Milestone moment for Gossard
GLENDALE — The following are odds and ends from the local sports scene.
GOSSARD BECOMES WINS LEADER AT PCC
Pasadena City College football coach and La Crescenta resident Dennis Gossard became the college’s winningest coach Saturday after the Lancers recorded a 34-14 nonconference home victory against College of the Desert. Gossard picked up his 53rd victory, passing the mark set by R. Frank Baker. Baker registered 52 victories from 1926-34.
“Something like this is based on longevity and having a good bunch of kids and assistant coaches,” said Gossard, who improved to 53-42-1 at PCC. “It means I have been at one place for a long time.
“They poured Gatorade on me [Saturday]. My assistant coaches have done 99% of the work, and I just put my hands on the steering wheel.”
Gossard, 63, has also been a health instructor at the college for 30 years.
Gossard, also Crescenta Valley High’s longtime offensive coordinator, took over the interim coaching position before the start of the season. He’s in his 10th year as Pasadena’s coach, having previously piloted the program from 1987-1994 and in 2005.
The Lancers, ranked No. 5 in the state regional poll, are 4-0 and will complete nonconference competition at 6 p.m. Saturday against visiting Ventura College.
MORE QB TALK
FOR REID
Former Glendale Community College offensive lineman Andy Reid has been inundated with questions about who would start as Philadelphia Eagles quarterback over the last few weeks between Kevin Kolb and Michael Vick.
But after Vick tallied four total touchdowns in the Eagles’ 28-3 throttling of the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, it wasn’t long before he was answering questions about another quarterback — longtime former Eagles starter Donovan McNabb. McNabb and his new team, the NFC East Division-rival Washington Redskins, will visit the Eagles on Sunday.
“You can’t devote all your time into one person in this profession and this sport,” Reid said during a Monday press conference. “It’s a team sport, it’s not a great grudge match sport or any of that, that’s not what it’s about.”
“We’re focusing on the Washington Redskins, No. 1, and Donovan’s a big part of their offense and we know that.”
Reid didn’t hesitate in making it known how highly he still thinks of McNabb, though.
“I think the world of Donovan and the legacy that he left here will be just that, a legacy that lasts forever,” Reid said. “He did phenomenal things for this organization and that’s not forgotten. But at the same time, he wants to beat the Eagles and we want to beat the Redskins.”
SEVEN TEAMS EARN CIF RANKINGS
Seven local teams, highlighted by the Crescenta Valley High boys’ water polo squad, received recognition after the CIF office unveiled its latest rankings Monday.
The Falcons remain ranked No. 1 in Division V, while Glendale dropped a spot to No. 6.
In football, St. Francis remained fourth in the Western Division after its 31-13 intersectional home victory against Venice on Friday.
Four cross-country teams were also ranked.
On the boys’ side, Flintridge Prep fell a spot to seventh in Division V.
Crescenta Valley, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy and Flintridge Prep continued to be ranked. Crescenta Valley moved up a spot to ninth in Division I, while Flintridge Sacred Heart went down a peg to eighth in Division IV and Flintridge Prep held ninth in Division V.
QB CLUB TO HOLD SECOND MEETING
The Glendale YMCA Quarterback Club will conduct its second meeting at 11:30 a.m. today at The Elk’s Lodge, 120 E. Colorado St., Glendale. The club, which is in its 68th year, is geared to support the Crescenta Valley, Hoover, Glendale and St. Francis high football teams and the Glendale Community College football program.
Los Angeles area sportswriters Eric Sondheimer and Jill Painter will be the guest speakers.