COC NOTEBOOK AFTER A FULL SUMMER, HE'S READY FOR MORE STOKES STOKED FOR UPCOMING SEASON AT COC.

Byline: Scott Magoloff Staff Writer

VALENCIA - Stephen Stokes finds himself at College of the Canyons on the cusp of junior college football stardom. He has already become familiar with the widespread fanfare he's experienced as a multifaceted offensive threat at Valencia High.

Stokes is best remembered in high school circles for his scintillating three-touchdown, 205-yard receiving performance - including the game-winning touchdown catch with less than one minute left - in Valencia's Southern Section quarterfinal victory last season over Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks.

Although the Vikings went on to lose in the championship game to Hart, Stokes developed a taste for the heroic and hopes to further develop that ability in coach Chuck Lyon's assault-style offense. If he wanted to go to college for purely academic reasons - something his 3.26 GPA forced him to consider - Stokes says he would be at Cal State Northridge.

``(As for) education, I'll get it wherever I go because to me, that's self-motivated,'' Stokes said. ``I know COC has a quality education program for a JC, and I can transfer to a university, but every decision I've made has been oriented toward football.''

When education finally does overtake football on Stokes' list of priorities, he plans to study kinesiology so he can become a personal trainer. He also plans to minor in business to better prepare himself to launch a personal-training business.

Stokes has already learned a great deal about organizing training sessions. Before he began practicing in COC's summer program a few months ago, Stokes, with the help of two former players at Valencia, ran weight-training programs for the freshman team. He expanded that to include regular Saturday excursions to Live Oak Elementary School for a hands-on display of what young players should expect in high school football.

``I decided to set up something so they can learn how varsity was going to be and get them a jump-start with drills and running,'' Stokes said. ``I gave them a pamphlet on how things were done and we went out there on Saturdays for about two months. We called (our program) 'The Edge' and had parents sign permission slips so they could come out and train.''

Each week Stokes - along with Willie Rocha and Brett Gaumond - would train 10-12 people with a variety of exercises and drills.

``I did a lot of research,'' Stokes said. ``I did a project on how to run properly and showed them how to work their arms and their head position, how to run correctly. I wasn't taught until I had already graduated from high school.''

--Smelser sightings: Lee Smelser, the former men's basketball coach since the program's inception 30 years ago who retired upon season's end, always maintained he'd still be a fixture around campus. Maybe just not as much.

Those who just can't do without a regular sighting of Smelser can visit with him briefly on Mondays and Wednesdays, when he sits on guard in the weight room.

``I adjusted well, I think,'' he said. ``The security isn't looking at me funny yet, so I still have a few friends here.''

New basketball coach Howard Fisher said he would always take the opportunity to consult with Smelser about COC basketball, although it hasn't happened yet.

``I'm staying away,'' Smelser said. ``I'm letting him get his feet wet. We'll talk.''

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Photo:

(color) Lee Smelser, right, who retired as coach of the COC men's basketball team, helps supervise the college's weight room.

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer