Frank Lucia has seen this sort of feel and flavor before at Cosumnes River College.
When he was the principal at Valley in the 1990s, the Vikings often sported some of the most athletic, entertaining and prolific outfits in the region, when Dave Hoskins, Mel Fontes, Rich Swan, Russ Sommers, Rick Messer and Rick Swan were coaching and Damen Wheeler, Jeremiah Pharms and a host of others were dominating play.
Valley attracted over-flow crowds with CRC its home stadium in a rousing show of support. It was proof that it wasn't just Elk Grove in the district that could draw such a gathering.
On Friday night in a season opener, two of the newer schools in the region - Pleasant Grove (and principal Lucia) and Franklin played in front of an overflow crowd at CRC, home of Franklin. The snack bars were jammed. Students actually stayed off their cell phones and socialized and watched the game. Parents wore the jerseys of their sons. People lined the stadium when seating in the bleachers was full.
It could be the kickoff to a nice neighborhood rivalry, and the large crowd on both sides is further proof that the programs have not only come of age as teams but as programs in general.
