LCHS; however, I am certain they many of them are not helping or encouraging certain athletic programs. Positive support is necessary if you want to see athletic success.

Don’t blame one individual for your failure. Don’t blame individual players (i.e. QB with the 30 rating or a RB that’s 130lbs.). Don’t blame coaches. The blame game destroys teams. Teams win and teams lose, together. You are hurting the LC football program rather than helping it get to where it is trying to go. These actions are the cancerous actions of super-star individuals. These actions fracture teams, franchises, programs, and communities.

Last I checked Canyon, Oaks Christian, Edison, Mater Dei and little St. Margarets are not in the IE. Let's not go overboard on the IE superiority chatter

Not Jeff S,
The problem starts at the top - don't blame the community for LC constantly underperforming in football.

NY,

Campbell Hall coach was hired to coach chaminade. Apparently, Some 41 coaches put in applications.

Boy do I love the brawn of those IE boys. It truly does remind me of back home. Tough loss for TC that Mooney left. He was a great coach.

BigM,

I take no satisfaction in our 'Cats winning a weaker league, and that is exactly what it will be. If not for Mooney, Monrovia likely would have won at least four more league titles in the past 7 years. DiFiori's TC teams did not beat us. This is very bad news as you mentioned earlier for the already declining quality of football in our league as well as the WSGV.

I assume Aram will take back his TC CIF prediction below.

Gee, if Mooney had made this decision a year earlier, the 'Cats would have had at least a 10 win season this past year.

According to the write-up, Mooney will take the AP position and not coach football for the Titans.

The rest of the Rio Hondo grins collectively...

BigMlover,

check out www.midvalleynews.com
click on sports.

Mooney is the AD at San Marino now.

SGVfootballfan...

What is the URL to the site you're referring to?

The loss of Mooney would be a major hit to the TC program... and to the quality of HS football in the WSGV...

New York--
Something like 11 championships, I think. You're right about returnees performance in the big game however if you've been to the dance consistently you just expect to be there whether it's 8-man, D-XIII or D-XII, in RHP's case, or if you are the Patriots! That's what I really admire about coach Drain and staff, no whining about divisional realignment--they just say it's time to tighten up the belts and prepare.

Mooney resigned? When did this happen? I'm stunned especailly in may! So who's the leading candidate? Maybe DC Swanson at Gabrielino or Backus?

Hey Fred, I just read on a competitors website(MVN) that Mike Mooney resigned. If it's true that program may take a big hit.!

Probably prefer to sit the bench (play) for a program that parents support rather than play for a program that is openly mocked by the community.

hope Not Jeff S is right - maybe some of the 25 guys on the varsity basketball team might want to try their hand at football.

Paul,

Legite point about RHP returning to win finals after losing in finals. HOWEVER, that was not their first championship, correct? I was more reerring to most superbowl runner-ups. They rarely even perform well the following year. High school is similar for a program that is still trying to get over the top. It takes a while.

As for Monrovia, we are always our own worst enemy. So, is things are good and we have good on and off field leadership, as you pointed out, things look great.

Gabrielino wins league!!! You heard it here first

New York--
Solid observations all the way around. I will remind you that RHP appeared in the CIF final in '04 and lost and returned in '05 to win it, so Maranatha's doing it would not be unprecedented.

As for your Cats. Solid coaching and pretty deep talent pool. I'm speculating but my guess is that a missing ingredient has been a couple of leaders on the field (and off) that pull their team together to beleive and play like champions. Are there such leaders their now?

My take on the initial question (i.e., which SGV team will win CIF):

I would not bet against RHP

I think Monrovia is one of the most talented teams - they were knocked out of the playoffs by La Salle not because they lacked talent, but due to mistakes (4 turnovers = 3 La Salle TD's; La Salle had zero penalties, unlike Monrovia)Minimize mistakes and combine that with the talent they have, and Monrovia has a good shot.

As much as I hate to admit, Maranatha has an excellent chance. They are returning a lot of talent, have an excellent coach, and play (in my opinion) in a somewhat weak division and league for a school of their size. If they are to win CIF, it needs to be this year, because in 2008 they no doubt will moved up a division or two (which they need to, and deserve)and will have increased competition.

I think La Salle will have a rebuilding year in 2007; they lost over 20 seniors. Keep an eye on them in 2008!

