Around Town
With help from the scouting guru and our discussions with head coaches, here are bits and pieces of what's happenning as the season nears.
Charter Oak: Junior sensation Adam Muema has been slowed by a groin strain, but he's practicing again and should be fine. If the junior running back can't go or is slowed, Monrovia transfer Brandon Golden, also a junior, has been very impressive in training. In fact our guru said he reminds him of Los Osos' Arby Fields. Other juniors to keep an eye on are outside linebacker Keith Smith and defensive lineman Garrett Clapper. Our guru also says to watch out for sophomore Venice Rufus. He's 6-2, 185, and has people thinking he could be the next Will Harris.
Bishop Amat: Coach Steve Hagerty said he will make a decision on his starting quarterback by Saturday between Nick Lenhart, Jerry McClanahan and Josiah Thropay, so that whoever he chooses will have a full week of reps to get prepared for Los Osos...UCLA-bound linebacker Isaiah Bowens (broken leg) is out of his cast but is not running, ruling him out for the opener. Sophomore running back Jay Anderson is listed at 5-9, 175 and is expected to play a huge role. Hagerty thinks he's going to be special.
Others....Northview's getting serious with temporary lights on its football field. For a school without a home stadium, this is a great way to simulate actual game situations. They say it's always difference under the lights, so it makes sense.
.....Diamond Bar quarterback Hunter Warren is returning from a non-football related injury but is expected to be ready for their opener against Walnut on Sept. 12. Wide receiver Aaron Bales might be the best pure football player. An Ivy League prospect with a 3.9 GPA, he's 6-2, 190. Also keep an eye on junior cornerback Calvin Bishop. The anchor of the 4x100 relay team is 5-10, 175 and locking everyone down at practice.
.....San Dimas' Kyle Salm is looking better and better. AT 6-6, 280 pounds, he didn't play as a junior because of injuries, but will play a key role on the offensive line to help Nico Barbone and Co. Also, remember this name, sophomore Calvantas Brown. Yes, the Saints got a transfer from Long Beach Poly. He's 6-0, 180, and one of the best athletes on the team. He will likely start at safety with so much depth in the backfield.
Comments
I hope everyone involved has caught a small clause in the CIF Rules regarding the "backfield" that CO has assembled.
There is a caveat to the transfer before the first day of the sophomore year and that is"
from the CIF Blue Book Rule 207, A, 3 (pg. 76)
A student may have transfer eligibility provided the student moves from any school to a CIF school due to:
A family decision to transfer the student prior to the first day of the student’s third consecutive semester (typically the first semester of the sophomore year) of attendance since the initial enrollment when the following conditions are met:
a. *****This is the first transfer of this student since his/her initial enrollment in the 9th grade*****
I hope that the Thropays and Charter Oak have not overlooked that clause and are not assuming that since it's before his sophomore year a second transfer is a done deal. According to that rule eligibility is not necessarily a slam-dunk
Posted by: Joe Amat | August 29, 2008 3:40 PM
NEX YEar da back field will be owning the field running where ever they want and Charter oAk is my bet to win CIF and maybe even further if you all know what i mean
Posted by: CHarter OaK 4 LIFe | August 29, 2008 3:30 PM
NEX YEar da back field will be owning the field running where ever they want and Charter oAk is my bet to win CIF and maybe even further if you all know what i mean
Posted by: CHarter OaK 4 LIFe | August 29, 2008 3:30 PM
Joe Amat
I always enjoy your comments.
I am currently a graduate assistant with only high school experience trying to make a name for myself!
Posted by: sgvpride | August 29, 2008 2:48 PM
One of the better football coaches in CIF, Tom Salter, has won CIF titles at Bishop Amat and Culver City.
He did not play a single down of tackle football *in his life*!!!
(...and I still think there's an outside chance that he replaces Farrar when he retires-but that's just me)
Now, to be a scout or "recruiting guru" it takes even less experience than that. Most are actually media types who *watch and learn*.
This was said by an NFL GM (who was asked about a failed draft pick)
"In my knowledge of him, he's never even put on a jockstrap, he's never been a player, he's never been a coach, he's never been a scout, he's never been an administrator, and all of a sudden, he's an expert. He's in our paper two days ago, telling us who we have to take. We don't have to take anybody that ___ _____ says we have to take. ___ _____has no more credentials to do what he's doing than my neighbor, and my neighbor's a postman and he doesn't even have season tickets to the NFL."
That was Mel Kiper who has become the authority on the NFL draft. He grew up in Maryland and never participated in football on any level in high school or college either.
