Tim Peterson
By Tim Peterson
Transfers don’t really bother me anymore. I’ll admit they used to back in the day. It was kind of disheartening to see a kid have a big year at Monrovia one season and then wearing a Cathedral uniform the next.
But I think now I’ve become immune to it. Transfers are happening more now than ever before. A player isn’t happy for one reason or another, whether it’s a perceived slight by a coach, or not enough playing time, and the next thing you now he’s packing his bags. Coaches care to a certain point, but let’s face it, if a kid doesn’t want to be there then why would you want him? CIF doesn’t really care and the penalties are now slim if any at all. And of course for the private schools, it’s a field day at every passing tournament that comes along.
So transfer all you want. The more the merrier. Judging by their comments on the boards Schurr and Montebello fans disagree. They are passionate about the evils of transfers. “Poaching” has become their favorite term. By the way can a player really be “poached”? Ultimately the decision to transfer is the kid’s alone. Last I checked they weren’t being kidnapped and threatened to play for a certain school. I understand the rivalry between the two schools. Everybody wants to win, but the whining about transfers is really getting old. I had to start deleting the comments because they were getting personal or frankly I just got tired of reading them. So going forward comment about transfers at your own risk. They may or may not make the cut.
That being said it was funny to see A.J. Carreon playing quarterback for South El Monte at the El Rancho Tournament and then for Monrovia at the Bonita Air Assault two weeks later. It didn’t bug me but it just kind of highlighted how prevalent transfers are now and how quickly they happen. What was really ironic was that Carreon started at Monrovia and then transferred to South last year. Now he’s back in M-Town. Passing tournaments aren’t CIF sanctioned so there is nothing they can look into. South El Monte head coach Frank Gallardo confirmed that Carreon had indeed left the school for Monrovia. Stay tuned…
Nice to see that Covina quarterback Nin Burns II is staying put. Rumors had him going everywhere from South Hills to Charter Oak to the LA Chargers. Well maybe the Chargers were a longshot.
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The SGV Shootout at Arroyo is scheduled for this Saturday. It’s the last big passing event of the summer, especially with the season kicking off August 16 this year. Monrovia and South El Monte are in the same pool…that should be interesting. Who’s the favorite? I’ll take Arcadia. I heard they have a lot of transfers.
If you do plan on attending the Shootout you might want to bring some water and throw on your favorite hat. It’s supposed to be 107 degrees…in the shade.
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The next time there’s a linemen competition can we just stay with the SGV schools and leave Upland at home? There’s something in the water out there. Those guys are from a different planet.
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I liked what Magic Johnson did in getting LeBron James but how did he miss on Boogie Cousins? The word is he’s a cancer in the locker room and nobody wants to play with him. But at 5 million bucks and one year, who cares? If he doesn’t work out then don’t re-sign him. No harm done. The Lakers need a center. JaVale McGee is more famous for starring on “Shaqtin a fool” than for what he does on the court. Plus if LeBron told Cousins to shut up and play I think he would shut up and play. Let’s hope Magic has the Spurs GM R.C. Buford on speed dial in an attempt to land Kawhi Leonard.
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Max Muncy is this year’s Cody Bellinger.
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That’s my principle.
Tim can be reached at tim@midvalleysports.com or on Twitter @tspeterson40.
Wouldn’t winning league be a easier road to CIF but hey keep on not caring DELETED.
I agree 100%. Let’s move on.
@ Almont Oldie:
Regarding the players you mentioned by name (who attended Alhambra High in the early 2000’s), running back Fred Colbert is the only one whom I know was a transfer.
Fred transferred from Baldwin Park to Alhambra in order to play for his uncle, Coach Ruedaflores.
Wide receiver Zion Babb and running back Anthony Brown enrolled at AHS as freshmen; Babb actually played in three varsity games while still a freshman in 2003.
Running back Dushine (Shawn) Smith is the only one I’m not sure about. He was on the JV team as a sophomore in 2005 and managed a few carries in varsity games that year. He and Brown were a great ball-carrying tandem in ’06 and ’07.
