Raymond L Solari (Deceased), South Pasadena, CA California

In Memory

Raymond L Solari

Raymond L Solari

February 13, 1928 - March 17, 2023

Coach Solari's career with SPHS began in 1954 through 1972; serving as Boys' Physical Education Athletic Coach including Varsity Head Football Coach, Varsity Head Baseball Coach, Director of Athletics, and Safety and Driver Education.

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Raymond Solari passed away peacefully on March 17, 2023. His great heart finally gave out just before midnight, and he's gone on to his next Big Game. Born February 13, 1928 in San Francisco, he was the son of Antonio and Vittoria Solari, immigrants from northern Italy.

From earliest childhood, his dream was to play football at Cal and beat Stanford, a goal he accomplished in robust fashion. After graduation from Galileo High School, he went on to play guard and linebacker at Cal under the legendary Pappy Waldorf; the team played in three Rose Bowls. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns and traded to the San Francisco 49ers whose doctors advised that he not play because of a back injury. He returned to Cal and earned a teaching credential, serving as a graduate coaching assistant under Pappy Waldorf. In 1952 he was drafted into the US Army and sent to Korea, where he organized recreational programs, taught English grammar to NCOs, and ran the library.

In 1954, he accepted a teaching and coaching position at South Pasadena High School, where he eventually led the Tigers to five Rio Hondo League championships, four CIF championships, and a perfect season in 1969. In 1972, he returned to Northern California to coach the Menlo College Oaks, overseeing the team's transition from a junior college program into an NCAA division III program in 1986. In 1999, SPHS named him Coach of the Century and named its football stadium after him, a measure of the degree to which he influenced the lives of young men. His unique coaching style combined strict discipline, quirky humor, and compassion. He was much loved.

In retirement, he and his wife Constance traveled frequently to Italy and Kauai. They were long-time subscribers to the San Francisco Symphony, and for over 40 years they hosted literary and artistic salons in their Menlo Park home. He was also founder and head of the Zot Party, a group of friends from across the political spectrum who gathered quarterly to discuss politics-luncheons informed by spirited debate and civility.

Above all things, Raymond was a man devoted to his family-a loving husband and dedicated father whose most recent years were brightened by the presence of four glorious grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Constance Hines Solari (SPHS '66); his children, Robin Solari, Antonia Solari Moran (Robert), and Christopher Solari (Jennifer); and four grandchildren, Arthur, Harrison, and Aiden Moran, and Violet Solari.

San Francisco Chronicle, March 21, 2023

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03/20/23 10:29 PM

Charles Timothy 'Tim' James (1977)

A legend, what more can be said? One of "Pappy's Boys" at Cal during their Rose Bowl years 1949-50, to 3-time CIF wiining coach at SPHS. Go Bears and Go Tigers...condolences to his family and to his players.

03/24/23 08:00 AM

David Alan Sato (1971)

I remember Ray Solari giving his athletes a military rank. When you started, you were a private. Those who excelled became officers and if you were a superstar you were a general. I think he even did it for kids in his gym classes. Like everyone else, he referred to me as “Private Sato”. Although I played a lot of sports, at 5’5” and 120 lbs, I wasn’t Varsity Football material.

One day, while training after school, Solari and a few other coaches were leaning against the rail behind the gym. I think I was running on the track. I don’t remember why, but he called out to me as “Colonel Sato”. I was completely surprised but I guess he recognized my efforts. It did teach me the value of working hard and that extra effort was recognized, if only by the reward of a meaningless rank. It also taught me the value of recognizing other’s efforts. Giving a rank was Coach Solari’s way of rewarding his athletes and motivating them to give extra effort. This was one of the reasons why he was so successful.

