How much stock should be put in passing leagues? Diamond Bar HC Ryan Maine (above) has to wonder. Last year the Brahmas won the SGV Shootut but missed the playoffs
Surprise, Surprise! Monrovia won the Arroyo Lineman Competition Saturday – as if they didn’t have enough everywhere else.
Santa Fe and Claremont also held their passing tournaments Saturday. They were the last big passing leagues of the summer. Thank God. After Crescenta Valley in May, the Bonita Air Assault in June, the Buccaneer Classic and the SGV Shootout in July and throws at schools like Arroyo and San Gabriel every Tuesday and Thursday I’ve about had my fill of passing leagues.
Don’t get me wrong. They are necessary and it gives us a chance to see the quarterbacks and skill position players and the information one can acquire from an assistant coach standing on the sideline of a passing game is invaluable. I wouldn’t have wanted to miss any of them. But when they’ve been throwing since April and it’s now the middle of July you start to yearn for the helmet and pads.
What exactly are passing leagues for?
The goal is to simply develop your quarterbacks timing right? They are just a way to help the receivers learn their routes and the defensive backs to tighten up their coverages. It doesn’t matter if you win or lose right?
Well not exactly. If you saw any of the recent competitions – especially the SGV Shootout – you know how much winning meant to the coaches and players. There was a lot of chirping through out the day and at one point a fight broke out because the comp was so intense.
Okay, then winning is the main goal. In fact if your team wins, then you are certain to make the playoffs and have an extended run.
Well, no, not really. Diamond Bar won the SGV Shootout last year and didn’t make the playoffs finishing 4-6. West Covina went out after three games and we all know what became of the Bulldogs. Mt. View won its first four games of the SGV Shootout this year and the Vikings haven’t made the post season since the late nineties.
Alhambra Coach Joe Kanach said he loves it when they keep score at passing leagues.
“It lets me know how these kids are going to react under pressure- if they can step up when it’s win or go home,” he said.
Well, regardless of the reasons for passing leagues, they are here to stay. As long as teams are out there throwing there will be several others ready to join them. Nobody wants to be left behind.
Charter Oak HC Lou Farrar was perfectly content to film his team while son Dominic Farrar ran the show at the Claremont Tournament. Farrar likes his team but still doesn’t like the CIF realignment.
“Vista Murrietta? Upland? They have 4000 kids and we have 1800. Why are we in the same division as them?” Farrar said. “It makes no sense.”
When I suggested it might be the price to pay for winning he reminded me that there are other sports besides football. “You know our girl’s soccer team scored one goal the whole year? One! Other sports like water polo, softball etc. They were down too. I don’t like it at all.”
Where’s Tommy Cogburn? It was good to see former Southmen Jose Garay, Joe Morales, Efrain Medina, Lee Aguirre and Manuel Rosales at the South El Monte alumni game Friday night. Even former HC Erick Escamilla showed up to coach his former team. But noticeably absent was Mr. Cogburn.
“I don’t know. We thought he would make it,” Escamilla said.
Was he at a Mr. Universe competition? Was he participating in the Iron Man run? Was he at Gold’s Gym pumping more iron? Does he still have the wheels? Hey Tommy let us know. Inquiring minds want to know – especially the guys down at South.
That’s my principle.
Tim can be reached at tim@midvalleysports.com.
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