Training Camp: When in doubt look for the "M"
MONROVIA -- I found my way over to Monrovia High late Tuesday afternoon but not before I got lost and misread the directions from the CIF Directory of Schools.
What I read was exit Colorado but somehow overlooked Santa Anita, which was the actual exit.
Ended up getting off on Myrtle since I didn't want to cross past the 605 freeway. Drove around and around until I finally ran into Colorado making my way West.
There's a nice little strip on Myrtle. I have to go check out one of these days.
I had been to Monrovia twice before. Once to cover a football game about six years ago and around the same time when I went to visit an old friend who was Monrovia's marching band director.
I found my way onto campus and saw the freshman practicing on the baseball field. I got to meet Coach Mendoza whom I told about my little adventure from the Star-News office to Monrovia.
"When in doubt look for the big 'M'", said Mendoza as he pointed towards the large "M" that was imprinted on one of the mountains.
I was telling Mendoza how I was looking for the football lights but Monrovia's lights are not high enough to be visible from the 210 freeway.
Watched a little practice at Monrovia. They were running past 6 p.m. First-year coach Ryan Maddox was observant mostly until the end when he gave the team a spirited speech.
The offense and defense teams were split into groups. Marquis Williams looks like a real football player. He has the size though look for DJ Cole to also pick up some time at running back. Cole's got speed.
The team already was practicing in pads and Maddox said now is when he'll know where the team stands. I guess every coach can say the same.
Maddox came off to me as a man with strong character but respectful; likes to get down to business and is a no non-sense coach.
Like every new coach who is taking over a program, Maddox wants to implement his ideas from the decade spent as an assistant coach at West Covina.
Maddox acknowledge the tradition at Monrovia and isn't there to make drastic changes, though the team will be seeing a few new things here and there, but the expectations Maddox has is to field a competitive team that wins the right way.
As I was interviewing Maddox, I noticed two players who stayed after practice and jogged about 40-yard dashes.
"That goes a long way," said Maddox as he pointed to the two players.
There were a handful of parents watching practice from afar and when it concluded they all jogged, drank some water and left the premises faster then you can say "free food at In-N-Out".
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Four schools have new coaches this season: Blair, La Salle, Marshall and Monrovia. I am working on a story for the football preview highlighting the new coaches there and what they hope to accomplish.
Marshall and Blair in the past have been dubbed Pasadena's stepchild. But new Blair coach Gary Parks and new Marshall coach Rickey Pickens hope to change that perception.
After all, wouldn't it be nice to have Blair, Marshall, Muir and Pasadena all on the same page for once?
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Melendez worked as a correspondent for the San Gabriel Valley Tribune for three years and later landed a job as a freelance writer at the Los Angeles Times before accepting an offer at The Orange County Register covering high schools. Melendez covered Major League Soccer at The Register for three years before being promoted to report on the Lakers, Angels and Dodgers for the Web. Melendez also worked for the Daytona Beach News-Journal, Fresno Bee, Oakland Tribune and The Boston Globe. E-mail opinions, suggestions and tips to miguel.melendez@sgvn.com. |
Dan,
The two kids I knew at Blair have moved on...one to Marshall and the other way out to Westlake. From what they tell me their are still a core of very good athletes in the fold in Vikingland. Blair's strength last year was defense, in particular team speed on defense. The long, spectacular runs may have got the headlines - but it was D that got them the RHL title.
Just how much of that D lives on is definitely an unanswered question. No doubt that the year of success should aid Blair this season...but it is likely your West Covina game may provide the first clues as to what is really happening over there at the end of the oldest freeway known to man. Please give us your insight after the game.
New York,
Yes West Co. still runs the Wing "T', we lost
both offensive & defensive coordinators, and our QB, who transfered to our arch rival to play baseball, I still think we will be a good physical team, just not sure how our sophmore QB will do at the varsity level, he did pretty good as a freshman last season but as you know it's a big jump playing under the lights.
Monrovia sounds like they have some talent over there, I think they will be better than people think, I know with coach Maddox they will have some defense out in Mo-Town.
I wonder when Monrovia will get another national caliber STUD like this guy.
http://usctrojans.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/herring_thomas00.html
Dan,
It seems like Blair is a bit of a Wildcard this year. The coach who lead their resurgence left late in the spring. Blair, too, has a first-time head coach that came from Verbum Dei, another recent CIF Champ. I am sure they will play with heart and pride, but I assume West Co will eventually be able to beat them in the trenches. Does WestCo still run the Wing-T?
Good luck Monrovia & Coach Maddox, maybe the West Co vs Monrovia series can be renewed again.
New York, or O-cat, or Golden Arm or someone who's familiar, can you tell me how Blair & West Co match up against each other, don't know much about Blair, but I heard they had a good season last year, were they similar caliber to the 2006 Monrovia team? I'm thinking West Co. may be similar caliber to the 04 & 05 WC. teams, although I could be way off.
I agree with changing the workout gear! Black draws the sun in and can make you feel exhausted to soon into a workout! They should look towards more school colors - Green & White.
It should be noted that the photo is a file photo, taken at last year's fall camp practice.
I can't say enough good things about my friend, Coach Mendoza (Uncle Ben, as Coach Garrison sometimes referred to his brother in law). Ben used to film our freshmen games when Garrison was the freshmen coach. Once Coach Garrison took varsity, Ben then filmed varsity and also began developing what has been one of the most successful kicking programs in the valley. I was happy to hear that Ben stayed on staff.
Good luck to the Wildcats, Coach Maddox and Coach Mendoza.
(BTW, hopefully our workout gear will trend back to school colors, or at least a traditional gray base.)