Hatfield makes U-turn in Utah

Deck Former CdM football standout returns home from Salt Lake City and

will play at community college this fall.

By Barry Faulkner

CORONA DEL MAR - Former Corona del Mar High middle linebacker Mark

Hatfield, who accepted a football scholarship from the University of

Utah, returned home from Salt Lake City last week and is making plans to

play at a community college as a freshman this fall.

“I just didn’t really like the atmosphere,” said the 6-foot-2,

230-pounder, who noted football had nothing to do with his decision to

leave Utah after five days.

“Football was fine. I was there for four practices and the coaches said

they were really happy with me. I was No. 3 on the depth chart.

“But the lifestyle was very different from California. Salt Lake City is

kind of a somber town. Everything shuts down early and everyone is inside

by like 9 p.m.”

Hatfield, the Newport-Mesa District Defensive Player of the Year and an

All-CIF Southern Section performer last fall, said he will play at either

Palomar, Saddleback or Golden West. Ideally, he would like to return to

the Division I ranks for the 2000 season.

“My ultimate goal is to play for USC,” said the three-time All-Sea View

League and all-district standout, who completed his sterling prep career

by playing for the South in the Orange County all-star game July 6 at

Orange Coast College.

“I was (at UCI) watching (the Trojans) practice Tuesday and a couple guys

who knew me from high school want me to play there. I’d even consider

walking on to play there.”

Hatfield is still looking into NCAA transfer regulations to determine if

he can leave a community college after one season. There is a sense of

urgency, about his immediate football future, since practice began Monday

for local community colleges.

“A lot will depend on what kind of classes I can get. I want to get some

general education classes out of the way and some classes get so full,

they close. I don’t want to blow a whole year (academically).”