03/24/23 12:31 PM

James Tomlin (1961)

Coach Ray Solari 02/13/28-03/17/23

Although Coach Ray Solari left over 40 years ago, he remains a legend at South Pasadena High School in his 94th year. The Coach will turn 94 on February 13, 2022. Coach Solari came to Espee in 1954 and took over as Head Coach in 1955. I was on his 6^th team in the season of 1960, and SPHS football, and Coach Solari, remain an important pillar of my life, as it has for teammates from all his teams. If you played football at SPHS for Coach Solari, you’re a teammate even if you have never met.

Coach Solari was originally from the Bay area and played three years of varsity football at the University of California at Berkeley. At Cal he played guard opposite Los Angeles Ram great Les Richter and played in three Rose Bowls. Despite a bad back, which forced him to coach the 1959 CIF Championship game against Mater Dei on crutches, during my senior season the Coach could still demonstrate forcefully proper blocking and tackling techniques.

Of course, he was so much more than a coach; our memories of him stronger than the outcome of any game. By example he taught his players leadership, integrity and what it means to be a man. As Pete Westerlind [56] writes, “Ray Solari was a man of courage and honor.” He had a presence that summoned you to be the best you could be. This theme is repeated over and over in the comments of former players who responded to my request for insight. Bill Little [61] writes,

Ray Solari was my Coach, Mentor, and later my friend. Coach commanded respect as soon as you stepped on the practice field. He encouraged me, challenged me, and made me a better player and person. By example he taught me to go for the gold. One of the greatest moments for me was at the Coach of the Century celebration: Coach looked at me in my mid fifties and said “You look ready to suit up.” I replied “Let's Go.”

Pat Forster [61] adds,

As an adult, one often looks back on which teachers had the greatest impact on your life during your impressionable teenage years. Coach Solari was more than a great football coach. He taught me what it meant to be part of a winning team and what type of leadership style it takes to create such a team

And Peter Warner, the All RHL quarterback from the 1963 CIF champions reflects,

One of my favorite memories of playing for Coach was during our final practice prior to playing Temple City, for the Rio Hondo League Championship. Two years earlier they won on the infamous "bounce pass game," and the next year they won again for the title. We were gearing up to avenge these losses and Coach was pumping us up as we were doing our stretching. He got to a point where he said "...are we going to win tomorrow?" In a testosterone-fueled chorus the team growled "YES" . Then he asked .... "Is talk cheap?"....a pregnant pause ensued prior to the humbled response of ......." YES." .......what a motivator he was for us - in every way, in football and for life after football. I still blurt out BALL! when I'm watching a game and there's a fumble - it's ingrained forever.

And Jim Harris [59] says,

The Duke of Wellington after leading the British to the key battle of Waterloo is purported to have said “The battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton.” If men are indeed formed by high school playing fields, our general, our Wellington, was our coach, Ray Solari.

John Ludlow [59] writes

Coach taught us self-discipline, to work hard to achieve something, to never give up. We were the first team to wear the Silver and black uniforms, which I think SP still wears.

Most of the coaches in the 1950s, 60s and 70s had served in the military during World War II or Korea. They tended to treat their players like drill sergeants who attempt to weed out the weak. Coach Solari wanted to raise you up to be strong. One lower level coach apparently assumed most of us were hearing impaired. We were grateful the week he lost his voice. Coaches like that were perhaps feared, but never loved. I never saw Coach Solari use profanity, demean, or ridicule a player. Usually he explained what had been incorrectly done; a blown assignment, a missed block or tackle. Once he said to me, “You’re better than that,” his strongest admonition. He made us want to be better, mostly so as not to disappoint him: a valuable lesson in leadership. Baseball, basketball and football standout Bill Archer [56] writes of Coach Solari,

In order for me to compete I had to work myself up into a state of hyper aggressiveness. Trying to practice and play this way gave rise to a lot of confrontations. Coach Solari took the time to talk me down and try to help me compete intensely but avoid reaching the point where my conduct would cause the inevitable hostile reaction.

