They Make Most of Their Players

Coaches who are making a difference this season without belittling or berating their players:

1. Jim Brownfield, Pasadena Muir--How does this guy do it? At 63, the veteran returned to Muir after a six-year absence and picked up where he had left off. When he stepped down in 1986, the Mustangs had just won their second consecutive Southern Section title and were on a 24-game winning streak. Since then, Muir has failed to even win a league title.

The highly emotional Brownfield, who stepped down because of stress, might be a little calmer these days, but the results are the same. Muir is off to a 2-0 start and upset visiting Fontana last Friday night, 14-0.

Brownfield persuaded running back Saladin McCullough not to transfer to nearby La Canada St. Francis, and McCullough repaid him by rushing for 254 yards against Fontana, including a 96-yard touchdown run.

Team followers also had trouble Friday remembering the last time the stands at Pasadena City College were filled.

It would have to be the last time Brownfield was the coach.

2. John Tyree, Riverside Ramona--Although Ramona has won quite a few games over the years, it began this season loser of 14 in a row. Second-year Coach Tyree had a hand in 10 of those defeats.

It is not easy turning around a losing team, especially in the competitive Inland Empire region. But the much-traveled Tyree, whose most recent coaching stints were at Blythe Palo Verde and Muir, remained cool and confident. He said the Rams were better than last season’s record indicated and promised better results in 1992.

Tyree made good on his promise. Ramona is off to a 2-0 start with victories over San Bernardino San Gorgonio and Corona Centennial. He has taken the turnaround in stride.

“This is what high school football is all about,” he said. “Making kids believe they are winners when they’re used to nothing but losing.”

3. Leo Brouhard, Valley View of Moreno Valley--There were plenty of coaches in the area who questioned Brouhard’s tactics last season when he let running back David Dotson run up some high numbers.

Dotson, now at USC, set the state single-season and career rushing records. Valley finished 10-2 after being eliminated in the Southern Section Division VIII quarterfinals.

This season, with almost a completely new offense, the Eagles have won their first two games by a combined score of 69-7.

Brouhard, best known for coaching Ryan Knight at Riverside Rubidoux, has built the program into one of the best in only four years since it opened. He has been a father-figure and counselor to many of his players and last season sent four to college with athletic scholarships.

Honorable mention--Gary Meek, Anaheim Esperanza; Paul Knox, Los Angeles Dorsey; Tim Lins, Encino Crespi, and Carter Paysinger, Beverly Hills.

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Coaches Marty Blankenship of Carson and Robert Richards of Thousand Oaks had high hopes for ’92.

Carson was rated No. 1 in the City Section, and Thousand Oaks was rated No. 1 in the Southern Section Division III poll.

So far, those teams have a combined 0-3-2 record. Neither coach has any answers for the slow start.

Carson, 0-2-1, hit bottom Friday night in a 13-6 loss to San Diego Morse. The Colts, known for their running backs, rushed for only 21 yards in 23 carries. The setback marked the first time since 1968 that Carson has failed to win one of its first three games.

Thousand Oaks, considered a favorite in Division III, is 0-1-1 after a tie with Saugus and a defeat by Newhall Hart. Hart’s 21-6 victory Friday was its first over the Lancers in nine tries.

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Nicole Randall of Fountain Valley may get her wish--to pole vault with the boys this spring. The CIF Southern Section council voted last week in favor of a rule change on the state level that would allow girls to compete in the event, which has been restricted to boys.

Randall, a senior, and Erica Hause of Santa Rosa petitioned their sections in the last year, asking permission to compete in the pole vault without jeopardizing their eligibility.

The 10 sections that make up the CIF will vote on the rule change during meetings Oct. 30-31.

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Fillmore High is one of a growing number of schools in the Southland that have banned smoking at home football games.

The Flashes held their home opener Friday against Cypress Brethren Christian with no reports of any problems.

The Fillmore Unified School District implemented the smoking ban on all school property Sept. 1. Mario Contini, assistant superintendent, said signs were posted throughout the stadium and announcements were made during the game.

“We won’t hit anybody over the head for smoking,” he said. “We’re hoping our best crowd-control security will be people in the crowd.”

Prep Notes

Inglewood Morningside’s Stais Boseman, considered the best all-around athlete in the state, did not play quarterback Friday against Hawthorne because of a sprained ankle. Morningside lost, 36-5. . . . Stockton St. Mary’s was rated No. 1 in the state CIF preseason girls’ volleyball poll. The top-rated Southland team was Laguna Beach at No. 3. No City team made the top 20. . . . Garden Grove Rancho Alamitos had to forfeit its 42-0 opening victory over Fullerton Troy for using an ineligible player.

Times’ Top 20 Football Poll

The Times’ top 20 high school football poll, with teams from the City and Southern sections.

School Sect. Div. Rec. LW 1. Eisenhower SS I 2-0 1 2. Bishop Amat SS I 2-0 2 3. Esperanza SS II 2-0 6 4. Muir SS II 2-0 19 5. Loyola SS I 2-0 7 6. Los Alamitos SS II 2-0 8 7. Mission Viejo SS I 2-0 15 8. Fontana SS I 1-1 4 9. Dominguez SS II 2-0 12 10. Hart SS II 2-0 14 11. Nogales SS III 2-0 11 12. Mater Dei SS I 1-0-1 13 13. Servite SS II 1-0-1 NR 14. Antelope Valley SS I 2-0 18 15. Baldwin Park SS III 2-0 16 16. Crespi SS I 2-0 NR 17. L.B. Poly SS I 1-1 NR 18. Wil. Banning City 4-A 1-1 5 19. Irvine SS III 1-1 10 20. Sylmar City 4-A 1-0 20