Ogden did not take no for answer

ROGER CARLSON

If you were to take a good look at longtime Corona del Mar High

supporter Brent Ogden’s persona these days it would not be a stretch

at all to believe he was an expectant father.

How else could you justify the glint in his eyes and the

anticipation that oozes from every step he takes? Sort of like a man

awaiting one of the great vacations of his life. Or sitting pretty

with a long task finished with a flourish.

Another explanation for the longtime Sea Kings’ assistant coach

could be a coach’s dream. The Ogden Bunch, also known as the Class of

‘05 at Corona del Mar, is poised and ready for what appears to be a

banner year for the Sea Kings, boys and girls, from football (19

returning starters), volleyball (three returning with All-CIF

credentials), and much, much more.

In every direction coaches at Corona del Mar are presently rubbing

their hands in anticipation, including Ogden, who will be entering

his 19th year as a priceless full-time, unpaid, off-campus assistant

with a time commitment to CdM that pushes the imagination.

Business partner Cody Small, a Newport Harbor High product, would

probably agree with the description of time consumption.

And, what better way to begin the 2004 football season then right

now with spring football practices under way and a year’s project

completed with the realization of the Sean Fenton Scoreboard on the

Sea Kings’ practice field.

Sean Fenton, one of the school’s finest products, had his life

tragically cut short on a Connecticut highway in an auto accident in

January 2003.

A junior, he was a 4.0 student and majoring in computer science at

Yale, a member of football team in his first two years and on his way

when a jackknifed semi truck and trailer slid across the highway,

directly in front of Fenton and his eight passengers.

Sean and three of his friends died in one of those terrible things

that “just happens.”

Easy, perhaps, to rationalize, but very difficult to live with.

In the dreary and heavy-hearted weeks and months after fate ripped

apart the hopes and dreams of a talented heart, Ogden’s only answer

was to try to ease the pain any way he could, and he envisioned a

scoreboard on the CdM campus dedicated to Sean to help keep the flame

alive for one of Corona del Mar High’s purest of blue chips.

An endeavor which began with high-fives and virtual blanket

approval, however, ran into some roadblocks that only someone with

the know-how and determination of Brent Ogden Jr., a real estate

developer, could overcome.

The scoreboard, now in place, is probably the most magnificent

scoreboard to grace any practice field in the nation. And that’s not

an overstatement. Take a look.

It’s porcelain ... rust free ... huge ... and pristine.

It was supposed to be finished eight months ago, ready for the

2003 football season.

But, after being approved by school officials, designed, and

ordered, the Newport-Mesa Unified School District decided its

policies would be violated and issued Ogden a thumbs-down letter.

The district, however, with Jamie Castellanos a key factor,

finally gave way to its objections, primarily that Sean Fenton’s name

was on the scoreboard.

In a nutshell, some were “skeptical of the motives.”

I’d like to tell you verbatim of the “cease and desist”

communique, but I think you get the idea.

An objection to Sean Fenton’s name on the scoreboard? Sometimes

“policies” don’t measure up to realities and common sense prevailed.

Why? Unlike Costa Mesa, there’s power in Newport Beach. Friends in

high places can make things happen in the Newport-Mesa Unified School

District.

“Sean and I shared a lot of goals and dreams together,” said the

48-year-old Ogden. “But our greatest bond was our love for the school

and the kids. Sean will always be in my heart.”

Barriers still remained and in the end Ogden would be forced to

travel to Sacramento three times to deal with the Department of State

Architects before they would be satisfied with the plans.

“That school could be leveled by an earthquake and that sign will

still be standing,” said Ogden.

The sign’s cost was about $35,000. Installation costs were more

than $40,000. No less than three concrete-filled, 16-foot deep holes

anchor it.

“In the end it was all worth it,” said Ogden. “The family (Bob and

Janise, and Sean’s brother, Avery) is very happy.”

Nevertheless, of course, a hollow victory for the Bob Fenton

family, which clings to faith and the passing of time as the only

realistic sources of aloe.

The Sean Fenton Scoreboard is the second of three major endeavors

for Ogden, an all-league outside linebacker for Dave Holland and his

‘73 Sea Kings.

Already in place for a long time now, the first-class field house

and weight room named for Holland, which came about when Ogden joined

forces with John Walz, Gordie Clemons and Del DeRevere.

Presently, design and concepts are in progress for a “third gym”

to replace an unused “beach volleyball” area which was originally in

the area of the school’s first swimming pool.

There’s a real pinch here because of the lack of facilities for

the middle school grades of 7-8.

The scoreboard’s costs were covered by more than 100 donors, as

well as some favors from various contractors. “There were maybe a

dozen who didn’t know Sean and had no contact with Corona del Mar

High at all,” said Ogden.

Ogden has a list which reaches the floor, including Mike Perella,

but at the top are CdM Principal Sharon Fry, and Lee Gaeta, a

stalwart in the CdM administration.

Oh, as for the father-to-be suggestion, seniors-to-be Brent III

and Breanne, as well as Karlyn, an eighth-grader this fall, can rest

easy, as well as his wife, Katie. It was just a test to see if you’re

paying attention.

But the dream vacation ... that’s another thing. He and his son

leave on Tuesday for a June 6 date in France for the 60-year

celebration of D-Day at Normandy.

What better excuse to skip a few days from spring practice?

Hey! See you next Sunday!

ROGER CARLSON is the former sports editor for the Daily Pilot. His

column appears on Sundays. He can be reached by e-mail at

rogeranddorothea@msn.com