Hoyt carries on family’s scholarship tradition

ROGER CARLSON

I don’t believe there is anything quite like that of a grandfather’s

pride in his grandson, which is why Sunday’s football banquet for

Newport Harbor High’s Sailors, in my opinion, seems so significant,

and satisfying.

Seeing a huge smile across the distinguished features of Robert

Hoyt (Fresno State, ’48 and ‘49) as he blurted out, “I saw the

criteria and I was sure it would be Peter,” gave me cause to smile

and quickly direct tacit thanks to those who made the decision, Jeff

Brinkley and his assistant coaches, in their role regarding the 31st

edition of the John Gust Athletic Scholarship.

Dedication, enthusiasm, self sacrifice, improvement,

responsibility, and excellence is the criteria for the award and

Peter Hoyt, the 6-foot-1, 201-pound senior fit the bill.

A big night for Peter Hoyt, but I suspect, a bigger night for a

gentleman who has enjoyed a lifetime of success which traces back to

the game.

Robert Hoyt was a 17-year-old Sailor in 1944 when he left John

Marshall High in Los Angeles for duty with the Armed Forces, and two

years later he found a home at Santa Ana Junior College where Bill

Cook and John Ward had one of the nation’s great JC programs, the

Dons.

These were days when JC football ruled as Santa Ana, Fullerton,

Riverside, Compton, Pasadena and others commanded sellout crowds. On

Fairview Road in Costa Mesa the U.S. Army Air Base would in a couple

of years become Orange Coast College.

“When we played Fullerton on Thanksgiving Day they just closed up

both towns,” said Hoyt, who carried 190 pounds on a 6-2 frame in

those days, and still has the appearance of an athlete.

If you wanted to find anyone from those two cities that day the

only place to check would be the game site.

Former Newport Harbor High Sailor Carl Oberto was the team’s

center, as well as ex-Tars Ralph Freitag, the war-torn Hal Sheflin

and Don Vaughn, among others.

Hoyt, with a buddy named Cliff Cole, the son of Santa Ana High

Coach Bill Cole, soon became acquainted with Cook and Ward, and one

of the legends of USC, Paul Cleary.

Hoyt was the Dons’ quarterback for two years, then was Fresno

State’s quarterback for two years en route to Little All-America

honors as chosen by the St. Louis Sporting News.

This was during the era of College of the Pacific’s Eddie LeBaron

and Loyola’s Don Klosterman.

Robert Hoyt would eventually have three sons, Bob, Howard and

John, all who would compete well at Foothill High.

Bob, a 6-5 offensive tackle, was a starter for USC’s fabled 1972

freshman team, the one which featured Pat Haden, J.K. McKay, Richard

Wood and Anthony Davis.

An ankle injury cut short his career, but his son, Peter has

picked up the gauntlet, and there is seventh-grader Chase still to be

heard from.

I spoke with Robert Hoyt a couple of nights later and his

recollections were that he “felt Peter had a shot.”

But in reflection, no, he said, “I was sure it would be Peter.”

I was there in the role of the presentation for longtime Sailor

Marilyn Gust, a genuine booster whose contributions to Newport

Harbor’s athletic programs have been notably recognized over the

years.

I once suggested that if she had been born a male, she would have

been a linebacker. She quickly corrected me, saying, “I would have

been the quarterback.”

The John Gust Athletic Scholarship celebrates a life cut short

when Marilyn’s son died as a result of an auto accident at age 17.

It was a great night for Peter Hoyt, who, after seeing all-league

honors elude him when he missed three games because of injury, will

pursue his football career at the University of Colorado.

While that portion of the program was memorable, what really stuck

out for me was the sight of the stage.

There, Brinkley, whose 18-year tour at Newport Harbor has been

duly documented, most notable two CIF championships, was the central

figure.

There he sat, flanked by his seven assistants -- Mike Bargas, Tony

Ciarelli, Bill Brown, Matt Burns, Bill Calloway, Evan Chalmers and

Patrick Paternie.

I know most of them, one-on-one, but seeing this massive eight

sitting there, elbow to elbow as if it was a goal-line stand, well, I

think I can imagine how a country lawyer feels when he walks into the

Supreme Court and is faced with nine robed justices.

Robert Hoyt said he had similar feelings, seeing this group of

coaches line up as he thought back to his playing days at Santa Ana

JC, where Cook was the head coach and Ward the line coach.

Everyone seemed to appreciate the coaches, including freshman

coach Joe Urban in the audience, but I do believe, 10 years from now

the appreciation will go much deeper.

Another item which seems to stick is the sight of 14 seniors on

their way out with mountains of juniors and sophomores ready to step

up.

Considering their opener in September, Fountain Valley, the

Sailors are probably going to need all the help they can get. In case

you’ve lost count, Fountain Valley is working on a six-game winning

streak over the Sailors, which was topped off in 1980, Newport’s last

season in the Sunset League.

Hey! See you next Sunday!

*

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

His column appears on Sundays.