NFL Helmet Rule could sap my love for football

Sometimes, you come to a surprising realization that you never thought you would envision.

The reasons why people are turning away from football from both a participatory and
spectator standpoint are vast. For the former, more parents do not want their kids playing
football in large part because of more information about the after effects of concussions that
have led to retired NFL players developing dementia, Alzheimer's Disease and ALS to name
a few. Other theories are a more vast array of athletic options.

The common reason given for NFL ratings having decreased are as a result players kneeling
and/or sitting during the National Anthem in protest of racial injustice and police brutality.
Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who is biracial, popularized the movement before
an exhibition game in 2016. Kaepernick, who had also been trending down as a player, opted
out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers after that season. Though there was passing
interest by Denver, Seattle, Baltimore and Miami, no team has signed Kaepernick. Translation,
the baggage outweighed the passenger.

There are those with pro military and law enforcement stances that have boycotted watching
the NFL because they view anything other standing for the National Anthem is disrespectful.
However, it should also be pointed out that there are fans boycotting the NFL because
Kaepernick does not have a job. By no means am I suggesting they are right but you would
be blind and ignorant to suggest such people do not exist.

I’m not going to go into any enormous depth of my feelings on the matter because I have
addressed it in this space. I believe everyone should stand for the National Anthem. Nothing
anyone says will convince me otherwise. However, my continuing to watch football does not
make me unpatriotic or UnAmerican. I remain unwavering in my stance: No politician will ever
tell me to stop watching football, no professional athlete will tell me not to honor my country,
no person will ever cause me to hate another person and my actions are my own. For
extensive reading, refer to these links:

https://vincedadamo.blogspot.com/2018/05/just-few-things-to-unpack-from-nfl.html

https://vincedadamo.blogspot.com/2018/06/political-opinions-by-athletes-should.html

https://vincedadamo.blogspot.com/2018/06/political-opinions-by-athletes-should.html

https://vincedadamo.blogspot.com/2016/09/examining-deeper-meaning-of-first.html

United States president Donald Trump has been a lightning rod in general but particularly on
this subject. He has called for players that kneel to be fired. Considering that Trump used five
draft deferments and did not serve his country a la John McCain, his takes on patriotism ring
hollow at best.

Another talking point is the NFL’s newly implemented helmet rule in yet another attempt to
add more safety to football:

https://vincedadamo.blogspot.com/2018/08/nfl-new-helmet-use-rule-impractical-and.html

I love football. I played in high school. Of the three major sports, football has always been my
favorite. Though I am finding that love being tested. The National Anthem drama was not
enough to do drive me away. Though I had a conversation with my father, who served in the
U.S. Air Force. He followed by saying, “You’d probably feel different if you were in the military.”
I love you, dad, but I disagree because there are plenty of people that served in the military
that still watch football.

The biggest reason the National Anthem was not enough to keep me from watching is
because it happens before the game and is rarely on TV. Before the game, I’m busy running
last minutes errands or going to the bathroom. Once the ball is kicked off, I’m not even
thinking about who is sat or stood for the National Anthem.

The newly instituted helmet, however, could be the final straw. I’m not there yet but call me
an old school fan that loves monster hits and fullbacks as opposed to basketball in pads.
The new helmet rule now has plays that are routine getting called as penalties. I haven’t
seen this many flags since the United Nations.

The intent of various rules is based on “safety of the game,” which in football is an oxymoron.
The game was meant to be dangerous and violent so let it be that way. If you are going to
Las Vegas, you go for drinking, gambling and entertainment. You’re not going for sobriety.
You sure as heck aren’t going to church on the Strip. To make another analogy, I’m not
going to a steakhouse for seafood and I’m not going to a seafood restaurant for steak.

I would hate to make the choice but it’s possible.

Week 1 Napa Valley football around the horn

Yours truly described Week Zero of high school football in the Napa Valley as “stinko.”

Week One was not a rose garden by any means but at least some air freshener took effect.
First the bad news, there were two blowout loses, American Canyon losing to Inderkum
(Sacramento) 69-0 and Napa falling to East Union (Manteca) 55-12. On the flip side,
Justin-Siena had a blowout victory over Healdsburg, 61-0. Vintage and Calistoga each
had late rallies fall short against Acalanes (Lafayette), 28-27, and South Fork (Miranda),
28-20. Then, you have the St. Helena Saints improving to 2-0 with a 26-23 win over Sir
Francis Drake (San Anselmo).

