Prep football: Seeking status quo

Barry Faulkner

NEWPORT BEACH - Preparation, conditioning and team bonding all

began anew Monday as high school football programs across Orange County

opened fall practice. So, too, emerged the annual renewal of optimism

that helps players and coaches endure the long hours and hard work that

precedes the euphoric glow of Friday night lights.

“We’re all still undefeated right now,” said Newport Harbor High Coach

Jeff Brinkley, for whom, unlike his county brethren, the feeling is

hardly novel.

Brinkley’s Sailors, in fact, were the only county team to escape the

1999 season without a loss. The Tars went 13-0-1 en route to Sea View

League and CIF Southern Section Division VI titles, winning their last 12

games after a Week 2 tie against Marina.

“It’s always good to be back,” added Brinkley, entering his 15th

season at Harbor. “I think everyone is excited.”

Among the 90 Sailor players who appeared for the first day of the

three-day conditioning period, were gifted senior returners Chris

Manderino, a quarterback-outside linebacker who was the Daily Pilot Sea

View League MVP, as well as middle linebacker Alan Saenz, the 1999

Newport-Mesa District Defensive Player of the Year.

The turnout, which includes junior varsity players, is a new high for

Brinkley’s tenure, topping last year’s previous standard by 10.

As players work out in helmets, T-shirts and shorts, before donning

full pads Thursday, some noteworthy newcomers are also responsible for

the good vibrations surrounding the school’s 70th varsity campaign.

Senior linemen Scott Lopez (6-foot-2, 270 pounds) and Ian Banigan

(6-2, 225), both starters on the offensive line for Division I playoff

entry Santa Margarita last fall, could help fill some of the void left by

the graduation of last year’s all-senior front wall.

Yet another potential contributor up front is junior Scott Kohan, who

transferred in from a prep school in Pottstown, Pa., where the 6-2,

270-pounder reportedly started at offensive tackle as a sophomore.

Personnel aside, there is nothing much new at Harbor, where tradition,

repetition and hard work have become staples for one of the county’s most

successful programs.

The Tars’ scripted routine begins each day with conditioning from

8-9:45 a.m. After a one-hour break, they have a 30-minute defensive

meetings, then defensive practice from 11:15-1 p.m. After a one-hour

lunch, it’s special teams meetings (2-2:20), a special teams practice

(2:20-3:15), a break till 4, offensive meetings (4-4:30) and offensive

practice (4:30-6:15). The players then often round out their full day

with weightlifting.

Preparation for the Sept. 8 season opener against Orange Lutheran will

include a 10 a.m. scrimmage, Sept. 1 at Mission Viejo High.