Bishop Breakdown

It's a big hill to climb tonight , but the great thing is that kids believe themselves and the program...a 180° from a while back. For someone a while back who said that "tradition never put points on the board" probably never played in a school with tradition. Technically, of course they're right, but the return of that belief is worth something as soon as players step on the field. I know they'll do their best, and we hope that's good enough for a W. If not, that's all you can give and the Lancers should be proud.

What I do have to do is give props to Kevin Rooney, the coach at ND. They were looked at going into the year as the team that might be a little "down". So he went out and revamped his offense to this high-powered spread he's got and turned it around as well. It takes a lot of a successful experienced coach to change and it just shows that the great ones keep learning.

I still want someone to verify what I think I remember regarding Rooney being an applicant for the Amat job in the mid '80s when we hired Don Markham. His defensive coordinator, Joe Mcnab (who was at Chaminade at the time) was a name thrown around too. Rooney would have been in his early years at ND and for some reason I remember his name. Interesting tidbit.. and it sure worked out for both schools either way.

I'm just curious if I remember right... Freddy?

Anyway, best of luck to all and remember... On Any Given Friday!

sgvfbfan
i agree that price and johnson will face their biggest test of the season. this is a high flying offense that amat will be facing. amat will have to generate some pass rush, and the linebackers and safeties will have to hold up in coverage for amat to be successful defensively. should be a great time tomorrow night.

Ryan Kasdorf, Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.)

Kasdorf tossed four touchdown passes in a 34-0 win over Loyola, giving Notre Dame a chance to finish undefeated in the regular season with a win over Bishop Amat this week. Kasdorf completed 18 of 23 passes for 275 yards in the win. His 30 touchdown passes on the season is a new school record. Kasdorf has completed 136 of 196 passes for 2,676 yards and 30 touchdowns.

Looks like Amat's Johnson and Sheldon Price will be heavily tested this Friday night.

Amat 73
Good stats about Amat. Are those numbers for the football team or the school in general? Just curious.
I am not coaching anyone to blog but if I did my fee's would be outragous.

As far as Donkback is concerned most of his posts aren't even worth commenting on. It's obvious he has nothing better to do daily than to log on here in his mom's basement where he lives to see what myself or Frank have commented on. I think he might have a crush on Frank. The fact he is Swiss and his gate swings both ways is another reason to ignore him. Btw being neutral is worse than standing for something. If you stand for nothing you will fall for anything.

amat 73
i understand

To '00...

Thank you so much for putting into words what so many feel about our beloved school!

Sevenduece,
It is no different then any other city in the SGV. Although people seem to think that because the majority of the population is Latino it has to be a bad area. Yes there are pockets of as we call them the badlands but I believe every city has their own badlands or criminal element as you can read about in the Trib.Another fact is just across Orange Ave from AMAT is West Covina , yes across the street. Truth of the matter is AMAT could be in any of the surrounding cities .Covina ,San Dimas ,Glendora,Walnut and the story would be the same just without the Latino references . It is all about hate of AMAT because of what some of these people perceive AMAT to be or as many try to justify it by writting it is the arrogance of the Lancer faithful that people don't like.

If you were blindfolded and taken to the Mater Dei Santa Ana neighborhood, once the blindfold was taken off you would think you were in the La Puente/West Covina area where Amat is. No difference. Just a different zip code.

there seems to be lots of talk about the neighborhood surrounding bishop amat. i've said before that as i drive to the games, it looks like a normal middle class neighborhood to me. is it a gang infested area or something? and if it is, doesn't seem to stop some pretty affluent people from sending their kids to the school or showing up at 2pm to tailgate. my point is, if the area is a bad one, it doesn't manifest itself by locals bothering the people who come to the games or tailgate. i could be wrong as i don't have the history in the area that many of you i'm sure do.

Stud,
A question for you. Are you coaching this new idiot who goes by the name " werd up" ? It's either that or this person idolizes you because his post seem to have that familiar anti AMAT ring to them .One small sentence which I guess is due to his small minded thinking. Anyway I think you better be careful because it seems as if brokeback just can't seem to get you off his mind. Do we sense a romance here. Just some humor there ,let's not get all twisted and angry.

Elmer Fudd,
What is so bad about the area Amat is in? Too many Latinos for your liking? Sounds racist to me. Seems like both issues run hand in hand. What if Amat was located in your all white neighborhood? Would that be more acceptable to you?