In alphabetical order, here’s a closer look:

AMERICAN CANYON

Though no team wants to be saddled with a 69-0 loss, I give the Wolves a pass. Inderkum
is no joke. The Tigers entered the contest ranked No. 6 in Sacramento Bee poll. I know
polls are subjective having seen Inderkum up close the previous few years, they are legit.
Inderkum’s Raymond Brown scored on the team’s second play from scrimmage on a
64-yard touchdown. Though the Tigers kept scoring, that was the only one they needed.
Inderkum led 55-0 at halftime.

American Canyon hosts Amador Valley (Pleasanton), which is 1-1 with a loss to Del Oro
(Loomis), 49-27, and a win over Irvington (Fremont), 54-0. The good news for the Wolves
is they will not face a better opponent remaining on their regular season slate than Inderkum.

CALISTOGA

In a 28-20 season-opening loss to reigning North Central League III champion South Fork,
Calistoga was slow in rising in head coach Jim Klaczak’s debut. The Wildcats had just 13
yards of total offense as they trailed 16-0 at halftime. Calistoga cut the lead to 16-14 and
later 28-20. In the latter sequence, the Wildcats recovered the onside kick but two false
start penalties hurt any chance of potentially tying the game.

Calistoga hosts Priory Valley-Portola Valley, which is located in San Mateo County. It will
represent the Panthers’ first game.

JUSTIN-SIENA

The Braves scored 47 points in the first half, 33 in the second quarter. The Greyhounds saw
their roster size dwindle from 23 players after a 41-0 loss at Sir Francis Drake to 16 this week.
If there is one thing that third-year head coach Brandon LaRocco has preserved is the strength
and conditioning program. Advantage Justin. Quarterback Barrett Donohoe completed 11 of
15 passes for 257 yards and three touchdowns, all in the first half.

Justin hosts Armijo (Fairfield) on Friday in what amounts to a key game from a CIF North
Coast Section playoff standpoint. Armijo is a perpetual tomato can but is also a SJS Div. I
team. If Justin, which is an NCS Div. III team, can win that game, it counts for much more.
The Indians are 1-0 with a 49-6 win over Mt. Diablo (Concord) and had a bye week. Justin
had a theoretical bye week in that it had an “empty the bench” game.

NAPA

On a night when Napa legend Jake Croxdale had his jersey retired, the former Indians turned
Grizzlies had their home opener go pretty similar to the season opener in a 55-12 loss to the
East Union (Manteca) Lancers. In fairness, East Union is a pretty damn good team. Leo
Bonilla was East Union’s leading rusher with 155 yards on nine carries. For Napa, quarterback
Gunner Schoeps threw two touchdown passes.

The Grizzlies travel to Nevada Union (Grass Valley) on Friday. The Miners won last year’s
contest 14-13. Like Napa, the Miners are 0-2 with losses to Yuba City 39-0 and Spanish
Springs (Sparks, NV), 47-13. While I’m not suggesting the rest of the season is so easy but
the good news is Napa’s two most difficult regular season tasks are done. The next three
games on paper appear more winnable. After Nevada Union, Napa hosts Riordan (San
Francisco) and Sonoma for back-to-back home contests.

ST. HELENA

For the second time in as many weeks, the Saints won a seesaw battle. St. Helena erased a
23-14 late third quarter deficit to win 26-23 over the Sir Francis Drake (San Anselmo) Pirates.
Cody DiTomaso scored the decisive touchdown on a 64-yard run with 8:17 left in the contest.
Danny Jimenez, who was playing in his first varsity game, intercepted a pass to stop a
potential go-ahead Pirates score one play after committing a pass interference penalty. The
running back tandem of DiTomaso (27 carries, 230 yards, three touchdowns) and George
Cutting (13 carries, 109 yards, one touchdown) paced the St. Helena offense. George Cutting?
That’s one of the better running back names I have ever heard.

The Saints offense may not generate a ton of explosive plays but at least this season the
capability appears to be there. Last season, St. Helena had to labor its way down the field.
The Saints are scheduled to host Winters on Friday. The two programs have met in each of
the last four seasons with St. Helena winning all three by a combined 22 points. Last season’s
scheduled matchup was cancelled because of the California wildfires. Winters opened its
season with a 21-14 win over Dixon on Friday.

