California Lutheran University Kingsmen

Euro Football Speech

Tour Stop II

Cal Lu is located in Thousand Oaks

A short drive today to Ventura County's only college that fields a football team.

The SCIAC

Southern California's venerable eight college Division III athletic conference. The SCIAC is composed of eight colleges, seven of which field football teams.

The Cal Lutheran Kingsmen won the 2009 SCIAC football championship with a 6-0 conference mark while going 8-2 overall after losing in the first round of the NCAA playoffs. Along the way the Kingsmen defeated Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, La Verne, Occidental, Pomona-Pitzer, Redlands and Whittier in conference play. The eighth, non-football playing, member of the conference is Cal Tech.

The Kingsmen

Besides the seven Kingsmen seen here there were a few other athletes who attended but had to leave early to attend classes.

Of interest in the back row on the left is Geno Sullivan, CLU's Linebacker/Special Teams Coach who knows Mel Galli, the Catania Elephants new coach quite well. Geno spoke very highly about Mel so I think that a good Catania season is just around the corner! Small world. . .

Back row second from the right is Defensive Lineman Alexander Moe, a Norwegian none the less. Alexander still plays for the Oslo Vikings in the Summers in his native Norway. We plan to keep in touch and meet up in Scandanavia this Summer.

Clay Richardson and Ben McEnroe

Clay has been CLU's Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach for over 15 years now. More importantly he was the starting QB on the Thousand Oaks H.S. Junior Varsity team in 1970. That was the first team I ever coached 40 long years ago!

Ben is CLU's Head Football Coach. He is good for football, respects the game and is doing a great job at CLU. In his three years as the Kingsmen's leader they are 20-8 overall and 16-2 in SCIAC play. In 2007 they were SCIAC Co-Champions, in 2008 they came in second and, of course, they were outright SCIAC Champions this season as stated earlier.

Great start Ben, KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!!!

The Bucket and Occidental College

One of my goals before returning to Europe to coach Hässleholm's Hurricanes this Spring is to have a chance to sit down and visit Senior football players at each of the 14 colleges that still play football in southern California. That means driving as far as Cal Poly San Luis Obispo to the north and to San Diego State to the south.

I have worked feverishly over the past week to put together a Power Point presentation that will hopefully peak the interest of these athletes as to the fantastic opportunities that are awaiting them in Europe.

Today was my first tour stop. I was going to drive about an hour south of Camarillo to Eagle Rock, the home of Occidental College, an NCAA Division III powerhouse operating in the Southern California Intercollegiate Atheltic Conference.

Before meeting with the Tigers' Head Coach, Dale Widolff and his Seniors, I had to get something to eat, but where?

The Bucket

Old Fashioned Burgers

Since 1935

4541 Eagle Rock Blvd.

Eagle Rock, California

I was swayed in my decision making by the "fact" that President Obama, who attended Occidental for two years in 1979-81 before transferring to Columbia, is said to have frequented The Bucket often and loved it.

Now, in my opinion, every college campus should have a nearby eatery worthy of consideration for Guy Fieri's TV show "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" on the The Food Network.

At my University of Washington, I would nominate Beth's Cafe and their 12 egg omelet.

When I visited Georgia Tech, it was The Varsity.

Going to Tulane? Hit the Camellia Grill.

If your destination is Ann Arbor for a Michigan game then of course it is a Bleu Cheese Burger at Krazy Jim's Blimpy Burger.

If your destination is Occidental College, there is no other choice than The Bucket!

The Bucket's Friendly Staff

I was greeted by Danielle, Ethan and Aly. They were happy and helpful in my final decision as to which of their miraculous burgers to order.

My final choice after their input?

The Mild Cardiac of course!!!

A 1/2 Pound Burger Patty with Lettuce, Tomato, Mustard, Ketchup, Pepper Jack Cheese, Bacon, Grilled Ham, and a heap of Grilled Onions and Mushrooms!!!