K Stud,
Come on now Stud. As far the race card it was only mentioned because alot of the haters just seem to throw that fact in when they post. Granted it is not as prevelent as before but you still have a few idiots out there doing it . The comments of fat beer drinking Mexicans or barrio cholos, member you member. HA HA HA . I don't recall you posting those type of comment although I maybe wrong but my recollection of your comments had mainly to do with our record 1-9 , 3-7 , 0-10 and the famous AMAT sucksssssssssssssss. As for the numbers.
62% Hispanic
10% Caucasian
11% Filipino
4% African American
2% Asian
9% Multiracial

87.5% Catholic
12.5% Non Catholic
1427 total students

Because I am Swiss, I am neutral.

In Switzerland, when a neighbor’s house catches on fire, everyone in the neighborhood comes over to help put it out. That is an example of the way people should act with one another, and it is a reflection of a communities sprit and caricature as a whole.

With Donkey boy, we see a reflection of his haltered towards three things in his community.

He hates Bishop Amat bloggers. He hates Frank Corna and he hates homosexuals.

Now, regardless of how you personally feel about the last point, any of these three things, do not necessarily come in any particular order for him. However, what is apparent about donkey boy, is that he dislikes one just as much as he dislikes the others.

As I said at the beginning of this commentary, I am Swiss and therefore, neutral, and because of that, I have to begin by saying that some of the crap that Donkey boys says about the Amat bogglers are, to a certain extent true.

Yes, you heard me correctly. He is right about some of the things he says about those people. The problem for me (and for him as well) is that, on any one issue, a person of caricature should be able to articulate a point without being a complete idiot.

You can hate frank Corona, or you can hate homosexuals, but at least, do the hate with some level of intelligence.

For example, we can see that Donky boy is obviously a highly educated individual because of his continual use of the word "donk."

He is no doubt a graduate of a major university because he knows just about everything there is to know about anything, and if you should happen to disagree with him, you are no doubt a “Donk.”

He is without a doubt, the most inspirational person on this blog. A true patriot through and through, and because of that, I just hope that if I were his neighbor, that my house would never, catch on fire.

Another brokeback moment

Bishop Amat is the largest Catholic high school in Los Angeles County according to statistics from the California Department of Education. Larger than Damien, Loyola, St. Paul, Bosco Tech, St. John Bosco, Notre Dame, St. Francis, and on and on. Second only to Mater Dei in California. Hate or a crappy neighborhood is not the reason for these numbers. Success is. Get over it.

King "PUD" - You my friend, are an JOKE! Like anybody really cares about your posts or the fact that you do not like Bishop, Amat, Bishop Amat, Amat Nation, etc, etc...If you don't care for them so much, then keep them out of your mouth!!!

You Amat fans are hilarious now bringing up the race card. As if you don't complain about enough you want to add this to your ledger.
The school is located in a crappy neighborhood and no one denies that fact but the dislike for Amat has to do with the donkey comments from most Amat fans NOT THE FACT MOST ARE HISPANIC!. Besides with the fact Amat pulls in players from all over the SGV are most of the players actually Hispanic? Come on Joe Amat give us the demographic breakdown. And you think people envy Amat? Actually I think its the opposite. I think most of the SGV looks at Amat fans and feels sorry for them because of the arrogance. You say it's pride but it seems to me with the exception of a few Amat fans it comes across as arrogance.

The hypocrisy of Amat fans knows no bounds. Amat fans whining all year about a number one ranking then some saying it doesn't matter. The funny thing is as while saying it doesn't matter Amat fans also complaining about the Times rankings. Remember Amat fans it's a marathon not a sprint. How you finish is what's important.

The overall truth is it doesn't matter because now the real season starts for the lancers with a huge mountain to climb vs Notre Dame. I don't see it happening. I see Amat, whose had a good season, losing this game and going into the playoffs as either an at large team or getting a tough road game in the first round. Then after they lose then we can watch CO or SH or maybe even SD or NV go for a title. It will be amazing to see the comments from Amat fans drop off after the playoff exit. Or maybe they will find something else to whine about!!

Just an FYI here.

Notre Dame high schools nickname is the "Knights." Not the Irish, or the "fighting" Irish of Notre Dame University fame.

This happens almost every time about this year.

BTW, sometimes the are also called the "Scarlet" or the "Black" Knights too.

HEY IRISH!!!

OVER HERE!!!!!

THE MIGHTY BLUE ARE UPON YOU!!!!

CHAAAAARRRRRRGE!!!!