Bill’s younger brother Mike [57], an All CIF selection, adds,

I know without his tutelage and encouragement I wouldn’t have come close to these honors. I remember the day he was passing out our orange game jersey’s and he tossed me mine saying, “somebody has to wear this” – no. 69 – the number he wore at Cal, an honor.

I once hit a San Marino receiver in the end zone, separating him from the ball, and hoped at film review to receive special mention. The hit didn’t appear nearly as good on film. Afterward, Coach asked me to stay and ran it for me again, pointing out that I had left my man open, and Mike Paris appeared to have the receiver adequately covered. It was a reminder that there are 11 guys out there and every one of the moving parts had to be in sync. When praise did come, we knew it was well deserved, and it meant that much more, another lesson in leadership. You don’t get a trophy just for showing up. The Coach had an uncanny ability to recognize what some of the lesser players could do well, and then put them in a position to shine. Fred Romero [60], who started in football, basketball and baseball and was a Weldon Award winner, writes that Coach believed,

Every Kid is Coachable. Mr. Solari's optimism and belief that you could nudge anyone in a positive direction was paramount in his coaching. He emphasized preparation and execution. With enough repetitions (and conditioning) even the average kid could shine and one day, make a play.

“Teamwork, teamwork, & teamwork = Espee football,” writes John Kovac [61]. In those low tech years, Coach Solari had a single assistant and perhaps a friend to help with scouting. His halftime adjustments were the stuff of legends, and his preparation for games was a lesson in paying attention to detail. A great accomplishment was the defensive scheme that shut out offensive powerhouse and Bonita in the 1969 CIF Finals. Ed Loosli [60], a three sport star and a member of the 1959 CIF Champions, writes,

Coach Solari was a lot like Coach Wooden at UCLA in his total attention to detail. From what kind of socks to wear to having everyone know each other’s assignments, nothing was left to chance.

I don’t know if the Coach was the first to say, “Luck begins with preparation,” but he lived it, from the appearance of our uniforms to the white socks on our feet. Nick Winslow [60] recalls,

Playing football at South Pasadena for Ray Solari was an important part of my adolescence. We worked very hard, we experienced some pain, we worked together, we worked for a common purpose, we played within the rules, we bonded and had a great time…….Everyone who played on that 1959 championship team was a winner and took that winning attitude with them as they moved forward in life. We all came out of the high school football experience stronger, more confident and with a truer moral compass than we had going in.

Dave Dickson [61], the quarterback who called and threw the play action TD pass to close out Mater Dei with two minutes left in the 1959 CIF Title game once said to me,

It wasn’t just about football, Coach Solari was showing you how to get the most out of what you had, and he believed in you more than you believed in yourself.

And Coach Solari wrote to me in 1986,

Thank you for the compliments. I cannot think of anything more rewarding in life than to have any kind of positive influence on the lives of young people.

Coach Solari was also my Driver Education instructor teacher, and accompanied by Bill Little and John LaPointe, we traversed the highways and byways of South Pasadena. Coach was a calming, patient influence. If facial expressions are a guide, the Coach was amazed by our lack of knowledge of what was under the hood of the vehicle, but he didn’t make us feel stupid. He did however, upon the completion of our week of behind the wheel training, disavow any responsibility for what any of us might ever do while driving. I think it would amuse him to know that John flew jets with the Air Force Thunderbirds.

Guys who played for Coach Solari share so much across the years of Tiger Football, and everyone who responded remembers the way we were, and can recall warmheartedly stories of “The Rock” as he was sometimes called after demonstrating proper blocking technique to Dave Black [59], a weekly “El Socko” selection. Without exception, former players expressed the sadness when it was over. Jim Sheffer [57], the top running back on the 1955, 1956, 1957 teams, remembers:

He was a good example and role model needed in the teen age years and as a reference throughout life. Way back in 1955, we were part of coach Solari’s first championship team – a great honor. Under his coaching SPHS won many Rio Hondo and CIF Championships.Wow, what a great history!

