The Mud Bowl
Posted Sunday, November 1, 2009 11:21 AM

           In my senior year at South Pasadena High School I turned out for the football team along with several of my closest friends, Kent Warner, Bill Little and Chuck Hubbard. The previous year we had all played on the lower level team that had distinguished itself by going 0-9, though it was generally believed that we were better than our record. However, that favorable appraisal was not unanimous. None of us except Bill figured we’d be starters, but we all had dreams of being part of the team, getting to play some and earn a much coveted varsity letter.

           The Tigers had a good nucleus returning from a Southern Section CIF Championship team. This was a major accomplishment in 1959 since there were only three divisions then, while there are fourteen now. To even reach the CIF Playoffs you had to win your league, while now it’s three teams from each league plus “at large” slots in the bracket.

           In our first game of the season we crushed Hart High 34-7. This was a good sign, since we had played Hart in the CIF Semi-Finals the year before. I was thrilled to get some “mop up” time on both offense and defense. My best pal on the team actually started at middle guard because the guy ahead of him was suspended from school, and he played so well that he remained in that spot the rest of the year. I can’t remember if Bill made All Rio Hondo League, but if he didn’t, he should have. I say that not as his friend, but as a high school coach.

           Our next game was against Beverly Hills. On Thursday at practice Coach Solari named the game captain and it was Bill. The next best thing to winning that kind of honor yourself is to have it go to your best friend, and I was really proud and thrilled for Bill. He had just been a monster on defense against Hart, and I just loved that this honor gave him more pride and confidence. To travel so quickly the path from second string to varsity captain must have been amazing, a brand new definition of who you are. Heady stuff, but being a star never changed Bill. He remained the same guy he had always been.
 
           There was a tradition that the game captain spoke to the student body at the pep rally the morning of the game. Logic says that it would be a good idea to have in mind what you intend to say before walking on the stage before 900 plus people. I’m pretty sure Bill didn’t do that, but I have no proof. As he stepped to the microphone that grey, rainy morning it was pretty clear from his body language that he was more nervous than at any time previously in his comparatively short life. I can’t recall what Bill said at first, he probably can’t either, but his voice cracked and he was clearly flustered. He paused, gathering his thoughts no doubt, and at last said in a strong clear voice, “We’re going to rub their faces in the mud.” And we did.