Excitement around Estancia abounds
- Share via
RICK DEVEREUX
It takes a lot of time, energy and money to run a high school
football program. Getting restaurants to donate food for pregame
meals, finding people to put together the programs, raising funds for
equipment: All of these things are just but the tip of the iceberg
for any football program.
Donations are easier to find, programs are prepared faster, and
equipment is updated more regularly if the school has a winning
tradition.
The situation at Estancia High has been less than ideal. The
Eagles have had 15 seasons of above .500 football in the 39-year
history of the program with an overall winning percentage of .415
(161-214-13). During that time, it was difficult for coaches to get
even basic needs filled.
The addition of Craig Fertig as the head coach before the 2003
season created a sense that things are turning around for the Eagles.
When he was first hired, Fertig, a former assistant with two national
championship USC teams in 1967 and ‘72, told the Daily Pilot he
wanted to instill pride into the players.
“I want this to be a program where people say ‘Wow! I want to be a
part of that,’ ” he said. “We want to make something special. At
least they won’t be embarrassed.”
The Eagles were 3-7 last season, an improvement from the 1-18
record the team accumulated from 2001 to 2002. Estancia is currently
2-2, with the losses coming to Corona del Mar, No. 5 in CIF Southern
Section Division IX, and Orange, No. 4 in Division VII.
“Everybody can tell Estancia is a different team than what it has
been in the past,” senior Daniel Cheesboro said following the 23-21
loss to Orange last week.
It seems that everyone, from the players to the parents to the
community as a whole, can tell Estancia is a different team.
“The booster club meetings used to be just the executive board
members,” booster club vice president Bill Redding said. “Now there
are even parents of freshmen players attending. There has been a
180-degree turnaround in just a year’s time. We’re starting to see
the community donate to the program.”
A seven-man blocking sled was obtained in the off-season, along
with new uniforms and pregame meal sponsors. While things are
improving -- a big-screen TV is being donated to help in film study
-- the Estancia coaching staff is still in need of basic equipment.
There is only one stopwatch for the program, for example.
Redding said the booster club used to come to the coach with a
list of items donated, but the increased community involvement has
allowed for more flexibility.
“Now Fertig can give us a priority list of what he needs instead
of us just giving him whatever,” Redding said.
The sense of excitement stems from Fertig, a legend in USC circles
for throwing the game-winning touchdown pass to Rod Sherman at the
Los Angeles Coliseum in a 21-17 victory over previously unbeaten and
top-ranked Notre Dame.
“When you’ve been down for so long, like this program has been,
it’s hard to think about winning,” Fertig said. “That’s the hardest
part, changing everyone’s mentality.”
At a recent team meeting, Sean Boulton, the school’s vice
principal, talked to the team about the sense of pride the rest of
the students, the administration and the community felt in how tough
Estancia played Orange.
“The rest of the league coaches picked you guys to finish last,
but you went out there and every single one of you gave 100%,”
Boulton said. “I’ve been getting phone calls all day from people that
want to say congratulations.”
Things are indeed turning around for the Estancia program. Redding
presented a game ball to the team before Monday’s practice, but it
wasn’t any ordinary game ball. The Estancia trophy case was raided a
few years ago and the game ball from the first Estancia-Costa Mesa
meeting in 1966, a 14-13 Eagles’ victory, was “borrowed.” A family
friend stopped by Redding’s house Saturday and returned the ball,
which was signed by the entire 1966 Estancia team.
“I think it’s an omen that things are coming back to the program,”
Redding said. “They haven’t had a winning record in a while, but I
think that’s going to change.”
All the latest on Orange County from Orange County.
Get our free TimesOC newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Daily Pilot.