CITY PREVIEW : Budget Cuts, Year-Round Calendar Add to Coaches’ Headaches

Crenshaw High had one of its best player turnouts in years. But, without enough equipment, many of the new players were turned away.

It’s a dilemma that City football coaches are finding more common since the school board cut $274 million from its $4-billion budget.

With the additional problem of a year-round school calendar, City coaches are frustrated because they must operate with less money and fewer assistants.

The off-the-field changes have had such an impact they might affect the season outlook more than anything else.

“From the start of the season, it has been nothing but adjustments,” Crenshaw Coach Robert Garrett said. “Without two-a-day practices, you had to coach while school is in session, which made it tough to identify and assist young (sophomores).

“Also, the budget cuts have affected what you can do on the coaching level. For example, our B team has a lot of kids out, but we do not have enough helmets. We want to help the kids, but it looks like we will have to turn them away because we have a limited budget and not enough money for more equipment.”

On the field, teams face a major change in the playoff format. After years of complaints that its two divisions were not balanced, the City Section has moved last season’s top 17 teams from 3-A to 4-A. Officials hope it will produce better playoff competition while keeping the same regular-season matchups.

“The new playoff system does not really affect us too much,” said Locke Coach E.C. Robinson, whose Saints have made the 3-A playoffs 10 of the past 11 years and will compete in 4-A this season.

“We are still playing the same teams we play all of the time, but in the playoffs we will be playing 4-A competition. For years, I have always wanted to give it a shot against the big boys, like Carson and Banning, and now we will get our chance.”

With more teams qualifying for the 4-A playoffs, the City is hoping that its revamped structure will eliminate repeat postseason matchups. In recent years, Pacific League powers Carson, Wilmington Banning and Dorsey have often played each other for a second time in the playoffs, and the past seven championship games have been rematches.

Despite the new structure, however, Carson, Banning and Dorsey are still expected to dominate in 4-A.

Carson, which has won eight City titles, will be starting its first season without Coach Gene Vollnogle, who retired after last season. Vollnogle, Carson’s coach since it opened in 1963, leaves his replacements, Jim D’Amore and Marty Blankenship, with a hard record to follow. In 28 years, Vollnogle led Carson to 20 consecutive playoff appearances and 16 of the past 25 City finals, including the past 10.

D’Amore and Blankenship, who were assistants under Vollnogle, will start the season with the City’s top team, based on its 12-1 record last season. The Colts lost several key players to graduation but have plenty of talent returning. Leading the offense will be wingback Theron Hill and lineman Edward Tupuola, with junior quarterback Jamie Sander taking over for John Walsh, last season’s City player of the year.

Whereas Carson has to replace a legendary coach, Dorsey had to replace nearly its entire staff. Co-coach Eugene McAdoo and several assistants moved to West Los Angeles College.

Remaining is the Dons’ other co-coach, Paul Knox, who is hoping to keep Dorsey among the top City teams with the running of Sharmon Shah and the dominating defensive play of Cedric White. Shah was a key performer last season when Lamont Warren moved from tailback to quarterback late in the year, and White led the team with 10 sacks.

At Banning, Coach Joe Dominguez is counting on Naeem Mills, a 6-foot-3, 245-pound linebacker, to control things on defense until the Pilots’ young offense gains experience.

Banning finished 9-4 last year and reached the 4-A championship game. But for the Pilots to win their first City title since 1985, they will have to defeat archrival Carson, which has won their past seven meetings.

In the San Fernando Valley, Kennedy of Granada Hills is considered the team to beat. Kennedy has six three-year starters on an experienced team that features defensive backs Anthony Jones and Ronnie Gipson.

Poly, which defeated Lincoln for the 3-A title last season, will move up to 4-A and rely once again on its running attack. Jerome Pledger, who averaged nine yards a carry last year, will be the main ballcarrier for the Parrots, who also have starting quarterback Lance Garcia returning.

With so many teams moving up, the 3-A Division will be wide open, although Franklin, San Pedro and Jefferson look strong.

Franklin had a 3-7 season last year but has 13 starters back. The Panthers have won three of the past five 3-A titles. San Pedro has Rino Marconi at quarterback, and Jefferson will rely on its 1-2 punch of Tony Thomas and Darrell Cooley.

City

TIMES PRESEASON POLL

No. School Div. 1990 1. Carson 4-A 12-1-0 2. Dorsey 4-A 9-3-0 3. Banning 4-A 9-4-0 4. San Fernando 4-A 7-5-0 5. Fairfax 4-A 11-1-0 6. Polytechnic 4-A 11-3-0 7. Granada Hills 4-A 10-2-0 8. Lincoln 4-A 9-4-1 9. Sylmar 4-A 10-1-0 10. Garfield 4-A 9-2-0