Prep notes: Governor could offer hope for football; legendary Mira Loma coach dies

An update from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office on Friday could bring some degree of clarity on the status of high school sports, particularly the headliner of football.

Or maybe not.

Serra of San Mateo coach Patrick Walsh, one of the leaders of the statewide Golden State High School Football Coaches Community, said he spoke with Newsom staffers Wednesday night, saying, “We believe that an announcement is going to be made on the future of youth sports. I believe that, and I believe I am telling you that because that is what they are telling us. We are not the decision-makers, sadly, because if we were, I’d make a decision right now, and we’d be playing, safely.”

The governing body California Interscholastic Federation has also been in regular contact with state and county health departments and with the governor’s office to try and get football moved into the red tier, out of second-best level, orange.

If football can be played in red-tier conditions, Walsh and others believe a spring schedule can play out in March and April. It might just be three to five games, but it’s better than nothing, and nothing has been the theme since the pandemic shuttered schools and closed down sporting events last March.

Walsh and his advocacy group, including the parent-led LetThemPlayCA social media group, have provided data that they compiled showing the prep sports are not super spreader COVID-19 events.

But it’s now urgent.

“We are on the proverbial 1-yard line, and we believe a positive announcement is coming,” Walsh said. “I feel we’re in a good spot. I am confident that we are going to get the news that will affect millions of kids and even millions of parents, and that’s good.”

He added, “The first domino that has to fall is the very top, the California Department of Public Health, the governor’s office, to give us direction, to give us guidance.”

Remembering Don Brown

Don Brown, the founding coach at Mira Loma High in 1960 who ushered in Sacramento’s wing-T era, died recently at 96. He flew combat missions in World War II and decided it was a safer venture to coach kids.

His first Mira Loma team in 1961 went 1-8, and then he kicked off a dynasty. His gritty and often undersized linemen excelled in deception and misdirection plays in the wing-T offense.

Mira Loma won 12 league championships in his 18 year tenure at Mira Loma, where he and right-hand assistant Gerry Kundert earned Bee Coaches of the Decade for the 1960s.

Brown also influenced a number of players who went on to championship success as prep coaches, including Dave Humphers, Terry Stark, Mike Dimino and Randy Blankenship, each using some form of the wing-T.

Kilby honored twice over

Franklin baseball coach Bryan Kilby was named the Sac-Joaquin Section’s Model Coach of the Year for the 2020-21 academic year, and is up for CIF state honors for his impact as a campus leader.

Also Franklin’s activities director, Kilby has been the Wildcats baseball coach since 2012, peeling off playoff teams and helping send scores of seniors to the college ranks.