I say arcadias going to go 10-0 than deep in the playoffs with Kevan Walker, Eric Willm, KC Picard, Troy amhaz, and tod golper

Big A,

IE football is different. It's nasty. I'm sure a Texan like you can appreciate it, though.

Finchamp,

I am always quick to recognize winners, and Drain and RHP are just that.

I'm not so quick to point to Maranatha. Remember, they lost in the finals last year. The runner-up in most sports rarely "repeats" and gets over the top. Furthermore, St. Margarets, the team who beat Maranatha just attained FIVE-time CIF champion coach Harry Welch from Canyon Country. Granted, Welch won't have the horses he did at Canyon, BUT I am once again going to recognize the winner.

I feel great about Monrovia for a lot of reasons. One reason is that nobody in our division has a five-time CIF champion coach.

I pretty much feel the same way I did a year ago. Monrovia should make a run to the finals just about every year in the current division.

New York--
Nice props for RH Prep. Good luck to the Cats--they DO have a better than average chance. Maranatha appears to have the best opportunity at a title--they lost a couple of key guys but return a couple of keys guys which is what is required to win it in D-XIII.

burbanksports--
Your liking Maranatha to Village Christian seems a little premature. I believe Village Christian had a lot more success. Let's not forget that Maranatha's march to the championship game last year was preceded by a .500 season.

prep league guy--

Realignment is a challenge for sure but you raise the white flag too soon. I remember people saying RHP would get hammered at the 11-man level. Your kind of talk is what motivates the RH Prep guys. Poly got a first round win this year so is that absolutely NO success? Classic RHP role as underdog....

Although, from the outside, LC appeared to squander their talent recently, NJS is correct in saying that Senior classes lead teams... and only the Seniors know what direction a football team is going. Good luck to LC on their climb back.

Anon 10:57 -- I think the theme of teamwork is missing from your statement. This is the very thing I want to discuss. There is no doubt that those were two of the better players in the Rio Hondo League; however, the presence of a good player (or, let's say six) does not mean you will be a good football team. See: Washington Redskins as a half team or Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, and Kobe Bryant as superstars on individual teams. All three of the individuals are elite players in their leagues and don't necessarily belong to good teams. Granted, None of the LC kids embody all the cancerous tendencies of some of the athletes I cited above; however, I find the undercutting, selfish, and destructive attitudes of some "star athletes" throughout the LC community especially in the football, softball, and baseball crowds.

In response to good things happening, I have heard from young players in the program that the last two classes didn't work with the other "outside" guys on the team very much. Some players were completely ostracized by the "football elite" on the team. According to some current players the last two classes didn't work hard in the weight room either. Obviously, these are crass generalizations and probably do not apply to all players like Peterson (who appears freakin' huge) and Hopkins; still, I think the growing togetherness and work-ethic is indicative of a greater thing building at LC. For that, I am excited about the upcoming season because they have to come together to be successful. Now, I don’t know if that will happen…but I think there is potential for something special.

I am not going to speak to the coaching situation except to say that I find it less than ideal. Ultimately, parents can rally around the players and encourage their work on the field, in the weight room, and in the classroom.

LC can win with their athletes if they come together as a team. Football is a great game because it's a team game. One player does not make a great team. Great teams have great players...but players have to buy into the "team" concept. I'm not certain that the parents in the program are truly looking to support the "team." From what I hear the young guys are becoming more cohesive. Maybe we’ll have to wait until ’08.

I remeber when Hoover/Glendale had not only high level players in the Pac 10 - but also player in the Pros. Sadly times have changed.

Let's put a end to the LC bashing - it will get old fast and nothing will change - they will be lucky to win 2 games - let it go.

Not Jeff S,
What exactly postive is happening. If you can't win with Peterson and Hopkins - you can't win with a 5'4 130 lbs RB and a QB with a 30 rating and a Coach that could win with Area MVP's the last 2 years. I really hope there is something. But I can't imagine what it could be.

I have no idea what LC can possibly do - they wasted incredible talent over the past few years. There is nothing left. All the talented football kids have gone to SF, LS, Maranatha, Loyola, a few prep league schools - no one wants to play at LC. My guess is they are headed the way of Hoover and Glendale. Shame on the adminstration - our tax dollars at work.

