Nado Natterings
A weekly column by David Axelson Back to Index

28 July 2010 Issue #30

Following the lead of the ESPN family of networks, clearly it’s time to talk football. While ESPN prepares to inundate the unsuspecting fan with talk of college and pro gridiron glory, we’ll stick to the prep level for now. Or said another way, it’s late July and it’s time for football.
“We just finished our whole summer season Friday,” said Islander Head Coach Bud Mayfield of his team’s off-season efforts, which includes passing league competition against other area schools. “We have a dead period now for two weeks and we hand out our gear August 9. We start our traditional two-a-day practices on Wednesday August 11 and Hell Week will be from August 16-21, on base again at NAB.”
The dead period Mayfield referred to is mandated by the California Interscholastic Federation, the governing body of high school sports in the state. This year the dead period runs from July 26 through August 8. During that time, coaches in all sports cannot come in contact with their players in any way.
“We had a great summer as far as conditioning and weight training,” continued Mayfield. “Our attendance was high and the kids worked hard. Everybody is bigger, stronger and faster.”
One of the team’s primary returners is junior tailback Charles Westbrook, who earned All-Central League Second Team honors in 2009 by virtue of his 455 rushing yards. Perhaps more impressively, Westbrook averaged nearly eight yards per carry and scored eight touchdowns. In addition, Westbrook has been a major beneficiary of the off-season conditioning, according to Mayfield. “Charles came in as a freshman and weighed 128. Now he weighs 188.”
Westbrook will also play on the defensive side of the ball. Virtually every starter on the squad will play both ways. Mayfield sounded ready for the season to start. “We have a strong senior class and that’s always important in football. They are the strongest, most experienced and most mature. I’m cautiously optimistic.”
Fitting into the senior leader role is Austin Copp. “I named him a captain at the football banquet last winter,” Mayfield said. “That’s the only time I have ever named a captain ahead of the beginning of the season. We’ll probably elect an additional captain coming out of Hell Week, like we usually do.”
The 2009 team went 7-5, including a 5-1 mark in the Central League. The Islanders lone league loss last season was to Madison which has since switched leagues with University City and will compete in the Western League. The Central League lineup for 2010 includes Clairemont, Coronado, Crawford, Kearny, Morse, San Diego and the aforementioned University City.
Coronado was a playoff team last season, defeating Escondido Charter 56-14 in the first round, before falling to eventual Division IV champion Mission Bay 56-17 in the quarter-finals. Dillon Baxter, Mission Bay’s record-setting option quarterback, has taken his talents (paraphrasing noted sports prophet LeBron James) to USC this fall.
The Islander schedule is unique from those in recent years, as Coronado will have seven home games this season. The number of home contests jumps to eight if you include the August 27th Kickoff Classic doubleheader that Coronado will host. “It’s a scrimmage and played as a game, with officials and uniforms,” Mayfield explained. “It’s a fundraiser for the CIF playoff transportation fund. We thought it would be a great kickoff for the season. La Jolla Country Day plays Hoover at 5:30 pm and we play Francis Parker at 8 pm. Parker was a finalist in the state championship last year.”
The first regular season game is a week later, as Coronado hosts Grossmont Friday, Sept. 3. A week later, on Sept. 10 the Islanders host Ainlen High School from Edmonton, Canada. Sept. 17, perhaps the highlight of the season occurs when Coronado hosts perennial playoff contender Santa Fe Christian. Homecoming will be held Friday, Nov. 5 when Coronado plays San Diego High. All Coronado home games kick off at 7:30 pm.
In past years Coronado has traveled to play Calgary Bishop Carroll (Canada) and according to Mayfield friendships have developed between the programs. “The kids from Calgary will stay in the homes of our players and we’ll have an international exchange. That’s what we do when we play there. You bunk with the kid you play against the next day and then you go home with him after the game. We’ll host the Calgary kids for the weekend.” The Calgary game is slated for Friday, October 15 and is the sixth game of the season.
Mayfield and the coaching staff also did their part to advance the good of the game, hosting 125 area Pop Warner coaches for a clinic last weekend. Tony Isabella, who has been part of the Coronado sports scene for many years, is the Pop Warner area president, while Coronado resident Kathleen Dunphey is area vice president. “We showed the coaches everything we could within a morning session,” said Mayfield. “We taught them what our philosophy is and showed them the offense and defense. I got to talk to some of our local coaches. They start pretty soon as well.”
Cross Country Reminder
A quick note from CHS Head Cross Country Coach George Green, who suggests that anyone interested in coming out this fall for the sport should go to the IslanderTrack.com website for workout schedules during the no-contact period from July 26th to August 8th.
“This is the crucial training period for kids who want to do well this fall,” Green said. “And the CIF prohibits us from contact of any sort. This includes not only coaching but any casual contact during clinics and tournaments, even if a coach is not in a coaching situation.”
Translated that means roughly, “If you want to do well running in the fall, you can’t take the next two weeks off.” You’ll thank me later.
Doc Eaton’s Sports Physicals Planned for Wednesday, August 4th
An annual rite of fall is the taking of a sports physical by all CHS and CMS athletes. The most efficient method to accomplish this task, which also helps pay for supplies for the CHS athletic training room, is to attend the physicals scheduled for Wednesday August 4th at CHS.
The physicals will be given in the CHS 500 Building and students should start lining up on 7th Street behind Niedermeyer Field. Students with last names beginning with the letters A-L will start at 5:30 pm, while those with last names beginning with the letters M-Z should lineup at 6 pm. The last call for students will be at 6:30 pm and the event will conclude at 7 pm.
Local physicians donate their services for the physicals, which cost $15 per student, or $25 for two students from the same family. The rate drops to $10 per student if you have three or more students from the same family. Cash or checks made payable to the Islander Sports Foundation are accepted.
You need to print the two-page athletic physical/medical history form for each athlete, found at islandersportsfoundation.com. Complete all of the questions on the medical history page and bring both pages to the exam.
The event is named in honor of Dr. Chuck Eaton, who started this program in the 1990’s. A current physical exam is required to participate in sports at both Coronado High School and Coronado Middle School.