Honorary captains ready for battle

Mike Freeman holds a special place in Newport Harbor High football

lore. The tight end may have made the biggest catch in Sailor

football history.

As a senior, Freeman caught the winning touchdown with 2:44

remaining to propel Newport Harbor to their first ever CIF Southern

Section title in 1994.

“The championship against Servite was probably the highlight of my

football career,” Freeman said.

Keep in mind this is from a player that played Pac-10 football in

front of 90,000 screaming fans.

“It felt like the biggest thing in the world at the time,” he

said. “There is just something special about high school football.”

After high school, Freeman spent a year at Orange Coast College

learning a new position: He changed from tight end to fullback.

“I was only 6-foot-1,” he said. “Most colleges wanted their tight

ends to be taller. After I moved to fullback, I received much more

interest from coaches.”

The new fullback opted to play at California. He said he was

excited to play in the Pac-10, at a highly regarded academic

institution while also having the opportunity to play for a

first-year coach by the name of Steve Mariucci.

Unfortunately for Freeman, Mariucci left for the lure of the NFL

before the former Newport star arrived on campus.

After college, Freeman had a unique opportunity. He was an

assistant coach under his uncle at Corona del Mar.

“It was a very eye-opening opportunity for me,” he said. “It was

the first time for me to direct the players. I had always been a

player, directed by the coaches.”

There was one major adjustment Freeman noticed.

“It just felt weird the week of the Newport Harbor game,” he said.

“[CdM’s players] were the guys that were my biggest rival in high

school, and now I trying to help them beat my old team.”

Freeman said he is happy to be back in Newport Beach, where he

lives with wife, Julie and son, Christopher.

The Sailor alum is proud to be named an honorary captain for

tonight’s game. “I learned a lot from playing football, and I learned

most of it at Newport Harbor,” he said. “I owe a lot to the school

and the team, and it feels good to give back a little.”