Finding football coaches (note the plural) won't be easy for NHS

Two weeks have passed since Troy Mott resigned as Napa High football coach.

In case you’ve been vacationing at the North Pole or the Bahamas, Mott resigned due to a power struggle with the Napa High administration and Napa Valley Unified School District after an alleged hazing incident. The administration and the district mandated wanting approval to rehire assistant coaches whereas Mott wanted the autonomy to do so himself, which is common practice for high school football coaches.

For further details about the alleged incident and resignation, refer to my previous column shortly after the news broke:

http://vincedadamo.blogspot.com/2017/03/motts-resignation-gives-reason-for-pause.html

I’m not going to rehash the details other than coaching staff members have been cleared of any wrongdoing in how they handled the alleged incident.

This topic coupled with the district wanting to change the school’s mascot name of “Indians” have been enormous hot buttons on both traditional and social media. Call me a conspiracy theorist but I can’t help but notice both occurrences happening at the same time. It’s a Donald Trump like smokescreen that has only risen people’s ire rather than diffused it. The flames are so scorching that parents have started “No confidence” petitions for both NVUSD superintendent Patrick Sweeney and Napa High principal Annie Petrie. I’m not one to celebrate the demise of people and nor am I here to call for Sweeney or Petrie’s ouster. That’s not my role but these petitions do not happen without reason.

The narratives are that either a) some of Mott’s assistants might reapply but only some will get rehired, which sounds to me like the district has a predetermined idea on who they will or will not rehire -- if they reapply or b) many, if not all, of said assistants have decided not to reapply regardless. Adam Croney, who was one of Mott’s assistants for the past five years, wrote a letter to the editor published in the Napa Valley Register, which was later shared on Facebook stating that he is not going to reapply. Many more assistants will likely follow suit.

Mott’s job as football coach is advertised on edjoin.com. Finding a head coach might be the semi-easy part. Except, it won’t be easy and it goes beyond Mott’s resume which includes a 94-35 record, a CIF Sac Joaquin section Div. I title in 2007 and five Monticello Empire League titles. The deadline to apply, according to edjoin.com is March 31.

Parents continue to be vocal in pressuring the school board and administration to rehire Mott and his assistants. By no means am I suggesting NVUSD will relent but that pressure is not likely to shift out of fifth gear. The next NVUSD school board meeting is April 6.

The question I have is, what coach, especially a proven one, in his right mind will want this job? It’s not just a head coach you have to hire, it’s the 25 or so assistants for all three levels (freshmen, JV and varsity) that mind you are doing it as volunteers. Good luck. Even if in a best case scenario Mott and staff return because they can’t find anyone, there’s going to be a ton of damage control. Ian MacMillan is one assistant that on the surface would make sense to hire. MacMillan teaches at Napa High, is on staff now and has head coaching experience (three years at St. Helena and four at American Canyon). However, given his friendship with Mott, that chance appears remote. Knowing MacMillan as I do, he would likely want the same autonomy that drove Mott out in the first place.

Napa (population of about 75,000) is not a metropolis, so you’re not going to find a deep pool of talented candidates. Sure, you might find a short term solution but that would be like treating a shotgun wound with a Band Aid.

Even if you want to make a power play for someone locally, good luck. Dylan Leach, who was Mott’s defensive coordinator from 2010-2015, isn’t leaving Vintage. Larry Singer is not leaving American Canyon. Brandon Farrell is not leaving St. Helena. By no means am I saying these guys are the second coming of Vince Lombardi but their names carry some credibility locally and regionally.

On the surface, the Napa High football job is attractive. You’ve got a winning tradition. You’ve got very good facilities. You’ve got a stadium that would be the envy for many programs. When it comes to high school football interest in the Napa Valley, and this is no slight to anyone, Napa High has always been Ticket No. 1.

Right now, it is Ticket No. 1 for the wrong reasons. To put it charitably, it is a hot mess.

Since the real estate market is on the uptick in these parts, you are going to be hard-pressed to draw an outsider. Plus, Napa Valley is a landlocked area that is tough to enter and exit.

I’m going to give a real estate analogy. Napa High football was like a turn key home. Not any more. Imagine you are driving by a house and you see a For Sale sign on the front lawn. The front yard is immaculately landscaped. The stucco and the paint job look flawless. Throw in some double paned windows and you’ve got a house with great curb appeal. That would describe Napa High football.

