I always try to explain to the younger generation that the pass-happy spread offenses they’ve grown up in weren’t possible to run back in day due to field conditions.
Not only were all fields grass, many of them weren’t maintained all that well and had games being played on them all week long — often by 3-4 different schools. Divots and pot holes galore.
At one point in time, San Juan HS hosted San Juan, Bella Vista, Del Campo, Casa Roble, La Sierra, and Mesa Verde. El Camino HS hosted El Camino, Encina, Mira Loma, Rio Americano, and a few others I’m forgetting.
By midseason, the middle of the field was worn down completely and mostly just dirt. And then when the rain started falling in October and November — the field was a gigantic mud pit. Footing was terrible, and the speed of the game was slower as a result. Also, the ball was not only water-logged but covered in mud as well — no matter how much they tried to switch out or clean the footballs.
The difficulties with field and ball conditions was why the vast majority of programs ran run-oriented, ball control offenses.
I remember being at the 1984 D2 Championship between El Camino and Oakdale at Abbott Field. It was a cold, windy, rainy evening. The game ended in regulation at 0-0. EC ended up winning 6-0 in the old CA style OT.
Neither team could sustain sustain drives or avoid costly fumbles.
I also try to remind the younger generation that prior to the early 2000’s, only the top 2 teams from each league qualified for the postseason. A third place team from certain leagues could also make it, but it was on a rotational basis.
In 1996, Grant Union, Nevada Union and Del Campo ended the regular season in a 3-way tie in the Capital Athletic League at 6-1. All three teams were 9-1 overall. But the CAL didn’t get a 3rd playoff spot that season due to rotation, so the 2 participants were determined via a 3-way coin flip.
Nevada Union lost the coin flip. Imagine being 9-1 with your only loss being by 1-point on a last second play and you don’t qualify for the postseason?! Crazy thing is, that 1996 Miners team might have been among their very best teams of that era. Better than some of their section title winners. But they were ousted in a manner that wouldn’t happen today or at any point over the past 20 years.
My junior season in 1987 my team went 7-3 and 4-2 in a D1 league. We didn’t qualify for the postseason.
Between the superior field conditions, facility, weight room, and equipment improvements, and changes to the overtime and postseason systems — these kids have absolutely no idea how fortunate they are to be playing in this current era.
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