HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK

Brian Siegel tries to hit just the right note, whether he’s handling long snaps for Oak Park or playing the tuba in the school’s concert band or trombone in the jazz band.

“I love long-snapping,” Siegel said. “The thing about it is, if you do it perfect, it’s like, average. No one really notices you. But if you mess up, it’s like, horrible.

“So I just practice a lot, and try to get it right every time.”

Ditto for any instrument he plays. Special-teams member Siegel has a special talent for music.

Siegel, a senior who has been the long snapper for two seasons and plays third base for the baseball team, plays not only the tuba and trombone, but is adept on the guitar, drums, saxophone and keyboards.

“The thing I love about music is, no one has an advantage in the beginning,” he said. “In football, if you’re bigger, it’s usually better. In basketball, if you’re taller, it helps, and in track, if you’re fast, it’s always better.”

Siegel, grandson of Marty Siegel, a longtime Cleveland High assistant baseball coach who died May 1 at age 79, has dedicated the season to his grandfather.

“This is my first football season without him,” he said. “He used to come out here to all the games. I think about him all the time.”