Unfortunately what also describes the Napa High football job is, walk inside the house and you see cabinets and countertops that are warped, distorted and falling over. Walk into the bathroom and you’ve got dry-rotted floor damage along with leaking sinks. Look in the backyard and you’ve got scattered engine parts all over the unlandscaped lawn from that 1981 Toyota Celica.

All of the sudden the house that has great curb appeal says “buyer beware.”

Move to Sin City understandable but victories are hollow now

The NFL and Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis not only broke the hearts of Raiders’ fans -- they reached into their chest cavity and ripped their hearts out.

The news travelled at the speed of light in both traditional and social media forums throughout the day and remains a heavy talking point as of this writing. The Raiders received 31 of 32 votes from NFL owners to move the team to Las Vegas, only 24 were required. The Raiders will remain in Oakland for the 2017 season, potentially longer until their new stadium in Las Vegas is constructed.

According to ESPN.com, the Raiders have committed $500 million toward the projected $1.9 billion stadium project, with another $750 million coming in the form of public funding, including a hotel tax passed by the Nevada Legislature in October. The team has informed the NFL that Bank of America is also helping to finance the deal with a $650 million loan after casino magnate Sheldon Adelson withdrew his $650 million pledge in late January, essentially saying the Raiders dealt with him in bad faith. It will be the third time in franchise history the Raiders will move. In 1982 the team relocated to Los Angeles before returning to Oakland in 1995.

The website also reported that Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf made a last-ditch effort to retain the Raiders on Monday, after being told by Goodell in a letter on Friday that the city's proposal was not a "viable solution." In another letter delivered to owners Monday morning, she asked them to delay the vote in order to give Oakland a chance to negotiate with a small group of owners to complete a stadium deal at the Coliseum site. She also requested a secret ballot on the vote. Schaaf’s narrative just smacks of desperation for re-election. The deal she had in mind was never viable. It was an attempt to save face so she could say the City of Oakland tried to save the Raiders. I can’t fault her for that narrative.

As I listened to talk shows and read social media posts throughout the day, I feel horrendously bad for Raider fans. While the term “diehard” can be overused, Raider fans embodied the term. Sure there is a bandwaggon element but that’s true with any team but you’ve got to be a special breed of diehard to stick with a team that lost 11 or more games in all but three seasons from 2003-2015. Try watching JaMarcus Russell, Andrew Walter, Matt Flynn, Matt Schaub and Aaron Brooks without going into concussion protocol from banging your head against the wall.

Raider fans had been through losing their team once before from 1982-1994 when they were the Los Angeles Raiders. After a 22-year stint in Oakland, they leave once more just as they are trending up on the field, going 12-4 in 2016.

It’s funny how my interest in the Raiders developed. When I was truly old enough to understand football growing up in Northern California, it was 1981. The San Francisco 49ers began their run of success winning five Super Bowls in 13 years. I vaguely remember rooting for the Raiders in 1980 when they beat the Philadelphia Eagles 27-10 in Super Bowl XV. The next season, they went 7-9 and missed the playoffs before moving to LA. I hated the Raiders in their 12 years in LA and rooted for them to lose every game. After all, in Northern California, we are conditioned to dislike LA teams. With the 49ers going on their extended run of success, I bled Red & Gold, going to games with my father, who was a season ticket holder.

In 1998, when I moved back to my hometown of Napa, CA after graduating from the University of Nebraska, I had a special opportunity to cover the Raiders for both the Napa Valley Register and Silver & Black Illustrated. For the latter, senior writer Michael Wagaman approached me, I said yes. Though I have changed careers, I still get my writing fix. I learned a lot from Wagaman in terms of the ins and outs of covering a professional team. I also owe him a debt of gratitude for reaching out to me when I was 26 years old.

I covered the Raiders as a freelancer for S&BI from 1999-2004, before resigning. The weight of two jobs and being newly married exacted a toll. Plus, the company that owned the magazine was forgetting a small item -- paying me on time, but that’s another story for another day.

Though the Raiders were terrible at the time I had left covering them. I still had an interest because a) their training camp home is where I live in Napa, CA, b) there were still players on the team that were there when I covered them and c) I wanted to watch them when this team became winners once more.

