Bryan Luxembourger

Bryce Alderton

Beyond the X’s and O’s, the final scores and statistics breeds

something a little deeper for Bryan Luxembourger.

From lifelong friendships to road trips and games, football has

taught the 27-year-old Luxembourger more than he could have imagined

when he started playing in the Pop Warner ranks.

The former Costa Mesa High guard and linebacker on the 1992 CIF

Division VIII finalist team returned to his alma mater this season to

give this year’s Mustangs some inspirational words from his

experiences.

“I saw Coach (Al) Dies there and he asked me to talk to the team

about my experiences,” Luxembourger said. “I told them we struggled

at the beginning of my senior season but realized that if we came

together as a team we could realize our goals. We had a team of

really good players, we came together and were able to achieve

something great.”

Mesa finished 8-3 this season, winning the Golden West League, and

reaching the CIF Southern Section Division VII Playoffs before

losing, 15-14, to Gabrielino Friday night on a late field goal.

The Costa Mesa resident played linebacker at Villanova University

in Philadelphia following a stellar career with the Mustangs that

included being named to the Daily Pilot’s All-Pacific Coast League

first-team and selected Newport-Mesa District Most Valuable Player in

1992.

Mesa went 9-3-2 that year, reaching the CIF Division VIII Finals

for the only time in the program’s 44-year history.

The Mustangs lost 44-6 to Trabuco Hills that December night in the

finals but Luxembourger and the defense limited Trabuco to just 10 of

42 passes and 107 rushing yards.

Luxembourger has spent the last two seasons coaching 12 and

13-year-olds in Costa Mesa’s Jr. All-American Football program.

This season the Seahawks went 10-1 and went on to win the Orange

County/Los Angeles Super Bowl.

“They were the epitome of ‘team,’ ” Luxembourger said. “It was one

of the best experiences of my life. After coaching them, I respect

any coach that puts in the time and effort to teach. I look forward

to coaching with these guys at the high school level.”

High school sports represents competition in its purest form,

according to Luxembourger.

“People playing at the high school level are playing because they

love the game. In college some people continue playing because they

want to keep scholarships versus just wanting to go out there and hit

somebody.”

Luxembourger roomed for one year at Villanova with teammate Brad

Finneran, brother of Brian Finneran, a wide receiver with the

National Football League’s Atlanta Falcons.

“(Brian) was probably the best player I’ve ever played against and

luckily with,” Luxembourger said. “They’re both incredible athletes.

Brad had just as much skills as Brian.”

Luxembourger grew up facing the twins in high school when they

played football for Santa Margarita High.

One of Luxembourger’s highlights for his football career came when

Villanova played Navy his sophomore season.

“It was Navy’s 150th anniversary and it’s really what college

football is all about,” Luxembourger said.

His most memorable moment, or season, though came in 1992 for

Costa Mesa.

“We played for the love of the game,” Luxembourger said. “That was

a group of people whom I’ll always be close with.”

One of his friends from those Mustang years married his sister,

Christine.

Rick Hoffman was a center on Mesa’s 1991 team, when Luxembourger

was a junior. He and Christine met during a college banquet and wed

five years ago.

Wedding bells will ring next summer for Luxembourger when he and

Michelle Torretta exchange vows August 30.

The two met two years ago at a Christian retreat in Murietta.

She works as a title searcher for Master Financial in Orange and

Bryan has spent the last three years as an account manager with

Teksystems out of its Newport Beach office.

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in communications from

Villanova in 1998, Luxembourger spent a little more than a year as a

film coordinator in Philadelphia.

He helped create television commercials geared toward tourism,

which aired in Philadelphia.

He met television stars such as Luke Perry and Oprah Winfrey and

eventually worked in Burbank’s NBC studios on ‘The David Cassidy

Story.’

“It was a lot of hard work physically, but it was definitely a lot

of fun,” said Luxembourger of his experience in the film industry.

When he has a chance to have “fun,” Luxembourger enjoys camping,

dancing and spending time with family and friends. He puts coaching

into the “fun” category as well.

“The most important things are the bonds and the memories you’ll

have for the rest of your life,” Luxembourger said about what he

takes from football. “This game is worth every minute.”