Kid's got game

Hey this is to dad of 3: Lets set the records straight shall we. Nick La Croix (who happens to be my brother) OL and DL starter is the #72 you are describing. He is the only player on the field who matches the 6'4 275 description. And who tore it up for Arcadia against Monrovia. And by the way he is #71 not #72. Just to let ya know!

Don't worry golper if you do read this just use it as a gauge for how intimidated people are of you. They are scared and it shows.

Go Apaches!

Hey this is to dad of 3: Lets set the records straight shall we. Nick La Croix (who happens to be my brother) OL and DL starter is the #72 you are describing. He is the only player on the field who matches the 6'4 275 description. And who tore it up for Arcadia against Monrovia. And by the way he is #71 not #72. Just to let ya know!

Don't worry golper if you do read this just use it as a gauge for how intimidated people are of you. They are scared and it shows.

Go Apaches!

I stumbled on a Hoover practice a couple weeks back and observed...it was not a pretty sight, I saw only one coach on the practice field.

I believe u r right Dad of 3, it was Damouny that had the 72 (it was a practice rag, not a jersey)I think Apache coaching stresses grabbing and controlling their O-line opponent, because 4 guys from TC had shirts torn or ripped off. Damouny could be beat as a blocker, but on the D side, this kid will be near unstoppable. He looks in the 6'4 260 range....estimate on my part.

Overall the Rams faired well and were not dominated by any means. However, it was a meaningless, padless endzone practice session, nothing more.

Stang fan,

In some ways yes. I wasn't at the game so I can't compare the two staffs. But I do seriously believe that the kids lost that game more than the coaches (obviously kids play and coaches coach) but you get my point.

Based on rep, I just believe the Arcadia staff is better. They get the most out of the somewhat limited talent they have.

Boy, it's embarrassing to have the same substantive post twice because I re-posted since I didn't think the blog was working.

Anon- interesting re Gowan and Bailey. Now that you mention Long , I do recall his name being mentioned as the coach at Hoover. I thought Travis was playing at Citrus JC. If so, I am not sure how he has time to coach hs ball. I am unaware of either Gowan or Bailey ever having coaching experience but both were good players ,so I hope it helps Hoover. It can only help the Pacific League for Hoover or Glendale to become stronger and more competitive teams.

Dad of 3,

I found out former arcadia QB Travis Gowan & RB Audarrius Bailey are with Hoover coaching. The head coach at hoover, Chris Long, coached at arcadia in the late 90's and played on coach d's CIF championship teams at Serra, i believe.

Big A,

Do you really believe that Arcadia's coaching is THAT much better than Muir's? So last year's DECISIVE victory had NOTHING to do with coaching? If you ask me, the Muir staff FAR outcoached the Arcadia staff last year, as a few Apache supporters mentioned.

Re the Arcadia coaches- Andrew Policky, the DB and S&C coach, accepted a full-time teaching position at Hoover and was going to coach there but the position was wiped out by budget cuts so he is back at Arcadia.Long-time line coach Jim Ellsworth has retired for health reasons.

GA- Arcadia has two big linemen: Nick Lacroix (Sr) and Labib Damouny (Jr). Labib is potential D-1 material and is probably the guy you are referring to.

Re the Coaches at Arcadia- Andrew Policky, the DB and S&C coach , had accepted a full-time teaching position at Hoover and was going to coach there but the position was eliminated due to budget cutbacks ,so he is back at Arcadia. Jim Ellsworth, the long-ttime line coach , has retired for health reasons. Arcadia has two big linemen: Nick La Croix (Sr) and Labib Damouny (Jr), but I don't think either is #72. My hunch is Labib will be a D-1 prospect. I agree entirely with the observation that Arcadia has always had a good coaching staff,who seems to know how to get the most out of their numerically challenged team.

Where was Golper against the dogs? That was the one Arcadia game I saw last year. I'm pretty sure he had at least three sacks and 10+ tackles in that game.

Nowhere near overrated. Is a better prospect than Riley? No. Will he be more valuable to his team this year than Riley? Yes.

Dad of 3,

When the Sasquatch breaks into my house, I am calling you to prove or disprove it. Always enjoy reading the detail and knowledge you provide.

I stuck the Apaches high in my rankings right or wrong. They brought their line to TC during the passing scrimmage - they have some line players that will impact this year. One was wearing a 72 practice jersey - he packs a mean bull rush and is gonna be tough to block. This should aid Golper from getting relentlessly double teamed and sealed off.

the real hsfbfan,

I heard the same thing. I don't know which coaches left but thats a blow to Arcadia. Arcadia is good thanks in part to its coaching.

If Muir had Arcadia's coaching...now that would be a dominant program.

Dad of 3,

Todd Golper will be great. I can't wait to see him play this year. I am planning to attend the SF game. Seeing that Riley play will be interesting too.

I heard some arcadia coaches are coaching at hoover now? If thats the case, then hoover should be able to win games.