@ Almont Oldie: I apologize for the delay in addressing your comments; there has been a lot of material to read and respond to on this particular thread, as well as a couple of the others on Mid-Valley Sports. I also have a job and additional things to do.
I like the direction in which the Alhambra program is currently going, in terms of integrity. I believe the hard work that Coach Bergstrom, his staff, and the players have put into building a positive team culture will translate into victories on the field.
It has been a process and will continue to be one. Success doesn’t always happen overnight; it certainly hasn’t in our case.
However, my saying this doesn’t diminish the accomplishments of Coach Gil Ruedaflores and Coach Lou Torres, who worked for many years to build the program at Alhambra.
In fact, we’re trying to get back to the competitive level that they attained with their varsity teams during the earlier 2000’s.
To say that Alhambra was on the “cutting edge” of transfers (or getting players from outside the district) is something of an exaggeration. At worst, our coaches were competing against other schools which were doing the same thing.
And, back then, when CIF’s rules were more stringent, AHS never forfeited any games, and the only players who were declared ineligible were those who didn’t make grades at the 10-week mark.
In contrast, a few other local schools have had problems in those areas.
Coach Ruedaflores was devoted to Alhambra High School, his players, and the students in his physical education and health classes. He preached the value of hard work, and he showed both compassion and tough love.
In 1989, Coach Ruedaflores took over an AHS program which had achieved winning records at the varsity level only six times in the previous 33 seasons.
In 21 years as head coach, he led the Moors to two league co-championships and a dozen playoff appearances. Coach Ruedaflores retired with a total of 111 victories, the second-most in program history.
Those are achievements which shouldn’t be overlooked.
Lou Torres, a longtime assistant to Ruedaflores who became head coach in 2010, was an excellent game manager and disciplinarian. Coach Torres is equally devoted to AHS and now serves as chair of the school’s special education department.
In my opinion, Coach Torres was treated unfairly by the school administration, which forced him out in late 2011 after a 9-3 season and a trip to the playoff quarterfinals.
If the intent of the AHS administration at the time was to change certain aspects of the football culture, it failed miserably, and it was responsible for the precipitous decline of the program in 2012-13.
Brad Walsh and company replaced Coach Torres with sexual harasser Joe Kanach, whom they had to fire midway through the 2012 season.
Then, they hired Chuck Leonardis, who got fired by new principal Duane Russell in July 2013, after it was discovered that assistant coaches were distributing Creatine to players without their parents’ consent.
In the aftermath of that disaster, Eric Bergstrom inherited a depleted and demoralized team just over five weeks before the start of the 2013 season.
The rebuilding process at Alhambra has been a grind, and there have been setbacks, but we aspire to be just as competitive as the varsity teams under Coaches Ruedaflores and Torres were.
If we are mediocre you guys are garbage. No wins at the Arroyo tourney? Start drinking buddy because it’s going to be a long year.
Tell us how MHS did at the Arroyo tourney. Is it true they did not win a game all day?
@ Anonymous: Milvon James? You’re living in Fantasyland.
Milvon James personifies what is wrong with high school football. Under his leadership at Hawkins High School in LAUSD, his program committed academic fraud, forfeited multiple games, and was stripped of a City Section title.
No thanks. Alhambra can live without Mr. James’ baggage.
@Olier,
Maybe you’re right…I’m going to focus where on our school now.. At the end of the day that’s all that matters. Hopefully you can see my comments are out of frustration with these guys. You’re right about us having a winning program. Gotta keep my eye on the ball. Thanks…
@Oiler?
Don’t read it if you don’t like it. If your a real Oiler then you would be in agreement with me regarding my comments. Basically I think your a phony. It’s not about “ who “ they got. It’s about how and if it’s legit. Anyways, I’m going to keep writing as I please.
@oiler nation
You make Oiler fans look like clowns with your on going talk about transfers. Who cares what Schurr has……is the Oiler staff not capable of coaching up and beating Schurr this year? I think so.
