Coaching for Pizza: A FULL Two Weeks of American Football

Thursday, August 30 - Saturday, September 8, 2018

Yes Virginia, the start of the complete 2018 American football season is finally upon us!

I'll try but it won't be easy

While local high schools had already played two games before this week, the college season would start in earnest, the first weekend covered in this post, while the NFL campaign would be launched the following Thursday!

But life is not all about American football as it turns out . . .

. . . sometimes it is all about

watching Frozen with Mary at home

Riveting . . .

On Friday I had my first Ventura County Star Game-of-the-Week podcast Color Commentator assignment of the season.

Before arriving at the stadium, I needed sustenance.

Three delicious street tacos

did the trick!

Now I was ready to broadcast the game!

It shaped up to be a good one.

The 2-0 Yellowjackets were

ranked #1 in the C.I.F.'s Division VI

The also 2-0 Warriors who were

ranked #6 in the C.I.F.'s Division II

With our Play-by-Play announcer

Kent Brown

The pre-lim JV game got

our American football juices flowing

Then it was time for the Main Event!

It was a BEAUTIFUL night for American football!

Who would have guessed?

The Oxnard QB was pressured

all night long

Westlake made a ton of mistakes

like this fumble and numerous penalties

but the Warriors prevailed by a final

tally of 24-20

Saturday was a HUGE game for

our beloved Huskies (0-0) against

Auburn (0-0) in Atlanta, Georgia

It was a hard fought game between two Top Ten clubs but the Tigers, Plainsmen and/or War Eagles of Auburn went home with a 21-16 victory.

Up next for 0-1 Washington is the 2018 home opener new week against 1-0 North Dakota.

While the Huskies offense was struggling,

I was called upon to be a beast of burden

by Jacob and Mary in our backyard

Labor Day Monday morning practice

at Buena H.S.

Long time coaching friend Ryan Bolland is the Bulldog's Head Coach and asked me to review some of my wacky Kicking Game theories with members of his staff.

I was happy to be of help if I could.

Tuesday we had Mary

Wednesday I had Federico

This was done with an eye to improving my meager Italian language skills.

It helped.

On Wednesday, a local high school

donated 14 used shoulder pads

to the EuroBall cause

We quickly boxed them up and

they were on there way to a team

in Barcelona, Spain by Friday

After picking up the shoulder pads, I

attended Jacob's European football practice

A former OL of mine, Jorge Zaragoza,

coaches the Rio Mesa H.S. JV team's OL

Thus on Thursday I drove over to RMHS to watch his Spartans take on the Grace Brethren Lancers.

Jorge's squad took home the Silver Medal this day.

Friday was a So Cal Husky Legends

Lunch Day

Nine of us showed up at Dinah's Restaurant near LAX for a two hour meal filled with great old stories from our shared experiences at the University of Washington back in the late 1960s.

If it's Friday, then it must be time for a high school football game!

And it was . . .

My Alma Mater (Class of 1965)

1-1 on the season

Where I was the Head Coach

from 1978-1988

3-0 on the season

It was a defensive battle for most

of the First Half

Again, it was a . . .

BEAUTIFUL night for American football!

Why was I not surprised?

It was an even better night at the

Warriors' stadium as we were joined

by Terry and Elin Terrazone

Terry is a long time friend from our days at SFHS.

We ate dinner together at Bad Ass Street Tacos and then shared a fun evening at the stadium.

FINAL SCORE: Westlake 35 - St. Francis 21

Westlake's THREE Special Team TDs was the difference.

Saturday started with Jacob's

European football game

Lots of action

Jacob about to receive

an inbounds pass

Mike was the Ref on this day

Jacob during his Quarter

on the sideline . . .

. . . a time to rekindle friendships

Our mighty Red Robot defender

Run Jacob!

Boot it!

Marking his man!

A Silver Medal for the Red Robots today.

They played hard and had lots of fun it appeared to me.

Saturday night meant NCAA, FCS, Big Sky Conference American football to Mike and me.

So we drove up the Pacific Coast for about two hours to the wonderful Central California Coastal city of San Luis Obispo.

The game tonight featured . . .

The 0-1 Weber State Wildcats

The 0-1 Cal Poly SLO Mustangs

It is the 100th season of Cal Poly SLO

football and, NO, this is not the team

Mustangs were fielding tonight

Mo's BBQ in San Luis Obispo,

PERFECT for a pre-game Tri-Tip sandwich

6:05 P.M. kickoff

Keep your eyes on the tunnel!

Here comes a Mustang!

Here come the MUSTANGS!

Time to kickoff the game

With Mike in the end zone shade

for the First Quarter before heading

to our seats in the now sunny seats

behind us to the left

Weber State's opening drive

Zone-Read Option working to . . .

. . . open field QB Keep PERFECTION!

Nope, the Free safety did not break his ankle trying to recover here.

Cal Poly SLO Goal Line Defense . . .

. . . could not keep the Wildcats from

the game's first TD

Second Quarter Cal Poly SLO

Third Down, Goal Line Fade route

Incomplete.

That led to this Mustang Field Goal

Third and 14 for Weber State

Punt Team ready!

The start of the Second Half

In San Luis Obispo, California, it was yet another BEAUTIFUL night for American football!

Why does this always happen to me?

Mike with former Newbury Park HS

player and student Ben Pettingill

Ben was at the game for the same reason we were, to support former NPHS Panther lineman and teammate Robert Geoffrion who plays for Weber State.

Another former NPHS player, Richard "Reno" Watkins, plays DL for Cal Poly SLO. Neither Mike nor I coached him but Mike said he enjoyed having him as a student in his Economics class.