When I told my friends that I was covering the Raiders, I heard the screams, “How dare a 49er fan become a sellout and cover that team.” My response, “If you were in my shoes, would you act different?” I usually heard crickets. For lack of a better term, I went from 49er fan to Bay Area supporter. That got me a lot of slings and arrows but I was OK with that.

When I take a step back and look at the anatomy of the Raiders going to Las Vegas, I don’t blame Davis for taking a $750 million dollar deal when Oakland is no closer to a deal now than it was eons ago. I get it. The NFL is a sport and a business but not necessarily in that order. As much as I love watching sports, I do not believe tax dollars should be paid for billionaires.

So where do I stand on the Raiders? I’m not going to root against them like when they played in LA but now that they are headed to Las Vegas, victories will feel hollow. Las Vegas Raiders? I can’t say that interests me.

Time Out with Mariano Guzman (2017 Calistoga High senior)

Vince D’Adamo: What have you enjoyed most about competing in athletics throughout your life?

Mariano Guzman: The thing I've enjoyed most about competing in athletics has definitely been making new friends and getting closer as a family. Another thing I've enjoyed the most has been the competition there is and how serious everyone is about sports.

D’Adamo: What are your plans after high school?

Guzman: After high school I want to move on to Sacramento State to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish, and hopefully try out for college sports to feel the experience of at least club teams.

D’Adamo: What has been your favorite class here at Calistoga High?

Guzman: I would say that my favorite class here at Calistoga High has been Spanish. It has been my favorite because not just was I in that class with my friends, but I got to learn more about Spanish and how there is more than just being able to talk Spanish.

D’Adamo: Within your family who have been the most influential people?

Guzman: My dad would definitely be the one who has pushed me the most because he has always been there to tell me to not give up and what to do when things don't come out the way I want them to. He has always taught me to never give up and always keep pushing for my dreams.

D’Adamo: Name a historical figure, dead or alive, in or out of sports, that you would most like to meet. What would intrigue you about meeting him or her?

Guzman: One historical figure that I would like to meet would be Andres Guardado a Mexican Soccer player currently playing in Europe. Something that intrigues me to meeting him is the way he got to where he is now which is playing in Europe after struggling back in his hometown in Mexico.

Time Out with Kassandra Rodriguez (2017 Calistoga High senior)

Vince D’Adamo: What have you enjoyed most about competing in athletics throughout your life?

Kassandra Rodriguez: What I have enjoyed most about competing in athletics throughout my life is that every year is a whole new experience. You get to meet new people every year as well as learning new things and improving with other team members, but overall I enjoyed learning how to work as a team in order to achieve our goals.

D’Adamo: What are your plans after high school?

Rodriguez: After high school I plan on attending Stanislaus State University and pursue my dream of a career in Computer Engineering.

D’Adamo: What might you choose as a major? What intrigues you about going that direction?

Rodriguez: I plan to study Computer Engineering. I am intrigued to enter this field because I have always had a major interest in computers growing up and since we are entering a world that will soon be all computer based I feel like it’s the best fit.

D’Adamo: What has been your favorite class here at Calistoga High?

Rodriguez: All the classes here at Calistoga High School have been great, but I do have to say Computer Science, Science in general, and AVID have impacted me the most.  Computer Science as well as Science has really helped me open my eyes on a career I will be entering in the near feature. I have been in AVID since Seventh grade and every year I learn more and more about keeping organized and not slacking off in school because your grades reflect many things as years go by, which I am now realizing my final year of high school.

D’Adamo: Within your family who have been the most influential people?

Rodriguez: Within my family I would say my sisters Vanessa, and Marcela because they remind me on a daily bases to push myself to do things I wouldn’t really do because you’re only young once and you should live without regrets.

D’Adamo: Name a historical figure, dead or alive, in or out of sports, that you would most like to meet. What would intrigue you about meeting him or her?

Rodriguez: If I had the chance to meet a historical figure I would like to meet Grace Hopper. What intrigues me about wanting to meet her is that she was an American computer scientist and United States Navy rear admiral. Grace Hopper was on the first programmers of the Harvard Mark I computer and invented the first compiler for a computer programming language. She’s an inspiration to me because as a woman she was a pioneer in her field.