All agreed with Nick Winslow [60] about the hard work, wind sprints, bear crawls and a “Big Three” ending practice after two plus hours of drills, hitting and scrimmage:

Winning the CIF championship in 1959 set us apart from all prior teams. It was the ultimate reward for a bunch of guys who worked very hard in a system that allowed us to succeed.

And Peter Warner, the All RHL quarterback from the 1963 CIF champions reflects,

We were a fine-tuned machine, honed to win by a principled man who taught us so much about how to live our lives along the way. Thanks, Coach, for everything, you inspired emulation.

Many people forget that Coach Solari was also an outstanding baseball coach, and actually won more Rio Hondo League Championships [7] in baseball than in football [6]. His baseball teams won two CIF Championships in 1955 and 1959. There can’t be many coaches with that kind of record. Fred Romero [60] writes,

Baseball by The Book. Coach Solari had great baseball talent to work with, and he made it succeed. While not a baseball star himself, his attention to the fundamentals of the game were flawless. Springtime at the Arroyo Seco field made executing his endless ground ball reps almost a joy.

Coach Solari didn’t forget us when we graduated; he continued to be a source of guidance for me and for many others. I became a teacher/coach and even when I couldn’t call him up for advice, I was nevertheless able to ask myself how Coach would handle a problem, or what he would think about a particular idea. And of course, he was always there for you. Dave Currey [61], a captain on our 1960 team and the athletic director at Chapman University in Orange writes:

Coach was a teacher and second father to me in many ways. He helped shaped my life and future directions. I entered the coaching profession because of his example and dedication. He was always there to give advice and support with my career decisions. I owe him much credit for successes that followed. I am also honored to be his son’s God Father. His leadership, toughness, and ‘big picture’ attitude will always be remembered and cherished.

I think it’s fair to say that Coach Solari’s players got everything and more out of Tiger Football that you’re supposed to receive from athletics. Rob Phair [63], from the 1962 CIF Champions, sums it up well,

Being on the football team filled me with pride and confidence. I felt that I had to work hard and I trusted Coach Solari. He required that you maintain a focus on the field and off the field. I trusted his regimen. If you followed his program you would succeed. His respect, I believe was paramount. I feel it was a seminal experience for me to be on a team that won CIF. Just this week, I was explaining to my son-in-law (father of three of my grandsons) that the experience of being on a team at some point in your life that accomplishes the type of success that I was privileged to enjoy is a touchstone. It serves to show you what you can do and what it feels like.

Not every one of Coach Solari’s teams won a CIF or RHL title, but to a man, even players on those teams feel the same way about the Coach and describe their experience in much the same way as do the CIF Champions. Jim Harris [59] an excellent quarterback on a 4-4-1 team, is eloquent in his description,

Coach Solari mattered! He mattered profoundly to the hundreds of young men he influenced over his lifetime. His memory abounds with their respect and gratitude. He inspired us to excel, and he inspired wisdom, dedication and commitment among his charges. Who could ask for anything more?

I talked to Coach Solari on the phone for this article. He was enthusiastic and excited, with total recall of players, games and of course the 40-41 “bounce pass” loss to Temple City that kept the 1960 team from participating in the CIF Playoffs. Coach recalled that the referee closest to play ruled that the ball bounced, but the back judge, farthest from the play, called it a catch. The head referee, Jim Tunney, later an NFL Official for 31 years, had the final decision and called it a catch. Instead of turning the ball over to us, Temple City went on to score the winning points. As for me, I knew a couple of Temple City players in college, one of whom said to me, “Yea it bounced, what did you want us to do?” To which Coach laughed and remarked, “Surely I will be presented with that trophy in Heaven.”

Without doubt, that’s the place he’ll be. A brief summary of Coach Solari’s time at South Pasadena High.