Now I could have ordered their Famous Cardiac which would have seen another 1/2 Pound Patty join the festivities but I opted against it as I am watching my weight, note the Diet Pepsi as proof! Also the Famous Cardiac would surely have guaranteed that I would have fallen asleep during my talk at Occidental!

IT WAS GREAT!!!

Somebody call Guy Fieri. . . STAT!!!

Oxy has a very picturesque campus

Rocky Ciasulli

Occidental's 2007 Football Team MVP

Although Rocky is now serves as the Wide Receivers Coach at Occidental, he is also a EuroVet. He has now spent a season playing in Finland, another one in Ancona, Italy and this Spring will play for a team in Switzerland.

He is a great resource for any of the Oxy players trying to decide about going to Europe

Interested Tigers

We had a good session and exchanged a lot of ideas about playing overseas. I think the day was a great success!

Rio Mesa H.S. Fall Sports Awards Night

The 2009 Rio Mesa Freshman Football season finally had closure last night with our school's Fall Sports Awards Night.

After all the sports met in the Gym to announce each team's Varsity MVP, we retired to the ASB Room to give out our certificates to our team. Unfortunately, but as has become typical over the last several seasons, only 27 of our 42 players showed up for the ceremony.

One Last Time

The 2009 Rio Mesa Freshman Football Team

Martel Tyler

2009 Rio Mesa Freshman Football

Team MVP

Martel had a great year leading us in rushing and scoring as well as fishing in our top four in tackling.

Coach Contreras The Younger

with

Coach Contreras The Elder

Because of my 2010 commitments to the Hässleholm Hurricanes football team and the Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage Trail, I will not be able to coach high school football in Ventura County for the first time in 40 years. Hopefully I will be able to coach again at the high school level in 2011 and attend another of these Awards Night.

Preparation for Europe III Continues

My flight to Hässelholm, Sweden and a third American football season in Europe is now a little less than three months away, so I've started to pick up my preparation pace for the new cultural experiences that await me and Laurie.

First up is a good dose of research!

MUST Reading

If you are going to spend any appreciable amout of time visiting or living in another country, like our upcoming seven month stay in Sweden, you really need to get to know something about the people, their culture and traditions so as not to come off as an "Ugly American".

We will be guests in this fascinating land and do not want to unwaringly upset our hosts, so research like this just has to be done.

"Culture Shock" has published a series of books that covers over 60 different nations in an effort to make a traveler's stay much more enjoyable in a host country. I HIGHLY recommend buying and reading the appropriate book from their library before your next trip.

Swedish Yuletime Flavors

Laurie stumbled upon this $2 bottle of Julmust at the World Market store.

Julmust, jul means Christmas in Swedish, is produced at Christmas time in Sweden by a company named Guttsta Källa. She just had to buy a bottle for us to try out. Julmust is a traditional Swedish stout-like, sweet seasonal carbonated soft drink.

An interesting taste, it might be a little better with a splash of Akvavit.

Camino de Santiago

http://www.santiago-compostela.net/frances/index_cf_en.html

Christie and Jason Johnson walked much of the Camino in northern Spain last Summer starting in Pamplona, Spain and I want to attempt it after our season is over in Hässelholm.

I just finished reading this book, "I'm Off Then", that Jason lent me about one man's travels on the Camino and I'm getting more excited about giving it a go after reading this in depth pilgrim's account.

If I do it, I am going to attempt to walk the entire 484 mile Camino pilgrimage trail from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France to Santiago de Compostela, Spain!

I figure that if I can cover an average of about 16 miles each day in about 5 to 6 hours of hiking, I could finish in approximately 30 days.

Difficult? NO QUESTION!!! Pilgrimages are supposed to be a soul searching quests for inner peace and self-discovery aren't they?

It will be interesting if nothing else and it will force me to do a lot of exercise in Sweden to prepare.

Don't laugh, IT'S NOT EEEMPOSSIBLE!!!

