Football: West Covina
The big news out of West Covina camp is not what's coming back, but who's leaving. After grooming sophomore quarterback Jacob Shirley, whom coach Mike Maggiore hoped would be one of the Valley's best over the next two years, Shirley has opted to quit football and focus solely on baseball. Further, there's a buzz that Shirley will transfer to South Hills to focus on baseball. It makes sense with South Hills having Cameron Deen back, but couldn't you picture Shirley becoming the starting Huskies QB as a senior. "I don't know about him leaving the school, he hasn't said anything about that," Maggiore said. "But we've talked and he isn't going to play football next year. He's a baseball guy, he plays a lot of games all-year round and that's what he feels like he needs to focus on. It's a big loss, but we've got guys we're working on to take over."
Above: Quarterback Jacob Shirley will not be back his junior season.
QB Auditions: It will likely come down to George Johnson (sophomore) or Ryan Gonzales (senior), but Maggiore hasn't ruled out using fullback Jesse Ili. "That's what the spring and summer is for, to work that out," Maggiore said. "We like our options and feel like we're going to have a good (supporting cast) regardless."
Coaching staff: The Bulldogs lose defensive coordinator Ryan Maddux, now the head coach at Monrovia, and did not return offensive coordinator Brian Murphy. "Losing Ryan hurts, but the timing of it was even tougher, because the decision came in late April and forced me to juggle things," said Maggiore. The Bulldogs have added experience by bringing in assistant Jason Heilman, who graduated at West Covina and played at Temple, and Don Allen, who was at West Covina from 1999-2002. Allen played at BYU and most recently was on Mt. SAC's coaching staff. "Two quality guys," Maggiore said. "As of now, I'm going to run the offense, but we'll see how things go. We might change a few things up."
Outlook: "I think the biggest difference between this team and last year's is leadership and work ethic," Maggiore said. "We've also go a lot of depth and the line and linebacker positions. We've got 20-24 guys who can really play football."
Obviously the big names are guys in the trenches like Albert Sid, Alonzo Nevarez, and running back Ricky Johnson, who has added speed and is becoming a monster in the weight room.
On Southeast Division: "It's similar to the division we played in before," Maggiore said. "Teams like us, South Hills, Los Altos and Charter Oak had some real success in the past against some of these teams, but now you throw in the Pacific with Muir and Arcadia, and they're usually pretty tough."
On facing Amat: It's a great opportunity," Maggiore said. "If this was a battle of coaches, we would be in trouble with the big names they've added over there. Our kids are already talking about it, and it should be fun when it finally happens."
2008 Schedule
Sept. 5 El Rancho
Sept. 12 Blair
Sept. 19 @ Bishop Amat
Sept. 27 @ Glendora
Oct. 3 @ Los Altos
Oct. 10 Diamond Bar
Oct. 17 @ Walnut
Oct. 24 Rowland
Oct. 31 Bye Week
Nov. 7. Nogales
Nov. 13 South Hills
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Miguel Melendez's prep blog
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San Bernardino Sun Preps
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Daily Bulletin Preps
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Dyestat Track and Cross Country
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College Level Athletes
Spot on with this write-up, I truly think this website needs much more consideration. I’ll probably be again to read much more, thanks for that info.
Your blog provides a fresh look at the subject. Great job mate!
WC will be fine without Shirley. There O-line has 4 returning starters and they have Ricky Johnson who has been working hard and sets high standards for himself in football. The O will be fine I'd be a little more worried about the D.
Aztec Pride
WOW if Schuster is such a bad coach why are you so worried about what he is doing? And if he was so bad why are you crying about him letting down the seniors, you should be happy that now maybe you can get a better coach. Or is that you know the guy they hired has been his Offensive Coordinator for those last 2 hoorible play calling years that you watched. While he did the defense that kept them in games.
Azusa has not had talent in a lot of years. All the talent in the city transfers out and do you blame them? When people like you have your sights set on the League Championship and NOT A CIF CHAMPIONSHIP.
As for the talent he has had, can you name a receiver he has had that could catch? And if he had the receivers you claim can you name a QB he had that was any good? Also, there needs to be a line to allow the QB to throw. If you know so much maybe you should get involved at Azusa I hear they are always looking for coaches because their AD runs coaches out of town.
If Schuster is at San Dimas like you claim do you blame him? Their goals over there are probably bigger than a League Championshp!
Too much is made on athletes concentrating on one sport. The reality is that scholarships are hard to get, especially in baseball but if your an athlete they will find you. The NCAA limits amount of rides for each sport and usually baseball players only get partials anyways.