Head Football Coach Record 1956-1971: 116 wins 39 losses 5 ties

CIF Southern Section Football Championships: Four

CIF Southern Section Football Finalist Runner-up: One

Rio Hondo League Football Championships: Five

Rio Hondo League Baseball Championships: Seven

1969 LA Times Coach of the Year

Approximate Number of Students & Athletes that Attended Mr. Solari’s Classes from 1954 – 1772: 4,000.

03/25/23 07:37 AM

Scott Farrow (1970)

Yes Sir! And God Speed.

Scott Farow (1969 football) and on behalf of Don Farrow (1964 football; 1965 baseball)

04/06/23 08:29 AM

William W Cleary (1970)

The Magic of Coach Ray Solari

Coach Solari's magic was his ability to turn average, small town teenage boys who loved to throw the football around, into State champions. In fact, Coach Solari earned five SPHS league championships.

It was never about the individual or the star players; it was always about working together as a team. Coach Solari had a memorable style that combined discipline with humor to instill responsibility amongst all the players. Many lessons learned continued beyond the field. In turn, respect for Coach Solari was unchallenged.

Coach Solari's legacy lives through all of us who had the privilege of knowing him.

06/14/23 08:44 PM

Loren Scott Shumer (1965)

Ray Solari’s teams in the CIF finals:

1956 Lower Division - North: Mater Dei 20 SPHS 0 Ray’s 1st year as head coach

1959 AA SPHS 28 Mater Dei 14

1962 AAA SPHS 27 Bishop Amat 20

1966 AAA SPHS 28 Morningside 13

1969 AAA SPHS 10 Bonita 0 Ray’s only undefeated team

To put this in perspective, SPHS, a 3 year high school with enrollment of anywhere between 800 to 900 students, was always playing in the second highest CIF football bracket: a true-to-life David vs. Goliath endeavor. His 4 CIF championships were garnered during an 11 time span.

In 1962 (CIF championship team) Ron Jackson, the starting strong side guard, had a habit of being tardy to a particular class. The teacher reached out to Ray and that day, while we were going through our warm ups for practice, Coach informed Ron (and everyone else) that Ron could/should ("could" for Ron and "should" for the rest of us) never be late to that class again.

About 2 weeks later on a Monday, Ray again addressed Ron in front of the team during warm ups and said that the same teacher had talked to him about Ron's latest tardy; Ray informed him it would cost 500 yards of bear crawls for being tardy. Ron immediately stood up and said it wasn't true, practically begging Coach to believe him. Ray's wisdom prevailed; Ron would have to do those bear crawls under the supervision of the team manager. They had to be finished by the end of Wednesday's practice. If he hadn't been tardy, then those 500 yards of bear crawls would be put into "the bank" and Ron could withdrawal the requisite number of bear crawls for when the campus wasn't clean enough after lunch -- for every grade under an A the price was 100 yards, B = 100 yards, C = 200 yards, etc.

1 week later Ray addressed Ron and the team for an update. The teacher HAD been wrong and Ron now had 500 yards of bear crawls in the bank. Ron broke out with the biggest smile he could show. When he "withdrew" his bear crawls, he stood leaning on a goal post, grinning.

Veteran’s Day practice, November 12, 1963 Practice started at 10:00 am (school holiday). As we should remember even today: if you were late to practice it would cost you 100 yards of bear crawls for each minute. Now also remember, we practiced on the grass field, east of the tennis courts next to the auditorium (to get to our practice field, upon leaving the team locker room located under the stadium’s home grand stands, (1) a player had to go northeast across the field; (2) run past the gymnasium; (3) go across Diamond Ave; (4) go past the tennis courts; and, (5) hop over a short wall); also most of the shoe's cleats were metal tipped then. Warm ups were over; practice had started.

