SANTA CLARA, CA – Coaches and players from more than 30 area prep football teams descended upon Levi’s Stadium on Wednesday for the first High School Football Media Day. The event was sponsored by the San Francisco 49ers, USA Football and MaxPreps.
It was a long but fruitful day at the Niners’ swanky new digs, the site of Super Bowl 50. Coaches and players participated in media sessions on their upcoming seasons, as cameras clicked and reporters pondered what to ask players from such far-flung locales as Ukiah, Lower Lake and Watsonville.
The athletes were also introduced to USA Football’s Heads Up Football program. That included Heads Up tackling demonstrations and equipment fitting with USA football representatives. There was also an on-field photography session.
“It’s outstanding the 49ers and USA Football are reaching out to the high school coaches,” Hillsdale coach Mike Parodi said. “That was the third, fourth or fifth time I’ve been down at the facility and it’s great they’re reaching out to us because sometimes it’s not that easy to get that information. And it was cost effective – it was free.”
Parodi’s only expense was plunking down dough for four Double-Doubles "animal style" (onions added, I’m told) with fries and sodas for his players at In ‘N’ Out Burger following the marathon event. As for coach Jeff Scheller’s San Mateo players, they opted for Carl’s Jr.
“We met at San Mateo before and we didn’t know how long it would take,” Scheller said. “But after five hours young high school kids tend to be starving. It was all first class down there, though.”
Scheller said he reads accounts of games during the season, but that it was interesting to see other coaches and their players answer questions from the media in a non-game setting.
“It was something our kids will never forget, to be hosted by a pro organization and answer questions without dealing with the emotions of winning or losing a game," Scheller said. "I have more respect for the pros in having to go through (a press conference) after a tough loss.”
New 49ers’ coach Jim Tomsula also made an appearance, taking the time to address the players and stressing the importance of doing the right thing on the field and off.
“It’s good to wake up and not try to figure out what you did last night,” Tomsula said. “It’s good to wake up and not try to figure ‘Oh gosh,’ that sinking feeling in your stomach because you did something wrong. Try to do the right thing … This is huge. It’s high school football, senior year. It’s huge. Enjoy every minute of it.”
Clocking in at 4½ hours – I’ve run marathons faster than that – was the media day a bit long? Yes. I can only say that my Prep2Prep colleague Ethan Fore of St. Ignatius College Prep was so drained afterward that he went straight home and took a nap. And he's only 16! But the day was worthwhile for the dozens of schools participating, ranging from heavyweights like defending state champs De La Salle and Campolindo and CCS powers Bellarmine, Los Gatos and Serra to lesser-known teams like Balboa, Pajaro Valley and California School for the Deaf-Fremont.
“We’re from a small, farming community,” Pajaro Valley coach Joseph Gregorio said. “The first time a lot of our kids play football is when they step on campus. A lot of them pick strawberries and raspberries in the fields to survive and football is a great outlet. Our kids really appreciate being here.”
A more prominent Santa Cruz County team is two-time defending Central Coast Section champion Aptos, represented Wednesday by players Ben Sherriffs, Miles Boudoin, Jack Harris, Adrian Galindo and Austin Bartlebaugh and colorful, veteran coach Randy Blankenship.
Among other things, Blankenship informed the assemblage not every kid in Aptos is a surfer and admitted he sometimes forgets what play he calls before his team runs it.
“I’ve been quoted as saying I’ve been coaching for 39 or 40 or 41 years,” Blankenship said. “My players make fun of me and my wife has to correct me.”
Unforgettable for all the coaches and players, though, was the fun they had seeing the 49ers’ grand facility, stepping onto their practice field and fielding questions from reporters, just like 49er stars Colin Kaepernick, Vernon Davis and the rest.
“It’s been unbelievable – a great experience,” said Prospect player Trey Fitzgerald. “To be here and to hear coach Tomsula talk and to be able to answer questions, it’s something I’ll brag to my friends about.”
John Murphy is the Web Content Manager of Prep2Prep. He may be contacted at jmurphy@prep2prep.com and followed on Twitter @PrepCat.
