Markham puts the IE in “Brief”

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He has a high-school rule named after him. He’s the centerpiece of articles, instructional videos and coaching clinics. Bloomington Coach Don Markham is the father of the double-wing offense and has a Website to prove it.

He’s also a guy who seems to fumble when it comes to public relations.

Six years ago, toward the end of his second season at Rialto and 30th in coaching overall, he became fed up with the players’ attitude and effort and told my Times’ colleague, Ben Bolch, ‘What a bunch of jerks they are....About half this team is no good. This is the worst team I’ve ever had.’

Rialto was 7-2 at the time and ranked No. 25 by The Times. He was fired the following spring and returned to Bloomington, where he had led the Bruins to a national scoring record in 1994.

I caught up with Coach Markham by telephone in his classroom Wednesday morning at Bloomington, a Hail Mary when it comes to contacting high school coaches but one I’m finding increasingly effective in the Inland Empire. The Bruins are idle this week, so I figured he’d be a little more relaxed.

I wanted to hear more about Diamond Duncan, his starting running back, who is averaging nearly 100 yards rushing and receiving a game.

‘I don’t even pay attention,’ Markham shot back.

Diamond must be having a rough week, I thought. I’ll change the subject.

‘So, how’s the season going, coach, I watched you guys lose a close one to Rancho Verde,’ I said.

‘Not too good,’ he replied, followed by dead silence.

Hmmmm. This is going to be tough, I thought.

I tried to get his thoughts on Bloomington’s next opponent, at Norco on Oct. 5.

‘They’re not as strong as last year,’ he said, finally providing a complete sentence and one that could end up on the locker room wall at Norco.

He lobbed a compliment to his quarterback, Victor Galvez, who threw three touchdown passes to Duncan last week in a 42-35 victory over Victorville Silverado, then I decided to let him off the hook, literally, and told him to enjoy his off week.

I heard him mumble something before he hung up the phone, but I can’t imagine it could have been that important.

- Dan Arritt

Editor Bob: The following YouTube video is NOT Bloomington’s football team, but it does show you what the double-wing offense looks like. Watch the teams on offense and try to figure out who is carrying the ball.