Boller Throws Texas for a Loss

In 10 days, Bob and Karen Boller will drive their son, Kyle, to Burbank Airport, give him a hug at the terminal gate, wipe away a few tears, wave goodbye as he flies off to the Bay Area to begin life as a college student.

It’s never easy letting go of the child you’ve raised for 18 years, through chicken pox and scraped knees, through his first step and first kiss, through his first tooth and first shave.

But no one is more prepared to take on the enormous challenges than Boller, a 6-foot-4 All-American quarterback from Hart High who will be a freshman at California this fall.

“We did everything we could for 18 years,” his father said. “We gave him a foundation and hopefully he’ll continue to make good decisions.”

Only a year ago, not many people outside Boller’s hometown of Valencia even knew his name. He had never started a varsity game at quarterback. But those who watched him grow from a skinny, 5-6 freshman into a strapping, 6-3 senior with the most extraordinary arm since John Elway were convinced a special athlete was about to be unleashed.

He has become a celebrity, with sportswriters flying in for interviews; with television crews dropping by to capture him on video; with magazines making him a cover boy; with Golden Bear Internet chat rooms anointing him their football savior; with California’s school newspaper proclaiming him “Jesus in cleats.”

Meanwhile, only a few weeks ago, after practice for an all-star game, Boller came running from his car toward his father pleading, “Can I have some cash?”

It was a reminder that he’s still a teenager, with an older and younger sister ready to give him a gentle knock on the head if he ever loses perspective on who he is.

Boller is embarking on an adventure he has dreamed about his entire life--playing Pacific 10 Conference football on TV, in front of large crowds, against the best athletes in the nation.

“It’s going to be neat,” he said. “I just have to learn the offense and get used to the college level. I’ll be all right as long as I keep trying and keep working hard.”

Boller is no ordinary freshman showing up for summer and fall workouts. He’ll arrive in Berkeley with every intention of winning the starting quarterback job, probably the most difficult of tasks for any college freshman.

What he has going for him other than his magical right arm are football instincts that can’t be taught and a work ethic that found him training at a neighborhood health club at 5:30 a.m. on school days this spring to help stay in shape.

“He doesn’t need anyone to push him,” Bob Boller said. “He pushes himself.”

Whether playing with or against Boller this summer, the reaction has been the same: Everyone is convinced they are watching a future professional.

“He’s something pretty special,” said Coach Jim Bonds of Alemany, former UCLA and Hart quarterback who played behind Troy Aikman. “Kyle has a stronger arm than Aikman and better feet than Aikman.”

Kyle Cremarosa, a wide receiver from Burroughs headed to Harvard University, will not forget what it was like to catch six passes from Boller in the Valley Youth Conference all-star game.

“It was a great experience,” he said. “With him in the game, it seems like everything happens easier. It seemed like we were playing together for more than two weeks. I’d turn and the ball would be there, a nice, tight spiral every time.”

It’s not difficult to imagine California fans stampeding to the nearest sporting goods outlet to purchase Boller’s No. 7 football jersey or coeds lining up for autographs.

Is Boller ready for college life?

He has passed the first test--laundry.

“Yes, I know a little about laundry,” he said. “I’ve done maybe two loads my whole four years of high school. You do all the whites together, the towels together.”

Will he get homesick?

“He’s warned me he will never be like [sister Candace],” his mother said. “He doesn’t want me to expect he’ll call once a week. He doesn’t realize homesickness will sink in. At least that’s a mother’s wishful thinking.”

College is going to be an incredible experience for Boller. All he needs to do is go to class, turn his term papers in on time and remember the two most important words of Golden Bear football: Beat Stanford.

Eric Sondheimer’s local column appears Wednesday and Sunday. He can be reached at (818) 772-3422 or eric.sondheimer@latimes.com