First off, if ANY OF YOU know about any spring passing games, please tell all of us when and where. I’d really like to get out and see some of these, but almost everyone I’ve talked to isn’t playing in a spring passing game.

Next, please tell me what you think of the idea. I like the thought. I know passing games are mostly worthless (see comments about how bad Amat looks every summer for your reason why). But it’s interesting to see what’s what as early as possible.

Northview has offered its vacant head coach position to defensive coordinator Marcel Perez, according to sources.

Perez was initially offered the job and turned it down due to stipulations that weren’t met by the school. But sources says he’s reconsidering.

The Vikings are coming off a 1-9 season. Jim Arellanes resigned earlier this month to take the reins at Los Altos.

Aram’s take: I have to believe that there’s a bit of tunnel vision going on here with the school and Perez. Teaching positions are nearly impossible to come by these days and Perez already has one. So could the school really go out and get an outsider if it even wanted to? The answer is probably not. And this is the problem at Temple City as well. Teaching positions. It all comes down to teaching positions.

You can add another head coach vacancy to the list of Bassett, Temple City and Workman because …..

San Marino High School football coach D.R. Moreland resigned Thursday afternoon, ending a successful run that saw him return the Titans program to respectability.

Moreland says the reason for his departure is to further his education. He was 30-32-1 in six seasons. Moreland goes out with a bang, having led San Marino to a 9-3 record last season and an 8-3 finish in 2008.

“This wasn’t easy,” Moreland said of his decision. “I’ve been coaching football for 15 seasons and have been playing since the fifth grade. So it wasn’t easy to give that up, but in an effort to better myself and do what’s right for my family, I had to make that sacrifice.”

Moreland put together a powerhouse coaching staff that includes former Temple City head coach Mike Mooney, who is now an administrator at the school.

San Marino ended a long playoff drought by beating Rosemead in the first round of the Mid-Valley Division playoffs last season. The Titans were sent packing the next week by Azusa.

“Whenever I look back on my coaching days here I’m going to be proud,” Moreland said. “I think for me the highlight was just being part of the San Marino program and tradition here. In six years, there were so many great games and great games, it’s hard for me to pick out one thing as the highlight.”

Aram’s take: I’m sure most readers will automatically jump to the conclusion that Mooney is taking over. It’s hard to say, and I kinda doubt it. But wouldn’t it be odd if that happened while Temple City is lost in paradise trying to find its third coach in three seasons? I’m not sure how desirable the San Marino job is to the outside world. And I’m also not sure how interested San Marino is in giving a real shot to an “outsider”. Most area coaches won’t covet the job. I mean a job, yes. But the San Marino job, no. And that’s because, as we all know, it’s not 1988 anymore. Nor is it 1989, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95 (SM’s last league champ) …. get it?

Next season, aka this season, we will be running an all-encompassing SGV Top 25. That means Whittier Daily News, Pasadena Star-News and SGV Tribune teams will be considered. So from St. Francis to Bonita down to Diamond Bar and back across to La Habra, this is everybody. This is the very best of the very best.

What you have here is the opening Top 25. This is the Top 25 going into April’s passing league games, which it seems like nobody is doing. But nonetheless it’s a schedule landmark. This Top 25 will be updated going into spring practice, then again going into passing league, then again after passing league, then again going into the football preview issues (which I’m told will be a sight to behold), then again weekly during season and finally a final Top 25 after the season is over. So without futher adieu ……..

1. Bishop Amat — Freddie just blew his tax return on season tickets.
2. La Habra — Cody Clements returns and the Highlanders shouldn’t miss a beat.
3. Charter Oak — QB Santiago and WR Rufus are back for Big Lou.
4. Diamond Ranch — Roddy is looking like odds-on choice in Hacienda and Southeast.
5. South Hills — I’m actually skeptical about this, but everyone I talk to says lookout.
6. Glendora — QB Jeffries gives Tarty a head start on a nice season.
7. St. Francis — Life after Riley could be scary. But Ian Hamilton should blossom.
8. West Covina — Yet another team my sources are saying is very scary.
9. Muir — Both lines are supposed to be strong and you know the Stangs always have skill.
10. Damien — Sparty loses a lot, so there could be more rough times ahead.
11. La Mirada — Hearing there’s up to four D-1 guys on the roster.
12. Monrovia — Cats scheduled up and have the returnees to justify it.
13. San Dimas — Yes, I know the Saints have scoreboard, but M-Town has more back.
14. Rowland — Coach Snyder is casting for a supporting cast for Michael Ball.
15. Schurr — QB Cantu gives Schurr somebody great to build around.
16. Santa Fe — The Chiefs lose quite a bit, but never doubt Mahlstede.
17. Baldwin Park — Could Braves be even better than last year’s 9-3?
18. Bonita — The Hacienda will be easier on the Cats and a good QB is back.
19. Arroyo — With so much skill returning, the Knights are going to be scary.
20. Whittier Christian — QB Anderson and his top two receivers are back.
21. Rosemead — Panthers quietly have one of the most veteran squads around.
22. California — Life after Terris Jones will be interesting.
23. Pasadena — I can’t take it! Is this the year?
24. San Gabriel — Have to believe the Mats will find another big-time arm.
25. Alhambra — No Ruedaflores, but Moors always put out a solid product.

As always, please tell me where I went wrong or right.

Arthur Brown will be counted on to shoulder much of SG’s load.

Week 0: at Muir
Week 1: South Pasadena
Week 2: Burbank
Week 3: Miguel Contreras
Week 4: at Rosemead
Week 5: BYE
Week 6: at Montebello
Week 7: Keppel
Week 8: Bell Gardens
Week 9: at Alhambra
Week 10: at Schurr

Aram’s take: It’s going to be tough for new Mats coach Jude Oliva to keep the Keith Jones mojo going. SG has to replace all-everything QB Isaac Valdez along with all-purpose threat Fabian Amaro. But running back Arthur Brown and receiver Mark Covarrubias are back so the new QB has something to work with. This schedule, though, won’t allow Oliva or the new QB much time to learn on the job. Muir in Week 0. Yikes. Rosemead to conclude nonleague. Ouch. Then roadies against Alhambra and Schurr to finish the year … those games will surely have Almont League and playoff implications. Oliva’s has made a quite name for himself as one of the top area assistants in recent years. That, and the recent trend that you can plug in anybody at QB at SG and he’ll put up numbers mean SG will be its usually solid self playing a testing slate.