Pierce May Be All Right for Agoura’s All-Everything
Last December, Curtis Schmidtberger felt 10 feet tall.
As a two-way starter and captain of the Agoura High football team, he was overcome with a sense of accomplishment when the Chargers won the Desert-Mountain Conference championship to cap a 14-0 season.
“I was walking on air,” he said. “Everything I worked for had come true.”
The linebacker/guard played the title game--a 21-20 win over Yucaipa--with his left shoulder heavily padded. The shoulder had been separated the week before in the semifinal game, but did not sideline him. “No. 55 had to be on the field,” he said.
Next challenge? A major college, of course.
“I’ve always set my sights high,” he said. “I figured I’d get a few offers.”
Possibly it was the injury. More likely it was his lack of size. But Schmidtberger received as many scholarship offers as Agoura had losses: zero.
For the first time in his career, the 5-11, 215-pound Schmidtberger felt small.
“I was really discouraged,” he said. “Even my coach said I wasn’t big enough to play at a major college.”
If highly acclaimed quarterback Steve Armstrong had been the glory of the Agoura team, Schmidtberger had been the guts.
The postseason honors had rolled in. Schmidtberger, who will play for the West in Thursday’s Daily News All-Star game, was named the team’s co-most valuable player. He made All-Frontier League, All-Valley, and All-Southern Section.
Not receiving a scholarship was all wrong in Schmidtberger’s mind.
It didn’t help when Armstrong and two-way starter Jim Friedl received full scholarships to West Point and the Air Force Academy, respectively.
“Of course, I was happy for them,” Schmidtberger said. “But I was pumped up to play major college football. I wanted the same chance they got.
“I knew my lack of height worked against me. But I figured it didn’t matter as long as I got the job done.”
Pierce College Coach Jim Fenwick figured the same thing. He invited Schmidtberger to play on a team that was traveling to Finland for a two-game exhibition.
“That was fun,” Schmidtberger said. “It got my spirits up.”
Fenwick, who watched five Agoura games in 1984, said he was impressed with Schmidtberger--and tried to recruit him.
“He’s tough, intelligent, and is a leader,” Fenwick said. “He could be as good a freshman linebacker as we’ve had in years.
“I don’t care how short he is. Size isn’t important when you’re talking about a kid with a heart like Schmidtberger’s.”
Schmidtberger, heartbroken after harboring hopes of major college success, declined the offer to play for the Pierce Brahmas.
“I told Coach Fenwick, ‘Maybe next year,’ ” Schmidtberger said.
Asked at a recent All-Star practice why he wasn’t going to play football this season, Schmidtberger told a tall tale. “My shoulder hasn’t completely healed,” he said. “I still favor it.”
He is not doing himself a favor.
Dr. Mel Hayashi, who serves as Agoura’s team physician, said Schmidtberger’s shoulder has healed.
“He was given a release around Easter to resume full contact and weight-lifting,” Hayashi said. “The shoulder separation is completely healed.”
Fenwick said Schmidtberger used the alibi to justify sitting out a year.
“It’s probably hard for him to come out and say, ‘I need a rest,’ or, ‘I’m disappointed,’ ” Fenwick said. “The injury is a convenient way of not talking about his feelings.
“I talked to him at (All-Star) practice. He’s a little confused.”
Dan Moore, the only other Agoura player in the All-Star game, said competing against other top players may relight Schmidtberger’s competitive fire.
“He says he’s through,” the center said. “But when he starts hitting again in the All-Star game, he might change his mind.”
Most of the players in the All-Star game are headed for junior colleges.
