Blair building for the future
Above: Blair's Trayvon Wysinger gains yards as they play Temple City.
For whatever reason, this story made the paper but not the website. Shouldn't it be the other way around? Anyway, just some notes on what direction Gary Parks wants to take Blair football.
By Miguel A. Melendez
Staff Writer
Gary Parks is a man on a mission.
The first-year Blair High School football coach, who has not been fazed by the Vikings' dismal season, has made a strong effort to change the perception of the football program.
Blair (1-5, 0-2) took the Rio Hondo League by surprise last season, when it clinched a share of the league title, but with the Vikings struggling this year pundits are saying they're seeing the same ol' Blair of the past.
Not so fast.
"We're building a foundation for next year," Parks said. "We've had some bumps and bruises, but we're changing our attitude and to me that's important."
Parks received a written letter from a La Cañada parent addressed to Parks and the rest of his coaching staff after the Spartans (3-4, 1-1) beat the Vikings, 33-0, two weeks ago.
The author of the letter went on to write she'd never seen such discipline, sportsmanship and class in the demeanor of Blair players.
"Even in the seats, she saw an attitude that far outweighed wins and losses," Parks added. "It lets us know that people are noticing what we're building. That hasn't transcended on the field yet, but we don't have that ghetto attitude. We're getting classy."
Parks, who previously served as an assistant at Verbum Dei, made it clear from the beginning he wanted to make a change in attitude, and it needed to start with every player before addressing wins and losses.
Among the changes Parks has made is implementing an academic counselor for the program; a mandatory tutoring session that carries a no-playing time penalty for players who miss the tutelage; a pancake breakfast fundraiser; new uniforms and warm-up suits free of charge to players.
Parks has his friends, colleagues and alumni from Verbum Dei to thank. They helped in providing a one-year assistance as Parks transitions from assistant to head coach.
"After that I'm on my own," Parks joked. "But now I have a full year to fundraise so we're going to make some big things happen."
That includes possibly hosting a banquet honoring the Pasadena Fire marshal and police; starting a freshmen team three years from now; new uniforms (like those worn by the University of Oregon) for the varsity team (this year's new uniforms will be given to the junior varsity) and playing home games at Blair.
Parks said the school administration "has been 100 percent supportive" and is receptive to his ideas.
"If we come together as a unit, nobody can stop us," Parks said.
SCARY MOMENT
Blair's Marcus Bagnerise left by ambulance with a morphine drip at halftime during last Thursday's game against Temple City.
It initially was feared Bagnerise, a sophomore, broke his right leg but Parks confirmed he's OK and suffered only a deep bone bruise. There are no fractures or breaks.
"It's a big relief for us," Parks said. "It worried us because he's a big contributor to the basketball team and for a big injury to come at the end of football and the start of basketball would have been dreadful."
In the Vikings' 56-13 loss to the Rams (3-4, 1-1) last week, Blair was missing four key players.
Troy Gentry (pelvic bruise), Armstead Williams (left ankle), Deancea Caldwell (knee) and Jamall Blackwood (left shoulder) did not play but are expected to return Friday when Blair visits San Marino (7-0, 2-0).
"We're upbeat," Parks said. "I think we gave T.C. a little bit of a scare for a while."
With the Vikings out of contention for a league title or CIF playoff berth, Parks said they're relishing the role of spoiler.
"We're going to shock one of these two teams out the door," Parks said.
Blair wraps up its season against the Titans, Monrovia and South Pasadena.
miguel.melendez@sgvn.com
(626) 578-6300, Ext. 4485
29 Comments
Leave a comment
About this blog
 |
|
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. |
Sweet blog! Wonderful publish, I??? ll stop by once again.
facepalm
Hello there could I use several of the content from th is weblog if I supply a link back for your website?
Wow, amazing blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you make blogging look easy.
I agree with your thoughts here and I really love your blog! I've bookmarked it so that I can come back & read more in the future.
Wow, amazing blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you make blogging look easy.
Thanks for such a nice blog. This is what I looked for.
Zune and iPod: Most people compare the Zune to the Touch, but after seeing how slim and surprisingly small and light it is, I consider it to be a rather unique hybrid that combines qualities of both the Touch and the Nano. It's very colorful and lovely OLED screen is slightly smaller than the touch screen, but the player itself feels quite a bit smaller and lighter. It weighs about 2/3 as much, and is noticeably smaller in width and height, while being just a hair thicker.
Philadelphia Eagles is a good team,I like it.
Sorry for the huge review, but I'm really loving the nfl, and hope this, as well as the excellent reviews some other people have written, will help you decide if it's the right choice for you.
boys, boys, boys...lets keep the racial jabs out of the blogs
Well Reyes,at least I'm not an angry Latino that grew up a loser! With my country being next door or somewhere near! You didn't even understand what the heck I was writing about. But that is to be expected from you! You can't even express your self clearly and you got the nerve to call someone a loser! If Blair is so great, why didn't you take your son there from the start? Oh, that's just too much of an intelligent question for a "Dummy"! What do you do for a living? Everyone in my family is helping society at some capacity, my father and two brothers are teachers, my sister is a head Administrator of a major health insurance company and I’m a head instructor at a facility for adults that are mentally challenged. So, your “Angry Black Man” analogy really is a shot to your own intelligent! I’m more of the “SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR”! Boy, I love this stuff!!!!!