Pumping the brakes on JV success

Kool-Aid was once commonly known as a brand of artificially-flavored drink mix.

The past four decades, however, the notion of “drinking the Kool-Aid” traces back to the tragic 1978 cult suicide in Jonestown, Guyana when Jim Jones persuaded his followers to move to Jonestown.

Late in the year he ordered his followers to commit suicide by drinking grape-flavored Kool-Aid laced with potassium cyanide.

Therefore, the notion of “drinking the Kool-Aid” also refers to a blind belief in an idea or philosophy.

That notion carries into a sports context as well. As a practical joke in my years of covering the Upvalley sports beat in St. Helena and Calistoga, CA, I bought a box of Kool-Aid for St. Helena High girls basketball head coach Will Densberger. That season, 2008-2009 to be exact, Densberger was trying to keep various parents and players grounded during the team’s record-setting 23-3 season. This delivery came in the earlygoing of the season. My comment to Will was, “I drank a glass of this stuff, that means you’re winning the state title.” Will got a good laugh out of it, and kept the box near his computer the rest of the season.

Later that season, I remember interviewing Will for a feature story on the team, which was 16-1 at the time. One of my questions was to the effect of, “while expectations were high coming into the season, did you see success of this magnitude?” Will kind of chuckled at me and said, “Well, as you know, I’ve been drinking the Kool-Aid.” I could not resist but use that quote. Those reading the story without knowing the reference had to be thinking, “who are these Jabronis?”

The phrase I use followed by Kool-Aid sipping is “pump the brakes.” That notion especially applies when one assumes that a JV team’s success will automatically carry over to the varsity level.

I find it absolutely amazing when I see a JV football team go 10-0 or a JV basketball team go 21-5. Again, coaches and athletes deserve their due in that situation for working toward that success.

What I find nauseating, however, is listening to people say, “boy, just wait until they are on the varsity. They’ll kick butt.”

Talk about a very shallow statement. Then, these same people are befuddled when the same group struggles to achieve similar success on the varsity. There’s nothing wrong with optimism, but people need to realize that it does not always work that way.

I’ll give a small sample size of what I saw. St. Helena High JV football went 0-10 in 2006 and 9-1 in 2007. Which were the real Saints? The truth lied somewhere in the middle. The next two varsity seasons St. Helena went 5-5 and 4-6 in 2008 and 2009 respectively.

In 2005-2006, Vintage High JV football went 18-1-1 with Billy Smith as the head coach. Smith then replaced Les Franco after 2006 to become the varsity head coach. Unfortunately, the JV success did not translate on the varsity level as the Crushers went a combined 10-11 in 2007-2008.

While I have seen JV teams experience success flame out on the varsity level, I can only remember one bad JV team turn into a great varsity team. It was easily explainable.

In 2011, American Canyon High made its varsity debut with no seniors. Then head coach Ian MacMillan brought up six sophomores to the varsity. The purpose was two-fold, those players were varsity ready and give the JV kids that needed playing time the reps they needed. The Wolves JV team went 2-8 but I’m inclined to think that had the aforementioned sophomores remained on the JV team, the record might have been 8-2, not 2-8. Two years later, American Canyon’s varsity team went 9-1.  

No matter how successful a group of athletes were on the JV level, they start at 0-0 once they get to varsity — just like the rest of their opponents.

I’m not trying to douse any parades, but the realities of these youngsters’ varsity high school careers are not here yet when on the JV team. Plus, it’s not fair to put those expectations on the kids.

There’s nothing wrong with being excited about the future, but to think their current success will automatically mean high school success is premature.

JV teams with great win-loss records might show “potential” for when their varsity careers begin, but as the old saying goes, “Potential means you haven’t done it yet.”

That’s why all optimism needs to have caution.

The downside in getting caught up in thinking that same success will translate at the varsity level is that there are many unknown factors — some kids reach their potential sooner than others, some kids mature sooner than others, sometimes talented teams get under-coached when reaching the varsity team and sometimes lesser-talented teams get coached up to greater heights. It can even be as simple as some kids moving away, some losing interest in the sport, etc. Another reason might be that the JV and varsity coaches’ teaching philosophies of fundamentals and systems are not the same. Point being, sometimes people try to gauge varsity expectations on what that team’s JV record was two years earlier. Heck, I’ve been guilty of it, too, but the truth of the matter is that it is not always the best gauge.