VINTAGE

In a game where the plot seemed to change course multiple times, the Vintage High football
team lost to the Acalanes Dons 28-27 in their home opener. The Crushers rallied from a 28-8
late third quarter deficit and scored on Jesus Galvan’s 1-yard touchdown run with 1:05 left in
the contest. Vintage opted to go for the two-point conversion and the lead. The Crushers,
however, were whistled for an illegal substitution which backed them up five yards. In which
case, the plan changed to go got the extra point and the tie. Kicker Eddy Gonzalez missed the
extra point and the Dons were initially flagged for roughing the kicker but after a lengthy
discussion, the officiating crew determined the ball was tipped, thus nullifying the penalty.
Acalanes recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock to drop Vintage to 0-2.
The Crushers visit Lincoln (Stockton) next week.  

Aaron showed a lot of promise completing a 56-yard touchdown pass to Michael Webber
and gaining 78 yards rushing on 11 carries to lead a Vintage running game that tallied 241
yards. Viliami Schaumkel added 70 yards on 14 carries. The Crushers visit Lincoln
(Stockton) on Friday. Last season, Vintage rallied from a 21-0 deficit to beat Lincoln 24-21.

Crusher football hopes second half was more like it

Sometimes coaches can find out more about a team after a loss than a win.

For the Vintage High football team, that moment might have come after Friday night’s 28-27
loss at Memorial Stadium in Napa, CA. First, let me establish a few things. I’m not about
celebrating moral victories so don’t even think about coming at me with that line but some
losses are more honorable than others.

The Crushers entered the 2018 season with high hopes and rightfully so. The reason behind
the expectations are, Vintage is not in the Monticello Empire League anymore. Translation,
no more Vacaville. No more 2002-2016 version of Napa. Head coach Dylan Leach enters his
third season.

Then the first seven quarters of 2018 happened. Vintage slogged its way to a 35-7 loss to
Wood (Vacaville) and trailed 28-8 late in the third quarter Friday night. In the former contest,
Vintage committed six turnovers.

Somehow, late in the third quarter, the light switch illuminated. Jacob Aaron connected with
Michael Webber for a 56-yard touchdown pass that was a thing of beauty. Vintage’s defense
also rose to the event as Angel Castillo recovered a fumble from Acalanes quarterback Nick
Kresnak, who was a thorn in Vintage’s rearend as he completed 17-of-29 passes for 312
yards, four touchdown and one interception.

Aaron scored the second of his two touchdown runs, he scored from 20 and 29 yards, to
make it 28-21. Jesus Galvan’s 1-yard run with 1:05 left in the game cut the lead to 28-27.
Vintage opted to go for the two-point conversion and the lead. The Crushers, however,
were whistled for an illegal substitution which backed them up five yards. In which case,
the plan changed to go got the extra point and the tie. Kicker Eddy Gonzalez missed the
extra point and the Dons were initially flagged for roughing the kicker but after a lengthy
discussion, the officiating crew determined the ball was tipped, thus nullifying the penalty.
Acalanes recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock.

The game started about as auspiciously as the Crushers could have asked looking for a
bounceback after last week’s 35-7 debacle of a loss at Wood (Vacaville). Vintage took the
opening drive and methodically marched 12 plays and 80 yards of real estate for 5:52.
Aaron capped the drive with a 20-yard run. Michael Webber added the two-point conversion
to put the Crushers ahead 8-0. Aaron showed a lot of promise completing a 56-yard
touchdown pass to Michael Webber and gaining 78 yards rushing on 11 carries to lead a
Vintage running game that tallied 241 yards. Viliami Schaumkel added 70 yards on 14
carries.

Then Vintage’s Angel Castillo diagnosed Nick Kresnak’s screen pass perfectly and
intercepted it to give the Crushers possession at the Dons’ 31. Vintage’s offensive line was
imposing its will on Acalanes as it marched to the 6 before turning it over on downs. The
Dons turned that missed opportunity into a touchdown and subsequently 28 unanswered
points. Another missed opportunity that loomed large was Vintage driving to the Acalanes
10 that amounted to a missed field goal. Two red zone (inside 20) opportunities going by
the boards loomed large in the final outcome.

The biggest takeaway from watching this game is that Vintage is a similar team to last year
but matching last season’s win-loss record will be a tough task. The Crushers, who fall to
0-2 entering next week’s game at Lincoln-Stockton, went 7-3 last season for its best
campaign since 2000. Vintage went 4-1 last season in one possession games, four of them
were three points or less. That success is not sustainable in the long run because the next
season, some of those games go the other way.

I say this team is similar in that it may not pass your eyeball test but this team will keep
swinging no matter the score. That quality is significant because there were times in past
years where if a game got sideways, it was curtains.

