BERNARDI TWINS MIGHT MOVE.

Byline: GERRY GITTELSON Community Sports

The firing of UCLA assistant football coach/recruiting coordinator Gary Bernardi on Thursday could have a major impact on Hart High athletics because his children, junior twins Joe and Briana Bernardi, are among the school's top football and softball players, respectively.

The elder Bernardi, 49, who was the Bruins' longest-tenured assistant, with 10 years experience, is actively seeking employment, and the family could move out of of town shortly, according to Joe.

``I love Hart and would hope I wouldn't have to leave, but there's definitely a possibility we'll have to move, and we're going to stick with my dad,'' Joe said. ``It's been very tough, and we don't know what's going to happen. But the phone's been ringing off the hook. I guess we knew there was a chance of this happening because of how the team has done the last couple of years but we were all pretty shocked when my dad got fired. Ten years is a long time.''

Joe, a 6-foot-4, 260-pound center, is among the region's top offensive linemen. He helped Hart to a Southern Section Div. II championship last season after recovering from a season-long knee injury his sophomore season. Briana, a 5-foot-5 catcher, has been a part-time softball starter since her freshman season, and she is expecting a breakout season this spring after dominating during summer ball.

--Hart High football standout Brian Elledge, one of the school's all-time best linebackers after totaling more than 250 tackles over the past two seasons, is the Foothill League's most high-profile player who's yet to commit to a Division I college scholarship.

However, Elledge, who sparked interest from Fresno State, Colorado State and Nevada but made no official visits, said he is closing in on a scholarship with San Jose State. The 6-foot-3, 190-pounder said he plans to make an official visit Jan. 16.

``He's a heck of a player who's definitely proved himself on the field. I can't understand why San Jose State is the only one interested,'' said quarterback Sean Norton, who has committed to Fresno State. ``He's an awesome player. I don't know what the problem is.''

Elledge has been busying himself as a starting forward for the basketball team in the meantime. He's been averaging about 10 points a game since joining the team in mid-December after the football team's 25-7 victory over Mission Viejo in the Southern Section Div. II championship game.

--A final Hart High football recruiting note: Offensive lineman Kevin Bell said he has received a scholarship offer from Montana. But he said he'll probably end up at an Ivy League university.

--Canyon High quarterback Nate Longshore, the school's all-time leading passer who has committed to Cal, still isn't sure whether he'll rejoin the basketball team for his senior season this year.

Coach Chad Phillips was hoping Longshore, recovering from a series of nagging football injuries, would be in uniform Friday night for the Foothill League opener against visiting Hart. But that won't happen because Longshore will be in Berkeley on an official visit to Cal.

``I honestly don't know what I'm going to do. I'll decide about basketball this week,'' said Longshore, who was planning to attend Monday's late basketball game against visiting Quartz Hill.

--Canyon High basketball guard Sean Coen, like Longshore also a top football player after catching a league-record 108 passes this season, again is wearing jersey No. 13 - which he says is his lucky number.

``I guess some people are superstitious but I love No. 13 because I was born on the 13th of the month,'' Coen said. ``I've worn it for just about every sport I've ever played.''

--And finally, here's one for the ``just wondering'' department: Why the heck do they name all-area cross country teams? The kids race against each other all year - isn't that enough to figure out who's the best?

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

Hart could lose lineman Joe Bernardi if his dad gets a coaching job out of the area.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer