Catching Up With: Justin Shea

Steve Virgen

There was something missing for Justin Shea while he played

football at Colorado State University a year ago.

Sure, the Corona del Mar High product had friends there, as his

roommate was Pete Hogan, a middle linebacker for the Rams who played at

Back Bay rival Newport Harbor. However, Shea’s odds were too much to

overcome as a walk-on.

His love for football was challenged every day and it seemed as if the

game had become more of a business rather than his favorite sport.

It was time to move on, start over.

“It was a good time, but it just didn’t work out,” said Shea, who

starred for the Sea Kings before graduating in 1999. “I learned so much

from Colorado State. Football out of high school is just another deal.

You’re not going to be ‘the guy’ like in high school. You have to fight

every time to get in the game. It’s not a game anymore. Being a walk-on

is even tougher. Every day you’re constantly asking yourself, ‘is this

worth it?’

“So I came to Saddleback to give it one last hurrah.”

Shea, who was a defensive tackle and out of position for Colorado

State, is now playing defensive end for Saddleback College. He has

compiled three sacks, second on the team, and 45 tackles. But more

importantly he has found his love for the game once again.

“It’s been fun to get back in and playing,” Shea said of his increased

playing time at Saddleback. “At Colorado State I was just practicing.

It’s great to be back and competing. You’re not just practicing for

nothing. You’re playing and we’re actually having a good season.”

Shea, like the Gauchos, began the season on a strong note. He had nine

tackles and a sack, and batted down three passes to help Saddleback score

a 34-12 win at Ventura Sept. 8.

Last week he completed another nine-tackle performance against Golden

West, which the Gauchos won, 31-23. He’s also partly responsible for

Saddleback’s strength against the run. Entering Saturday’s game, the

Gauchos allowed 3.3 yards per game, good for fourth in the 12-team

Mission Conference.

“It’s just been fun to see all my old friends again,” Shea said. “It’s

been great to start competing again, to start earning it and giving back

to the team. I’m definitely ready to get back to a four-year

(university).”

Shea, a sophomore who has missed one game this season, plans to

transfer a Division I university, but he has not ruled out playing for a

Division II school. He knows that he is stronger and smarter. And because

of his experience at Colorado State, he has learned to savor every

game-time moment. The two years spent as a Ram has also motivated him to

gain any advantage he can when he returns to a four-year university.

“If it doesn’t work out, so be it,” Shea said. “But I’m going to try.

I want to transfer to a four-year (university) anyway and study, maybe go

into business. I’ll look into hotel management.”

Though Shea has enjoyed this season, it’s not quite as fulfilling

because his friend and former CdM teammate Mark Hatfield had his season

cut short. Hatfield, who was instrumental in convincing Saddleback was

the place for Shea, suffered a back injury in the summer and the setback

has prevented from returning to the game.

“That was tough,” Shea said. “He’s done with football. He’s a great

player, too. He would have come out with a scholarship.”