You act like Schurr has 5 star transfers, that are headed to D1 colleges.
Stop it bro. The Oiler football program is a winning one now, not what it used to be. Hope it continues that way, but fans like you make us look bad.
Lol! I’ve heard that many times as well. It would be a great thing if you can do it with your own team. Not half the world of transfers. I’m going to add you to the list of clowns from Schurr!!! Team Air Raid wins the passing league title!!!! Get a life you clown!!! Lol. It’s so easy to rattle your brains..
It’s passing league you Moron! If you want that title then so be it! You guys will try to puff your chest with no pads on. Wait till that happens! Also, be prepared to not have all those transfers!! You and your poaching coaches…
@oilerclown, no matter what our boys will be at full strength when we play you guys and we will have the Hurst running ready for pick up. Keep running your mouth fool.
BG? Schurr has to be concerned about the playoffs. They need to reach the CIF Final. Schurr can care less about the league title.
@oiler nation
Please stop man. MHS looked aweful today! You’re so concerned about schurr. How about you worry about BG. That’s who Schurr is probably more concerned about, not the Oilers. If you where there today then you know that MHS is in for a long season.
@Hill, Sparta?
You guys are clowns at the highest levels. You guys been saying that for the last 5 years. We will see. Last year you guys squeaked by. We will see in a few months. I was there today as well and you guys are very mediocre. Most likely half of your team will be ruled ineligible anyways so let’s see what happens…clowns
@oiler nation, keep it coming. You and the other Oilers look like a bunch of cry babies. Going to be a long season for your squad and you know it. That’s why you at our practices checking us out. We putting up 50 on you guys just for you. Go Spartans!
@oilernation, MHS won zero games today at the SGV shoot out. Going to be a long year. Petay’s days are numbered. They were embarrassed today!!!
@ Anonymous (the one talking about heart attacks): Tim Peterson and others are entitled to express their opinions. (It’s Tim’s blog, so he certainly can say pretty much what he wants.)
But, I’m equally entitled to express my views. It’s all fair, or it usually is.
I assure you that I haven’t had a heart attack over this; my blood pressure isn’t even that elevated. I’m enjoying life, and I look forward to the upcoming football season.
@ Real HC: I agree with you; there are some slick operators out there who believe in winning at all costs.
“CIF doesn’t really care.”
That’s stating the obvious.
In recent years, the CIF Southern Section has instituted the “30-day” transfer rule, repealed the association rule (which limited team activities to a specific portion of the year), and eliminated the prohibition against athletically-motivated transfers.
The near-chaos that has ensued with transfers, recruiting, and allegations about recruiting was predictable.
In my opinion, CIF’s policy changes have not been beneficial for the great majority of schools, and the people who run CIF are responsible because they made these changes deliberately.
Our governing body for high school sports has adopted policies that heavily favor the schools that were “sports factories” to begin with, as well as all the other schools which have that goal in mind.
I think the CIF Southern Section cares mostly about its cuts of the cable TV and postseason money (division playoff and championship games, state playoffs, and state bowl games).
The high school football season now starts too early and lasts too long. Teams that make it to a state bowl game typically play 16 games, which is equal to the number played in the NFL’s regular season.
This is overkill, and I believe that it’s mainly about the money.
@Osyssey I highly doubt fake addresses are provided by schools. If they are who exactly is providing them? This isn’t Texas where coaches make 100K to coach. Football coaches makes nickels an hour. If they are a teacher they make their living doing that not coaching. If you believe administrators are providing addresses that is even further afield. No administratior is going to risk their job for an extra curricular program. Nobody is that stupid. I do believe there are a number of kids who use a friends address to attend schools all over SGV. Some of them are athletes, but the vast majority are not and want to attend a different or better school. If an athlete is using a fake address it is generally set up by their family with someone they know who already attends the school they want to go to. All this fake address stuff isn’t even worth talking about because it is almost impossible to prove one way or the other.
@observacat the Apaches haven’t won CIF ever and nothing happened. Won’t be any different now if they don’t win. You post a lot of info that isn’t accurate by the way.
