Taking a Firm Stand Against Athletic Mythology
It’s time to present fact over fiction, truth over myth, reality over illusion.
Myth No. 1: Cal State Northridge coaches and fans love the Big Sky Conference.
As early as today, when the Big West Conference extends an official invitation for membership to Northridge, Matador coaches and alumni will gather in a circle, hold hands and chant, “Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”
The athletic program has been held hostage for four years in the Big Sky Conference because former school president Blenda Wilson botched an opportunity to join the Big West Conference in the mid-1990s. Instead, Northridge was stuck joining a conference designed solely to promote football at the cost of every other sports program.
After four years of trying to get Northridge supporters excited about playing Montana, Montana State, Idaho State, Northern Arizona, Eastern Washington, Portland State and Weber State, everybody is free to say, “Good riddance.”
Myth No. 2: High school athletes can’t earn a college scholarship if they play on a losing team.
“That’s not true at all,” receiver Calvin Bell of Simi Valley High said. “If you do your best, people will hear about you.”
Last week, Bell signed a letter of intent with Michigan even though Simi Valley’s football team finished 1-9 last season.
Bell proved that college recruiters don’t care whether a high school team is 10-0 or 0-10--they want athletes with skills and good grades.
Crucial to Bell obtaining a scholarship was his parents’ decision to send him for a week to the Michigan football camp last summer. Bell made such a positive impression that the original $1,000 investment for air fare, lodging and the camp became a $28,000-a-year scholarship.
“There’s no guarantees on anything,” Bell said. “It’s being at the right place at the right time, having a good performance in front of the right people.”
Performing well at a combine or college football camp has become the latest way for athletes to gain exposure with recruiters. Of UCLA’s 14 football recruits, 10 attended the Bruins’ one-day high school camp.
Bell is grateful he listened to his parents and stayed at Simi Valley despite a losing season.
“There were a lot of friendships made,” he said.
Myth No. 3: High school athletes should never take a break.
It’s understandable that teenagers think they have to work on their baseball, softball, soccer, basketball and football skills every day. They worry about staying in shape, becoming stronger and not wanting to fall behind someone working just as hard.
But there’s a time for rest and saying no to travel coaches, club coaches and even private coaches. A teenager’s mental and physical health requires taking a break, whether it is a day, a week or a month.
Conor Jackson, El Camino Real’s All-City shortstop, did not play baseball from Labor Day until late in December. It was hard for him to put away his bat and glove, but after six consecutive months of playing, he needed a rest.
“I was tired,” he said. “I turned down so many teams it was unbelievable. I knew the only thing the break was going to do was make me better.”
Not playing during the fall and winter hasn’t hurt Jackson. He was rated No. 34 in Baseball America magazine’s list of the top 100 high school prospects. He’s refreshed, invigorated and ready to have a great senior season.
Myth No. 4: If you skip practice, it’s no big deal.
There is a crackdown under way by coaches. They are no longer accepting excuses for missed practices or tardiness. Punishment is being handed out in the form of benchings and wind sprints.
Baseball Coach Scott Drootin of Chaminade has an effective rule: a player who cuts class must run 25 miles before being allowed to practice. No one yet has tested the rule.
Myth No. 5: The college recruiting process is all fun.
High-profile recruits who wait until the last day to choose a college are asking for trouble.
“One mom went into the hospital--that’s how bad it got,” UCLA football Coach Bob Toledo said. “The pressure mounts so much, these kids can’t handle it at the end.”
Toledo recommends players make an early commitment “if a guy really knows what he wants to do.”
*
Eric Sondheimer’s local column appears Wednesday and Sunday. He can be reached at (818) 772-3422 or eric.sondheimer@latimes.com
