Fatherly Advice No Sure Thing

Just another night.

Two fathers watched their sons in a basketball game. Nothing special, except that the fathers were Bill Mulligan and Mark Thornton.

They’re not used to being passive spectators. So they squirmed a lot Friday.

It has been a grope-in-the-dark kind of season for Capistrano Valley. Are the Cougars coming? Are they going? No one knows for sure. Not their coach, Brian Mulligan, son of the former UC Irvine coach. Not Brad Thornton, a starting forward and son of the Cougars’ former coach, or any of the other players.

With 13 seconds left Friday, the Cougars--who had trailed by as many as 10 points--were down one with a San Clemente player on the free-throw line.

Two fathers dusted off their former professions.

Former Capistrano Valley coach Mark Thornton: “They have to take the ball and go to the hole.”

Former UC Irvine coach Bill Mulligan: “That’s how we beat UCLA. Kevin Floyd went the length of the floor in five seconds and we beat the Bruins.”

The San Clemente player made two free throws. The Cougars lost, 62-59, squandering a chance to take control of the South Coast League’s second division--the one below Mater Dei. Thornton and Mulligan sighed.

Apparently, coaching isn’t any easier from the stands.

From the bench it can be downright excruciating. Even at Capistrano Valley, traditionally one of the hottest spots in Orange County.

This year is different. Very different.

Thornton stepped down five games into the season for “personal” reasons.

The obvious glares at you. Some see this team as a collection of fragile psyches and cutting egos, a handful. Whether that had anything to do with Thornton’s decision is up for speculation. But only one starter played with the team much during the summer. The other four had “commitments.”

Yet, this was also Capistrano Valley, a basketball program that is second to none. OK, second to one. But Thornton had 311 victories, plus two Southern Section championships, when he abruptly ended his 15-year career.

So Mulligan was either walking into a sweet situation or a haymaker. It’s still hard to tell, but he should practice ducking.

Thornton’s resignation turned a shaky 2-3 start into chilled Jello. What was needed, Athletic Director Tom White thought, was a person who was well-versed in Cougar tradition. Low and behold, there was Mulligan, already a teacher at the school, who had been Thornton’s assistant in past seasons.

So far, things have worked out. Sort of.

The Cougars wobbled through their nonleague schedule, but a five-game winning streak made them favorites to take home the league’s coveted runner-up spot.

Mulligan got the Cougars that far by insisting they play defense--his specialty as a coach. It was, after all, the only virgin basketball turf in his family.

The players responded well to his D-up-or-sit-down philosophy. It earned them two victories against Trabuco Hills and one against Mission Viejo. They could look at those teams in the rearview mirror while squinting ahead at Mater Dei on the horizon.

Then came Friday.

Brad Thornton sank two important free throws and had a key steal. But he received a costly technical foul.

Brian Mulligan worked from the baseline to midcourt, stomping, shouting, pushing. But he couldn’t shove the Cougars over the top.

From the stands, two fathers--chewing gum in sync--could only watch.

Long after the game, two sons--still in the gym--sat and talked.

Just another night.