The Popcorn Stand: Joe Vidrio and Strathmore football
Ernest Hemingway wrote “all true stories end in death.” This is a true story.
I ripped that off from the line at the beginning of one of my all-time favorite movies, “Brian’s Song,” depicting the relationship between Gale Sayers and Brian Piccolo when the played for the Chicago Bears.
I don’t know why I thought of that line after hearing of the recent passing of Joe Vidrio. I just did. I guess because Joe Vidrio’s story resonates an ultimate truth in my life and that’s this: I may have well been the worst head football coach Strathmore Youth Football ever had.
It was 1989 and I was 24 years old. I was the first ever head coach of the Strathmore youth football team and I had just one problem: I had absolutely no idea what I was doing.
But from that inauspicious start rose a football power. And Joe Vidrio was there to help start it.
Joe Vidrio was actually a Lindsay High graduate. I know because he went to high school with my father.
Strathmore High has become a state power in football in recent years, advancing to state title games and winning a state championship in 2017. I was there when it happened.
Every time Strathmore wins a Valley Championship — in 1992, 1998, 2009 and 2016-2018 — and the state title — I think of that 1989 season.
I would like to think I had at least a tiny fraction to do with building the foundation that led Strathmore to becoming a power. After all, several of the players who played on that 1989 youth football team as seventh and eight graders played on Strathmore’s first Valley title team in 1992.
But it was Joe Vidrio who was one of the most prominent people who really laid the foundation. He played a pivotal role in beginning the youth football program that would be the foundation for Strathmore High’s success.
His reason for establishing the youth football program was simple: “We were getting our ass kicked,” he said.
And as the old cliché goes, it truly took a team effort to build Strathmore into a power. Or actually a community effort.
I don’t think there’s enough spots at Spartan
Stadium that could be renamed to honor all those in the community who have been responsible for Strathmore’s success. But renaming the stadium Vidrio-crawford Stadium would be a good start. Jerry Crawford is another driving force behind the youth football program who was responsible as anyone for Strathmore’s success.
And maybe when the Spartans take the field at Spartan Stadium, they could be taking Dave Mcdaniel Field. Mcdaniel was the head coach for Strathmore’s first two Valley titles in 1992 and 1998.
And maybe when the score shows another Spartan victory it can be shown on the Rick Anderson scoreboard. Anderson was a longtime assistant coach who was as responsible as anyone for Strathmore’s success. I’m saying that about a lot of people, aren’t I?
And when fans turn off of Avenue 196 into the parking lot in front of Spartan Stadium for another Friday night game that portion of the road can be renamed so they’ll be driving on Jeromy Blackwell Drive. As the current Spartans head coach, Blackwell has taken the Spartans to new heights.
Right around the 40-yard line there could be some kind of logo in honor of Steve Brown and Strathmore’s version of “The Play.” At least that’s about where I think it happened when Brown was an assistant coach for Strathmore. The Spartans used a play Brown had taken from Dee Andros when Brown was an Allamerican at Oregon State to win the Valley title in 1998.
On the other side of the field could be another logo honoring Joey Quijas and what I consider to be the most important play in Strathmore High School football history. Quijas ran across the field to recover a fumble to allow the Spartans to keep possession.
On the next play Duke Crawford completed what turned out to be the game-winning touchdown pass to Jason Horn to give the Spartans their first Valley title in 1992. I was there for that one, too.
Joey Quijas, who sadly is also no longer with us, also played a prominent role in the youth football program. I could go on and on. Yes, all true stories end in death. But thanks to Joe Vidrio — and many others — the success of Strathmore football lives on.