July 2006 Archives

Who's better?

It's hard not to like a league that's produced players like these

NOTE: This discussion only pertains to 2000-present. It is now a very valid argument since both of these teams are a part of the same CIF division - the Southwest Division. Also, I got nostalgic while putting this thread together. Wow, are these two leagues good.

ANOTHER NOTE: If you feel I've left something out, please comment and I will add it if needed. Please help with the CIF championship years if I've got them wrong or left something out.

READER OPINIONS WANTED!

NOTE: This is the first in a series of league comparisons brought to you by www.insidesocal.com/aram. IT ONLY PERTAINS TO THE 2000s. I don't want to go too far back in history because of the ever changing dynamics of the Valley and my ever decreasing memory. You will find that the leagues involved have many similarities, possibly including sharing the same division. Thus the argument is valid and could prove noteworthy come mid-November.

I'm not so Schurr that Almont League fans will like what I have to say.





Schurr QB Joseph Orduno doing something the Spartans don't usually do - pass.

ANOTHER NOTE: If you feel I've left out something important about these leagues, then please feel free to comment and I will add it if it's valid. I don't pretend to know everything about either of these leagues. Covering as many teams/leagues as I do, not all of the info is easy to retain. So, please help me out and help out the discussion by adding input or info.

READER OPINIONS WANTED!

Hey, I know you. You're that dude who played QB for the Rhein Fire.





New Northview High football coach Jim Arellanes at his previous job.

There's turnover every year. Some years more than others. But never has there been as much turnover at so many of the Valley's top football programs as there was this off-season. The circumstances might have been different in each separate case, but the pressure on the new caretakers of these programs is definitely something all have in common.

READERS: I NEED YOUR TAKES ON THESE GUYS.
Here they are ...

Is this a church or a football school?





Big time recruits, flashy skill players and championship fever are what Monrovia fans have to look forward to this season.

I did some calling around because Monrovia is not a team in my coverage area. I do follow the Cats nearly as close as I do my core schools because Monrovia is one of the schools discussed on a TV show I am a part of.
I made an interesting comment about Monrovia athletics during our final show of last school year. I said the school is experiencing a sports renaissance. No disrespect to Ms. Gates/Mrs.Sumulong, but the biggest renaissance taking place on campus has to do with the football and baseball programs. The baseball team just won a CIF title and now many people feel it's the football team's turn.

Two seasons have past since Wildcats coach Robert Oviedo led his program to the semifinals of the Division VI playoffs with a team that would've likely walked away with a CIF title in most other seasons (Los Altos def. Orange Lutheran in championship).
Unfortunately for Wilson fans, and you guys remain a good fan base, the team has fallen back on hard times. Granted, 2003's team had some great talent. But going 11-12 the past two seasons just isn't going to cut it, especially after fans got a taste of what it's like to win again.
Fortunately for the Wilson contingent, there not only is talent for a big season, but the coaching staff remains one of the of best in the area.

I feel bad, but I can't find action shots of these guys ... trust me though, JJ also plays receiver.





Covina receiver/defensive back #4 Jamal James

Receiver has been a deceptively strong position for Valley football teams in recent years. This year is no different. So much of what any receiver can do is contingent upon having a good QB. That's why you'll find that many of the guys who made this list also just so happen to have a teammate on the Top 10 QBs list. Glad I could provide the obvious statement of the day.

WestCo's loaded backfield could be tops in the area.





Tyler Hockenhull had a big impact after transferring to West Covina from Muir.

AS ALWAYS, FEEL FREE TO SHARE YOUR OPINIONS.

Maybe Mike McD will be good enough to win Valle Vista League MVP honors this season ...





Covina quarterback Mike McDonough flies over the field for fun vs. Tesoro.

I'm sorry, was that me who said no discussion about the 2006 season until after the Hall of Fame Game? Oh well, it's my site and what was spawned out of an argument at a passing league game with a person who will remain nameless has now been taken to the best prep sports blog in the nation - RIGHT HERE, BABY. 'Cause I've got that kind of juice.

Should you disagree, you'd better post, tell me where I'm wrong and share what your Top 10 is.

IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER

1. Hire a name coach - This one is completely off the books now, but it's worth repeating. I am not saying Mark Verti isn't going to do a good job. Nobody has a clue about him yet. But the school had a wide open door of opportunity after Mike DiFiori resigned, and they hired from within. Great.
Verti could either be the find of a lifetime or a 20-something-year-old gamble that sends Amat fans off the deep end. Not exactly the predicament most fans wanted to be in, but hey.
Here's the thing Verti has going for him. His youth can be played two ways. He's either too young to handle such a position or he's the young guy who relates to the players. No matter how you feel about himt, Verti is a former UCLA football player and he's got that on any other local coach. He knows what it takes to go from Amat to the big-time. He can wield his connections to the next level as something that gets kids to Amat because the coach can help them to the next level.

2. Field turf - Uh ... I don't care how much it costs ... the cash wasn't spent on a coach, so put in a nice field. Amat's field is already solid, but some artificial stuff would give the impression that the school is a cutting edge athletic institution. The new gym/weight room/locker room/coaching offices were a step in the right direction. When some kid comes to Amat to watch a game, he should see a state of the art field that will get him excited to possibly play there.

3. Throw rocks at South Hills, Los Altos and Charter Oak high schools until they crumble - Why go to Amat for $ 4-5 Gs per year when you can find a loophole and go to one of these schools for free?
"Gee lil Billy, you want to go play for Steve Bogan, Greg Gano, Lou Farrar or Mark Verti?"
And when the kid asks "Who's Mark Verti?" ... see No. 5 (below)