00,
I agree that is the best way I have ever read what AMAT and AMAT football means to the faithful . We truly are Family.From the first graduating class to the class of 2009 we basically all have the same spirit concerning our school. Friday night's game was a memorable moment for all of us because they all said we couldn't and we went out accomplished what was thought by many to be the impossible. At the end of the game to hear the team sing the Alma Mater loud and clear along with the loyal fans was something special. Envy, hatered,racism , whatever it is ,I think it has more to do with the fact that people just do not understand the undying loyalty and love we have for our school. They just don't get it and when people encounter something they can't understand and cannot be a part of their reaction is to try and break it down by whatever means they can. But to their dismay we are STEADFAST ,LOYAL,AND TRUE .

wow! amat supporter, you say a lot in that blog. when i drive to the games, the neighborhood seems like a normal middle class area to me. i think i pass nothing but homes and nice homes at that. if what you say has any truth to it, it's a sad commentary on our society.

Amat playing for a piece of the Serra League Championship this Friday at Notre Dame. Who Woulda thought this possible. After the last 2 years of the Short Verti era and a 3-7 mark last year this is a amazing turnaround win or lose Friday nite. What coach Hagerty and staff would have done with the two teams 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 before this one. With the talent those two teams had Amat would be on their third straight winning season. So glad change was made.

Amat supporter that the best answer I have ever read on this blog. And something for others to chew on. O think you're absolutely correct. What is Damien had Bishop Amat's history. Would anyone say anthing about their Barrio surroundings? I fear not.

So the root of all this hatred is racism. Tough as it is to accept I know you're right.

I will never again question Amat's arrogance or perceived arrogance. I've lived that BS myself. Bishop Amat continue dong what you do.

I'm out of this.

Amat football... it's not arrogance but loyalty. Its swag but its also class. Its tradition and its family.

For those unfamiliar, the Amat faithful run generations deep. Our pride is not about this year’s ranking, this season, or this week's game; it's about what has come before us and what we will leave for those that come after us. We follow our team 10, 20, and 30 years down the road whether or not we have siblings, cousins, or children attending. Ours is a tradition of which it is a privilege to be a part. Ours is a legacy that every new team hopes to leave to the next.

High school football and the aura of friday night lights are relatively unforgettable for most who pass under them, but Amat football is transformational. It is manifested not only in the championships won and the tears formed in defeat, not just in the number of pro athletes delivered and those that almost made it, but in the quality of the character's of our young men and the way Amat hits on every down never leaving anything on the field. Ask Loyola. Ask St. Paul. Ask Matre Dei and Long Beach Poly. The quality of our program and the spirit of our tradition has few peers in the nation.

Is Amat Football back? I say it never went away. We were quiet, but not gone; subdued but not irrelevant. We are Amat, in victory and in defeat. We were Amat at the Reebok Bowl of ‘92. We were Amat at a soggy Veterans Memorial Stadium seven years later. We are Amat in 2008.

We’re Steadfast, Loyal, and TRUE!!

Mighty are the Men who wear the Blue and Gold.

My preconceived notion of all the animosity and hatred aimed at Amat is attributed in part due to racism and straight out envy.

Those so called HS football fans simply cannot accept the fact that a predominantly hispanic football team located in lowly La Puente can garner so much respect and publicity and compete at the highest level against top OC and other top D1 Football Programs whom the majority of these teams seem to be made up of predominantly caucasian players (Mater Dei, Servite, Olu, Notre Dame, Crespi, Tesoro, Los Al, Mission Viejo, Loyola etc).

Therefore, when we are expected to lose and lose...we drink too much beer and we suck.

When we are expected to lose and win...we Barrio boys got lucky.

When we are suppose to win and win...we are bullies and need to schedule stronger opponents.

I might sadly add, that if Amat was located in a middle-upper class predominantly causcasian neighborhood such as Glendora or San Dimas that alot of this hatred, hence, racism would go away.

Some of you people just don't understand that Amat has a huge following that is very passionate of their football team...don't believe it? Come to one of our away games...our fans have on many occasions outnumbered the away home crowd.

Can your team say they play in the toughest league in the Nation??

