Love this "Week Zero" encounter, Muir at Diamond Ranch

Bishop Amat is like a payphone, it is no longer needed. Yes back in the days our parents sent us to Amat in hopes that they would provide a better education than the public school system. Many of us were not Catholics (forgive me Father). And, our dads sent us more talented athletes to Amat in hopes that we would get recognized by some college or pro recruit. We were very competitive, ranked in the state in most sports and at one time had a nationally ranked football team. Just like Army and Navy who use to have nationally ranked football teams in college and were able to produce great teams on the field, times have changed. In the 1940’s you could get a free education and play football for the Army powerhouse. You would graduate an officer and were pretty much assured a good quality life. The NFL was young and did not pay very much. But with the expansion of the NFL and the salaries that players began to make, serving in the military after college just wasn’t as intriguing as going to college and playing with the chance to go pro. My family is full of people who serve and has served proudly, so I am not putting down the Armed Forces, but simply making a point. How come high school players are more interested in playing for a USC, LSU, Florida, etc., than the army? The answer is simple. The payoff! What is the payoff for playing at Amat? Oh we know what you have to pay, but why? What purpose do Amat and Damien have in society today? Is the education at these two schools that much superior than the local football programs who are also competitive on the field? Compare Amat’s academics to the top schools in the SGV. CHARTER OAK, LOS ALTOS, SOUTH HILLS, DIAMOND RANCH, GLENDORA, etc. All have been recognized for academics. Each school offers college prep courses and AP courses necessary to go to college. All are competitive on the field. All are free. So your hope is that your son will get recognized by a recruiter? In the LAST 5 YEARS, how many scholarships has Bishop Amat and Damien produced and to what schools? Compare this to the public schools listed above. You will find that these schools mentioned above are sending out as many, and more in some years, players out on scholarships than the private schools. (We want recent history Amat lovers. Our children did not play 10, 15, 20 years ago) Certain high schools might get skipped over by college recruiters, but not CO, LA, SH, DR, Glendora and others. The same recruiter who stops by Damien visits Bonita, Diamond Ranch and Glendora. If they stop by Amat, they will swing by Los Altos. If a parent wants their child to get national recognition, they do not need to spend thousands of dollars a semester. Anyone can register on line for the Sparq camps, college camps, etc. for cheap. They can also spend a one time fee and have private companies actively pursue colleges for scholarships. The schools mentioned above all play enough quality opponents for recruiters to visit their campus. If you really care about the education and scholarship opportunities for your child do the following; Compare the academics of each institution (ask for API and AYP scores, ask how many AP courses the school offers, ask what percent of students are accepted to college after graduation, and the list of colleges the graduates attend), ask how many scholarships has the football (you may plug in the sport of your choice) program put out in the last 5 years and to what schools, and finally, how much is tuition? You will find that there is no longer a reason to pay thousands of dollars for a high school education. Your child has a better chance of winning a CIF title by attending CHARTER OAK, SOUTH HILLS, or DIAMOND RANCH next year than he does attending Amat or Damien. Your child is just as likely to receive a scholarship from these schools as well. After you finish the research go find your local payphone and call Bishop Amat.

i agree w/fred
as fred said, although layton is not very popular amongst his peers, he has the love and passion of the sport and he enstills that in his kids. case in point when he was ejected from the los altos game. while he was not looking to get ejected from that game, he felt he was standing up for what he honestly and wholeheartedly feel was true . i got to know the man behind the coach (kind of,) and no matter what others say or think, i respect this man, because he has the love and passion, two very important things not only in sports but in life to have.

Shawn, U gotta be kidding.

DRANCH GET YOUR BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM TOGETHER..THEY ARE LOUSY.

Diamodn Ranch Football will win CIF with the program, and the teams that they will play will have them ready for league.

Diamond has the best team in the Nation no DOUBT.

Fred, That game was in 89. I was on the sideline as a ball boy for Amat that season. I remember it clearly. It wasn't a hook and ladder though. As the WR was being tackled, another player from Muir pulled the ball out of the standing pile and took it to the house. Amats defense had very bad pursuit angles and couldnt catch him. It was aweful for Amat, but a dramatic finish for a HS game.