The offensive backs' individual practice area was by that short wall adjacent to the tennis courts. About halfway during our segment, we started to hear that distinctive sound of a person wearing football cleats running (to be honest, sort of running but getting slower each minute) on cement toward us. As that person got closer, all we heard was the person muttering, "Oh god, oh god!" over and over again. We backs stopped what we were doing, turning left to see the clock on the auditorium: 10:18. There was little doubt the player was still some distance from us. We backs all looked around -- all backs present and accounted for! He was either a lineman or a receiver. By the huffing and puffing we heard, it had to be a lineman, a lineman who was not in good shape. Even Coach Swift was going to let this drama play out.

10:19: the sound of the cleats on the cement was getting louder but no one in sight yet. HOWEVER, Ray was deeply involved in his coaching the offensive linemen, receivers, and the Y backs in a group period far at the other end of the field by the student parking area. With all the usual grunting that came from the linemen, perhaps Ray could not hear the player's imminent arrival. We saw the player when he was adjacent to the tennis court closest to Diamond Ave. The clock was still at 10:19; but time was of the essence. Every second counted! When the player got to the practice field, he leapt over the small wall, hit the grass, and rolled over. It was Bobby Vaughn! The clock was now at 10:20.

Moment of truth time: we looked to Ray...still coaching the players. Less than a second later, Ray looked up and yelled to an exhausted Bob, "20 minutes late, 2000 yards of bear crawls. You can do them during practice with a manager counting them." Bob finished them by that Wednesday and was able to suit up for that Friday's game. There was not a doubt in the world for each player on the team — never be late for a practice.

For the next two years, Bob became the player of legends: I don't know about the rest of the sophomores who were on that 1962 team, but for the next 2 years I recounted to the running/defensive backs who were first year players to the varsity about Bob's fate and always ended with the admonition: DON'T EVER BE LATE FOR PRACTICE!

I was a walk on quarterback coach at Villa Park High School in 2012 under Dusan Ancich whose father was Marijon Ancich, a former California high school football coach, known as the "John Wooden of high school coaches" and often called the Dean of high school coaches. He is the second-winningest high school football coach in California history with a record of 360-134-4, behind Bob Ladouceur of De La Salle High School with 399 wins. (Wikipedia)

When I finally met him, I introduced myself and said that I was coached by Ray Solari. Marijon perked up noticeably. I asked him if he knew of him. Ancich said when he first started coaching, though coaches' word-of-mouth that Ray was well respected and that he had attended coaching seminars whenever Ray would speak. Ancich was completely flabbergasted when I told him that up through my junior year (1963) that there was only Ray and a back coach on the varsity staff. Marijon was silent for a minute, just staring into space: "Just Ray and 1 other coach?" Yes, I replied. He dropped his head, obviously thinking about how he could have run a program at St. Paul like Ray's South Pasadena squad. I also told him that Ray's first 2 of 4 CIF championships were against Mater Dei in 1959 and Bishop Amat in 1962...AND that he won his 4 CIF championships in an 11 year time span. A few more seconds of silence, then shaking his head, asking, "How could he have done that?" I simply said, "We were in awe of him."

Dick Coury, Mater Dei’s 1959 head football coach (Mater Dei lost to SPHS in the 1959 CIF championship game) paid Ray the ultimate compliment to an opposing football coach: “Coach Solari beat us with his players...AND if he had my players and I his, Ray would have won again (paraphrased) .”

Herb Hill, Loara High School’s head coach and a 2 time winner of CIF championships, was another coach I met through the coaching fraternity. Once I mentioned SPHS and Ray, he was effusive in his praise toward Ray. He asked me about Ray and his coaching philosophy and eventually told me that he had lost to SPHS in a CIF game. Herb had never come up against nor seen an offense like Ray’s. I can still see Herb shaking his head in amazement while talking about the SPHS offense. Herb admitted that he did his best in preparing for that CIF game, but knew in his heart that he had severe doubts that Loara would prevail against SPHS. Herb had the all-time record for most wins in Orange county

