Prep football: Mesa sticking to the plan

Barry Faulkner

COSTA MESA - While the three-day conditioning period which precedes

full gear Thursday can be considered a glorified chalk talk, Costa Mesa

High football coach Jerry Howell says there is a big difference from

spring practice.

“It’s much more intense than spring, because you have a game plan,�

said Howell, who will endure the final day of helmets, T-shirts and

shorts today with his 68 varsity and junior varsity athletes.

“We try to do as much conditioning as we can, without hurting the

kids. But it’s not a lot more than we’d normally do.�

In matters of football, Howell said he and his staff will install the

things they plan to run against Saddleback in the regular-season opener,

Sept. 7.

They’ll get a chance to polish up in a Sept. 1 scrimmage against

Orange (noon at Costa Mesa).

Howell has said he likes the work ethic and attitude of this year’s

squad, which comes off an 8-3 campaign that included the Pacific Coast

League co-championship and the Mustangs’ fourth straight trip to the CIF

Southern Section playoffs, a school record.

In addition to the annual personnel shake-up, which included the

unexpected loss of All-CIF running back C.J. Zuniga to academic

ineligibility, the coaching staff has undergone change.

Mike Crowe, a former Mustang quarterback, resigned as offensive

coordinator to devote more time to his family.

While veteran assistant Tom Baldwin, also a former head coach at the

school, has shifted from defensive coordinator to run the offensive side

of the ball, no one can replace Crowe’s right arm.

“Mike liked to get real involved in practice, throw the ball and show

his arm.� Howell said. “We’re going to miss that. We don’t have any

demonstration coaches, now.