Putting together Compton’s highlight reels

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Compton Coach Calvin Bryant was standing in an Office Max store, a child crying in the background, and talking about one of his myriad duties --- or, at least, something he considers one of his myriad duties --- with respect to the Tarbabes’ football team.

Bryant, intent on bringing his players together with recruiters, was buying DVDs with which to put together digital packages of highlights of his players, focusing on those he believes are being or may be overlooked.

Senior defensive end Datone Jones, for example, doesn’t need one. He’s had enough colleges looking at him, and already has given a verbal commitment to UCLA.

But with the blank DVDs now on hand, Bryant, instead of leaving the task to players, their parents or boosters, will be working in the coming weeks on putting together highlights of several players, including senior quarterback Bernard Griffin and senior defensive back Jensen Watson.

He has already put together DVDs of junior running back Curry Williams and junior linebackers Chris Metcalf and Byron Walker.

‘It’s part of the job. I devote a lot of time to it,’ Bryant said. ‘If they have their grades together, I feel like it’s important to market your guys and give them them a chance to be seen and recruited, and not get overlooked.’

There’s more to coaching than X’s and O’s, indeed.

Of course, college coaches don’t have to wait to receive a DVD of any of the Tarbabes’ players. They could just go to their game against Long Beach Poly at 7 p.m. Friday at Compton.

-- Lauren Peterson

-- Image from content.answers.com