Ian Johnson drops Oklahoma, then drops to a knee ...
What a great moment for Damien stud Ian Johnson. For those of you who never met him when he was in the SGV, you missed out. Watching him propose to Boise's head cheerleader yesterday made me think back about a conversation I had with Ian on Signing Day in 2004.
I was pulling out of the Trib parking lot to go watch Wilson standouts Nick Gonzalez and Price Wilks sign their letters of intent when I got a call on my cell phone. It was Ian Johnson calling to tell me he was signing with Boise State. Now, some of you may not see much difference between San Dimas, where Ian lived at the time, and Boise. I don't either, but I digress.
Anyway, we got to talking about how/why a SoCal kid would want to go to Boise. Ian told me he liked outdoors stuff and was looking forward to the somewhat rural surroundings. Then, he said the only hard part was having to break up with a girlfriend that he really loved. Naturally, I scoffed. I told him something to the effect of "Believe me, in the long run, it won't be a big deal." But he got real serious and insisted it was. I wasn't about to give a HS kid relationship advice, because unlike most people I'll admit that I know nothing about relationships except that they rarely ever makes sense, so I quickly changed the topic with something like "Hey, about playing on the smurf turf?" Ahh, glad I could help. I spoke to Ian all the way from West Covina to Hacienda Heights. As usual, it was a great overall conversation.
Ian Johnson is probably the most humble athlete I've covered. He or Brigham Harwell. When Ian and his mom came to the Trib for his All-Area mugshot, she asked if she could get a picture of Ian and I together. That's happened only one other time, and that was with the Amat girls hoops team. Anyway, judging by his mom, you can see where Ian gets his class. There's nothing better for a prep sports writer than to see one of the athletes he covered move on to even greater things. No matter what, you can always tell people "I covered that guy when he was at such and such a school. I knew he was going to be great!"
By the way, speaking of former HS athletes I covered. I got to see Charter Oak's Will Harris and Temple City's Desmond Reed celebrate their team's Rose Bowl win yesterday. Also, on the way to the Rose Bowl press box I said hello St. Lucy's volleyball star Sarah Mandala and her father in the parking lot.
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Posted by: whgqak fnrmaop | January 23, 2007 7:44 AM
Hey props to Nick Davila #9 (Damien class of 2003) starting QB for University of Cincinatti in the International Bowl against Western Michigan and instrumental in win against Rutgers earlier in the season. Great kid, grew up and played street football with his Dad Fernando. Rooted for him at Damien even though my kid played against him for Amat.
Posted by: HSfootball4life | January 9, 2007 10:17 AM
Hey guys, does anyone know if Ryan Smith (Amat) will be starting for Florida for the BCS title game? I believe he is the only player from the SGV to be strarting in the game.
Posted by: 123c | January 6, 2007 3:07 AM
What a great game to watch. Oaklahoma losing to Boise St.?....I am sure Oaklahoma fans have got to be scratching their heads right about now. Heck you have the highest paid college coach and lost????..As far as Ian great job kid, but you may have got caught up in the moment. getting engaged at 19? what married at 20 or 21...??? their is allot of life ahead of this young man and he should have waited til he has fullfilled his college education and possibly playing in the NFL before he even thinks Marriage. Remember Nin Burns after Covina High won the Championship over Lompoc doing that same caught up in the moment mistake. Lots of Publicity came from this proposal Ian but at 19 you dont even know yourself yet..Marriage is a big step....most of these end in divorce. Altho some HS and college sweethearts have gone on for ever...Hope you are one of those rare breed couples. between 26-30 is around the time to start thinking marriage...19 yrs old that is crazy.
Posted by: MATMTWTBAG | January 4, 2007 3:31 PM
Great News Coach Mac! Damien's "3 Amigos" Ian, Mark and Travis!
Posted by: GHS balla | January 4, 2007 12:55 AM
Rumor has it that both Mendrun and Eschardies may be on the way to Boise.
BTW, the Ian Johnson story is all my son and his basketball teammates can talk about.
Posted by: Cop/Coach | January 3, 2007 4:28 PM
I love the fact that Boise State knocked off one of the big boys and finish undefeated. They have had a recruiting presence in SoCal for quite some time. Gongrats to the Broncos!!
It is bittersweet for us Lancers as, one of our own lost his life on the blue artificial turf in the Boise State Stadium during fall practice in 1999.
At the end of his senior year at Bishop Amat Paul Reyna was offered and accepted a football scholarship to Boise State University in Boise, Idaho. Paul was very excited because he was going to be able to do what he had promised his mom (in giving her four more years of football) as well as because he was going to be able to continue to play ball with his long time friend, Jason Turner (who also went to Boise State on a football scholarship).
A statement issued by the school's athletic department said Reyna, 19, died at 5:20 p.m. EDT on Monday August 23 in the intensive care unit at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center.
Reyna suffered a torn blood vessel between his brain and skull, and the bleeding developed into a blood clot.
