Stepping it up a notch

First-year Estancia High football coach Craig Fertig was recently

quoted as saying, “The best coaches in the nation are on the high

school level,” backing up something I believed since I was a

12-year-old when “we” (Monrovia High) had Bob Blackman and USC had

Jeff Cravath in 1948.

If that doesn’t ring a bell, well, trust me.

Fertig, a 61-year-old “rookie” on the high school level, will be

getting his chance to prove it this fall when his Eagles try to

reverse recent misfortunes. Estancia has produced a 1-18 record over the course of the last two seasons. In league the mark is 0-11. It

would have been 1-19, but the Sept. 11 tragedy allowed an escape

clause to avoid a certain squashing by Aliso Niguel in 2001.

You might wonder what would possess a coach of Fertig’s experience

to tackle such a task. It’s sort of like running through a “bag

drill” all day long, daily.

“Since I was a little kid I always wanted to be a high school

coach,” said Fertig as he and his Eagles await Monday’s first day of

conditioning drills before two-a-days get under way.

Fertig has become Estancia’s 10th head football coach since the

school opened its doors in 1965 and it began to materialize when his

daughter-in-law, Lisa, told him of the coaching vacancy during the

family’s Christmas dinner.

“She said the previous coach was fired, and I told her there were

only two types of coaches I know of; those who have been fired, and

those who are about to be fired,” said Fertig, a master speaker.

It appears there was some ground work laid because Lisa, a member

of the Estancia teaching staff and the wife of Fertig’s son, Marc,

said Estancia’s principal, Dr. Tom Antal, would appreciate some input

in terms of recommendations from Fertig. “Setting the trap” might be

a better description of “input.”

One thing led to another and Fertig eventually took the bait and

revealed he had found the right man: Himself.

Fertig, a Newport Beach resident, was an assistant coach at USC

for 11 years and was an assistant on the pro level for four seasons

(one with the Portland Storm in the World Football League and three

with Tampa Bay in the NFL).

And, he was the head coach at Oregon State for four years

(1976-79) with a 15-13 victory over bowl-bound UCLA in 1978 probably

the most notable moment.

He still has God-like status on the USC campus where he works in

administrative services and is a commentator with Tom Kelly for the

Fox television network. A very flexible “three-day work week” makes

it a relatively easy transition.

As for the godliness, one of USC’s greatest conquests was by the

1964 edition under Coach John McKay, which erased a 17-0 deficit and broke the hearts of Notre Dame with a 20-17 victory.

The hero: A quarterback named Craig Fertig.

It ruined a perfect season for Coach Ara Parseghian’s Irish, who

entered the game at 9-0 and were the top-ranked team in the nation.

As a result, Bear Bryant’s Crimson Tide of Alabama, at 10-1, was

named national champion, the first of a three-year run.

So Fertig knows what it’s like to be down, and how to overcome

adversity, and at Estancia, there has been plenty of that the past

two years.

His “secrets to success” are pretty basic.

Surround yourself with solid assistants, get some messages across,

DON’T FUMBLE and play some decent defense.

He is starting with a staff which consists of defensive coach Dave

Olson and his dad, Roger Olson, whose responsibilities will be with

the defensive line and running backs.

Also, two who know the true feeling of 1-18, Ernie Bushare

(quarterback and defensive backs) and Joel Hirtt (offensive line).

Success has already arrived in terms of eligibility as the Eagles

have overcome 13 academically ineligible cases and will be at full

strength when the season begins.

Fertig is not into “political correctness.”

“In our first meeting,” said Fertig, “I grabbed an old shovel,

gold with cardinal and gold stripes on the end of it, and told them

if some people don’t start (getting with it), I’m going to show you

the grip and how to use it because you’re going to be using it the

rest of your life.

“Whoever has the worst GPA, you get to carry the shovel to class,

and it stays next to your desk.”

During spring practice Fertig had 13 desks installed near the

weight-lifting site, and movable to the practice sidelines, where the

“Dirty Dozen” spent its time with the books while the rest practiced.

Fertig says he’ll not change anything in terms of doing business.

He considers himself the technical director while his coaches are

encouraged to do their thing within the framework of the master plan.

“I get around to every position and every kid, and heck yes,

dominate if I want to make a point,” said Fertig. “But this is a ‘we’

thing.”

He’s had his squad on the USC campus to see what it takes, and he

continues to expose them to the likes of Ron Yary, Charles White and

Dave Levy, among other USC notables.

Fox-television has a half-hour weekly special on the preps planned

this fall and guess which is the first school to be featured? That’s

right, the 1-18ers.

He’ll probably be taking his Eagles back to USC again this fall to

further drive some points home.

“It’s one of the smartest things I’ve done,” said Fertig.

He’s well aware of the time factor and the fact his last coaching

post was about two decades ago.

“As a TV commentator for the past 13 years with Tom Kelly I’ve

spent (a lot of) time with tapes and talking with coaches,” cites

Fertig. “So I’ve kept up with the game.”

Don’t be surprised to see Estancia’s look to mirror SC’s uniforms,

with black shoes and no names on the jerseys. That’s always been

USC’s way.

Many believe success is just around the corner for the Eagles.

The only question, really, is timing. And the clock is ticking.

Meanwhile, the dog days are nearly over as the Green Wave to the

east (Dave Perkins and his Costa Mesa Mustangs), Dick Freeman and his

Corona del Mar Sea Kings and Jeff Brinkley and his Newport Harbor

Sailors begin stirring.

Hey! See you next Sunday!

* ROGER CARLSON is the former sports editor for the Daily Pilot.

His column appears on Sundays. He can be reached by e-mail at

[email protected].