JEFF CLARK

Steve Virgen

When Jeff Clark was a child he wasn’t allowed to play football. So

when he went to high school he was aching to play the game.

At Corona del Mar High, Clark discovered the reason why he wanted

to play football so much. He found his passion and his niche when he

became a wide receiver. He also found motivation, which helped him to

become a walk-on at UCLA.

“By the time I got to high school I was so anxious to play,” Clark

said. “That made every game that much more important. I really

enjoyed football.”

Clark, who graduated from CdM in 1989, said his highlights in

football when he was with the Sea Kings include winning the CIF

Southern Section Division VI title in his junior season.

The following year, Clark endured knee and ankle injuries, which

made his quest to play on the NCAA Division I level that more

daunting. But Clark seemed destined to play college football and he

accomplished that goal when he played for UCLA.

“I grew up listening to my dad of his days playing at San Diego

State and having the full college experience,” Clark said. “I had

offers from smaller schools and I considered those but I felt that I

would miss something if I didn’t go to a bigger college. Plus, I had

a younger brother who was still playing at CdM and I wanted to watch

him. Being at UCLA gave me the best all-around package.”

While Clark played for the Bruins he was a 5-foot-11, 180-pound

receiver who could run the 40 in 4.5 seconds. He caught passes from

quarterback Tommy Maddox. The two still keep in touch these days.

Clark said he was delighted to see his friend’s comeback,

breakout-type season for the Pittsburgh Steelers last year.

“I was fired up for him,” Clark said. “We used to tease him that

he had the golden touch back in college. He was drafted in the first

round out of college and here he is back 10 years later in the

spotlight. He won the ESPY award for Comeback Player of the Year and

he’s coming back this year. His face seems to be all over the TV.”

While with the Bruins, Clark took advantage of the college

experience. Just as he did at CdM, he cherished each and every

practice and game he had at UCLA.

“At UCLA it was pretty unbelievable,” Clark said. “You can’t

really appreciate what it’s like with 100,000 people yelling. It’s

pretty impressive. It’s deafening.”

Clark also excelled in basketball at CdM. He still plays when he

can because he also has a love for that sport as well. Among his

highlights as a Sea King were playing in the CIF finals at the Los

Angeles Sports Arena.

Clark also enjoyed helping the Sea Kings to victory when they

defeated host Inglewood in the semifinals.

The experience, along with his success in football, helped him

reach his goals while at UCLA. His determination also aided him in

becoming a walk-on for the Bruins.

“The bottom line was that I lived my entire life playing sports

and I wasn’t ready to give up,” Clark said of becoming a part of UCLA

football. “Sports were such an influence for me for so long. I didn’t

think it was done. That coupled with the fact that I believed I could

do it. I felt like I could compete.”

Clark, 32, who lives in Costa Mesa and works for a business

consulting firm, is the latest honoree of the Daily Pilot Sports Hall

of Fame.