Losses Hit Deep in Texas’ Heart

Remember Chris Kluwe?

Dick Olin certainly does. Last June, Kluwe’s last-second field goal gave California its sixth consecutive victory over Texas in the Shrine All-Star Classic.

Olin, then a first-year assistant coach for Texas’ high school football all-stars, watched the ensuing celebration. Olin hopes to regain some bragging rights today at Mt. San Antonio College while serving as Texas’ head coach in the 50th game.

“There’s a lot of good football played elsewhere,” Olin said. “It’s just in Texas, football’s very serious.”

How serious?

Olin is head coach and “campus coordinator in charge of athletics” at Robert E. Lee High near Houston. He does not teach or have another job. Olin’s main duty is to oversee the high school’s five football teams--varsity, junior varsity, sophomore and two freshman squads.

It’s a full-time endeavor.

During the school year, in addition to normal after-school practice, one period every day is set aside for athletics. For an hour, even in the off-season, all Robert E. Lee athletes run, lift weights or work on sport-specific skills.

Football players also participate in 16 spring practices, an intrasquad spring game, seven-on-seven summer drills, summer conditioning and preseason practices.

Then the games begin. Every weekend, the community focuses on Olin’s squad.

“Let’s face it, [California fans] are a little bit laid back,” California Coach Greg Gano said. “And there are not as many things to do in Texas. It’s big-time there.”

The talent differential is much smaller. The last two Shrine games have been decided on the final play. In 1999, current Cal starter Kyle Boller threw a game-winning touchdown pass with no time remaining.

This year’s California team features three USC and four UCLA incoming freshmen. Eight of the 36 players on the Texas squad will play for defending national champion Oklahoma in the fall. California defensive end Shaun Cody, who is headed for USC, and Texas defensive lineman Tommie Harris, who is going to Oklahoma, were selected USA Today first-team All-Americans.

They join an impressive list of Shrine game participants, including John Elway, Mike Garrett and Jim Plunkett.

For the first 43 years, the game pitted Northern California against Southern California. In 1995, officials changed the format but the game remained in California.

But because of decreasing attendance, there’s a “good possibility” that the 2002 contest could be played in Houston, according to general chairman Stephen Wurtzel. It would then alternate between Texas and California.

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Today’s Game

Who: California vs. Texas

What: 50th Shrine All-Star Classic

When: 5 p.m.

Where: Mt. San Antonio College, Walnut.

Tickets: $10 and $15