Tim Peterson
By Tim Peterson
It’s the middle of July. The football fans are getting restless. I get it. But I’m still not sure how a “Chalk Talk” about the “Spot Route” turns into a blog about the pros and cons of Cathedral football. Okay, mostly cons.
I don’t know exactly how all the recruiting works but I do know this. Cathedral is a private school so when kids come there by way of other schools there’s technically nothing illegal about it. You might not like the school suggesting to a kid that they should “come on over” at a passing league or a camp but it’s not against the rules. I mean it’s perfectly legal. Maybe not cool, and definitely frowned upon, but not illegal.
And seriously nobody is placing a gun to the kids heads to enroll at Cathedral. If they don’t want to transfer, then don’t transfer. Yes, I do get sick of hearing a coach tell me “Oh, that kid? Yeah he transferred to Cathedral” when I inquire about a player from the previous season. But the bottom line is it’s ultimately the player’s choice. He could have stayed if he wanted to. Transfers happen every year, more so now than ever, but if you don’t want to transfer then don’t transfer.
“Anyone who has a kid trying out for his High School football team needs to read this book. Torosian has taken his 20 some years of reporting on Prep sports, mixed a healthy dose of San Gabriel Valley insider references and created a very readable first effort.”
“A page turner…I’m sorry it’s over! Is a sequel in the works?”
“Torosian does for high school football what Hemingway did for the Spanish Civil War…compelling look beyond the scoreboard and into the lives of players…”
“A truly great story unfolds in the pages of Joe Torosian’s first novel. With high school football at its core, the story of Dale Andrade shows how a young man grows in all aspects of his life thanks to being a part of a team and a football community.”
“This is a great read for everyone: from those who love high school football to those who have no idea about the game.”
“This book brings you onto the field and into the locker room…”
Joe Torosian’s high school football novel is available through Amazon.com –click pic–
(Cover by Pat Cherry www.blackheartart.com)
Oh and another thing about “Chalk Talk.” These coaches that write them aren’t claiming that they invented anything or are actually the one that designed the play or scheme. They are simply writing about how they execute it or how and why they use it. Former Rosemead HC Matt Koffler once sent me a “Chalk Talk” on “Double Tights.” Did he invent the formation that has two tight ends? Of course not. But he liked to use it and his team had success running it so he wrote about how it was utilized.
“Chalk Talk” is great. It helps me and hopefully the reader better understand the game and learn how certain plays or schemes are executed. Just enjoy it. Don’t try to read anything into it.
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Anybody else sick of “Deflate Gate” yet? That dead horse hasn’t just been beaten. It’s been tied, beaten, and dragged through the town over and over again for everybody to see. Tom Brady isn’t going to appeal the latest decision so hopefully we’ll never hear about it again.
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I’ve seen Arcadia this summer, I like Arcadia, and although the Apaches can be…for the lack of a better word, salty, they do have the athletes to back it up. Only one problem. I saw the same thing last year prior to the season and they went 5-5 and missed the playoffs. They lost key games to Burbank and Burroughs and lost by a point to Crescenta Valley in the season finale which knocked them out of the post season. The Apaches look like a team that can do it. But I don’t need to hear it. I need to see it.
That’s my principle.
Tim can be reached at tim@midvalleysports.com or on Twitter @tspeterson40.
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