The fact that the Crushers won the turnover battle 2-1 one week after a six turnover game
in the aforementioned loss to Wood is encouraging. Though Vintage’s identity on offense
is to maul opponents at the line of scrimmage, the key is to generate some big plays from
time-to-time. Of the Crushers 53 offensive plays, only 10 went for 10 yards or more. The
12-play, 80-yard drive to start the game was a thing of beauty that consumed 5:52 of clock
time. That approach is great if you don’t have negative plays like penalties and lost yardage
that sets up compromised down and distance scenarios but how many times does that
happen?

Vintage being 0-2 is not what most people had in mind but Vine Valley Athletic League play
hasn’t started yet.

If you are Leach, you see the second half and say, “this is more like it.” Now bottle up and
take it Stockton.

Crazy finish as Vintage falls to Acalanes

In a game where the plot seemed to change course multiple times, the Vintage High
football team lost to the Acalanes Dons 28-27 in their home opener.

Vintage’s Jesus Galvan blasted into the end zone from 1-yard away to pull within 28-27
with 1:05 left in the contest. Vintage opted to go for the two-point conversion and the lead.
The Crushers, however, were whistled for an illegal substitution which backed them up
five yards. In which case, the plan changed to go got the extra point and the tie. Kicker
Eddy Gonzalez missed the extra point and the Dons were initially flagged for roughing
the kicker but after a lengthy discussion, the officiating crew determined the ball was
tipped, thus nullifying the penalty. Acalanes recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran
out the clock to drop Vintage to 0-2. The Crushers visit Lincoln (Stockton) next week.  

“They said it tipped so the penalty didn’t count but that’s not the part of the game that
decided it, you go back to the first quarter when we made mistakes,” Vintage head coach
Dylan Leach said. “If we didn’t have mental mistakes and execution mistakes we wouldn’t
be in this position.”

The game started about as auspiciously as the Crushers could have asked looking for a
bounceback after last week’s 35-7 debacle of a loss at Wood (Vacaville). Vintage took
the opening drive and methodically marched 12 plays and 80 yards of real estate for 5:52.
Quarterback Jacob Aaron capped the drive with a 20-yard run. Michael Webber added the
two-point conversion to put the Crushers ahead 8-0. Aaron showed a lot of promise
completing a 56-yard touchdown pass to Michael Webber and gaining 78 yards rushing
on 11 carries to lead a Vintage running game that tallied 241 yards. Viliami Schaumkel
added 70 yards on 14 carries.

“I thought Jacob played a pretty good game,” Leach said. “We missed the slant and go
in the second quarter but for the most part he made some great reads and good runs.
He’s got a lot of moxie. Most importantly he hates to lose more than he loves to win. I
think moving forward the future looks really bright here at Vintage.”

On the Dons’ first play Angel Castillo intercepted quarterback Nick Kresnak to give Vintage
possession at the Acalanes’ 31-yard line. The Crushers marched to the 6 but got no further.
Acalanes responded with 28 unanswered points. Kresnak completed 17-of-29 passes for
312 yards and four touchdowns and at times showed great improvisation. Chris Rogers,
who caught five passes for 139 yards, was on the receiving end for two scores, 58 and 5
yards. Jack Muren scored on a sensational diving 30-yard grab. Lucas Eppinger caught
a 58-yard scoring pass.

Acalanes led 28-8 with 1:00 left in the third quarter before the aforementioned
Aaron-to-Webber 56-yard aerial. Aaron later added a 29-yard run of his own.

“I thought the first half was absolutely terrible,” Leach said. “We went down on the first drive
and chunked them. That’s what we planned on doing but had some mental mistakes and
breakdowns but I’m happy with the second half as far as showing some fight.”

“You have to make adjustments and I thought we made the right ones. I thought we had
the right play calls but you can’t start that way. They were in the exact same defense that
we knew they would be in.”

Defensively for Vintage, Pedja Zivkovic and Troy Ghisletta had a sack and tackle for loss.
Castillo had a fumble recovery as well as his aforementioned interception. Viliami
Schaumkel had four impact tackles (gains resulting in 0-3 yards). Zach Daniels and
Ghisletta each had two. Colton Foster, danye Contreras, Castillo and Zivkovic each had one.  

Croxdale deserving of high honor

At a time in which diehard Napa High fans have seen part of its history go away, there is
another part of the past that is experiencing the opposite fate.

Jake Croxdale, who graduated in 2008, will join Steve Hendrickson and John Boyett
among those who will have their jersey retired. Croxdale wore No. 11, same as his former
head coach (Troy Mott) who was also a tremendous athlete in his own right. Hendrickson,
who graduated in 1985, wore No. 30 while Boyett, who was Croxdale’s 2008 classmate,
wore No. 12.

