COASTERS: Remember the Pirates

Steve Virgen

Monday night was a time to reflect on one of the most special

football seasons at Orange Coast College. The Pirates’ football banquet,

which began at 6:30 p.m. and ended at 10, touched on the greatest moments

of the year and coaches talked of their players, some who will now be

leaving.

The banquet was originally scheduled to end at 8:30 p.m., but because

of the impact the players made throughout the season it carried on.

Linebackers coach Mike Mayne probably said it best, “This is truly a

unique year.”

Before the coaches handed out the awards they spoke about the players

and the memories of the season.

The highlights:

* Defeating Mt. San Antonio -- Taylor and other coaches spoke of the

upset win over Mt. SAC. Quarterbacks coach Phil Cooper called it “one of

the biggest upsets in school history.” Whenever the Mt. SAC game was

mentioned, some players would cheer. There were plenty of smiles and a

few smirks.

*Mike Mayne on the linebacker trio: “You’re looking at the best

linebacker group in OCC history,” Mayne told the crowd. They will be hard

to replace. Naturally, Mayne was a bit misty-eyed when he talked of his

Roughnecks: Justin Blackard, Dustin Davis and Martin Janzon.

* Paul Briggs -- It seemed as if the people were getting restless and

a bit bored. But, when Briggs came to talk about his two players, kicker

Rob Pate and punter Eddie Johnson, the crowd woke up.

“I want you to know how honored I am to be standing in the vertical

position,” Briggs, 81, jokingly told the guests.

And the comedy continued.

He told a story of a vision in which an angel came to visit him and

the angel told him, “You were put down here to make the world a better

place and it’s going to take you a hell of lot longer than it takes most

people.”

Briggs was hilarious, but the most candid, intimate moment of the

night came when he spoke of Johnson. As Johnson came to receive a

certificate and hug. Briggs looked into Johnson’s eyes and said, “If I

ever had a son, I pray to God he would be just like you.”

* Gary Lewellyn -- the 31-year-old deputy in the Orange County

Sheriff’s Department was one of the reasons the team and the offensive

line improved. He received the Most Inspirational award, as voted by the

players.

*The OCC awards (as voted by the players)

Ben Fredrickson -- Most Valuable

Justin Blackard -- Hitter of the Year (Bill Jenkins Memorial Award)

Nick Higgs -- Most Improved Award

Gary Lewellyn -- Most Inspirational

Dustin Davis -- Coaches Award

Eddie Johnson -- Special Team Award

Johnnie Peeples -- Outstanding Defensive Back

James Dawkins -- Outstanding Offensive Back

Vance Babin -- Outstanding Defensive Lineman

Adam Fisher -- Outstanding Offensive Lineman

Martin Janzon -- Outstanding Linebacker

Justin Dale -- Outstanding Receiver

Captains -- Justin Simons, Johnnie Peeples, Dustin Davis

Martin Janzon -- Student Athlete Award

The Spirit Award -- Brian O’Dea

The time to reflect on the 2000 season will soon be over for Coach

Taylor. He doesn’t want the Bucs to be a one-hit wonder. OCC won’t

surprise anyone in 2001.

The expectations will be much higher than this year.