Junior College Getting Benefit of Some Big-League Experience

Whether they realize it or not, the 82 members of Grossmont College’s football team might have the most high-profile coaching staff in junior college football. Sam Gruneisen, who had been a Charger offensive lineman for 11 years, is the defensive coordinator. Nate Wright, a former Minnesota Viking all-pro cornerback, coaches defensive backs. Dan Audick, a former offensive lineman for the Chargers and 49ers, is the defensive line coach.

“Most of the kids didn’t even know who we were,” Gruneisen said. “And it’s probably better that way.”

All the years of NFL experience have not translated into victories for the Griffins. Entering Saturday’s game at nationally ranked Mesa College of Arizona, Grossmont is 1-2-1.

But considering Coach Dave Jordan’s task, the Griffins are fortunate to be where they are.

Named coach in July, Jordan was faced with the prospect of assembling a staff and football team in one month. Jordan was the coach at Grossmont from 1971 to 1978 and defensive coordinator from 1979 to 1988, but he had been out of coaching for three seasons. When he agreed to return, he thought it would be as defensive coordinator.

But when he was asked to be the head coach, he couldn’t refuse.

He found Gruneisen, his former defensive coordinator at Grossmont, on the golf course and quickly offered him his old job. Gruneisen then recruited Wright and Audick to help him with the defense.

With 70 freshmen on the Griffins’ 82-man roster, Jordan is realistic about his team’s chances of having a winning season.

“We’ve had some dry years here,” Jordan said. “I know it’s not going to be easy. I hope I don’t let them down.”

Although Grossmont has been outscored, 90-22, the past two weeks by Orange Coast and Saddleback, Gruneisen said he sees some improvement in his defense.

“We’re really playing some awfully good football teams,” he said. “I really feel bad for the kids. They’re busting their butts out there, flying around to the ball. We have really progressed and we’re going to be somebody to put up with soon.”

Every time Jordan returns to Mesa, Ariz., he is haunted by the memory of 1973 and Mickey Hatcher.

Grossmont, ranked first in the state and third nationally, was riding a 17-game winning streak when it went to Arizona. Jordan said his team was leading by nine points in the closing minutes before Hatcher, a tight end/kicker, single-handedly defeated his team.

“He caught a touchdown pass, kicked an onside kick that they recovered and then kicked a 50-yard field goal to beat us,” Jordan said. “I could never forget that game as long as I live.”

Rapp heads east: Former UC San Diego basketball player Tim Rapp has landed an assistant coaching job at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. Rapp, an NCAA Division III All-American in 1991, has been attending graduate school at UC Davis.

Rocky start: Oregon’s Brett Salisbury, who played quarterback at Palomar College the last two seasons, had a rather inauspicious debut as a starting quarterback on the major college level. Before being relieved in the first half of Oregon’s 45-7 loss to Cal, Salisbury completed six of 12 passes for 57 yards, but threw three interceptions.

All-name team: The San Diego State women’s basketball team began practice today with four players whose first names end in “sha.”

The Aztecs return Elisha Johns and Kieishsha Garnes, the 1991 Western Athletic Conference player of the year. Newcomers are twins Falisha and Lakeysha Wright. The 5-6 guards are freshmen from Patterson, N.J.