Mid-Valley: Rosemead-Paraclete
Rosemead coach Matt Koffler: "We're not a school that produces a ton of athletes. We're a school that has about 60 kids in the whole program. It's a privilege for us to be here. We're not known as a team in the San Gabriel Valley to play big-time football. We're certainly not the Bishop Amats or the Charter Oaks or the South Hills'. We're just a little school that's stuck in the middle that plays hard-nose football."
WESTMINSTER - Before the start of Monday's 33rd CIF-Southern Section football press conference and luncheon, two foes met to discuss specifics.
Near the corner of the Rose Center's ballroom, Rosemead High School football coach Matt Koffler sat with his contingent as they listened to Paraclete coach Norm Dahlia talk about the best way to get to Knight High School, home of Saturday's CIF-SS Mid-Valley Division championship game. Dahlia also suggested restaurants Koffler and the Panthers could eat at before - and possibly after - the game, slated for 7 p.m. in Palmdale.
One factor Koffler couldn't get over was the fact that frigid temperatures are ex- pected Saturday night. In an effort to anticipate the cold temperatures of December, the Panthers have practiced at night the last three weeks, but perhaps nothing will prepare them for the high 20s and low 30s temperatures come game night.
When asked if he'd consider taking the team to Palmdale for one walk-through to get a feel for the environment, Koffler noted it wasn't entirely his decision.
"That would be at our principal's (discretion)," he said. "I think we should get some thermals donated from our ASB (Associated Student Body) office over there.
"I'm trying to make it the best experience our kids can have, but I think the school should purchase us some thermals, some gloves, some jackets and a room to stay."
Koffler, of course, was joking about the school purchasing a room for the Panthers to stay in on Friday night.
NICE EXPERIENCE
Each team headed to this weekend's championship games were treated to an all-you-can- eat feast with dessert in an elegant facility in Orange County.
It was a surreal experience, but the goal was always to get there.
"We knew we had a good chance to be here," Koffler said. "I think it's good for the community, it's good for the school and good for the kids. Hopefully the community can go up (to Palmdale) and watch the game."
The Panthers finished 7-4 overall and finished third in the Mission Valley League before a first-round ouster in last season's playoffs. "We're not a school that produces a ton of athletes," Koffler said. "We're a school that has about 60 kids in the whole program. It's a privilege for us to be here. We're not known as a team in the San Gabriel Valley to play big-time football. We're certainly not the Bishop Amats or the Charter Oaks or the South Hills. We're just a little school that's stuck in the middle that plays hard-nose football."
There was a different feel, an optimistic feel, before the season ever got underway.
"My players would walk around and tell me, `Hey coach, I think we're going to be really good this year,' " Koffler recalled. "I think, psychologically for the kids and the coaches, they knew they were going to be good. When you know you're going to be good, you work a little bit harder."
When asked if there was a particular player who may have added a different dimension to the team's dynamic, Koffler said there wasn't, but added that aside from everyone playing to their potential, there has been one pleasant surprise.
"The real surprise is how they're able to stay focused and stay hungry every week," he said.
miguel.melendez@sgvn.com (626) 578-6300, Ext. 4485
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Gee Fred and I thought I had it rough on this blog...ouch! lol
You do a great job Fred. Hope the Trib's BK stuff never takes you away from us.
Thta whole DR story is pretty compelling isn't it?
Same goes for other recent developments.
You never engage in cutting people down or bashing coaches to get more hits.
Somehow you've always given the bloggers enough freedom to work things out themselves.
I respect that.
Sorry SGV follower, you're going to have to put up with me and my bad luck.
Eagle20,
I remember you ID yourself as a former player who I knew as Manuel.I apologize if you are not M.R.But please do not question if I have seen RHS or not, I have no time for the ,
"BLOG BULLIES".Or time for laying out my resume for people questioning my allegiance to this school or that school.Plain and simple I root for my Alma Matter!
MOVING ON ...
FIGHT ON PANTHERS
TM
Trojan Man...why do you call me by Manuel?
SGV FOOTBALL FOLLOWER?
Hey where have you've been lately? You kinda disappeared??? I'm surprise you didn't rag on AZUSA losing?
Were you at the AZUSA, Covina playoff game? Was that a great game!