At the JV level, winning is all well and good, but coaching the JV teams are more about getting players ready for varsity in terms of developing fundamentals and the right approach to the game.

If winning and proper development are happening, then you’ve got the best of both worlds. However, if a JV team is winning the majority of its games but getting away with fundamental mistakes against inferior competition, then success is Fool’s Gold.

By no means am I diminishing the importance of JV sports programs because, after all, they are the future.

One common argument I hear is that “JV kids work just as hard as varsity kids.”

True, they indeed do work hard, but athletic programs are not judged on JV success.

There’s nothing wrong with celebrating JV success — just remember that those achievements come with no guarantee of continuing on the varsity level.

Kerr, Popovich sparking political discourse is a good thing

The common narrative of the 2016 United States presidential election between Donald Trump (Republican nominee) and Hillary Clinton (Democratic nominee) coupled with the subsequent victory of the former was that the election was the most toxic in the country’s history.

I have only been alive since 1972 but I would be hard-pressed to argue differently. The US has become exceedingly divided for much of the past decade and Trump being elected the 45th president has only widened the gap. The divide likely would have occurred as well had Clinton been elected but that’s another story for another day.

In the professional sporting world, NBA head coaches Gregg Popovich (San Antonio Spurs) and Steve Kerr (Golden State Warriors) have been among the most outspoken critics against Trump coupled with leading the two best NBA teams. Their message undeniably carries much clout. Popovich has led the Spurs to five NBA titles and also served five years of active duty for the US Air Force. Kerr has six NBA championship rings (five as a player, one as a coach). Kerr’s father (Malcolm) was murdered by the Islamic Jihad in 1984. Given what these two have endured away from the basketball court, they have earned the right to speak out and I would say that even if they supported Trump.

Popovich and Kerr’s open stances against Trump have sparked the question of “should athletes and/or celebrities speak out on political and social issues?” Do they have an obligation to do so? To the latter, I say no. They don’t owe it to anyone to express their views if they are not comfortable doing so. They can do it on their own terms. However, since the First Amendment protects their right to express their views, their actions are fair game. Given their background, I will listen to them long before I listen to Colin Kaepernick, who gets on his soapbox about bringing change yet, by his own admission, has never been registered to vote.

The argument against them expressing their views is that while athletes/celebrities are citizens, they are more than just everyday people in that what they say and do has a far reaching impact on those who admire them. Like everyday people, there are athletes/celebrities who do not take the time to think about whether or not what they say makes sense.

While I believe athletes/celebrities should be educated on what they say and avoid belittling those with dissenting points of view, I see nothing wrong with them speaking out on their beliefs if the issue means something to them. Given the toxicity that has taken place with Trump’s election, as Americans, we cannot afford not to stay engaged. If you don’t engage on some level, you are a Trump enabler.

I get the narrative that people watch sports to get away from hard news but the “athletes should stick to sports” argument is like saying a politician shouldn’t talk about sports. So does that mean Barack Obama shouldn’t talk about his affinity for the Chicago White Sox?

Discussing politics has become an aggressive format. We live a world where people don’t just “agree to disagree.” We live in a world where people call someone every four-letter name in the book when encountering a dissenting view.

Given the aggressive format of political discussion, I can understand the reluctance to engage but avoiding political and social discourse entirely is not good either. The fact is, athletes are people with powerful voices that resonate. They should have a voice in what they think is right or wrong.

While I do not know the exact figures, I know that a vast number of professional athletes came from below middle class backgrounds. While they make insane amounts of money now, they know the struggle to become the people they are at the present time. Therefore, their voices can have a strong influence.

I also think their engagement in such issues should be a reminder to us to stay active, instead of just closing our eyes. As a former Republican turned Independent and now Libertarian, I’m as big of a political cynic as you’ll find. I initially became Independent because I felt both Republicans and Democrats have become too much into the group think mentality. I have no desire to align myself with either. My conscious got to me and I decided I did not want to be lumped into a political pocket. Then, I read about the Libertarian Party, which in a nutshell is fiscally conservative but socially inclusive. That mindset speaks to me, so I joined. That’s as far as I will go in discussing my affiliation.