Last BIG regular Season Football Weekend

The Bowl season is finally upon us as this was the last GREAT weekend of regular season college football with Bowl game assisgnments, a National Championship and literally millions of dollars on the line.

There were two games that would ultimately decide who gets to play for the National Championship Crystal Football.

The first one was the Southeast Conference Championship Game between the 12-0 defending National Champion Florida Gators and the also 12-0 Alabama Crimson Tide.

Bama Came to Play!!!

Alabama earned the right to play for it all by hammering Florida 32-13.

Texas ekes out a title game bid

Although heavily favored, the Longhorns really struggled and had to kick the winning field goal as time expired to beat Nebraska 13-12. GREAT DEFENSIVE GAME!!!

13-0 Texas vs. 13-0 Alabama

January 7, 2010

at Pasadena's Rose Bowl

I think this is going to be a really, really great game!

Arizona 21 - Southern California 17

Jason Johnson was SO fired up over this one for a couple of reasons. First, any win over USC is a reason to feel good and. . .

The Holiday Bowl in San Diego was the Wildcats' reward for a second place finish in the PAC-10. The Wildcats are 8-4 and play 9-4 Nebraska in San Diego.

This is a rematch of the 1998 Holiday Bowl when Arizona beat the Cornhuskers 23-20 with a young Jason Johnson on the sidelines finishing his redshirt Freshman season for the Wildcats.

Washington 42 - #19 California 10

A stunning, POSITIVE end to the Huskies 2009 season. Our final record of 5-7 may not sound so hot but remember, the new coaching staff took over a program that was 0-12 in 2008.

A great start with better days ahead I believe.

The Cal Bears, now 8-4, head to San Diego to play 9-3 Utah in the Poinsettia Bowl.

Inaugural Kanza Bowl

Larry Atkinson's alma mater, Nebraska-Omaha, played West Texas A&M yesterday in this new Bowl game based in Topeka, Kansas. Unfortunately, Larry's Mavericks dropped to 7-5 after a tough 31-25 loss to the also 7-5 Buffs.

HURRICANE WATCH

University of Miami Hurricanes

No game this week for Hässleholm's favorite 11 but their 9-3 record earned the 9-3 Hurricanes a spot in the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando, Florida against the 9-3 Wisconsin Badgers.

Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints

The Saints did something today that great teams tend to do, win a game when you are not playing very well. New Orleans ran their record to 12-0 by beating the Washington Redkins 33-30 in overtime.

Ugly but still a win!

Sydney Smale Gorrie

On Saturday we attended a Memorial Service in Burbank at the iconic Smoke House Restaurant for Laurie's uncle, Sydney Gorrie.

I always found Sydney to be a person of interest during the traditional Gardner family reunions at Christmas and the Fourth of July. He just always seemed like a good guy, the type of man that you wanted to know a lot more about or hang out with at the local pub listening to his recounting of endless stories about his life experiences. Alas, four hour chunks at these family gatherings was just never the right venue to have known him better.

After 87 wonderful years of life, Sydney recently passed away. Saturday was another time of gathering and reflecting on his life, the important things in life and how Sydney touched so many people in wonderful ways by just doing simple, kind and generous deeds.

The Bloom of Youth

In the lower right corner, is a young, bright-eyed Syd in the 1940's I suspect, with his bride and high school sweetheart, Maxine Gardner. Behind Maxine is her sister Geraldine, next to her husband Kelly McGraw. Next to Kelly is Beryl Gardner, Maxine, Geraldine and Laurie's Dad Bill's Mother.

I think that this picture is from Sydney and Maxine's wedding day, they were married for 60+ amazing years!

Maxine and Laurie

Laurie always has had great admiration for her Aunt Maxine.

The Gardner Clan continues to grow with the addition of new little people.

Mike, Patty Jo and George Fairchild

Patty Jo is Geraldine and Kelly's daughter.