Reyes,
Please allow someone to proof read your post.
Huckster,
I AM ONLY PHS BULLDOG FOR FOUR YEAR ONLY!!
But I Blair Viking for LIFE!!!Proud of it!!
Give Coach Parks a chance. Now others can see what he has planned for our kids. Great article by Miguel A. Melendez.MIlls can learn something from this coach and you can too!!
Blair building for the future,
Huckster,
So you got a problem with that!!!
Huckster you should come down to Blair and learn about discipline, sportsmanship.This coach is doing great Job!! Don't be HATER (Huckster).Gary Parks is a man on a mission.Good Coach do great Job!!
discipline, sportsmanship and class is the foundation to build on.Huckster that is what you lack!!
You brag about some good games against Pacific last place Hoover.That tell me where your mind set is. Adult man that grew up been a loser!!!
Angry Black man mad at the world!!!
Reyes,
you should send you kid to Blair, because no one out side of your self considers you a PASADENA BULLDOG! A matter of fact you, should send your kid to your old high school where you lettered at! If you know anything about football, then you would know some of the Rio Honda league participants had some good games against Pacific last place Hoover! I understand your passion, but your stupidity stands out a little more!
Yours truly!
Huckster!!!!
Blair is not without talent, in fact several of their players would break starting lineup elsewhere in the RHL.
They are battered a bit, and just like many local teams, have little to no depth.
They need to get some blocking schemes in order and rotate defensively, not impossible tasks. Their QB cut loose a pass that sailed 55 yds in the air, both the TC defenders and the receiver watched it fly down the road outta sight.
I was impressed with the tude the kids displayed, especially considering the scoreboard.
contracts were not in place nor games schedule by TIP and the A.D. so they scrambled to round up whom ever they could find BUT, THATS NOT IMPORTANT. I live in the area and glad to see that BLAIR is being presented in the POSITIVE by a few (EAGLES). I know this coach and his staff, they were instrumental in our 06 championship after football was cut back in 02 they brought the talent in. (7 scholarships that year 2 AT UCLA )went to salesian and brought them their first undefeated league championship ever then, came home and won C.I.F the following year at VERB. They were taught by the best in LALO MENDOZA so they have an excellent mentor someone who has amased over 200 victories, WON CIF 3 CIF CHAMPIONSHIPS and sent numerous kids to the next level and molded Head coaches, so they understand discipline and structure. BLAIR COMMUNITY, your finally in good hands. NOW IF COACH REHIRES "TIP" ON VARSITY!!!
Miguel,
I read an article in the Wall Street Journal that millennials need to be reminded of how good they are. So...just to be clear I do feel that you are doing a great job and I think it is awesome that you have written so many great stories about different teams, including this one about Blair. I am just critical about the line that says they are already out of the playoff hunt because it is inaccurate.
Miguel,
Of course it is possible that the defending league champ can beat three league foes. Especially if Coach Parks truly has been instilling championship character.
I know Blair is at the bottom of league right now, but maybe it's just because they have not yet played these three teams. Am I stretching? Sure. But this is high school football. Things happen.
When Monrovia won our first league title under Coach Garrison in 1996, Blair was the only blemish on our league record. Blair tied us that year during a season that included 50+ point wins over La Canada and SoPas, a big margin on San Marino and a couple TD margin and come from behind victory on an 8-0 Temple City team. My point is that Blair always has potential.
Also, what's the point in writing that they are already out of the playoffs when they truly are not yet out of it? Why not help Coach Parks keep them motivated by reminding Blair that they still do have a shot at making the playoffs?
Wow, where is Blair getting all their money from? Nice Nike uniforms for the current varsity team, and they're getting newer ones next year? Great job, Coach Parks. Transform this team into a strong contender and not a laughingstock.
Blair should be able to go toe to toe with South Pasadena.
This may have already been answered, but does anyone know why Blair didn't have a full pre-season schedule?
I got the following e-mail from a fellow reader. Thanks for pointing this out to me. I have since made the correction.
--
Miguel,
I notice on your blog about Blair's football team, you spelled "Pasadena Fire Marshall." Marshall is a name, not a title whereas "marshal" is a title such as fire marshal, or Field Marshal or Marshal Matt Dillon.
...It is quite a common mistake, but as a newspaperman, you ought to know.
This is why I want my kids to go Blair instead of PHS.
discipline, sportsmanship and class is the foundation to build on.That what coaching all about.
Just ask UCLA Great John Wooden!!
Blair Coach keep do what you do it will all come together!!! GREAT JOB BLAIR!!!
uhmmm Very unlikely.
The article was nice thanks Miguel. Lets hope we can all come togther as a unit real soon.
Blair has San Marino, Monrovia and South Pasadena left on its schedule. It's unlikely they'll go 3-0 in that run. Not impossible, but unlikely.
Wait. Isn't Blair still in playoff contention? If they finish league 3-2 (still possible) they are in, right Miguel?
I said it earlier in the season...give Coach Parks a chance. Now others can see what he has planned for our kids. Great article.