Everyone is down on LC. Perhaps they will be more of a "team" without Peterson and the '07 senior class. Perhaps they will surprise this fall. Perhaps...perhaps. Perhaps they will lay an egg. Perhaps they'll run double wing. It could be bad or really good. Who knows? Still, I've heard good/positive things from a handful of the current players. Seems like the LC program is moving in a positive direction.

Will Glendale or Hoover win a game next year against someone other than each other - is it possible for them to go 0-38 over 2 years. It is a shame what has happen to those former very good - not great - programs.

Let it be known that there has been a BigMlover sighting.

I agree Big A. Don't forget about Colony who had one of the best RB in socal Omar Bolden who will attend AZ state next year. He ripped Muir for close to 250 yards in that CIF game. There's Cajon, Canyon Springs, Elsinore and more. Just sick...

Arcadia has to wait one more year before CIF changes the divisons. The central V could be one of the best in CIF next year. Colton returns many Divison one kids of which 2 have gave verbals. Damien Holmes, UCLA, is consider by some experts has the best DE in the country. Here's his youtube highlight:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th8h61QTwZc

and his safety buddy, BYU, Daniel Sorosen, who could be the best in cali next year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJA3upCQ50g

Another divisional re-alignment. Although Arcadia has two div 1 type of players, they won't be able to get it done with just them. Those leagues out in the east play a different style of football then here in the SGV...the pacific league should be in the mid-valley div...so it will take another divisonal alignment for Arcadia to get anywhere close to a CIF championship...especially playing against schools like Colton who have Damien Holmes (UCLA commit) and a safety who is going to BYU

The rams have the best shot at C.I.F, but this will be their last shot. Yes, league maybe a given with the absence of Lavelle, Romero, Parrish, Flynn, Berry, Potts, Sparks, Thompson, Davis, Stuetiville, Varga. But they dont have a problem with league, its ther after, especially the second round for the green and the gold. With the best they had since the '01 era last year they were knocked off by the soon to be champs verbum dei. but this year returns...

Williams Do the next 1000 scratch that 2000 yard rusher at TC. Along with anchoring the defense at LB.

Joe Reisner is old school and will knock out your teeth with his bone jarring hits.

The rams will be strong defensively but they can count on Do for most of the offensive possesions, but they cant run forever.

Note to Mooney if this isn't this year than change the play calling or in that fact teams.

Jeff S -
Burbank might have to resort to the double-wing offense this year. Although Burbank would only gain 2 yards and a cloud of dust. This could be the year that Glendale beats Burbank. The score might only be 3-2, but think of the excitement.

football fan-
I picked Maranatha only because of their league, division and they remind me of Village Christian before the Crusaders won a championship.
Don't know much about La Salle. I hear that Chaminade will be better this year and then I also hear that Chaminade is going to be weaker this year so maybe St. Francis has a good shot to win at least a league titile this year.

It certainly will NOT be Rio Hondo. With the divisional re-alignment, the Prep League will have absolutely NO success in the post season (at least in the foreseeable future).

It certainly won't be LC, they have nothing left! Let's hope they do not bring back the double-wing offense either!

Good luck to Alhambra. It would be great win one for the Gipper (Gil).

Aram,
That is a very dusty, albeit crowded, collection of championship trophies. Did TC ever pass back then? Not that Mooney really wants to now.

I said it last year. The new division favors TC more than anybody. My Monrovia has always had enough horsepower to get it done, but TC used to ultimately get overwhelmed by the Los Padres and Ocean League. That's no longer the case.

Big A,

What is your timeline for Arcadia to win CIF? Will it take another divisional reallignment?

I'm calling Arcadia to win the Pacific. Monrovia or TC will win the Rio. La Salle will have a down year. St. Francis will have a decent year.

burbanksports

any players to watch at Maranatha? and do you have any thoughts on La Salle and St francis?

I'd pick Maranatha. (where are my red & white pom poms?)
It will be too tough for the WSGV to keep up with the Frontier League! (the bandwagon is all repaired and sitting in Santa Barbara right now)

yeah.. football is almost here.. i'm counting the days. fred which local teams should i invest my time following and which players? I love defense so go ahead and mention some defensive players to keep a eye on.

I say Temple City. We're tired of counting all our old ones. It's time to add to the collection.