QB’s Part one
Well Good Afternoon Y’all….=)….A beautiful rainy day here in SoCal….and we really needed it…..Had another blood test yesterday and my Coumadin levels are back to my norms after the surgery. My scars are healing up nice…..and I’ve set up an appointment for a physical next month. Hopefully I can get a referral at that time to see the dermatologist for a full body exam. I bought a couple new wide brimmed hats…..very “Indiana Jonesish”….But I am still wearing vests…..So no real fashion adjustments….=)
I thought I’d touch on some of my Quarterbacks that I’ve had thru the years…..when I was at Temple City HS in 1988 as HC…I had a guy named Kenny Mushinskie….He is presently the HC at Ramona HS in Riverside….They are in the Semi Finals of CIF this Friday. Now he was a feisty guy….But he was a winner….a competitor in every sense of the word. A born leader!
In my 25 years at Redlands HS I was blessed to have so many great competitors at this position. The QB position is so demanding. I always told that individual that when we win….the TEAM will get the credit….and if we lose….You and I will get the blame….It’s awesome being a HC and QB after a win….but it’s a deep valley after a loss. So a QB has to be both physically and mentally tough. You really have to want to be a QB….a deep burning desire .I also think the QB has to have some swagger….not over the top….but definitely knows how to have fun ….yet lead at the same time. He really needs to be a Pied Piper….=)
Over my 25 years at RHS, I had a bevy of different coaches that worked with the QB spot, including myself. But the best guy, no doubt, was QB Coach Bob Stangel. Now he was a tough no non-sense guy. Every QB will tell you….he was very demanding….as well as very loving. He showed he loved his guys because he demanded and expected their best…..from meetings and film to practice. He always told me… “It’s either coached or it’s allowed!”….and he coached…from the first whistle to the final horn…non stop. He set the tone for all the young coaches…..Get your hands out of your pockets….and coach!
I told you earlier how lucky I was to have the winner Pete Jenkins decide to play for me that first year at QB. He was a Pied Piper….The other guys followed his lead. He took us to the 2nd round in CIF that year.
I remember Josh Lafotu. (RIP…we lost him) He was injured his Jr year, in an off campus “accident” after game 2. He was a stud….could have been an all timer! He told me…”he was at home and his cat jumped out from under the couch and he fell back over the ottoman, startled. And I broke my hand”, requiring surgery, out for the season. OK…right. But I let it go. I moved on… We started Greg Brock….a Sophomore. He ended up being a 3 year starter. Greg was a winner. That last second score vs North HS, a scramble with no time left and diving for the pylon for the winner! His throw vs Eisenhower…Wow….
Now back to Josh…..His senior year I moved him to LBer and FB…..as much as I loved Josh….I couldn’t count on him to always do the right thing….and be there for the team at QB when we needed him. I knew I could count on Greg. Josh was the better athlete….Greg was the better leader.
Now fast forward a few years….I’m getting ready for practice….walking the field…checking on equipment. Up walks this Hawaiian looking guy….it’s Josh. He says…” Coach I need to tell you something….I lied to you back then and it’s really been bothering me… as I’m trying to get my life together. I actually broke my hand in a fight after the game with some of those Yucaipa guys after we beat them. I’m sorry I let you down.”…..I told him I forgave him…..I didn’t tell him I knew what happened the night he had the fight… news travels fast in Redlands….=) as we all know!
Choosing one QB to be the starter is always tough. One year I had a tuff one…I had 2 guys. One was the better thrower…. the other was a tough guy. We decided on the thrower. I met with the #2 guy and his parents, to give them my decision. I was moving the #2 guy to strong safety. I told his parents he would be an ALL CIF defensive back. He was the perfect guy. A Hitter and Runner. Very smart and a leader. But the parents decided he was a QB and I was wrong. They transferred. It was a big hit for us, no doubt. He and his family would have made us better.
Now the rest of the story…..He ended up being an All CIF Defensive back at that HS. He also went on to become an All Conference 1st team DB in college. Hmmmmm kinda sounded familiar…..=) but what did I know.
Denver Berry was the guy that I chose…..and he lived up to the billing. His team scored 24 points against a loaded FOHI squad in 97’. And the defense shut them out…..at their place….breaking a losing streak of 17 years…..how sweet that was…..=)
In 06’ we had a great one….Coy Glass….Son of Coach Glass. What a run we had with that group! He was a big physical guy with all the tools. He could have played any position, very athletic. He almost beat REV that year single handed. (He did have some help) But that scramble for a TD late in the game was crazy!
My Son, Jimmy, was also one of the Long Blue Line. My most memorable years of coaching were when I had the privilege of coaching him. There’s nothing that comes close to being with your son every day and playing the sport you love. One of my many mistakes was not starting him as a sophomore when our starter, JoJo Hernandez went down, for the varsity. I was afraid what people would say, coaches son and all that. In that REV game of 2012, when he hit Walter Jones for that 95 yd TD pass for an 11 point lead with 8 minutes to play….wow. After REV scored to cut the lead to 4….He took us on a 4 minute drive to close out the game.
I have a few more memories of QB’s that I’ll share in Part 2….Talk Soon….Jim