The Generation Game : The Bauer Era Nearing End at El Modena

This could be it for families from different sides of the track.

When El Modena and Foothill high schools play on Tustin’s Northrup Field in the Century League finale tonight, it could be the last time a Bauer from El Modena will line up against a Healy from Foothill. The teams, however unlikely, would have to meet in the Southern Conference playoffs to keep the tradition going.

Furthermore, if El Modena loses tonight it will be the end of the Bauer family’s football legacy unless Julie, 14, a ninth grader at McPherson Junior High in Orange, were to join the team next year.

Ross Bauer, a senior tailback, is the last of four football-playing Bauers in the past 10 seasons. Randy, Ron and Rick played before him.

At El Modena, the Bauers represent much the same tradition that the Healys do at Foothill--providing continuity to a spirited rivalry between the schools. The Healys had seven sons play for the Knights, and many of them played against the Bauer bunch.

The credit for the on-field success of the Bauers--each son has played in at least one Southern Section Southern Conference championship game--starts with the parents, Steve and Karen Bauer.

“Each of the Bauer kids have been real great competitors,” El Modena Coach Bill Backstrom said. “They each understand what you have to sacrifice to be a winner. They’ve been big-play-type kids at their respective positions.

“When the chips are down, they always seem to come up with the big play or the touchdown. They’re all good athletes, good students, and gentlemen, and that’s a real tribute to their parents.”

First as an assistant and now as coach, Backstrom has guided Randy Bauer, a tailback who led El Modena to the 1978 Southern Conference championship; Ron Bauer, a lineman who played in the 1981 Southern Conference championship game; Rick Bauer, a tight end on the 1983 and 1984 Southern Conference championship teams and Ross, who also was a member of the 1984 team.

For Steve and Karen, El Modena football has provided much excitement, but they keep high school athletics in perspective.

“What we hoped the kids learned was how to set goals and then work toward those goals, whether it was on the football field or in the classroom,” Karen said.

“We think sports are important in helping develop character in our children, but we don’t always sit around the house and talk football,” said Steve, who is president of the football booster club.

The Bauer boys have modeled themselves after their father, who played first at Long Beach Wilson and then Long Beach City College, alongside Pete Yoder, the former Esperanza coach.

The Bauers’ contributions to El Modena football won’t be forgotten soon, according to former Vanguard Coach Bob Lester.

“The Bauer kids are the reason I had a successful career at El Mo,” Lester said. “It really is a heck of a family. They’ll always be a part of the El Mo tradition.”

The Bauers

Name Age Years at Foothill Randy 25 1976-79 Ron 22 1980-83 Rick 21 1982-85 Ross 17 1984-87 Julie 14 1987-90

Name Current Status Randy Physical therapy work at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Ron Starting noseguard at St. Mary’s College in Moraga, Calif. Rick Student at San Diego State Ross Senior at El Modena Julie 9th grader at McPherson Junior High