Eagles shaping up nicely

Barry Faulkner

COSTA MESA - Most high school football coaches disdain the annual

three-day conditioning period which precedes the first practice in full

pads. So, imagine Estancia High head man Dave Perkins’ consternation when

it took more than a month for his players to get into football shape last

fall.

“We weren’t in shape until Game 3 of 4 last year,” said Perkins, who has

no such worries entering his second season with the Eagles.

“We made it a point this year to condition in the spring and summer and

have the kids do their own thing (during the annual dead period prior to

the start of practice), so they’d be in shape from the start. When they

came back (Monday), we had them run up and down a hill (on Placentia

Avenue) three times, without stopping, within a certain time to test

their conditioning. Every kid made it but two. We had a sign at the

bottom which read ‘The road to CIF starts here,’ ”

With only two having exceeded their allotted time, 42 of Perkins’ second

Estancia edition beat the stopwatch. This will enable Perkins and his

overhauled staff of assistants (only Jeremy Osso returns from last

season) to concentrate on more than aerobics as they prepare for the

Sept. 10 opener against Magnolia at Newport Harbor High.

Furthermore, Perkins believes the Eagles will be ahead of the competition

when they debut in full gear today. They aleady practiced and scrimmaged

in pads during a full-contact summer camp in June at Fresno State.

“Typically, the kids have to adjust to wearing helmets,” Perkins said.

“They complain that they can’t see the ball. But since they’ve already

worn full pads in the summer, we didn’t get that the first three days

(when helmets are allowed with T-shirts and shorts). And we don’t expect

as big of an adjustment when they put on the pads (today).”

The Eagles will continue to buck tradition by practicing just once a day,

a preference Perkins has maintained for most of his 18 seasons as a prep

head coach. Workouts, which include weightlifting, begin at 2 p.m. and

continue till as late as 8.