PATRIOTS ARE LUCKY TO HAVE CROSON.Byline: RAMONA SHELBURNE Ramona Shelburne is an American sports journalist currently writing for the Los Angeles Daily News. Shelburne was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She attended El Camino Real High School in Woodland Hills, California where she was a class valedictorian. LOCAL He doesn't have to be out there. He doesn't even take a paycheck. ``It's $2,650 a season,'' he said. ``I just split it up between three of my assistant coaches.'' He's not complaining though. Far from it. The way Ed Croson sees it, he's lucky to be there. Yeah, you heard that right. The man who has taken Birmingham High of Lake Balboa from the laughingstock laugh·ing·stock n. An object of jokes or ridicule; a butt. Noun 1. laughingstock - a victim of ridicule or pranks goat, stooge, butt April fool - the butt of a prank played on April 1st of the West Valley League to three City Section titles in six years is just lucky to be there. ``How many people get to do what they love for work?'' he asks. ``I was fortunate enough to do well in business and live in a nice house in a nice neighborhood to where I could go back and become a teacher and help kids.'' A lot of people say things like this. Especially on nights like Friday -- Birmingham rolled to an easy 45-7 victory over San Pedro in the City title game at the Coliseum -- when they're shining on center stage. But they don't always back it up. They don't turn down a paycheck or bring their assistant coaches on stage with them at the trophy presentation. And they certainly don't take a job like the one Croson was offered at Birmingham. ``Before coach Croson got here,'' said former Patriots star and current UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX defensive back Dennis Keyes. ``We were terrible. We were the laughingstock of the whole league. I only went to Birmingham because my older sister was there. ``He turned everything around.'' The Patriots were 3-17 in the two years before Croson arrived. They went 10-1 in his first season, 10-2 the next and 10-3 the third year, including the school's first City title since 1963. Birmingham athletic director Athletic director (commonly, "athletics director") is a position at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, which oversees the work of the coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic Rick Prizant interviewed a number of candidates before settling on Croson. He had only one concern before offering him the job. ``He was so good,'' Prizant said. ``We were afraid he'd leave us after a few years.'' Prizant knows better now. Spend any length of time with Croson and you'll get it, too. He doesn't just tell kids what to do, he shows them. When he says he wants to help kids, it doesn't just mean help his football players get a scholarship. He's as concerned about what they're eating before a game and how much sleep they get every night as he is how many yards they gain. Some schools serve steak and potatoes for pregame meals. Birmingham eats vegetables and lean protein. Croson sets the tone. ``All I ever saw him eat was a sack lunch that had apples, peanuts and a chicken breast,'' Keyes said. Croson started that regimen after college. He was a big offensive lineman at Fullerton College Fullerton College, in Fullerton, California, is the oldest community college in continuous operation in California, having been established in 1913. Fullerton College’s roots can be traced back to a time when the city of Fullerton was primarily an agricultural community and the University of Utah The University of Utah (also The U or the U of U or the UU), located in Salt Lake City, is the flagship public research university in the state of Utah, and one of 10 institutions that make up the Utah System of Higher Education. , before a knee injury ended his career. Some coaches talk about playing a tough schedule to make the team better in the long run. Croson really does Warren Trotter, better known as Really Doe, is an American rapper from Chicago, Illinois. He is affiliated with Kanye West and his G.O.O.D. Music family and label. Discography Songs
After every loss, Croson's first words
First Words is a Canadian hip hop group, consisting of Halifax beatmaker Jorun, DJ STV and emcees Sean One & Above. to the press were ones of praise for his opponent. That's not to say he doesn't care about winning. There's no way he and his assistant coaches would work as hard as they do just for fun. Every Saturday, the Birmingham coaching staff meets at defensive coordinator A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a football team in the National Football League or college football who is in charge of the defense. This position aids the head coach a great deal in many ways by delegating play calling to other coaches and allowing the head Jim Rose's house to watch tape. ``We start after we let the kids out, around 1 or 2 and go until it's done,'' Rose said. ``Sometimes, that's 1 o'clock in the morning.'' Said Keyes: ``I used to think he worked 23 hours a day.'' Yep, this is the job Croson feels like he's just lucky to have. Don't even try to figure out what a $2,650 stipend sti·pend n. A fixed and regular payment, such as a salary for services rendered or an allowance. [Middle English stipendie, from Old French, from Latin st per season works out to as an hourly rate the way Croson works. That's not what it's about. ``If you love kids, and you work hard, they'll respond,'' he said. ``That's how we've done it.'' ramona.shelburne@dailynews.com (818) 713-3617 |
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