Posted by: Joe Amat | August 29, 2008 11:20 AM
co has the complete duarte hawks back field now. i hope everthing workout for those players.
Posted by: Ex-Falcon | August 29, 2008 11:16 AM
Since when do you need playing experience to coach???
I can name many coaches who only played high school. That just shows your ignorance!
Posted by: sgvprde | August 29, 2008 10:56 AM
Threestooges,
I couldn't agree more. Kyle is a top notch kid. He's really friendly and has tremendous height and weight. But he truely lacks skill. He's really soft and slow and he runs like his knee is made of glass. There are at least three or four linemen at SD that can play circles around him. Doll, Sandoval, Smith, Hoskins, just to mention a few. I can see why a visiting journalist would look out into the field and say, Wow, that Salm kid is giant, he must be quite a player. Sorry Fred, but he's really big and really average. I echo the hopes that he will get better and harder, but he is after all a senior and based on his current exibition of skill, his days of organized football will come to a hault this fall some time.
Posted by: Just Wondering | August 29, 2008 7:29 AM
Doesnt matter who QB's amat they are going 0-10 they suckkkkkk
Posted by: they suckkkkkkkkk | August 28, 2008 11:14 PM
Hey Guru just so you know Calvantas sounds like a white kid, i think its more like Cawantas Brown aka Jr. if your going to wastes days at practices you might as well get the facts straight...
Posted by: SD Radio | August 28, 2008 10:04 PM
Forget the Guru; he's the biggest fraud in this valley... No playing experience, no coaching experience, no skills!
Still hanging out here trying to act like he's knows something..
Best nice not reading his opinionated crap...
Posted by: SHHS | August 28, 2008 3:27 PM
Scouting Guru, I question your observation...
Mr Kyle Salm of San Dimas is a great kid, but he's really struggling lately. Good build, good height, and hopefully in time he will get back on track. There are definitely a few more kids on the team that outdo him.
Did you ever see him play? He lost a whole year with injuries and he was so-so his sophmore year. That's alot of ground to make up!
Posted by: Threestooges | August 28, 2008 1:33 PM
Rix should train all 3 QB's (free) to cover his business and Amats choice.
Posted by: ThreeStooges | August 28, 2008 1:23 PM
I am sure from a conflict of intrest business point Rix is lobbying to Hagerty that Lenhart is the QB. Heck if Lenhart sits what does that say for RIX private coaching as well as having him fulltime for regular football season coaching. Would surprise me big time if Lenhart did not start. Rotating QB's would be a knock on Rix. Lenhart must start to save Rix side business.
Posted by: Do the Math | August 28, 2008 1:01 PM
Politics = another THLEE SEVEN. (???)
McClanahan and/or Thropay: SEVEN THLEE or better.
Posted by: Thlee Seven H8r | August 28, 2008 11:38 AM
Lenhart is Chris Rix boy. He trains him for money. Should anyone other than Lenhart start what does that say for Rix and his side business. Altho Rix is no Steve Clarkson when it comes to training QB's.
Posted by: Are you kidding me | August 28, 2008 9:00 AM
Uhearditthere,
Last year Iglesias was a Senior and Lenhart the Junior, starting job went to Lenhart the junior. Iglesias never got a true opportunity. It was politics. This year they have three that are pretty equal, but you know what Lenhart will start not because he is a senior but because he started last year and Daddy helps out with free Athletic Training.
Posted by: Lenharts Job to Lose | August 28, 2008 8:58 AM
The lights at N-view arent for them, they're for the Covina Vikings jr all american football teams. They are the one who got them and pay for them.
Posted by: sgvfan | August 28, 2008 6:55 AM
Having attended a few BA paractices over the last week or so none of the QBs are a standout above the rest. Having said that my feeling is that the senior Lenhart should get the start 1st game give the senior the oppty to prove himself. McClanahan is a great WR and backup QB with Thropay getting playing time at this level when the score permits.
Posted by: uheardithere | August 28, 2008 6:03 AM
I wonder if Baldwin park is going to compete in the vvl. They did last year and the year before, but they had a good OL and DL but this year they look small and weak.
Posted by: juan pablo | August 27, 2008 5:37 PM
Cmon folks all the talk and no mention of the mainstays of CO D-line Tyler Perri and Evan Williams. This 3yr pair will reek havoc on Obacks all year. With clapper , Williams and Perri should be fun to watch.
Posted by: SLAKER | August 27, 2008 5:20 PM
Cmon James u were at the huskies practice a week ago tell us what u thought
Posted by: Husky Pride | August 27, 2008 2:17 PM