Seven Deuce, I agree, It is all pot shots at Amat. Amat cannot in some eyes do anything right, there will always be a checkmark somewhere from someone. All Saturday Morning QB's is what I can see. The many that bash Amat would like to see Amat completely destroyed and go 0-10 every year. Thats the mentality of some of these moronic so called HS football fans. Hey hats off to any SGV team that is doing well and taking it to their opponents. In Amats case the fan base is very passionate about their team and winning (they bleed Amat Blue and Gold) and that to some comes across as pompous. Amat likes to win like the next guy but some around Amat Cannot live with the fact that Amat plays the DIV.1 caliber teams and for this they get bashed instead of praise? go figure.? I still cannot figure it out./???? Next Topic from Fred should be "Is the hatred towards Amat football really justified"? Fred see how many responses you get. This could get 500 hits or more, for and against Amat.

News flash!

No one hates Bishop Amat!

People hate the arrogant BA bloggers.

News flash!

NO ONE HATES BISHOP AMAT!

PEOPLE HATE THE ARROGANT BA BLOGGERS.

Hope that clears things up.

it seems as though there's been a shift in thought process where amat is concerned. early in the summer, the thought was amat could not compete or beat the other teams in the sgv. now the popular opinion seems to be that amat is playing inferior teams, recruits, and therefore should be beating up on teams in the sgv. i'm all for others' opinions, but it's odd to me how peoples' arguments and sentiments have completely changed from the beginning of the season until now. i, too, believe that amat should be the best team in the sgv. i guess there is such a hatred for amat that some will find any way they can to put the program down. am i off base?

Amat fans will drink moon shine tonight in the parking lot... Amat fans will drink moon shine tonight in the parking lot... Amat fans will be wasted when The Sun goes down.. the moon comes up and so does the booze..
Amat fans will drink moon shine tonight!

Fred for you to say that its hard to not expect anything from hagerty in his first year is outrageous in my opinion. For starters this isnt his first year coaching high school football, he is a pretty established HC. Second, if his staff is as accomplished as you were making them out to be in the preseason and summer, he obviously has the most help as anyone in the valley. Third, He didnt inherit a lackluster team, they have 3 maybe 4 guys that are going to sign with DIV 1 schools this spring and he has them as seniors.

In no way am I trying to downplay what he has done, but I wish you would stop making them some sort of RAGS to RICHES story, in my opinion he has simply done what is expected with a team of that talen!!....And he has done a great job, Most talent in Valley should be exactly where they are....THIS IS NOT A CINDERELLA STORY

Wow Fred,

I'm impressed that you still allow such comments to be posted. Keep up the good work. I actually enjoy reading the blogs.

sticks and stone pal, sticks and stones. Midget rat? I know I'm short, but that's a first.

Okay answer this, then why doesn't Robledo do a Charter Oak breakdown? That's because he's smart enough to realize no one is interested in reading about the cupcakes team CO will beat hands down. In other words....BORING!!!

When your team can say they played against BEST...the #1 team in the state and #2 team in the Nation...win or lose...you can come here hands down to earn some respect and maybe you can petition Fred to get your own damn blog page.

OK, so it was assumed and agreed that this liberal, half-assed bird cage catcher was in the pocket for the Raider Nation at Amat, but Robledo the midget rat has brought it to a new level. First, he does a regular season blog from a game and then gives Amat their own page? I hope the rest of the Valley realizes what a hack this dirt on his knees journalist is. With basketball up next, I am sure he's getting Leduke's phone number primed up to kiss his ass too.

What a great job Hagerty and Staff have done. To think Amat is 7-2 (should be 8-1, Los Osos should have been a win) at this time of the season and having that big opportunity going to ND this Friday with a share of the league title of the Serra within reach, most wrote off Amat chances this year and the 0-10 1-9 2-8 3-7 were prognosticated. Win or lose at ND or a loss of a coin flip, should it come to that, and not getting the At Large Bid and I still believe this year has been a very successful year for the Amat Lancers. I give the Lancers a shot against ND, heck you still have to play the game right.? A win for the Lancers here is so huge, a loss here which is most likely, but not a bad thing because this Lancers have stood tall and deserve all the respect for the way they have turned it around. Good Luck Friday team and especially Seniors. I am hoping we catch a break here or there and that there is a CIF playoff round coming to you guys, it is much deserved.

I predicted 2 weeks ago that Amat would make the playoffs and I think it looks better now than then. The only snag is Crespi beating Loyola and creating a probable 3way tie for second, then it comes to a series of coin flips for the second Serra league rep and then the third place team will get the only wild card berth, I believe that wild card team will get the number 11 seed after all the first and second place teams in the five leagues and play someone like Mission Viejo or Edison in the first round and Los Al or Tesoro in the second, good luck Lancers! on the field and in the coin flip.