Kermit Alexander: ‘Stay Cool, Russell’

Loyola High led Crespi, 14-0, in the second quarter and Celt running back extraordinaire Russell White ran to the sideline after being stopped for a short gain. He looked at assistant coach Kermit Alexander, the former San Francisco 49ers’ All-Pro who is White’s cousin, and threw up his hands.

“What are we going to do?” White said in an alarmed tone.

Alexander smiled calmly and replied: “Don’t panic. Stay cool, Russell.”

Late in the half Crespi drove to the one-yard line where White fumbled the ball to Loyola. Alexander did not throw a headset. Alexander did not let an obscenity fly. He smiled and softly said: “Before the game we talked about protecting the ball, Russell. You have to in a game like this.”

White nodded and headed for some water.

A few minutes later White puttered toward the locker room, the last Celt to leave the field before halftime. Alexander touched him on the shoulder.

“You’ve got a second half to play tonight,” Alexander said. “Get yourself ready. You’ve got to earn it.”

White nodded gravely and continued to the locker room. Crespi, with White mostly a decoy on offense but a destroyer on defense, scored three touchdowns in the second half to win, 21-14, Saturday night at Glendale High. The area’s leading rusher with 1,313 yards, White ran for the tying touchdown and had 97 yards in the game.

Alexander is a calming influence for the sophomore, who averages 13.1 yards a carry and--let’s not forget--is only 15 years old. “I stress staying under control emotionally,” Alexander said after the game. “Russell is inexperienced and has so much ability. It helps having been through so many games.”

Russell took off only once on a White flight--the majestic one-way trips to the end zone that have invited comparisons to Heisman Trophy winners.

A second fumble by White, this one early in the third quarter, brought a similar response from Alexander.

“All you did was have the flying elbow,” Alexander said. “Just tuck it and you’ll be all right.”

After Crespi took the lead, White, the free safety, led a punishing defense that completely shut down Loyola. With the outcome no longer in doubt, Alexander turned to White, patted his rump and said: “Good defense.”

White gave a wide grin after the game when it was suggested that his composure is aided by Alexander.

“Sometimes I try to play above myself,” he said. “I want to do it all on one play. He reminds me that there is time. There is always more time.”

White has yet to lose a varsity football game. He has yet to be truly stopped by a defense. Those things are inevitable, but with a mentor like Alexander, White knows time is on his side.