Surgery immediately after the previous Wednesday night's injury relieved pressure on Reyna's brain. However, BSU sports information director Max Corbet said the damage was too severe and led to Reyna's death.
Reyna was hurt in Boise State's first scrimmage of fall practice.
He apparently hit his head on the artificial turf. The 270-pound lineman from La Puente, Calif., walked off the field but complained of discomfort while sitting on the bench.
Paramedics administered oxygen and intravenous fluids before taking him to the hospital.
Paul enjoyed a wonderful four year stay at Bishop Amat where he excelled in both football and basketball and was perhaps the most identifiable person at the school over his time there. Known to all as a gentle giant, Paul made a great contribution not only to Amat as a whole, but to the lives of all that knew him as well. He was just simply a great person. One journalist for the San Gabriel Valley Tribune that had interviewed Paul earlier even said that Paul did not just symbolize the ideals of Bishop Amat but that "Paul Reyna was Bishop Amat."
The 1999 Bishop Amat football team wore a black Amat A on the left side of their helmets instead of the traditional gold A in remembrance of Paul. He wore the Large Golden A proud.
They still have Reyna's picture hanging up in the locker room at Boise State. I'm sure that he's celebrating also.
Posted by: Joe Amat | January 3, 2007 4:05 PM
Aram:
The word on the street is that Mark Mendrun might be committing to Boise State!
If true, great job Mark and good luck!
Posted by: Moving on? | January 3, 2007 2:31 PM
we're about to take a whole lotta crap from the others for taking this topic to a DBHS back slapping party....Ramos was a helluva hitter.... but i do remember that leg snapping,and your right he's back and at full throttle, playing for OXY, who is no joke on the Div III level.
Posted by: randy | January 3, 2007 9:07 AM
Jon Amaya was a 3 year starter at Diamond Bar both in football and baseball. Played CF on the baseball team and made some great catches. Amaya has good speed and can play wr. Ian Johnson was among the 3 best running backs coming from the sierra league that I have seen. The other 2 were Lawrence Phillips(Baldwin Park) and Jason Wright (Diamond Bar). Johnson was a very good lb. Boise St has a lot of so-cal players on the team.
Posted by: DB Fan | January 2, 2007 9:33 PM
No aram that was Albert Ramos..Who now plays at OXY..
Posted by: no | January 2, 2007 6:12 PM
Yea give it up for Amaya...walk on, honorable mention for this paper senior season, and now has got a 3 year ride to Nevada and started as a freshman! Congrats to him!
Posted by: Yes Randy | January 2, 2007 6:09 PM
I remember Amaya. He played with Lockett. Wasn't he the one who broke his leg?
About Desmond Reed - I covered him when for the Star-News and a weekly paper I used to work for. I covered his junior and senior seasons.
Posted by: Aram | January 2, 2007 5:53 PM
AMAYA looked good out there, from DBHS to starting against the hurricanes, sweet! Nevada football and basketball programs are starting to make some noise up there in Reno!
Posted by: randy | January 2, 2007 5:45 PM
You covered Reed? I don't remember ever seeing anything in the Trib on him.
Posted by: Elias Buckwalter | January 2, 2007 5:26 PM
HEY ARAM,
Do you remember a kid name jonathan amaya who you selected honorable mention last year and had a great senoir season who sure is hell should of been more than honorable mention walked on to the nevada wolfpack made the team and became a starter and has had a hell of a season,saw him play the other night in the bowl game #49 on tv,guess you miss that one to.
Posted by: joe | January 2, 2007 5:09 PM
Great Job Ian you are representing the Spartan family with honor,dignity and class. Great job my buddy,keep up the great work,it was a pleasure meeting you your senior year,you are a class act,keep up the great work,awesome game. Congradulations on the proposal you are gonna be a great father and husband. Dont forget to represent your spartans back home because we are pulling for you. Continued success in life and football, Go Broncos and Go Spartans
Posted by: DHS | January 2, 2007 4:33 PM
best game ever!
Posted by: covinahigh | January 2, 2007 3:28 PM
For an athlete, does it get any better than this?
What a day for Ian! Wins the girl and wins the Fiesta Bowl!
The city of Boise is rockin now, and watch the recruits get excited about this fine program and this amazing story!
Great day in sports!!!!!!
Posted by: YES YES !! | January 2, 2007 11:22 AM
Aram
What a terrific day for the city of Boise, Ian, his family and all that have been associated with this fine young man!
I am sure you felt real good inside after watching him perform and watching one of the best football bowl games around! Wow, it goes to show "Why you play the game".
I used to travel to Boise twice a week and it’s a small but exciting city with allot of great people. I am sure Ian has learned allot about life from the city and the fans there. Very slower than LA and a humble city!
Coagulations to Ian and his fiancée. What a class act!
This is a true 'Feel Good" story to start the NEW YEAR!
Posted by: God Bless this kid! | January 2, 2007 11:08 AM