Support the Eagles football team

OK, Imperial Valley, it’s time to step up and be there for the Southwest High football team on Saturday in the CIF-San Diego Section Div. III championship game.

The game kicks off at Southwestern Community College at Noon and a large and vocal local presence will go a long way toward helping this team win its first CIF football title.

Really, Ronco? The crowd is going to make a difference? Absolutely.

I have seen it time and again as a player, coach, athletic director and sports writer/ broadcaster.

For example, I experienced it just as a fan in 1963 when I joined a large crowd of supporters driving to San Jose to cheer San Francisco City College to victory over none other than Imperial Valley College in the state men’s basketball championship game

I realized even then that the venue being so much closer to San Francisco and the loud crowd lending its support to the Rams gave them a “home game” atmosphere over the Arabs.

I especially experienced it in 2004, when the Brawley Union High football team used large and vocal Valley crowds to defeat St. Augustine in Brawley and Cathedral Catholic in San Diego.

I was also awed as it appeared half of the Valley’s population was at Qualcomm Stadium for the CIF championship game where the Wildcats fell three-points short of a title.

Now, I understand that there are many variables involved in winning a championship game… talent, coaching, penalties, injuries and turnovers among others.

But, I have to include a supportive crowd as one of them.

It affects the players on both sides and I know as a former official that try as you may it can sometimes affect you or your fellow officials as well.

And I know the Eagles will feel the love, especially if it’s a solid cross-section of fans from all over the Valley.

So let’s look at some of those other variables. Coaching. Check. Southwest has proven it has solid coaching. Head coach John Mitosinka and his staff have put together 12-straight victories this season and were 9-3 the past two seasons, building this team to this CIF championship game. Talent. Check.

The Eagles certainty has an array of talent most obviously on an offense that averages just under 44 points a game.

And the talent extends to the Southwest defense is also loaded with talent surrendering just a touchdown per game. And as they like to say, defense wins championships.

Injuries, Penalties. Check.

The Eagles, I believe, have been relatively injury-free and not prone to penalties this season, another key to a run for a championship.

So what’s left to account for? You.

I believe that the spirit and comradery that has fueled the Valley’s support of their teams in the past will be there Saturday, because in the end I believe the Eagles have earned our support.

And trust me on this one, it is important.

Oh, and one more thing, I wish the Eagles are lucky and get every bounce, every call and every break they can.

Go Eagles!