Dad of 3 said:

Golper's play on the field this year will speak for itself but it's funny how ignorant people can be. Scout has his junior season highlight film from both offense and defense. Of 80+ plays on defense , only 13 are from the two Glendale games and CV . You can tell because the Glendale stadium field has a "G" in the middle. In both Glendale games he was taken out at the half or only a few minutes into the 3d Qtr. Against Glendale he had 5 tackles, his lowest game total of the year ( although he did have 2 sacks and a pick he returned for a TD).His highlight film has two tackles from the Muir game that I could make out (Muir is in blue), both for losses . One is # 33 , who I think was Youngblood.Golper himself would probably say he didn't play well in that game, nor did anyone from Arcadia for that matter.That is why they got whacked . It should be interesting this year . Muir should be heavily favored, so Arcadia has a good incentive .( Maybe it will be like the '06 game when they went into triple overtime before Muir won). Golper obviously had some big games . Just look at his stats on Maxpreps on both sides of the ball. He scored with 17 seconds to go on a 48 yard reception that won the game against Burbank. His best overall game may well have been in the playoffs against Rancho Verde where he had 11 tackles and 8 receptions for 102 yards and a TD while playing with a broken wrist that held him out of the whole basketball season. BTW, his older brother Brian played safety in HS and college and was the leading tackler on Georgetown's team as a sophomore until he herniated two discs in his back , had surgery and then could not get cleared to play again.

Anon,

It's hard to say. I wasn't at the Muir game so I haven't seen him in person but I did hear he got by Golper on a couple plays so that has to go for something. With his stats, and the success against quality teams, I would put him 3-4.

I haven't seen him so it's truly hard to judge.

Anon 12:17pm,

How about chuck leonardis Western New Mexico and Donald Curry CSUN & Fresno State? they were good but....

Todd Golper will be the best arcadia LB ever. I would say Clay Matthews but he left after his junior year. He did not finish at AHS. Golper did not play too bad against muir, just average. His D-Line was on roller skates and that did not help him.

Anon 8:17,
Todd Golper had big games against Lywood, SF and monrovia too. People who say that he only has highlights from the glendale schools are stupid. Why would you want do piss off a giant like that?

I hope he shows up for the muir game this year?

Arcadia fans, lets quit using the fire as an excuse for the Muir game. Coach D never blamed the fires and neither should we.

A bunch of missed tackles, Kevan Walker's worst game, no offensive rhythm and playing on Lincoln Ave had way more to do with the loss than not practicing because of the fires. Plus, lets not forget, NO teams practiced that week.

vs Pasadena

1 Fake FG pass to Golper for like a 35 yd gain.
2 Sacks vs the PHS Mike Vick.
12 Tackles

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE WIN!!

In the SGV this year, he is the best LB. The whole SGV! A UCLA offer and a #5 LB in the Nation rank from Scout.com kind of backs me up on this.

However, rank him amongst past Arcadia LBers. Where is he on that list?

Sultan Abdul-Malik - USC
Samson Jagoras - Western New Mexico - Univ of Colorado
Nick Schultz - Georgetown
Brian Golper - Georgetown (I dont even think Brian played LB but typing Georgetown in for Schultz instantly brought up memories of Brian)
Phillip Potter - Did not play college ball.

Todd highlight tape is full of plays from hoover , glendale, and CV. He doesnt show up in big games! What did he do against the dogs?

Big A,
Where do you rate Ruben Thomas?

Todd is nowhere near over-rated... Just wait till he has 130+ tackles this season. Oh and he's playing every down, offense, defense, special teams, he might even kick. Last year against Muir Arcadia had practiced indoors all week because of the fires, hardly a way to prepare for a football game, and the smoke was pretty damn bad in Arcadia, it would be hard to practice indoors and then compete no matter who you are. Keep up with the motivation though, Golper will be playing just like last year, both ways, no matter what the toll may be on his body he's better prepared. He's more conditioned and stronger then ever, he's gonna dominate.

You can call over rated on anyone here but the fact of the matter is, he has divison one offers and thats all that matters doesn't it? Obviously they've seen enough film to give him the offer to play at the next level...and maybe stangfan15 may have gotten the worst end of the stick during that Muir game. Lets see what happens this year.

I don't think you can call him the #1 player. Dietrich Riley deserves that both with the talent he possesses and the offers as a sophomore (My goodness)! I'm an Arcadia fan but Riley and Golper come 1-2

Speaking of LBs...

Monrovia Jr. Josh Lowden is 6-1 230 and cat-quick. His grades are excellent (an AP load at that!). He'll be impressive on both sides of the ball this year. Oregon and ASU love him.

I got an all day look at Golper some months back at the Nike Combine at USC. He does not need my vote here, but gets it anyway.
He demonstrated power, speed and exceptional agility among some of So Cal's best. He will shine a good light on the SGV when the time comes.

stang fan 15,

I agree with you in that Golper didn't have a good game at all vs. the Stangs. However, I do not believe by any stretch of the imagination that he is overrated. He was pretty damn good as a Junior and will be a special player for the Apaches this year. He may be overwhelmed due to the lack of help he'll have this year, but I think he'll step it up and make plays.

Stang fan,

I hope Golper reads this and uses it has fuel. I like that your honest though.

No lost love, eh Stang?

I thinkk Anyone needs to get a copy of the Acadia vs Muir game last year!!! Golper was a no show on both sides of the ball! He couldn't tackle in space and he couldn't block a junior outsidebacker!!!!! Over rated!!!!Over rated!!!!