FRED, I GOT YOUR BACK! THANK YOU FOR YOUR GREAT COVERAGE THIS SEASON!
Don't listen to SGV FOOTBALL FOLLOWER!!! Lol...
FRED
Stay away from this game do not JINX Rosemead!!
You are a terrible reporter who knows nothing about the game of football and you bring bad luck.
congratulation to the panthers for making it to the finals! congratulation to the coaching staff for doing an excellent job! THIS IS WHAT ALL WE PANTHERS HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR!!! LETS BRING IT HOME!!!! GO PANTHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
no love
had TC beat Paraclete, and FJR had us 77 point underdogs to the Mead, I would be speaking my piece. It did not happen, though it seemed a real possibility for 2 qtrs, which means zip since 4 qtrs is the deal.
It is a boundary thing, I am cool with that. Miquel ended the season with some solid coverage of the final game. I got no bone to pick about the season, it was one to be remembered, and one that far exceeded expectation.
Once again, Rosemead do your thing!!
Those close to the program have been waiting for this moment for a long time. I cannot express how proud I am of all of you Panthers! Right now I cannot sleep thinking about this game because I know that it is right there. Play smart, make the right calls and hit Paracelte harder than they have ever been hit. Just hit them like a Panther and things will work itself out. Louie Madigal and Jim Zant are looking down at you guys and I am sure that they could not be more proud as well. Last year you guys traveled all the up to Piedmont Hills and brought home a victory, so do not let anybody take this away from you! WIN!
I'm driving down with Miguel, it would be fun to meet up with some of the bloggers for a pre game meal.
We'll have to get back to you on that, TM. I definitely do want to make a quick pit stop but it depends on how late I get in from going out Friday night after the Diamond Ranch game and how early we leave for Lancaster. Maybe 2 p.m. but I'll let you know.
Name the time ...
I'll be there !
FIGHT ON
TM
TM,
You googled the place AND you read the reviews? I didn't know I had much influence. I'm down if FredJ is down, albeit I'm driving so he really has no choice but to chow down some wings and a beverage.
Fred ,
Are we going to meet up @ Coaches for Pre-Game WINGS?
Miguel promoted this place & I Google searched it & they had some GREAT reviews.
TM
Hey, I didn't create the Star-News/Tribune boundaries, I follow them. For whatever reason, Rosemead always has been a crossover team for both papers, and so too is Duarte. It's just a guess, but I believe the reason we started including Rosemead is because they play in the Mission Valley League, which consists of mostly of Tribune teams like El Monte, South El Monte, Arroyo and Mountain View, so it made sense to include. The Rio Hondo is all Pasadena area teams. The Montview is all Tribune teams, which is why we also cover Duarte along with Pasadena...Does that make sense at all?
Matt,Good luck to You, the Team and your Coaching Staff! My family, which are my brothers and I played for Rosemead from the 1960's thru the 1980's. We will always be Rosemead Panthers at heart! The team will always have our support! I will always remember one quote Coach Swanberg told me that I will never forget and sounds to be fitting right now for you and the team...(it was also painted in the locker room in those days.)... "IT'S NOT THE SIZE OF THE DOG IN THE FIGHT, IT'S THE SIZE OF THE FIGHT IN THE DOG!" This was the motto we lived by on the field, that 's always been Rosemead's pride and tradition to this day.Good Luck, Greg Rios
Go panthers
Manuel ,
YES I have seen RHS NOT Paraclete... WHY?
Eagle 20... Trojan man is a Panther alumni .
Trojanman---have you seen Parcelte play? Or Rosemead? Live, not on an online video. Just wondering..
This is the best year. I'm a Rosemead alumni, and my boys play for Charter Oak. I'm not trying to sound arrogant, I just feel really proud right now. Go Chargers and Panthers.
reality czech, you make a valid point. Teh 605 would make a decent barrier as far as what is covered by whom. That would mean Duarte, Rosemead, SEM, EM, etc. would be covered by the Pas-Star. However, I would not consider a school like SEM to be in the Pasdena area. Why doesn't the Whittier newspaper take on more schools. They pretty much only handle the Del Rio League along with St. Paul and La Habra. Why can't that newspaper step it up?
