Coaches’ winning approaches
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Well, the numbers are in, and Long Beach Poly again is the high school with the nation’s highest number of former players on opening-weekend rosters in the NFL with six, according to USA Football, the governing body of the sport that released figures Thursday.
The Jackrabbits, who tied Concord De La Salle for the lead this year, also tied for top honors with four other schools that had five players in 2006.
What a surprise, huh?
I’m being facetious here, because Poly has long been among the top high school football programs in the nation, so it follows that it would be among the top producers of NFL talent.
Much like California, which, as a state had a nation-leading 209 players on opening-day rosters. Among those were four each from Tustin and Crenshaw highs, as well as six each from Poly and De La Salle.
The players’ recognition notwithstanding, the most pleasant thing about the figures was getting to see and hear the perspectives of the coaches of the three Southern California schools, which were the only ones in the state to be listed among the top 12 in the nation.
With a shout-out to my colleagues, Los Angeles City Section area steward Mike Terry and Orange County reporter Martin Henderson, who gathered input that wound up on the cutting-room floor in the editing of a story I wrote for today’s newspaper edition of The Times, I’m going to paste some of the comments back together, and post them here.
I think they’re worth giving a listen...er, a read.
‘It’s a tribute to their talents as players. It’s something we can all be proud of at Crenshaw,’ Coach Robert Garrett said. ‘But building productive citizens is our No. 1 goal. If playing in the in the NFL is part of that, then that’s good.’
Tustin Coach Myron Miller’s take is also one that his players, and really, anyone else, ought to appreciate.
‘I’m real proud of the kids. Every one of them was a kid who deserved it,’ he said. ‘I coach kids to appreciate and understand that it’s all about the work and whatever their given talents are. They take it as far as they can.’
Look for Garrett, Miller and Poly Coach Raul Lara, who gave his thoughts in today’s newspaper story, to be spreading such views again next year, because, as Miller points out, success breeds more success.
‘When the kids come who have the right talents, they have the chance to develop to their fullest level. Because we’ve had some success, other kids come in, and think it’s a possibility for them, too.
‘I do the same thing Newport Harbor and Esperanza are doing, but I’ve been lucky that a couple of kids have come through that are very special and wanted to go somewhere. If I’ve done anything, it’s to motivate them to take advantage of everything they have.’
- Lauren Peterson