Former OCC coach Rosso reflects back

On the flow of a bright new year, one-time Orange Coast College

football coach Ray Rosso has chosen to reflect back with treasured

feelings for all the players who followed his direction through seven

years of tutoring the Pirate gridders.

Rosso, 86, who made his first sterling mark as a junior college

coach when he led Chaffey College to the Junior Rose Bowl and a

victory over Cameron Okla. in the mid-1940s, came to the new OCC in

1948 and coached the grid fortunes through the 1955 season.

During that time, Rosso led OCC to an Eastern Conference

championship in 1951 and to a triumphant season in 1949, when the

Pirates established an 8-2 record and drew a bowl invitation, which

they declined due to injuries.

One of his major highlights in recent years came in November,

1991, when his 1951 team came together for a 50-year reunion, thanks

to the energized efforts of two ’51 leaders: tackle Ed Mayer, a

Newport Harbor High grad, and guard Fred Owens, a Marine veteran. It

was staged on the OCC campus during the Fullerton game and,

afterward, in a social center.

Asked about one particular team tribute, Rosso said, “Well, to me,

any reminder of the players makes it so important for them in these

later years. Nostalgia and memories at this time of year become very

dear.

“Having said that, and recognizing that I’ll be 87 in March, I

also reevaluate the past with more feeling. For example, the 50-year

reunion brought me in closer touch with the individual personalities

of each player, seeing them in their 60s and 70s. I really became

impressed with how much responsibility I had in that phase of their

lives. And, in this respect, I reflect I could have done so much more

by being more closely involved with each one.”

Rosso, a Navy fighter pilot during World War II, said, “Football

is so demanding of coaches, players, their families, friends, the

community and the college, that it requires all of one’s efforts to

give the best one can to some awesome responsibilities. Sadly, I

could have done more. Yes, I did have other interests and needs that

would have given more return to the players, as well as all the other

facets of the supporting groups.”

He continued, “As it was, I was fortunate to have Wendell Pickens,

who helped us get underway. Then, a wonderful, small campus feeling

of adventure, plus the excitement of being the first in anything.”

Coast launched its first football team in 1948.

Rosso said, “Facilities were minimal, equipment was second-hand,

and needs were awesome in the beginning. But, never for a day was

there any doubt about wanting to move ahead.”

He added, “It was such a great atmosphere to work in. That is why

I feel I should have been able to stay with that work ethic with more

intensity; by being more aggressive in recruiting and being more

intense and selfish about the football program.”

Rosso said, “But you know all those points become marginal when

you meet 50 years later. Now, I only hope I was able to give the best

opportunity for the aspirations of any and all who had the need to

want to play football. I further hope that I was able, in some small

way, to help them in their later lives -- now that is really

important.”

The one-time champion coach said, “Yes, I would do some things

differently, but, you see, I had to learn by experience as well. The

bottom line is, I could have done more. Having said that, I realize

that my coaching career was because of a high school coach who cared

for me as a boy with a need and a desire, and he represented a

wonderful way to a future life for me. In a small way, I hope those

early OCC years allowed me to help in the same way.”

Rosso, who also taught golf, tennis and sailing for years at OCC,

has, at times, struggled in recent years trying to stay in the best

of health.

Yet, he has remained consistently positive.

He said, “I’m rid of the cane and I had an innovative shoemaker

put together a new supportive sole that has resulted in an almost

normal walking gait. It encouraged me so much that I ventured out to

the desert and climbed my old familiar trail in the Santa Rosa

Mountains, plus some hill bicycling. I feel ready for 50 more years.

“Actually, I’m just happy to be able to walk, to see, to talk, to

think and especially to remember.”

Rosso, born in Turin, Italy, grew up in the Oakland area and

became a top-ranking guard at UC Berkeley under Coach Stub Allison.