August is upon us, so of course the first thing that comes to mind to most men is football. Men can’t get enough football. Football at all levels youth, high school, college, and pro. Football non-stop. Football all the time. Football forever.

If you think I’m kidding, just listen to ESPN Radio 800, which for my money is the best sports talk station available in San Diego. They were already previewing National Football League teams last week, and the camps hadn’t opened yet. Why, because their ratings indicate that football has overtaken baseball, basketball and any other sport where the ball (or puck) is shot, rolls or slides, on the American sport scene.

If radio isn’t your thing, then check out ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN News, or "ESPN The Magazine." What will you find? The same thing - football. Keep in mind that as of today, the regular season NFL opener is still 36 days away. Dare I say it? We are in danger of over-exposing football and the first ball has yet to be snapped, kicked, run or thrown.

After last week’s successful youth football clinic, held jointly by Coronado Youth Football and the CHS Football Boosters Club, I figured it was time to get ready for the local football season. Time was wasting. It was still late July.

I called Islander Head Coach Bud Mayfield to gauge his reaction to what appeared to be a particularly strong 2004 schedule. "It’s tough," said Mayfield, who is entering his 17^th season at the helm of the Islander program. "One of the reasons the schedule is tough is that the Harbor League has become tougher. Madison has become a league rival and Clairemont has a lot of returning starters."

But this is not your father’s Harbor League. For that matter it’s not last year’s Harbor League either. Long-time Harbor League inhabitants San Diego, Hoover and Christian are gone. The University City Centurions joined the league in 2002 and the Komets from Kearney High School in their maroon, white and gray uniforms, invade the league this season. For football in 2004, the Harbor League will consist of Clairemont, Coronado, Crawford, Kearney, Madison, and University City.

And the non-conference schedule is also tough. Rival Francis Parker opens the CHS regular season by traveling to Coronado Friday, Sept. 10. The next week, Mar Vista treks to Coronado for their contest scheduled for Friday, Sept. 17. The two South Bay schools, which are separated by only 10 miles, haven’t played since 1999.

"Mar Vista is in a league (the Metro Conference) that only leaves them with one non-league game to play on their schedule," Mayfield explained. "The scheduling conflict within their league mitigated against our playing them. Now we have a home and home game scheduled with them for this year and next. We want to maintain the rivalry, but we don’t want to be locked in if we want to go to Canada. Mar Vista will be tough simply because of the rivalry. There will be a lot of excitement there."

After the Mariners and Islanders tangle, Coronado will go on the road the following week to Point Loma. Oct. 1, the Islanders host Scripps Ranch and Oct. 8 the Dons from USDHS come to Coronado.

There appear to be no easy games for the Islanders this season. "I think USDHS is going to be very good this year," said Mayfield "We saw them in passing league and they have an outstanding quarterback. We saw Point Loma in passing league also and they return some key players and the game is at their place."

The Harbor League portion of the schedule kicks in at that point, with a road game at Clairemont Oct. 15; a home tilt vs. Crawford Oct. 22; on the road at Kearney Oct. 27; the annual homecoming game is slated for Friday, Nov. 5 vs. University City; and the final regular season game will be on the road at Madison Nov. 12.

All Coronado home games will start at 7:30 pm. Unlike their NFL brothers-in-arms, the Islanders play the schedule straight through from Sept. 10 to Nov. 12, with no bye weeks. Coronado will play six home games this season, up from four home contests in 2003.

There is also the possibility that Coronado may drop to Division IV from Division III, which in theory would make a trip to the CIF playoffs more pleasant. "We’re tentatively scheduled to be in Division IV, but it depends on the fall school enrollment numbers," Mayfield added. "Right now there are 23 teams in Division III and they want more like 20, so two or three schools might have to drop down. San Diego is booming and with more high schools being built, the divisions are getting tougher."

The way the school schedule falls this year, Mayfield will see a lot of his players, as they have 4 days of two-a-day practices before they head off to Hell Week. "It’s the first time ever that we will have a week and a half of two-a-days before the season starts," Mayfield said. "But it might work out because being very young, we will have more time to get going."

