Season Promises to Be Notable

Some thoughts on the coming football season:

Postgame handshakes should not only be allowed, they should be mandatory. Players need to recognize that what they are involved in is a rivalry, not a war. . . .

Sportsmanship seems to have gone out the window in recent years. Now, more then ever, it needs a comeback. . . .

Although the Southern Section has restructured its leagues and divisions this year, more changes are on the horizon. . . .

Orange County is expected to form its own section next year, and Commissioner Dean Crowley wants to regionalize what remains of the Southern Section. . . .

“Ideally, we would have four regions that would have their own championships, with winners advancing to a final four format,” said Crowley, who received a vote of confidence and a pay raise from the Executive Committee in July. . . .

All of this means the Southern Section’s top football division might never be this strong again. Defending champion Rialto Eisenhower must contend with such powers as La Puente Bishop Amat, Santa Ana Mater Dei, Loyola and Los Alamitos, among others. . . .

Expectations are high at Bishop Amat, where rookie Coach Tom Salter inherits a team loaded with talent. The Lancers, however, have a reputation for choking in the playoffs. . . .

Salter, 32, appears to be in a win-win situation. If Bishop Amat wins the title, he is a hero. If it does not, he can say it was only his first year. . . .

Salter replaced Mark Paredes, who left the high-profile program after eight seasons to take over at Riverside North. Watch for North to be an instant contender. . . .

Bishop Amat may be the Southland’s top-rated team, but Los Alamitos cannot be counted out. The Griffins have not lost in a title game the last three years. . . .

The move up to Division I should prove an interesting challenge for Los Alamitos Coach John Barnes, whose team has the state’s longest unbeaten streak at 35 games. . . .

“We’re a finesse team,” said Barnes. “We have to find other ways to win. Honestly, I go into every game thinking, ‘How in the world are we going to beat these guys?’ ” . . .

Orange County is also home to the state’s longest winless streak. Ocean View of Huntington Beach is 0-29 the last three seasons. Los Angeles Jordan is 0-26 during that time. . . It will be a rebuilding year for Eisenhower, which finished 14-0 last season after routing Mater Dei in the Southern Section Division I title game, 56-3. The Eagles have a young and inexperienced team. . . .

Harry Welch recently ended an eventful run as coach at Canyon Country Canyon, but he hints he may soon return to the game. . . .

Carson and Taft are early favorites to battle for the City Section’s Division 4-A title. . . .

Carson defeated Dorsey in last year’s 4-A championship game, 26-0, for a record ninth title. The Colts, who have made 18 appearances in the final, should be just as strong this season with several key returning starters. . . .

Taft Coach Troy Starr was nearly fired last spring for questionable recruiting techniques but was given a second chance by Principal Ron Berz. . . .

Starr has plenty of talent to work with. Running back Jerry Brown, who rushed for 1,761 yards last season, is the half-brother of USC Heisman Trophy winner Charles White. . . .

The City Section has a new playoff format this season, with its top 16 teams in the 4-A bracket and the next 16 in the 3-A. This makes the 3-A title almost meaningless. . . .

Once again, the Southland will be one of the most heavily recruited areas in the nation. College coaches cite the favorable climate and large population as main reasons for so many quality programs. . . .

Unlike most years, there are not many quarterback prospects. But recruiters will have plenty of wide receivers, linebackers and defensive backs to choose from. . . .

The top prospect is Daylon McCutcheon of Bishop Amat. The 5-foot-10, 175-pound senior plays in both the offensive and defensive backfields and returns kicks and punts. He is the son of former Ram running back Lawrence McCutcheon. . . .

He may not get many scholarship offers because of his size, but running back Jermaine Lewis of Antelope Valley is fun to watch. Lewis, 5-6 and 150, gained 1,541 yards last season and is expected to break 2,000 this season. . . .

A sad sign of the times: The season will be considered a success if no games are interrupted by drive-by shootings or bench-clearing brawls.