While I’m not remotely the public figure of Kerr and Popovich, I have seen the importance of engaging in political discussions but I’m selective in whom I engage with and on which platform. Translation, my approach is “read the room.”

If I know I’m dealing with a person that turns political discussions into shouting match/name-calling nonsense, I’m done with them. I may still like them personally but politics will be an off-limits discussion with these people. I’m not going to convince them of my views, they’re not going to convince me of theirs. As for social media, I don’t post anything political on my page, not because I can’t take the heat for my views but because responses from others led to far too much toxicity for my taste. With my job as a route sales representative, I don’t have time or energy to police vicious responses that ensue. I’ve saved a lot of headaches that way. However, I’ll respond to political posts on other people’s pages to satisfy a need to stay engaged.

To that end, I think we should thank Kerr and Popovich for reminding us to stay engaged as they try leading their respective teams to an NBA Title.

Mott's resignation gives reason for pause

Sometimes turmoil ferments beneath the surface and explodes like a volcano. If you are a Napa High football fan, that volcano exploded several miles on Wednesday with the resignation of football head coach Troy Mott after 11 seasons.

Mott submitted his letter of resignation to principal Annie Petrie:

http://napavalleyregister.com/troy-mott-s-resignation-letter/article_e48e80ae-a100-5fcf-ac41-1148fe54b28a.html

The 45-year old Mott, who is a 1989 Napa High graduate, will remain on staff as a physical education teacher. The Napa Valley Register confirmed Mott’s resignation as football coach in Wednesday’s online edition. The program has been mired with allegations of hazing by players over the last two years. The Register also reported that the Napa Police Department has referred 14 players and one coach to the district attorney for possible charges.

There were also reports that the entire football coaching staff resigned following Mott’s decision but none have said so publically.

District spokeswoman Elizabeth Emmett told the Register the entire coaching staff had been told earlier this year that they would have to reapply for their jobs in the wake of the hazing scandal. That philosophy was not lockstep with Mott desired.  

Sophomore quarterback Johnny Torres has been the student-athlete at the forefront of the allegations as he faces expulsion in lieu of the allegations. Torres has pleaded his case at two separate hearings in front of a panel of Napa Valley Unified School District administrators. Torres, who has been an honor roll student has been out of school for nine weeks.

The Register reported that Torres faces allegations that he dragged another student into the locker room and held him down while another student “poked him in the butt” while clothed, Torres said that he had no involvement in the incident nor did he witness it.

Some of his teammates named him when they were being questioned in order to save themselves, he said. Those students have since told him that they knew they were giving false information and that they would straighten it out with the panel, he said.

The Napa Police, who conducted an investigation separate from the district, said last week that 14 male students as well as an adult coach may face criminal charges in connection with the alleged hazing incident. Another 16 students have been identified as possible victims, police said. Police have not identified any of the alleged offenders by name, so it is unknown at this time whether or not Torres is listed in the police investigation.

There’s a couple things I want to make clear before proceeding. For starters, when I stepped away from sports journalism as a career but established a blog, I mainly wanted this website to be about positive news. I support all the sports programs in the Napa Valley, from American Canyon to the South to Calistoga to the North. I have great relationships with many people but some days you have to bring a gas can and matches.

This would be that day.

Did something take place among players? No question. As the adage goes, where there’s smoke, there’s fire. To which extent is in the eye of the beholder. Torres’ testimony tells me this, it begs the question, there’s a difference between horseplay and abuse. How do we know if the latter took place? And if other kids named Torres to said incident when he was not involved, shame on them.

Another student-athlete linked to the hazing is Josh Marshall, who told the Register he was nearly kicked out of school until the district realized it wrongly included him in this fiasco. Marshall added that he was not even at school on the day of said incident.

To that end, the school and the district screwed up the investigation and it’s complete nonsense that Mott was backed into a corner. The district and the school are clearly doing this for self-serving reasons. How in hell do you link a youngster to an incident that was not even at school? That buffoonery alone gives me pause.

I have known Mott for most of my life. Our families grew up on the same street. I always admired Mott from up close and afar. Mott’s resume speaks for itself.

Mott’s career record at Napa is 94-35. He led Napa to Northern California and state rankings. Napa won five MEL titles and the 2007 Sac-Joaquin championship. He had only had one losing season with the Indians.