Catching up

Laurie with her cousin Dianne Silvestro

Dianne is Sydney and Maxine's daughter.

Ian, Maxine and Bill

Ian is Sydney's brother and Bill Gardner is Maxine's brother, as well as Laurie's father.

The Cousins

From left to right: Gayle Hicks, Laurie Contreras, Linda Neumeier, Dianne Sivestro, Patty Jo Fairchild and Janet Specht.

Sydney and his bride Maxine were still in love all these many years later.

When the day ended and we were driving away, I again felt that desire to pull into a pub for that elusive meeting with Sydney.

Busy College Football Weekend Update

The Thanksgiving Holiday was one endless stream of very enjoyable college football games!

As always, let us recap the key games of interest to our readers in Catania, Sicily and Hässleholm, Sweden.

As we have noted in earlier posts, the seasons are over for Willamette (Brandon), Hardin-Simmons (Matt), San Diego (Taber) and Wabash (Denver).

Nebraska-Omaha, 7-4, (Larry) continued to tune up for next Saturday's Kanza Bowl game in Topeka, Kansas vs. West Texas A&M.

Arizona (Jason) improved to 7-4 with a great win over Arizona State 20-17. The Wildcats will finish their regular season at USC next Saturday and then will await their Bowl game assignment.

The 2009 Apple Cup Champions

My Washington Huskies, 4-7, routed our archrivals, the Washington State Cougars, 30-0! The Apple Cup will reside in Seattle for at least the next 12 months!!! We will finish our season at home against the California Golden Bears next Saturday.

HURRICANE WATCH

A great weekend for the Hässleholm Hurricanes two favorite college football teams.

The Miami Hurricanes, 9-3, defeated South Florida 31-10 to finish the regular season. They too will go Bowling in a yet to be determined game.

Finally, the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, 5-7, finished their season with an exciting 33-30 overtime win against Memphis.

Thanksgiving Friday

Our Thanksgiving was extended into Friday, a GOOD THING INDEED!

We picked up Laurie's Dad Bill and his wife Florene and drove down to Orange County to celebrate our blessings again, this time at Laurie's sister Gayle's home with her husband David and their family.

Andy and Jenn were able to fly in from Las Vegas for the day, Mike and Vanessa joined us and most of the cousins would be there as well.

The Signs of Fall

Gayle loves to garden

Gayle and David's backyard was aglow with nature at its nicest.

Pre-Game Snacks

Another day, another turkey

Why don't we eat more turkey year around?

The kitchen was the nerve center of the day yet again!

David carves the turkey, Gayle checks the yams in the oven while Amy stirs the all important gravy.

Andy, Mike and Sarah catching up

Lyndsey giving thanks that she graduated from USC as she ices and decorates the cupcakes

Andy and Jenn watching. . .

. . . Nebraska at Colorado

Lyndsey's husband Craig is a Colorado graduate and she was REALLY into the Buffaloes' upset bid Friday. It didn't work out for CU as the Huskers won 28-20.

Mike with the only surviving member of Gayle's Pumpkin Patch 2009.

Guys just hanging out!

The Adult's Table

Place Settings

As well as names at each place setting, Gayle also added a fun touch with a picture from the past of the person to be seated. This was Andy's spot with a picture from about the fourth grade ready to greet him.

At the head of the Adult's Table was a picture of Grandpa Bill with a one year old Laurie.

Yams with brown sugar and marshmellows

More importantly, why don't we eat these taste treats year around?

DIG IN!!!

Tim, Sarah, Florene, Bill and Andy at the Adult's Table.

The Adult's Table is reserved for those who desire the tradition of serious Holiday discussions about politics, the cosmos and philosophy while you dine.

The Kid's Table

Here Craig, Amy, Laurie, Scott and John finish singing a rousing chorus of "Louie-Louie"!

For the third time. . .

Dessert

Just the right combination of delicacies to finish off two days of Power Eating!

The Holiday Season truly IS a great time of the year!!!