QB Sequel

TGIF….less than one week from Thanksgiving……I’m really looking forward to the Turkey and stuffing. In the playoffs there is nothing better than a Thanksgiving day practice. They were always the best! It used to be played in the Quarter finals, now it’s the Semi final round. It just means less teams get to experience that great day together and that’s a shame.

Getting back to some of those QBs….probably the slowest guy I ever had at QB….Derrick Dial. He wasn’t “slow” as in dumb….he was a sharp knowledgeable guy. He’s presently the Def Coordinator at Beaumont HS. He was an Asst Coach for me for years. Redlands made a huge mistake letting him escape down the 10. I’m sure he can’t wait to play the Terriers next year…..Beaumont joins the CBL. Should be a fun reunion! I can say that Jacob Brock (Greg Brock’s brother) was right there with him in the “speed situation”. Both guys gave you everything they had and some!

Brandon Diamico was another stand out. He had an incredibly quick release and under the coaching of Coach Stangel, he led us to an upset win over Corona Centennial at the U of R. I believe that was their only loss that year and they won a CIF championship at 13-1. We had a girl in the program who decided after her sophomore year to leave the FB program and become a starter on the woman’s HS volleyball team. Sami Grisafe was her name and I can tell you….football was her game. As a Sophomore backup QB on the Varsity, she entered the REV game late in the 4^th quarter and led us down the field and scored on a QB sneak. I believe she was the first female to score a TD in a varsity CIF FB game! She went on to play Semi Professional Women’s Football in Chicago, were she won multiple championships. She led a Woman’s USA FB team to 2 World Championships in Sweden were she was named the MVP at QB. Who knows how the story would have been written if she would have stayed in our program. She really is an incredible person. One of a kind!

I had a kid transfer in from Las Vegas. His dad, Julian Burrola, was a RHS Alumni QB that played for Mike Churchill. His dad was a tough competitor. Joey Burrola, proved to be tougher. Small in stature but huge in heart. He was a runner and thrower. He just had a knack of making plays. In that first game vs Citrus Valley, he came in off the bench after Anthony Graziano went down with a shoulder. Joey led us back late to tie the score. CV scored late to beat us. (Probably my most devastating loss at RHS). Joey went onto be our starter the next year as well.

I had 2 QBs transfer from our rival, REV. Cody Whitaker and Steve Garcia were great kids. Cody came to us during a down year. But what an intelligent kid and competitor. He got beat up that year but he never quit! Cody went on to play in college as well. Now Steve could really wing it…..I believe Steve threw for over 3,000 yds his senior year. The REV guys tried to bad mouth Steve but I can tell you he was a great kid. Always had a smile, sometimes he got down on himself, but it was because he wanted to win so bad! Man I loved those guys!

Earlier I mentioned Anthony Graziano. Now he had the swagger! I decided late in the process to move him from WR/DB to QB. He did it without batting an eye. “Whatever you need coach” He wasn’t your typical QB….but boy could he run. A great Athlete. And his smile could light up a room.

Brad Scott’s son Chris played for me as well. He was a thinker and sometimes he would over think it. =) But he was a gifted guy as well. Played basketball as well as football…..a very good athlete.

Josh Logan was a special guy. I say that because he may not have been the most talented QB I ever had, buy he’d out work ya! He wanted to be the starter so bad that he never gave up his dream! He was a true Terrier!

Well it’s off to my Saturday chores…..Talk Soon….Jim