Mott, who was honored by the CIF state office has one of its Model Coach Award winners for the 2015-16 school year. The CIF Model Coach Award program is designed to recognize coaches who have served as positive role models in their schools and communities. A model coach demonstrates and teaches trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and good citizenship, the CIF said.

You also have to look at Mott’s impact off the field. The fact that alums and former players regularly maintain contact, watch practice when returning to visit and ask most anyone that played for Mott and they will tell you the lasting impact on their lives.

Mott was not just about winning on the the field, he held his youngsters to a high standard away from it. His philosophy was, “if I can trust you in the classroom, I can trust you on the field.”

He helped to establish “Athletes as Readers and Leaders,” a program where his players read books at local elementary schools while talking about nutrition, fitness and teamwork.

Sure, on paper, Mott’s departure goes as a resignation. Read between the lines, however, it was not. The school and the district wanted a say in whom Mott hired and/or rehired as assistant coaches. Mott’s message was “put an egg in your shoe and beat it.”

The common job market message is “everyone is replaceable.” Can Napa High find a football coach to win games, draw up plays, etc.? Perhaps so. Are they going to get the same quality back in whom they replace Mott with? I wouldn’t bet on it.

Time Out with Gary Trent (Prolific Prep basketball)

By Garrett Whitt

Special to vincedadamo.blogspot.com

Garrett Whitt: What was the deciding factor that pushed you to go to Duke over UCLA and Michigan State next fall?

Gary Trent.: Those three schools were all great schools. I loved everything about them. They have some terrific coaches. But there is no way you could turn down Duke basketball and the brotherhood and the brand behind it. It’s known worldwide. I would say Coach K and Duke basketball is probably the most known if not one of the most known basketball programs throughout the whole world just with their players that came through the past, the championships, their accolades. Everything that came with it is A plus standard and over the top. There was no way you could turn that down.

Whitt: Your best friend (Wendell Carter) is also going to Duke.

Trent: Wendell Carter (also one of the top high school players in the country) is a great basketball player but (our friendship) started about 2 or 3 years ago, we were at USA Basketball and we were in the cold tub. We were talking like which college do you like and stuff like that. Instantly we clicked. We started talking about Kentucky. We talked about Duke. We talked about Michigan State. We talked about basically all the bluebloods really and how we liked them, and what they could do for us, how they were doing that previous year. We just came up with a solution, like it would be cool if we could play together, win national championships and try to accomplish everything that we can together. I can help by dominating on the wing, and he can help by dominating in the post. We continued to talk we built the relationship. Our families got involved, built the relationship. Our parents are friends and it’s still growing. I’m so happy that we picked to play (at) the same school so I can have the opportunity to continue to grow and understand him and his family so much more. He’s a great player and a great person, and I love everything about him.

Whitt:  Reading your bio you are from the same town (Apple Valley, Minnesota) as Tyus Jones who was the Most Outstanding Player in the 2015 Final Four leading Duke to the national championship have you talked to any of the guys who have left Duke (the last couple of years) or the current guys on the team?

Trent:  Actually, I was born in Columbus, Ohio. So, I was born there and I lived there for the first 11 years of my life. Then I moved to a suburb in Apple Valley, Minnesota and I played with Tyus Jones on varsity, my freshman year. I started with him It was a great experience. He taught me the ropes early. He helped me understand the game better, he made it come easier for me.

The coaches are great as well. That’s another (reason) I went there. I love how Coach K hires old players that played in the program that know what it is like to be out there on his staff. That’s the great thing about Coach K and how his mind works. He figures out a formula that works and continues to go with it, and everything is great. The coaches’ pitch to me was that they want me to come out there being who I am. He (Coach Krzyzewski) wants me to come out there being the scorer I am. He wants me to come out there with my ego I have.  He wants me to just bring everything with me and just open arms to the Duke basketball program and the brotherhood and I’m all for it. I can’t wait to get there, start working out just showcase my talents.

Whitt:  What do you think will be the biggest change going from the high school level to the college level?

Trent: I always ask players that on the next level. What is the biggest difference? They say the physicality, the speed of the game and it all continues to go faster. Everybody’s bigger. Me being in high school, being a senior this year, this is the first time in my life that I’ve been one of the oldest (players) on the court because I’ve always played up. But next year I’m going back to being the youngest again. You’ve got to make plays faster. You got to think a little faster so it’s just a lot of great things. I can’t wait.