If your children are Coronado High School or Coronado Middle School athletes they won’t like to hear this, but athletic physicals will be held Monday, August 9 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm and are supervised by Dr. Patricia Kettlehake and Dr. Laura Fagerlund. Athletes should assemble on the fourth floor of the parking lot at the Bank of America Building, located at 1050 B Avenue. The physicals will be given at the Coronado Specialty Medical Center.

Please note that all athletes must have a valid, current physical before they can begin practice with a CHS or CMS team, at any level. Physical forms may be downloaded from the Islander Sports Foundation’s website, which is www.IslanderSportsFoundation.com, or picked up at either CHS or CMS. All physical forms should be filled out by parents before going to the medical center. Checks should be made payable to CHSASB Athletics.

The doctors provide the physicals, which cost $15 per athlete, or $25 if there are two athletes from the same family. For three or more athletes from the same family, the charge is $10 per athlete. The fees are then donated back to the CHS athletic department and are used to purchase training supplies (athletic tape, wraps, etc.) for the year.

The information for the start of fall season CHS sports looks like this:

Boys and Girls Cross Country - There is a summer running club for athletes interested in getting in shape. Some members of the team will participate in a running camp at Big Bear from Aug. 21-26. For more information, please contact Head Coach Mel Bechtel at 424-6478 or E-mail Asst. Coach George Green at GeorgeGreen@CrownCity.com.

Football – Equipment issue is scheduled for August 16-17 and conditioning practices will begin Aug. 18. Hell Week is scheduled for Aug. 23-28. For more information, please contact the Head Coach Bud Mayfield or the coaching staff at the CHS Football office 522-8970, Ext. 2707.

Girls Golf – Parents and athletes are invited to attend an organizational meeting at the Coronado Golf Course at 3 pm, Friday, Aug. 20. Practice will begin Monday, Aug. 23. For information, please contact Head Coach Kari Weidner at 861-3898 or E-mail her at KLW144@yahoo.com.

Girls Tennis – Practice and tryouts will begin Monday, Aug. 23. For more information, please call Head Coach Robbin Adair at 435-5140 or contact him via E-mail at RLAat814@aol.com.

Girls Volleyball – Practice and tryouts will commence Aug. 20 at 9 am at the CHS gym. For more information, please contact Head Coach Phil Trotter at philtrotter23@hotmail.com.

Boys Water Polo – Interested players should meet at the school tennis courts at 8 am, Monday, Aug. 23. For more information, please contact Head Coach Randy Burgess at 522-8970, Ext. 2704 or visit www.nadopolo.com.

Soon-to-be senior Reid McLean, who just became a decathlete (10 track and field events, competed over 2 days) at the end of the last school year, competed in the National AAU Junior Decathlon Championships last weekend.

CHS Head Track Coach George Green picks up the report. "Reid’s quest to medal at the event ended successfully. After the first day, he found himself in 12^th place and facing three of his poorer events on the second day. However Saturday, he set personal best records in the discus, javelin, the 1500-meter run and the 110-meter hurdles to finish seventh overall. He grabbed one of the Top 8 podium positions in the young men’s division. This was only his second decathlon, the first being the qualifying round at the AAU Regionals. He’ll be eligible for the young men’s division next year as well."

Finally, the first annual Bill Earley Memorial Swim event will be held Saturday, August 21. I knew Earley well and he was a world class age group swimmer. We both belonged to the Coronado Masters Swim Club for a while. Bill would compete with the elite members of the group, a designation that did not include your swimming scribe. Bill was an original character, a former Navy SEAL, and he would have really liked the concept of a swimming event held in his honor. Early was also an important contributor to the CHS aquatics program with both his time and energy.

For information regarding the event, go to www.Islandswims.com. The fee is $30 if your entry is postmarked by June 21 and $35 thereafter. The event has a number of divisions and distances, so give it a try. You may also call 619-491-2221 for additional information.