Young team hits field for spring ball, focus shifts to defense
and QB situation.
GILROY – The Gilroy High varsity football team, or at least some of it, hit the turf last week to kick off the annual 10-day period known as spring practice.
No pads, no problem.
Like a breath of fresh air, spring football practice is upon us, laying groundwork for what is to come three months from now.
One immediate question faced the Mustangs and head coach Greg Garcia as spring ball commenced: Who will be at quarterback?
“I couldn’t tell you exactly where we are headed, but we have a few guys battling for a spot,” Garcia said.
The front-runner, from an outsider looking in – though it is too early to draw conclusions – is last season’s junior varsity starter, Nico Fortino.
Also in the mix, and sharing time during offensive drills, are Nick Alves and Ben Torrcier.
“(Spring practice) gives you a little heads up,” Garcia said. “It lets you know where the kids are at and how they are doing. It gives us a chance to focus on what to work on over the summer.”
Most of the time, the second go-around is always better than the first.
For Garcia and his staff, the prospect of entering their second season together as a unit has them energized.
“We were just talking about that earlier this week,” Garcia said. “It’s carrying over. At this time last year I was just getting hired. We know what our goals are as coaches.”
Garcia is using this period to stress the commitment level it will take from his players in order to put forth a successful season.
“It’s about the work ethic. It is what you have to sacrifice to be a champion,” Garcia said. “It’s going to take waking up at 6 a.m. to go to morning workouts. It’s going to take putting in the time and effort in school, being a good student. Your sacrifices will be the reward in the end.”
Aside from ironing out the signal-calling duties, perhaps the key element to improving upon the team’s 4-6-1 record a year ago, much of the focus during the offseason will be on the defensive side of the ball.
With the departure of Chris Vasseur, who served as the defensive coordinator last year, Garcia will take the unit under his wing.
“We are trying to set up our identity early on so that the kids can carry that over into the season,” Garcia said.
Mustangs’ 2010 schedule
9/3 Live Oak 7:00
9/10 Saratoga 7:30
9/17 Leland 7:30
*10/2 N. Salinas 7:30
*10/8 Alvarez 7:30
*10/15 Alisal 7:30
*10/22 Salinas 7:30
*10/29 Palma 7:30
*11/5 San Benito 7:30
11/12 Christopher 7:30
Home Games in bold
*League game