Alhambra needs to go back to getting transfers. Bring Milvon James in as coach
I think you post on here based on rumor etc. a few kids came to Arcadia as 9th graders, never having attended Muir. Your belief that all the talent at Arcadia is from Pasadena is tremendously overstated. With that said Arcadia doesn’t poach starters from other teams like many other programs do. In fact if you kept up with the transfer math Arcadia has lost more then they have gained and many of the kids there now were Arcadia kids to begin with who figured out paying for an education was a poor idea. It’s lazt to simply say Arcadia is good because kids come from Pasadena. All of the 3 kids from Pasadena could leave tomorrow and they would be just as good.
@Spec?
Please tell us! Like I said I know coaches on both sides but mostly interact with MHS. Ive seen them mostly hold them accountable and not promise anything. Why don’t you tell us what your talking about. Your just trying to deflect what your dirty poaching coaches are doing… get a life clown
The Oilers are so upset. Everyone knows how the Montebello coaches work. They promise the whole world to their kids.
@ Oiler Nation
If he was that great. Then why not choose to stay at Cantwell for his senior year or go to the Ranch even MHS should have been a option with parent working there but instead looks at Schurr. I think its dad living through him
@Realeducator, Monrovia has had very few transfers during their triumphs in the CIF era and that being said the year we went to the finals we were without 5 D1 talented players that transferred to Charter Oaks that year and they too won CIF. I’m not envious of Arcadia for bettering their program I’m just surprised how they decided to do it. Even with the group of guys you might field this season you still may not beat a Monrovia team. Check out the last 12 years of the rivalry. I’m more concerned that guys are loosing prospective of why they transferred for in the first place. I like that fact that Arcadia decided to get a whole new coaching staff who understand what it may take to win a CIF championship, I wish that Muir would have stuck to what they started and not let those kids travel east hoping for greener pastures. What happens when they come up short? it’s not going to be pretty.
It is way too easy for kids to transfer. All they need to do is say they live at such and such address and thats it. The CIF nor the admin take it any further than that. The parents claim a “hardship” and thats it. The only players that have to sit out are the players who are truthful.
I’m pretty sure they would have consequences. Let’s see what happens. If that kid lives in Pico then go to El Rancho. Just my opinion. It should start with the parents first. Any kid that dictates at home has zero boundaries. Any parent that lets a kid dictate is just stupid and ignorant…
@ Annoymous
Rosemead Rebels have rules and you need to get a cut contracts before playing for another program.
@ Oiler nation
Does a transfer still have to sit five games and what happens if the rumors are true and a fake address was provided?
COOL. THERE, YOU GOT ATTENTION FROM THE BIG DOG
You sound bitter Arcadia is going in one direction and Monrovia the other. If you are a long time Monrovia fan you should know better than to bash transfers or out of city talent. Your CIF championships were built on them.
COOL
Why is everyone worried about Cantwell Transfers. For God’s Sakes Gentlemen They are D13 and The Talent is not very Good . Cantwell won league last year but the league is Terrible. I think The Rosemead Rebels can win that league.
Lets cut the bs, we all know the coaches who went from Buena Park to Schurr are responsible for all this happening. You know dam well they can’t win with only Montebello kids. Their lower levels aren’t very good however those kids deserve to get a chance to improve by their senior year instead these coaches are just bringing in kids to fill the role. My son is a good player from a nearby school, one of those coaches asked me how he did this past season I kinda went into detail and he tried to convince me to take them to their air raid practice however I declined and don’t want anything to do with that 7 on 7 stuff and prefer my boy plays another sport. Mr Peterson, I thought differently of you, a supposed conservative man who believes in hard work and blue collar attitude is completely ok with the transfer game now.
From T. Peterson: Hard working – absolutely! 50-60 hours a week at my “real” job and all this stuff for free. I don’t have the time or energy to follow up on all the transfers that go on. If you want to, go for it. I write about football because I love it, but transfers is somebody else’s business, not mine. What you think of me is your problem. Since I don’t know you anyway why would that matter to me?