Whitt: What is going to be your biggest adjustment next year?

Trent: Again, it’s going to be different because it’s the first time in my life that I’ve been living on my own.  I’ve always had a parent cook for me. I’ve always had a parent do dishes. I’ve always had a parent to clean my room. So, I’ve got to do everything, and it’s time to grow up now as I’m molded and turn into a young man; Time management and being on my own is going to be one of the biggest things I got to look forward to, and I can’t wait for it. I’ve been waiting to go to college and be an adult in a sense I am alone for a long time now. So, there is a lot less time (and) just make great choices.

Whitt: The NBA notwithstanding, do you have designs on what you want to do, and what you want to study?

Trent: If basketball doesn’t work out, my dad (former NBA player Gary Trent SR.) always talked about having a Plan B. That you just can’t be a basketball player. You have to be a student -athlete. Some of the things I might want to get into as of right now actually is sports medicine.

Whitt:  What is the biggest piece of advice you have gotten from current or former Duke players as you prepare to step up to the challenge next season?

Trent: The thing they told me to be the most ready for is the life that comes with it. Stay humble. Don’t get too high. Don’t get too low. Just continue to be the person that you are, who you were raised to be and just be a great individual. But also, have fun throughout it all because it’s fun and it goes by quick so you have to be ready for it. Ready for criticism, ready for your teammates to help you out. Listen to the older guys. Let them educate you. Learn from their experiences. They can help you so much; that’s the best teacher. Just listen and follow the plan, and everything will take care of itself.

Time Out with Jeffery Harais (2017 American Canyon High senior)

Vince D’Adamo: What have you enjoyed most about competing in athletics throughout your life?

Jeffery Harais: Athletic competition is my passion in life. I love that feeling of accomplishment when my athletic ability shines. It’s a great sense of self pride to be that guy that stands out and pushes my team forward to get the win. I enjoy being a team player and standing behind a strong group of competitive individuals that have the same desires as myself. When I’m playing any game, I’m not just competing for myself, I am

competing for the people on my team and even my opponents. It’s not always about the win, but it’s important to always do your best and be your best and that’s what I want to people around me to see.

D’Adamo: What are your plans after high school?

Harais: After high school I plan on attending Sierra College. My plan is to try out for the baseball team and hopefully achieve my goal of starting a career in college baseball. I am ready to take my game to the next level. After Sierra College, I plan to transfer to a 4 year institution and again play the next level of baseball. Sierra College will be a great starting point for me. I will have a couple of friends that will be attending there as well and we plan to support one another to strive academically and athletically to have a fulfilling college experience.

D’Adamo: What might you choose as a major? What intrigues you about going that direction?

Harais: I might choose to get into criminology and environmental science as I wish to become a game warden. My mom used to work at Fish and Wildlife and I have grown up with hunting and fishing. There are regulations for hunting and fishing and to keep the sport fair and safe. As a game warden, I will go around and make sure that people follow the rules. Protecting the animals and fish from poachers is important to me as well as our lakes, streams and environment.

D’Adamo: What has been your favorite class here at American Canyon High?

Harais: Chemistry was my favorite class because of all the exciting experiments. Transferring the hard work loads into the experiment was just so entertaining to watch and do. Even though the work could get really challenging at certain points, I pushed through and eventually became more understanding and comfortable with my chemistry knowledge.

D’Adamo: Within your family who have been the most influential people?

Harais: I have to say my mother. She has been so fantastic and encouraged me to strive to do better and she would do anything for me. She has missed so many vacations to come and watch me compete and that is very inspirational. She is a very hard worker that will do anything for me. I like to say that she is tough, inspiring, and joyful. One day I will be just like her and I can not wait.

D’Adamo: Name a historical figure, dead or alive, in or out of sports, that you would most like to meet. What would intrigue you about meeting him or her?

Harais: I would have liked to meet Jackie Robinson. He was the first African American to play major league baseball. I would of  liked to talk to him and wondering how he got to the major leagues and what trouble did he have along the way. His story is awesome and uplifting. He had the competitive streak that no other man/girl could have. He was truly an inspirational athlete and I would have loved to meet him.