Technology: Haves and have-nots
Three Plasma screens, including one that spans 60 inches. Four projection units. Thirteen computer work stations.
For Mater Dei's football program, these are some of the main players in its high-tech video editing and scouting lineup.
"Mater Dei is probably the best facility on the West Coast as far as high school goes," said Andrew Oldfield, vice president of Digital Sports Video, the video editing software company used by the Monarchs and other programs in the county.
The computer server for Mater Dei's football video system resides in its own air-conditioned closet.
"This system we have is the same system that is at Stanford, or is going in right row at Arizona State," Mater Dei football coach Bruce Rollinson said. "Other than they probably have more 60-inch, flat-screen TVs."
Over the past 11 years, Rollinson estimates, approximately $150,000 has been poured into the technological efforts of Mater Dei's football program.
"That's for all the technology," he said.
Mater Dei isn't the only high-tech program in the county. Last season, instead of just trading game tapes with Orange Lutheran, the Monarchs and Lancers simply exchanged external hard drives.
There are some programs in catch-up mode when it comes to technology. Santa Ana, located less than two miles from Mater Dei, has one VHS video camera, two televisions and one dual-deck VCR.
"Which we're happy to have," first-year coach Scott Daniels said.
Daniels has plans to upgrade his program's high-tech capabilities. The Saints will raise money this season in hopes of purchasing a digital, end zone camera and a VHS/DVD player.
"If we want to compete with the big boys again," Daniels said, "we have to take every advantage they have."
But the fundraising efforts for Santa Ana's football programs have other goals, too. The program, for example, also raises money to pay for some players' cleats.
"That all comes before this camera stuff," Daniels said. "The bare necessities (come first)."
Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com
| The CIF needs to step in and regulate how much equipment a program can have, thus ensuring parity. |
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| Pauley Walnuts - Aug 29, 2007 05:08:07 PM | Remove Comment |