As much as one can hold his athletic achievements in high esteem, Croxdale is dominating
the game of life as well. Going from athletic stud to US Army Ranger. I consider talking to
him about that transition to be on my blogger’s bucket list but that’s another conversation
for another day. You hear the phrase, “great athlete but even better person so often.” I have
interacted with Croxdale off and on throughout the years but have talked to both his dad
(Joe Croxdale) and Boyett’s father (Dan Boyett) quite regularly and find no reason to
question that description. My conversations with Joe and Dan have taken a few offramps
but I digress.   

The news takes place two months after a process in which there was a mascot change that
saw Napa High go from being known as the Indians for 120 years to the Grizzlies, which
was named last week. Croxdale will be honored in a pregame ceremony before Napa’s
nonleague contest at Memorial Stadium against East Union (Manteca). His jersey will be
displayed at Messner Gym in a trophy case and will also receive a second one.  

By my own admission, I have fired written grenades at the Napa High administration and
Napa Valley Unified School district board members for their handling of the mascot change
as well as the handling of the football team’s alleged hazing scandal as it pertained to Mott
and fellow coaches. I take back nothing I said or wrote. I’m sorry if they feel different but
I’m not sorry for how I feel.

The only reason I bring those points up is not to go down the same rabbit holes but if I’m
going to criticize for negative outcomes, I must be willing to praise when good deeds arise.
The gesture to retire Croxdale’s jersey could be seen as one to smooth over negative feelings
from recent decisions, and if it is, you can’t blame the powers that be for trying but I don’t
think that’s the case. Make no mistake, Croxdale belongs in such high esteem.

Look at the company Croxdale is joining. Hendrickson started in the CIF Sac-Joaquin
Section title game in 1981 as a freshman and capped his prep career by being named to the
All-State team as a linebacker. Hendrickson played his college football at UC Berkeley and
in the NFL for San Francisco, Dallas, Arizona and San Diego.

Boyett received first-team All-State accolades from CalHiSports.com and four-star acclaim
by Scout.com, Northern California Player of the Year honors by GoldenStatePreps.com, and
EA Sports second-team All-America. Boyett played his college football at the University
of Oregon and was drafted in the sixth round by the Indianapolis Colts. He also was on the
Denver Broncos practice squad and played in the Canadian Football League.

When I look at Croxdale’s jersey retirement, I point to the Indians 2006-2007 seasons. Mott
had taken over for Jerry Dunlap and was handed a turn-key roster led by Boyett, Croxdale,
Robbie Steen and Andrew Pieper. Boyett and Croxdale were like Napa’s version of Michael
Jordan and Scottie Pippen. Boyett played the Jordan role, Croxdale played the Pippen role
in that he was like a swiss army knife. On offense, he played tailback, fullback and slot
receiver. Defensively, he played weakside linebacker, middle linebacker and special teams.

The 2006 Indians reached the CIF Sac Joaquin Section Div. I semifinals only to lose to
Elk Grove. The next season, Napa reached the summit of the SJS Div. I mountaintop for the
first time in school history. I remember following the Indians from afar when I was an
Upvalley beat reporter and I attended a game as a spectator. This team was amazing to watch
and will be remembered for generations because such a team will be hard to duplicate.

Croxdale starred as a two-way player and possesses three career school records: points scored
(366), most yards rushing (3,190), all-purpose yards (4,703). He also has six season school
records: points scored (228), most yards rushing (2,035), all-purpose yards (2,984), most
tackles (105), most sacks (3), kickoff yards (379).

He was an important part of one of the greatest, most memorable plays, in Napa history.
Croxdale caught a 31-yard pass from Boyett on fourth down and 6 from Napa’s 40-yard line
with three minutes to go in a semifinal-round game at Elk Grove. The key play kept the drive
alive and Napa later scored the game-winning touchdown.

Croxdale, who went on to play his college football at Sacramento State, brought another
quality in that he seldom if ever missed a weight room session or practice.

Whether it is establishing an Athletic Hall of Fame or retiring jerseys, I have always
championed those ways as ones to honor the past. Napa High has had an Athletic Hall of
Fame for about 20 years, plus or minus a few, with many decorated members that span
multiple generations. However, with Hall of Fames there are usually five inductees per
year. Retiring jerseys, however, is really high esteem. All you need to know is Croxdale
will be the third for football.

The retired jerseys and Hall of Fame does not help today’s teams win games but it can
serve as a way to maintain that connection to the past and perhaps make youngsters aspire
to reach greater heights.

Seeing Croxdale honored in such high regard is a pleasant sight.