As for the 85 EHS football, with Larry Gonzales, they had several multi sport kids including Steve Morris who participated in both baseball and track, Maggiore himself played basketball and was all cif in swimming. Playing other sports did keep either from getting scholarships. That football team also included state placers and future D-I wrestlers Brian Spilman and Scott Schumm, plus several other kids that played on league championship basketball, baseball, soccer and track teams for EHS.
Too much "press" is being given to the quarterback who quit the team.
Although it is his to make, it is the wrong decision.
Growing up, we were fortunate, (the kids who grew up with Coach Maggiore) to play football with a friend who was gifted enough in baseball to later play for the California Angels.
To this day, when our group gets together, (often in the stands at Thyberg Field) he does not speak of his adventures when he won the PONY World Series, or how he played against Cuba in the 1987 Pan Am Games. Let alone his time in the major leagues.
He (Larry Gonzales, EHS class of 85’) ALWAYS speaks of the great times he had with the guys, playing football, every Friday Night!
All sports are great. Including baseball.
But Football is special!
shirley would not have made a difference. Wc is deep. Maggiore is known to start sophmore QB's. This year won't be different. Did he do well at the freshman level?
Dub "C" will be strong and one kid does not make a team, especially a driven team who is not even thinking about Jacob leaving and focusing on winning league. This will be a very exciting season and I hope Amat and the Hills will give respect where it will be due in the end since they seem to forget about the honor of the game when speaking in these blogs regarding other teams.
Memo to the Bulldogs:
As long as us real "Dawgs" are in our league you "puppies" will ALWAYS be second place. How does getting beat on live T.V. feel anyways? We are looking forward to welcoming your former quarterback to our school and our football program. His decision is obvious for too many reasons to post but regardless playing us the last week of the season right before the playoffs will not be good for you. No time to recover and heal and just imagine if we were the team to eliminate you from going to the playoffs? Good night now!
With or without Shirley the team should still be pretty good, the coaches
are good and will take and develope one or two of the other kids into a decent QB. Besides Ryan Gonzalez and George Johnson, I wouldn't mind seeing Marcus Gomez & the Osborn kid get some repetitions in over the summer. The teams been looking better each time I see them and the attitude of the team looks hungry, I think they should be competitive with even the tougher teams on their schedule.
i believe Jacob Shirley wanted to quit football because he wants to focus more on baseball which he is an extremely great player and wants to improve himself over the year since he didn't have great season this year. i believe he will transfer to South Hills because they have a much better baseball program over there..
Just as i stated a month ago to Don, Jacob Shirley will transfer to South Hills...i am really sure that he will transfer
I Think that Shirley is not that great.West Covina High does have a QB if given a chance Ryan Gonzalez who is a senior can an will do just as good if not better.An height does not always matter it's how you play the game and he is all heart when it comes to football. Maybe coach should give other kids a chance
I think Jake has a lot of things going on right now. Last year he said he wasn't going to play football, so obviously he has been thinking about this for awhile. Baseball wise, he's an excellent player. He's just one of those all-around athletes and he's got the sports drive flowing in his veins. He's probably heard every pleed there is and nothing has changed his mind. It's just a decision he made, and very mature one at that.
Go Jake!
When I first heard that the staff was thining down I got worried, but knowing how good of friends everyone on the staff is, I knew that Murph and Maddox wouldn't have left if they didn't think Maggoire could get replacements. The new staff is surprisingly going to be strong, it'll shock everyone.
QB-
Tough one. I say whoever can see over the line should start. (Marcus Gomez, sophomore) But then again who needs to throw when you can run, and have a style like West Covina. Surprise West Co's taking Cameron and Fairgrove
Shirley is not that good of a Baseball player and is not a projected college pick. I could see if he was great but if he is middle of the road why not play both football and baseball. Someone is whispering sweet nothings in someones ear. WC no QB and your playing Amat?
aztec just another bitter whining parent. this blog is full of whiners. get a life
Hey Fred J.
I'm using this blog space, to see if you can check on Schuster,the ex-coach from Azusa, going to San Dimas High, to become an assistant football coach there.
So much for his story on him telling the team, he was retiring for family reasons.
He let a lot of seniors down by stepping down and now the true story is coming out! Why same something that's not true, and all along your planning to leave to another school.
Ex-Coach Schuster, I watched you coach for two years,and your play calling honestly sucked!
You had receivers that could catch the football, but you would always opt to run the freaking ball.
There were plenty of games you should have won, but you lost because of your coaching!
This season at AZUSA plans to be a winning season! Were they can win the LEAGUE!
Unliked when you coach there, getting to the first round of the play-offs, and constantly getting blown out. 55-8 to Monrovia two years ago, and last season to LaSalle 33-3, this last season.
You had the talent, but you did not know how to utilize it!
AZTEC PRIDE!
Why is Pill the co-mvp with andrade, that makes no sense at all. they beat covina all three times.