The dynamic duo: Dan Albano (left) and Steve Fryer (right). OCVARSITY.COM |
Chat transcript: Steve Fyer and Dan Albano answer questions from readers
You have questions. They have answers.
And, as you know, they certainly have opinions.
OCVarsity's Dan Albano and Steve Fryer held OCVarsity's first-ever live chat at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15. Below is a transcript.
Don't forget to check out Fryer's live "FryDay Night" blogging on Friday nights, and other game stories by staff throughout the weekend at OCVarsity.com.
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Steve Fryer: I always enjoy discussing high school sports with the readership, via email or on the phone or in person. I suppose this is virtual in-person. This is a fun time of year, playoffs time, and we have some interesting Orange County teams playing this week. So, let's go. Fire away with those questions!
Dan Albano: Greetings football fans and thanks for joining us tonight. It's a little strange not being at a stadium tonight this is an exciting time of year and I'm pumped for the playoffs.
Remember, send your questions to preps@ocregister.com or enter a comment. We'll get to as many as we can.
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SBarnes: What would have happened if Mission forfeitures affected league seeding? Changing their seeding to a third in league or possibly miss the playoffs? Would Orange Lutheran get a free pass? I doubt they would switch opponents this late in the week?.. Didn't something like this happen to either Marina or Huntington Beach back in 1991-92??
Steve Fryer: As Mission Viejo's forfeitures were not league games, they did not affect Mission Viejo's place in the final South Coast League standings. If they were league games, then Mission Viejo's playoff status would have been up to the league. Leagues submit their playoff representatives. The Freeway League could have included Troy, which forfeited several football victories including some league victories, on its list of playoff representatives, but chose not to do so.Yes, there have been times when a team thought its season was over but found out it was going to the playoffs because another team was pulled out of the playoffs. "Hey, that gear you turned in? Go get it. We've got practice this afternoon!"
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Edwin: How far do you feel Foothill High School can go in the Southwest Division. Thank You
Steve Fryer: Well, Foothill has a darned good offense, with Camacho and Miller and company … but the Knights would have to play South Hills in the second round – and that would be South Hills' home game. South Hills is annually a very good football team.
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Steve Burt: Wiley wants to know more about the challenges the Register football reporters face with press deadlines i.e., inputting stats, spell checking names, game highlights, staff help for editing and travel. Thanks for all you do for O.C. high school football fans, players and coaches.
Steve Fryer: Ya know, Steve, I really don't know what time deadline is. Not being a smart aleck here, but I figure when they start yelling at me, then it's time to stop writing. I used to know the deadlines for every day (some are different than others) but I lost track because there have been some changes. As for online stuff, at ocvarsity.com, deadlines are ASAP. As for staffing, we still have at least one reporter for every game in OC. Getting names right – boy, that is a tough one. Sometimes the names in the programs are wrong! And there is this trend of putting the same color numbers on the unis, like Servite's black on black and Kennedy has yellow on white. My eyes ain't getting better as I get older. We do have more people working on ocvarsity.com, which is getting better and will get a lot better as time goes on. Thanks for the kind words. Tell Wiley howdy for us, huh?
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Charlie: Canyon is going into the playoffs against West Covina… They had a horrible time out against good comp, and mediocre comp (Tustin)… Do you think they will be able to balance out the explosive attack and stop a defense as well?
Dan Albano: I think the Comanches' first round game with West Covina is going to be a very high scoring game, which probably works in Canyon's favor to get its first playoff victory under Coach McKee. West Covina can move the ball and the reports are that the sophomore RB is the real deal. Canyon also will be without a DL – LaVigna – and that will hurt. But on the other side, Canyon will find balance on offense and score points on West Covina. As McKee says, the Comanches' skill players know what to do with the ball when they get it. The toughness of Daniel will help on both sides of the ball. Canyon wins and scores in the high 30s.
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Charlie: Also one more question fellas ... Is Josh Hawkins the best "pure" back in Orange County? 'Cause I personally think so…
Dan Albano: From what I have seen of Hawkins on video and from what Coach McKee has told me, I think Hawkins is an outstanding pure running back. He's got a nice fluid style, some great moves and a great motor. Best pure back in the O.C.? He's in the conversation but I'd have to say no. I'll take D.J. Shoemate or Derrick Coleman. I do love the way Hawkins worked hard to be the player he is. He's done it the right way, waited his turn. He's a great model.
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Brian Theriot: Why is the O.C. Register such a better paper in terms of covering track and field in Orange County or for that matter in general than the O.C. sports section of the LA Times? And why have track and field marks in O.C. consistently been mediocre at best in the last decade?
Steve Fryer: Thanks Brian. As a long-time reader – and one of the greatest track athletes in county history – you know how valuable David Osterman was to our staff. Track and field is a tough sport to cover, with so many events and some of them rather esoteric. Covering a meet is a challenge. It's like a sports circus — in this ring, we have the high jump, in that ring the discus, and in the center ring the 110 high hurdles! We will get better this year, trust me. Just like on a coaching staff, you need consistency– the same people doing the same things. Jason Eichelberger is going to be on track again, I believe, and he is into it. So hang in there with us. As for our advantages over the times. Look at the names: Orange County Register. Los Angeles Times. '‘Nuff said. Go Moose!
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Anonymous: What football coach is the best to deal with in the county? OK, what football coach is the worst to deal with in the county?
Dan Albano: There are lot of coaches who are great for us in the media to deal with, and they might surprise some. Rollinson just gets dealing with the press very well. He'll answers every question with passion and really tries to be flexible with access with himself and players. He met with me on a Saturday this season with no problem. Kunau is very much the same way. And we at www.ocvarsity.com are asking these coaches to do more all the time and these two pretty never say no.
Los Al's John Barnes is another great one. He talks a lot off the record — which gives us great insight and helps us understand some of the background stuff that we just keep to ourselves. Barnes also can take the heat. I remember when Randy Estes got busted, Barnes stayed the same and worked with us.
The worst? Some coaches have their good and bad days with the media, depending on what is going on. And probably because of their inconsistency more than anything, they fall into this group. Bob Johnson did a great job answering questions after the Tesoro loss and he gives very good access, too, but he can be very short with the media when he seems to view us as the bad guys. O'Connell has his up and down days, too, though he was great with me this season.
