Santa Ana’s Lee Shows Why He’s Not Done Yet

Robert Lee said back in January that he had had enough of football and that the Orange County All-Star game would be his last.

“I just don’t (have) the feelings for it anymore,” Lee, a running back from Santa Ana High School, said. “I haven’t had any emotion for the sport for a long time. I wanted to quit in the middle of the season. I’ve been thinking about quitting for a long time. I guess I was afraid to let people know.”

But it was all just a ruse.

Lee said so after he helped the South to a 21-7 victory over the North Friday night at Orange Coast College’s LeBard Stadium.

He said he intends to play football again next fall and will do so wearing the scarlet-and-black colors of Orange Coast.

Lee gained 4,388 yards in his career at Santa Ana--second-best in Orange County history behind Ray Pallares of Valencia, who gained 5,397--and displayed talent and drive galore--at least enough to continue playing in college.

He burst on the scene as a sophomore, a self-described “baby” at 5-feet 11-inches, 200 pounds, and promptly led the Saints to a 31-21 victory over Mission Viejo in the 1985 Southern Conference championship game.

Lee gained 602 yards and scored 4 touchdowns in 4 playoff games that year. He had 231 yards in the championship game.

In his junior season, Lee averaged more than 200 yards a game in his final nine, again leading the Saints to the conference championship game. This time Santa Ana lost, 26-10.

As a senior, Lee gained more than 1,000 yards and was named to The Times’ All-County first team for the second consecutive season. Santa Ana lost in the semifinals against El Toro, 13-12.

So why the smoke screen?

“I made the decision a long time ago. I just didn’t want to be bothered,” Lee said.

Lee said he was troubled by the college recruiting process. He grew weary of the calls from reporters and recruiters asking him, ‘So, Robert where are you going to school next year?’ ”

So he pulled an end run and said he was quitting.

“The media builds you so far up and then can tear you down,” he said, explaining the pressure he was under at the end of last season. “So I told them I was going to give it up, but I intended to play all the time.”

Friday night, Lee showed that little has changed on the field.

He slashed past defenders for 49 yards in 9 carries, tops among South running backs. And he proved to be a valuable part of the South’s brilliant offensive unit. When he slipped over for a 1-yard touchdown with 1:31 left in the third quarter, the South finally edged past the North, 14-7, for its first lead.

His teammates said they were not surprised Lee decided to continue playing, nor were they surprised with his high level of play.

“This smile says it all,” said George Tuioti, Lee’s Santa Ana and South teammate when asked if he knew of Lee’s intention to play.

“We knew better,” said Tuioti, who injured his knee and could not play Friday. “He’s just a great athlete. But the decision could only be up to Robert Lee. He just did a great job tonight.”

Bret Johnson, the South quarterback who threw for 126 yards on 10-of-14 passing, said he knew Lee would play again.

“I can understand it,” said Johnson, who is headed for UCLA. “He’s kind of a shy guy. It was fun playing with him.”