Football: Home, sweet home for L.A. Jordan?
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
Los Angeles Jordan had to play its home football games off campus last year so that lights could be installed and a track could be constructed around the playing field.
That was the plan, anyway.
Bulldogs home games will be held back on campus this year, but they will be played in the afternoon because the lights were never added. (There is a nice new rack encircling the field, if it’s any consolation.)
Coach Elijah Asante is resisting the temptation to perpetually shake his head in frustration.
‘We try to stay focused on football itself,’ he said. ‘If you get caught up on other things it gets discouraging.’
The Bulldogs’ 2009 home schedule is a doozy, especially nonleague games against Southern Section powers St. Bonaventure on Sept. 18 and Mater Dei on Sept. 25. The Mater Dei game will be held at L.A. Southwest College to accommodate the Monarchs’ large contingent of fans.
Jordan went 0-3 against Esperanza, St. Bonaventure and Mater Dei last year but is expecting different results this time around.
‘We didn’t schedule these teams so we could keep losing to them,’ Asante said. ‘We’re going after them. We expect to win when we step on the field.’
The Bulldogs feature star receiver Deshawn Beck and a roster that numbers about 40 players, nearly double that of last year’s squad. Jordan often wore down in the fourth quarter last year against deeper opponents.
‘People said you need to be in better condition,’ Asante said. ‘Well, there’s no getting in condition for that.’
--Ben Bolch