The James Logan Colts Football program has always been highly regarded due to its history of winning teams, successful players, and respected coaches. From winning multiple league championships to having players go on to play at Division 1 universities and even in the National Football League, Logan has always taken pride in its team.
For the 2018-2019 season, the program is undergoing a radical change with a revamped coaching staff. The new head coach, Ricky Rodriguez, is taking over for Zachary McNally, who moved on to run the Whitney High School program.
“Everyone is on the same page and is focused on the same mission and that is bringing James Logan football back to what it should be,” Rodriguez said.
In addition to the new coaching staff, there also comes a change in the league the team competes in. The Colts previously competed in the open division. The team now participates in the Mission Valley Athletic League (MVAL) for the first time since 2011. This league consists of the local high schools that most of our athletic programs compete with such as Newark Memorial, Moreau Catholic, and the Fremont Schools. The transition is very meaningful due to the fact that the team is now competing for the MVAL championship, one of the most significant titles in Bay Area high school sports.
“The goal,” Rodriguez said, “is to go undefeated for the rest of the season.”
However, this complete rebuild of the program will not be an easy task. The preseason had its ups and downs, highlighted by the team having a solid showing in Lake Tahoe for their 7-on-7 league. Although the Varsity squad had a rocky performance against the Moreau Catholic Mariners, losing at home in the league opener, they answered back with a 51-14 win over Newark Memorial. The team will need to continue to trust the process in their journey to MVAL dominance.
The new coaching staff is clear about their team’s message. Rodriguez stressed the importance of the team being concerned about more than just football.
“We are an academics first football program. I fully believe that how you act in the classroom correlates to how you will play on the football field,” Rodriguez said.
The team is not only focused on academics, but the optimistic staff also is making it a priority to help benefit the community.
“We want to bring a sense of community and family back to our football program in terms of having relationships with the student body, youth organizations, with the community itself, and especially other sports on campus,” Rodriguez said.
Family ties are a common theme for the new staff. The coaching staff believes the team will continue to grow as they embark on the home stretch of the season. The team as a whole has really taken to heart what the coaches have been dishing out.
“Honestly, in my five years of being a head coach, this is as tight a locker room I have ever seen. Our seniors and our returners are hungry, and our young guys have essentially only heard my coaching staff and my voice and our expectations are through the roof,” Rodriguez said.
With all of the time the team has spent together over Summer bonding and competing day in and day out, they have formed more than just a team atmosphere; it has evolved into a family feel.
“We play with aggression and we play for each other. That is what sets us apart from other teams. We are more united. We are a brotherhood,” Senior Tackle and Linebacker Romeo Rodriguez said.
Team captains also had opportunities to sound off on the new coaching staff. Senior Captain Irvin Garnica summarizes the new regime.
“These coaches push us to our highest potential because they see it. They know the type of talent we have and how successful we can be as a team. They teach us to be dedicated and hard working in every single aspect of our lives. Giving up is not an option for us. This coaching staff cares for every single player on the team. This coaching staff helped us know and experience the feeling of a family. These are bonds between the coaching staff and the team that will never be broken,” Garnica said.
The new-look Colts have a bright future ahead of them. The team is led defensively by intimidating Senior DE Daylon Brown; and offensively by the talented trio of Junior WR Jeremiah Johnson, Junior WR Jamon Taylor, and Sophomore QB Shamoun Duncan-Niusulu. Senior RB Chase Sims leads the team in rushing.
This Saturday night, the team travels to Tak Fudenna Stadium where the Colts take on the Washington Huskies.
great article
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