Mr. Irrelevant makes a triumphant return

Rick Devereux

As Vince Vaughan’s character in them movie “Swingers” said, “Our

little boy’s all grownsed up.”

Andre Sommersell, who attended Estancia High before transferring

to Fountain Valley his junior year, has, indeed, “grown up.”

Sommersell was honored Monday at the Newport Dunes Resort as Mr.

Irrelevant XXIX, a distinction he earned when the Oakland Raiders

made him the 255th and last overall pick in the NFL draft.

Sommersell became the first Mr. Irrelevant from Orange County.

Fountain Valley football players and the Barons’ pep squad were on

hand to welcome the 6-foot-2, 235-pound defensive end from Colorado

State back home and discuss who first realized his NFL-potential.

“I knew he was primed for NFL greatness the first time I matched

up against him,” said former Baron tight end and teammate Dave

Helenihi. “He just ran over me and sent me rolling. It set a trend

early because he did that throughout the season. “

He wasn’t the only one who saw greatness in Sommersell early on.

“I thought he had a lot of raw talent when I coached him,” former

Fountain Valley Coach George Berg said. “I told him, at one time,

‘Andre, you have the chance to go to the pros because you have the

one ingredient they look for: speed.’ ”

Berg said Sommersell was quiet and reserved when he played for the

Barons, but the projected outside linebacker soaked up being the

center of attention.

Sommersell was escorted to the seat of honor, an elevated

lifeguard chair, by six female lifeguards. But Spike and Violator,

members of the Raider Nation, kicked the women off the stage to give

Sommersell advice on what it will take for him to impress the coaches

and make the team.

“You need to bring an attitude and you need to be nasty,” Violator

said. “Bring everything to the table because I will be the first face

you see out of the tunnel from my 50-yard-line seats.”

Spike, in football pads covered with skulls, gave a history of

previous Raiders and suggested Sommersell get a Mohawk haircut to

make a statement.

“Start fights is his best bet to get noticed,” Spike said. “Do

something to stick out. Paint his whole body silver when he comes

into camp.”

The highlight of the evening was the parade of presents given to

Sommersell and his family. His mother, Georgia Felix, and younger

sister, Keisha, live in Long Beach. They were there to witness the

presentation of more than 150 gifts, including a string of pearls for

Felix, a bottle of alcohol from Spike and Violator, an expired

get-out-of-jail-free card from the Newport Beach Police Department, a

bullwhip, and a puppy dressed to resemble the cartoon character

“Underdog.”

“I wasn’t anticipating this [many gifts],” Sommersell said. “It is

a happy surprise.”

Sommersell had to fly to Oakland after the party to attend a

mandatory mini-camp for the Raiders today, making him the first Mr.

Irrelevant to miss a day of the festivities.

He was supposed to be a VIP guest at Disneyland and California

Adventure during the day and then help with the grounds crew at the

Angels game tonight.

He will fly back Wednesday for the Lowsman Trophy Banquet at the

Newport Marriott at 6 p.m.