Amat Guy, am I that old?

Whats the big deal about DR playing Muir?

They not a very highly ranked team...

Had to have been mid 80s Fred

Blue, I remember a Muir-Amat game in the mid 90's, when Amat had the game won at home, and Paredes called a timeout with something like 10 seconds left with Muir pinned back on its own 10 or 15-yardline. Muir called a hook-and-ladder, and executed it to perfection. I remember watching that Muir player take it to the house for the winning touchdown. Amat was in shock, you should have seen the faces on some of those fans in the stands.

Notes on Amat

I can really see that there are quite a few people on both sides of this argument here.

However, the facts speak for themself's unfortunatly. Veri did not coach as well as he should have last year, or for that matter the year before.

"Amat Observer" got it right when he said, "can you say, kick the field goal." My god ! How incredible was that !

With that in mind, the observations that Fred made here regarding coach Layton, reminds me of another "great" high school coach. Coach Harry Welch, formaly of Canyon.

According to Fred, Layton exibits many of the same characteristics that Coah Welch has, and if they are even 25% of what Coach Welch brings to the table every week, then, ya, im all for getting this guy at Amat, real soon.

This upcomming year will be the biggest test for Verti yet. If he hasn't figured it out by season three, then it has to be time for him to move on.

what has Verti done to inspire any confidence in him or give anyone reason to think that he "is slowly turning that program around "

I remember back in '04 when Amat went to Muir to play them. Going into the game we were screened by a metal detector. I was blown away by this but then again security is security. Amat mopped up Muir that nite. It was not even a contest.

Memo to Layton: Make sure you have a ton of security at that game. You might want to consider installing a metal detector at each gate! Congrats to you on sacking up and taking on the big boys.
To GHS fan: Can you say an 0-4 preseason? Wonder if all of those teams Glendora is playing in 2008 will wind up like last years teams around the .500 mark.
The Bishop Amat situation is not a good one. Verti needs to go. Solid programs don't lose the kids he did last year and survive. Someone needs to wake up Monsignor and get him to bring a coach who can recruit and keep kids. This program is a mess. I am hardly an Amat fan but more of a realist!

can you say kick the field goal vs st. paul. come on. Asst Coaches looked on in amazement, but we don't want to rehash. Personally I could really care less, for a couple of years for another couple of years, but attended most of amats games this year. Yes, talent is not like old days, play calling and decisions were horrible. Verti stays, local talent goes elsewhere and you can take that to the bank.

It looks like the Tartans will continue to toughen their schedule again next year. Covina is gone and so is Charter Oak (all you baggers talking about being "afraid" to play them are full of hot air). They will still play Etiwanda and will travel to emerging power West Ranch and current power El Dorodo. The replacements are W. Covina (who everyone is saying will be even better next year...big upgrade from Covina) and probably Upland in a rematch of the playoff game (which beat CO so that is at least an even replacement if not an upgrade). That is one hellofa preseason schedule! Oh, then it's the Sierra league!

This just in........Charter Oak 48 Diamond Ranch 7. More to follow after the Muir & Bishop Amat games.

I've always liked coach Verti, and have said so many times, but it's also okay to wonder what it would be like under other coaches. I've wondered what Gano would do with that job, or even Bogan. Both would never take it for financial reasons, but it's okay to discuss. It's not an attack on Verti. I understand the pressure he's under, and I've talked with him about that. Verti knows the pressure he's under next season, and he knows it will always be there when you're coaching the highest profile team in the San Gabriel Valley.

Fred,
With that comment I am sure coach Verti is wondering where is the respect to him as a coach. I know you said "IF THE JOB EVER OPENED UP", but with all the negativity that coach Verti has endured after just two season it seens to me like you may be sold on the fact that his days are numbered at Amat. Veri is slowly turning that program around and look for some huge coaching changes going into next year, Verti is no dummy he knows his staff needs some adjustments and he is will come out with a staff that is going to blow people away this coming season. With the talent Amat has coming back he will not let it get in the hands of so so coaches. From what I understand the dead weight coaches and they know who they are , are stepping down for the better of the team. Roddy does not fit with Amat. After this year you will start to hear more of the keep Verti attitude..just watch.