Respect for the National Anthem

Maybe I should have titled this, "Lack of Respect for the National Anthem."

That's what I witnessed Friday night when covering the Pleasant Grove vs. Laguna Creek football game. During the playing of the Star Spangled Banner, several L.C. students got up and began walking out of the stands and towards the snack bar area.

A teacher from Laguna, who was working in the press box, hollered out the window for the students to stop walking and face the American flag.

They ignored him.

I also noted a group of more students sitting and talking during the National Anthem, as well.

Where was the school security or school administrators?

That question was asked again during the fourth quarter when a fight broke out. A Junior Varsity football coach had to break it up.

When the aforementioned group of students returned to the stands below the press box, the same teacher called one of the girls up to the press box, asking her why she and her friend didn't show our country respect by standing at attention.

The girl was oblivous.

This teacher said he was going to have his classes all recite the Pledge of Allegiance and lecture them on why we stand for the National Anthem at ball games and what it means.

Let's hope someone listens. That was the worse case of disrespect I've seen in a long time.

Cosumnes Oaks/Sheldon Reflection

After a weekend off (Labor Day) to visit my parents in Shreveport, I was back in form Friday night covering the Sheldon/Cosumnes Oaks football game. The Wolfpack was excited because this was its first football game against another Elk Grove team.

Though they lost 28-12 C.O. was in it til the end. They are doing lots of things right.
1.For a D-III school they have lots of players. Their roster outnumbered Sheldon's. I know they also have more players that Elk Grove, the only other EGUSD school I've seen thus far.
2. There was a good crowd! Lots of orange shirts. They outnumbered the Sheldon fans.The wolf howls got old by the second quarter.
3. Good sized band and plenty of talented cheerleaders.

Eventually, C.O. will win lots of games.

All Rumor - No Fact (or is there?)

I earlier blogged about numerous reports which pointed to several instances of "undue influence" on the part of assistant football coaches at Cosumnes Oaks High School. From what I have been told by credible sources, these coaches have for the past couple years been encouraging parents and players who live in other Elk Grove high schools' attendance areas to enroll at C.O. to play football.

Of course, that's not legal and can get the boys and the school all in big trouble.

On 9/1 during a meeting with the media, Sac-Joaquin Section Commissioner Peter Saco admitted these same reports have filtered into his office. He knows all about it.

The issue is that until someone is willing to step forward and with the Section's attorney present, talk under oath all about how the coach or coaches convinced them to enroll their son's at the school, Saco will do nothing. He can't.

So, if it is at all true, someone needs to be willing to talk to Mr. Saco. If it is just sour grapes or false, then this rumor needs to be laid to rest and forgotten about.

Let's allow Coach Ryan Gomes build his football program and stop poking accusations his direction. Right now, I tend to think it is all false.

Football Season Opens Tonight

I'll be on the scene at Elk Grove High School as the Herd will host Ponderosa to begin the 2010 campaign.

I have read the comments under our stories about the Herd football program on EGCitizen.Com. I cannot believe the attitudes towards Coach Chris Nixon and baseball coach Jeff Carlson.

I wish when I was in high school I had coaches as good as both of these guys. It really comes down to a couple parents who are unforgiving using the online comments on the Citizen website as their pulpit.

Whereas the Internet offers everyone a forum for their opinions, making false, insulting comments anonymously is chicken. Use your real name and use the online forums. Then we'll take your comments seriously.

Injuries On E.G. Football Team

on the eve of the 2010 high school football season comes word from Elk Grove coach Chris Nixon that two key players may not see action Friday night. Stud running back/defensive back Deon Ransom turned his ankle in last Saturday's scrimmage against Del Oro and isn't full speed. During Wednesday's practice senior quarterback Archie Schuster rolled his ankle.

In a text message to me, Nixon said he may hold both out of the non-conference game and go with sophomore Jacob Hinegardner at QB and another soph, Robert Frazier, at RB.

The Thundering Herd debuts their new pistol offense at 7:15 p.m. Friday night.

On another note the new snackbar/bathroom facility won't be completed. You'll find a row of portapotties. No telling how they'll handle the sale of their hotdogs and hamburgers.

Once completed the new facility will be really nice.

Chuck Roast Is In Roseville

A friend in the newspaper industry, Chuck Roast (aka Bill Poindexter), is in Roseville. A great writer and long-time newspaperman has been through a couple years of tough times with the downsizing in the industry. However, he's now back in the saddle as the sports editor of the Roseville Press-Tribune.

You can read his stuff in the Folsom Telegraph and the Auburn Journal, as well. Those papers are all owned by the same company.

Bill will be covering the Sierra Football League this fall which might be the best football conference in the Section - Roseville, Granite Bay, Rocklin, Nevada Union, Woodcreek - all quality teams.

Read Bill's stuff at RosevillPT.Com.

His son, Eddie, was a pitcher on Laguna Creek's baseball team, graduating a couple years back. Younger son, Anthony, will also be a pitcher for the Cardinals one day soon. He's a freshman.