@Oiler fan,
I don’t know what’s going on at the school. I hear most of my information at Grant Rea. A lot of Montebello ties there. Maybe you should come down and engage and be more concerned with what’s happening in our backyard. I know coaches on both sides and I’m concerned when I see or hear those things. Like I said earlier, if they check out ok by CIF then so be it. It’s just sad because I knew Ken Davis and a couple other Schurr coaches who would never try to poach players from a school like Cantwell. It’s actually embarrassing…
All you have to do is drive down to the school and watch a practice or two. They look pretty good with potentially being really good. Only time will tell. It’s all about experience and that’s something I’m hoping we can overcome. Schurr has always gotten kids that are tough and are good.
@Odyssey, I heard that it’s the an transfer QB from Cantwell. I heard his mom is a MHS teacher. Not sure where he lives though …
@ oiler nation
A rumor I heard is one of the transfers has a parent working for MHS yet transferring from a Cantwell to Schurr when both parents live in Pico. How is that okay, if it’s true?
@Oiler Nation
I understand you’re bothered and upset at whatever is going on at schurr. But what happened to being concerned about what is going on with the Oilers. I want to know what we will look like this season, who is gonna be a stud come this fall, can we know that. Drop the whole worry over what’s going on over there. You are making us Oiler fans look bad.
Cif doesn’t have the resources to check all transfers! Give it up people it’s football! If a kid wants to transfer let them transfer! If I were a coach and if a kid didn’t want to play for me I wouldn’t play him!!!
@Tim Peterson,
Call CIF and ask what’s going on with the transfer situation at Schurr! It’s your job as a journalist to find out! I’m sure you will get better insite to what’s really happening over there. Or maybe call Cantwell and ask them as well. Kids are illegally using false addresses and even changing their names to throw off CIF. But it will float to the top like always…quit being scared and let us know what you’ve discovered!!
From T. Peterson: Journalist? I’m a banker! And like I said I don’t care about transfers.
I always clench my butt when I hear someone say ” The Race Card ”
We are one race. The human race. Differences in skin color is no different that hair or eye color.
Very well said Grandpa! The younger generations are way ahead of us.
Pulling the race card? That in itself is racist. When we as people start referring to each other as people and not a color is the only time “the race card” will not be needed. A persons character should used to describe them. Because I know more than a few ***holes of all different nationalities.
How do you even know where every kid is from? Are families not allowed to move to put their child in a better school? Did you know you me starting QB at Monrovia last year came from Arcadia?
I want to make a clarification, since all hell has broken out on this thread. My comments about “using local talent and coaching the kids up” pertained to the earlier discussion we were having on transfers and recruiting in general.
For the benefit of anyone who might be new here, the AHS I represent is Alhambra High School.
The back-and-forth arguing about the Arcadia football program and other issues had just started when I typed my unrelated post.
The inflammatory rhetoric that I’ve been reading here is appalling, and I wish the participants could disagree in a more civil manner. It’s unfortunate that their tone and choice of words may have completely destroyed the opportunity for a useful discussion.
@ JON F. B
Your statement, “IT’S OKAY FOR ME TO MAKE BIGOTED COMMENTS BECAUSE I’M BLACK AND HAVE FACED RACISM IN THE PAST.” is not okay. It just means that you are a bigot.
Covina is looking good and in good hands ( coaches ). We lost some very good talent to graduation but the core are returners. Anyone curious enough can check them out at the 7v7 though everyone knows that 7v7’s don’t mean squat. They are fun, and an additional bonding session, but their results are akin to a DT winning a best dressed award.
Also, Coach NEVER responds to Calpreps. Nada, Gooseegg, Zip, That’s a negative ghost rider…the pattern is full.
If you thought that Mr. Nin and Mr. Eric were talented last year…you will love this season.
🙂
Someone always trying to pull a race card. Bet all you do on social media is most memes about how bad Trump is.
JOHN F.B. aka Coach Clown I mean Bozo I mean Maxie!