I began to know Dick Hill, who won a CIF championship 4 times, when we met at scouting games. Eventually we started talking at 1 of those games; I talked to him about coaching and his CIF records. When I mentioned SPHS and Ray Solari, Dick immediately began talking about Ray. In essence, Dick was extremely generous of his praise of Ray and that Ray and he had each won 4 CIF championships. Dick was Downey’s head coach which is notable in that the Anaheim vs. Downey championship for the Major Division Final played on Dec. 14, 1956 at the Los Angeles Coliseum was the most anticipated game in CIF history and is still considered the best CIF final. It also holds the attendance record of 41,383. Dick eventually surpassed Herb’s record for most wins in Orange county: 212-11-4. Bob Johnson, El Toro and Mission Viejo’s head coach is now the current win total leader in Orange county: 345–95–1.

During my junior year, 1963, John White, starting halfback on offense and starting cornerback on defense, was the Commissioner (student body officer) who was responsible along with his committee for grading the campus after lunch and giving a grade, but John had the final word. It's also important to know that Thursday's and Friday's grade's penalties would be paid off at the following Monday's practice. It could be really daunting if, for example, Thursday's grade was a "C" and Friday's grade was a "B" --- 300 yards of bear craws! John knew any grade would result in bear crawls for the team AND him. Thus, John felt some additional pressure on his final decision. Ray had supervision of the lunch area and had a free period afterwards.

To make a long story short, the grading of the campus was somewhat lax. Ray only tolerated this nonsense for only so long. It didn't take Ray too long to put an end to this fiasco. So Ray announced to the team at a Monday's practice that since he had the time after lunch that HE would, in the future start grading the campus. His grade would supercede any other grade. We all inwardly groaned with the thought of Ray's grading criteria.

Also in my junior year we were set to play Beverly Hills High School at their stadium. That week was when the Santa Ana winds struck with a vengeance, temperatures high 90s to low 100s. Practice took a toll on all of us, but it was a necessity since their stadium did not have lights; the game was scheduled for 3:15; we soldiered on. Now in those days water breaks, unlike today, simply were never ever considered. I think the team would have voluntarily run extra wind sprints if we could get some water. That Wednesday after practice would coach give us a break? Absolutely not! The Big 3 would end our practice as usual. By Friday we were ready to play. Then came the Boys League Assembly. All was going well until the end. Then Coach Solari stepped up to the microphone. I immediately thought “Coach Solari never ever speaks at this assembly; nothing good could come out of this.” I was right.

He was very succinct. Beverly Hills had canceled the game due to the heat; it was to be a “cool”

98 degrees that afternoon, but they didn’t want their athletes playing in that heat. We heard later BHHS had proposed playing 8 minute quarters, but Coach refused. Then the other shoe dropped. As best as I can remember, he made the following announcement: “Since next week we’ll be playing Temple City practice will start today at 3:30 in full pads.” You could have heard a pin drop in the gym. Practice did start at 3:30; it was not any shorter than any other practice. Coach just looked upon it as being able to get an additional practice getting ready to play Temple City. He did not, though, have us run wind sprints at the end of practice.

In the 2nd half of the San Marino game, my senior year, they ran a play action pass with a receiver going straight down the middle of the field. One of Coach Swift's rule for the defensive backs was to stay in the middle of your zone and as deep as the deepest receiver in your zone and the zone next to you. As the play developed, I saw that receiver and to my horror Charlie Clapp, the safety, had bit on the play action and was nowhere to be seen. As I finally got to the receiver he had a step on me. I was processing all of the information. If he caught the pass, which he would have, and I tackled him, it would have been for about 45 - 50 yards and the ball would have been placed inside our 30 yard line or possibly a touch down. I put on a last second burst and just leveled him. Pass interference -- 15 yards and a first down; 3 downs later, they had to punt. When I came off the field for the punt return -- the punt return, PAT/Field Goal, and kick off & return teams were when I got my breather -- Ray came up to me, smiled, and said, "Good job." He really did get satisfaction out of a player making a head's up play.

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