ROSEMEAD, GOODLUCK THIS SATURDAY. ANY TEAM THAT BEATS THE CRAP OUT OF SAN DIMAS IS A FAVORITE OF MINE. WAY TO TAKE IT TO THOSE ARROGANT SAINTS A COUPLE WEEKS AGO. NOW GO AND FINISH TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS UP IN THE DESERT. BRING HOME THAT CIF CHAMPIONSHIP TO THE SGV.
GO BRAVES !!!!
FROM AZUSA to Rosemead, take down PARACLETE!
GOOD LUCK ROSEMEAD AND WIN IT!
To bad AZUSA not playing paraclete. They had their shot,oh well!
AZTEC PRIDE!
From Duarte to Rosemead. Good Luck This Weekend.
Falcon Pride...
Again-Northview is a Tribune team. Complain to the Star. For some reason the Rio Hondo League is a Star league and the Mission Valley is a Trib league. That's just the way it is. I'd be OK with donating the MVL to the Star and just making the 605 the separation - how's that?
Okay, Rosemead and Temple City are miles apart? Come on there was nothing? Hey we wanted Temple City to win Paraclete. I believe there was more written about Paraclete, in the NV game then ther was about TC, playing PC.
No love -TC is in the Star area. They are Miguel's team. Look on their blog and see how many times HE randomly congratulates a Trib team. Maybe NEVER. And he shouldn't have to - it's not his area. That's why there are TWO papers. To cover TWO areas. If the both covered the same thing there would be no need now, would there?
The Drive, The Weather, Paraclete home field, Home meals (Paraclete relaxing and waiting in their backyard), Refs calls will go against Rosemead more then Paraclete, hence Home Cook'in Part II. Hostile crowd noise and one sided announcer for the home team as well. If Rosemead can block all this out and go play their game they have the win. If they go on the road and it becomes a distraction like the Harvard Westlake game then they are doomed. Tough to travel up there and bring home the win, but it can be done. Good luck Rosemead this will be a real test to play a championship game on the opposing teams field. Paraclete 24 Rosemead 14
GOLDENARM;
I notice last weeks Saturday's paper and blog, there was nothing mentioned about the game between Temple City AND Paraclete? Temple City was treated like a STEPCHILD, on the Tribune???
As for Fred,he didn't have anything prior to the game on his Prep page, like he had the Charter Oak vs Rowland,Diamond Ranch vs West Covina???
I notice Miguel Melendez, wrote and congratulated Temple City on a great season,but nothing from FRED???
I had to find the score through a blogger sending it in?
What up with that Goldenarm? the last time I look,Temple City was still in the SGV???
Matt & Staff,
Please know that as a fellow Panther how PROUD I am of the whole TEAM! Starting from the coaches{most former Panthers} all the way down to the training staff.
This has been a special year and I have been PRIVELEDGED to have been ALLOWED on the field for quite a few games.
I hope NO MATTER how this run ends , EVERYONE knows the RHS Panthers of 2008 will be a TEAM of the ages.
I hope all of you who read this have a chance to see this TEAM.
If you are a Panther MAKE THE TRIP!Support our MEN!
One of the best TEAMS EVER,NO MATTER what anybody says!
FIGHT ON
TM
For those who expect Rosemead to roll-over Paraclete, I would be careful. The Mead should prevail and I definitely hope they do, but Paraclete will have an intelligent defensive game plan and field a prepared group of kids.
Here is a paste of an earlier post . ....
Note to the Mead
Paraclete has a destructive and skilled offensive line. All are returning starters from last year. Their center is all Mid -Valley and about 270 and is a down blocking fortress. These kids team block - and they were able to beat up Matt O'Malley over 3 quarters, and Matt is 250 and one strong D lineman for TC, as good as any Mead D lineman. You must be prepared for a physical showdown in the trenches!! Mead backers must pound the ballcarrier and fill during the repeated double-teams on your D line. Trust me, the Spirits O-line is their strong point, much, much more than their defensive crew which seems to get all the ink.
Rosemead has the studs to handle this...all I am saying is get ready for it.
I say this because I see other folks overlooking Paraclete. Bad idea.
Rosemead - BRING IT HOME!!