Players Speak Volumes in Postgame Interviews

There’s nothing more awkward or uncomfortable for a sportswriter than interviewing an athlete from the losing team after a big game.

The athlete is usually dejected, in no mood to talk and wants time to recover in private.

But sportswriters have deadlines and can’t wait 30 minutes for an athlete to come to terms with the reality of defeat.

It’s into this minefield of emotions that sportswriters plunge, trying to do their job while taking into consideration the psychological turmoil they’re witnessing.

The situation is even more difficult when dealing with teenagers, many of whom aren’t mature enough to handle defeat in a dignified manner.

But defeat is also an opportunity for all athletes to display class, earn respect and prove they are ready to move to the next level.

College coaches never know for sure how a freshman is going to handle the jump from high school, but I have developed my own measuring stick, and it’s based on how well players handle sportswriters in defeat.

Over the years, I have interviewed many high school football players, trying to get a feel for their mental toughness and maturity level.

It’s been inspiring to see how most have responded.

In 1998, Kyle Boller of Newhall Hart was one of the best quarterbacks in the country. He was a senior in his first year as a starter. He was playing a nonleague game against Loyola. In the game’s final minute, he moved the Indians into position for a potential game-winning field goal.

But a botched snap with 15 seconds left resulted in a missed 20-yard field-goal attempt and a 23-22 victory for Loyola. Afterward, most of Hart’s players were devastated, but not Boller. He answered questions with the maturity of a college senior. Within months, he was the starting quarterback at California.

In 1999, Casey Clausen of Mission Hills Alemany was the quarterback in a 45-14 playoff loss to Santa Ana Mater Dei. Afterward, teammates were in tears. Clausen was upset too, but he stood on the field, shaking hands, answering questions and letting everyone know that his career wasn’t over. Within months, he was the starting quarterback at Tennessee.

Occasionally, a player will flunk the test by refusing to answer questions. That doesn’t make them a bad person, just someone who probably isn’t ready to handle the pressures that come with playing college sports.

This season, receiver Whitney Lewis of Ventura St. Bonaventure passed the test. His team had its 43-game winning streak ended by Hart, 31-6. But Lewis was calm and cooperative, knowing there would be many good days ahead for him and his teammates. Last week, St. Bonaventure won the Division IV championship.

Quarterback Brian White of Mission Viejo Trabuco Hills passed the test. I went up to him after a loss to Villa Park, and he spoke intelligently about the frustration of defeat and not performing well. He’s got a scholarship to Colorado, and his maturity is going to help him in a big way.

Linebacker Mark Washington of Long Beach Poly passed the test. His team had just lost to unbeaten Concord De La Salle, 28-7. He was disappointed and frustrated. He stood in the middle of Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, praising his opponent and demonstrating maturity and class.

Quarterback Sean Norton of Hart also passed the test. He was sobbing after his team’s 10-6 loss to Mission Viejo in the Division II final on Saturday but gathered enough fortitude to offer his thoughts.

Intruding on what should be a private moment of reflection gives me no pleasure, but seeing a teenager rise up in a difficult moment to show courage reveals a lot about their character.

Last month, I approached Kyle Pollock, the quarterback for Arroyo Grande, after his team had lost to St. Bonaventure, 35-20, in a Division IV playoff opener.

Pollock is a 14-year-old freshman who had never played a down of varsity football, yet he played the entire game, making perfect handoffs, completing two of his three passes and never losing his poise.

Most players would be distraught after losing their first varsity start, but not Pollock. He was excited. He knew he had done his best, and afterward he didn’t hide or wallow. He spoke calmly and confidently.

It’s going to take three more years of high school football to learn if Pollock is truly ready to play in college, but he’s already passed my test, which tells me plenty.

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Eric Sondheimer can be reached at eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.