TIMES MAY CHANGE, BUT THE PASSION DOESN'T.

Byline: GERRY GITTELSON

It was 1961, the first ``upside-down'' year since 1881 (a year that reads the same when it's turned upside down) in an era that now feels like a world away: A flamboyant young president named John F. Kennedy was inaugurated, a burgeoning company called ABC worked its way into the televison business, and a war began in far-off country called Vietnam.

A McDonald's hamburger cost 23 cents. Eddie Murphy, George Clooney and Dennis Rodman were born.

And a thin, gutsy teenager named Harry Welch was finding his way into the football world as a quarterback for Crespi High in Encino, a sleepy Los Angeles suburb with no buildings taller than two stories along Ventura Boulevard.

It's been 45 years and for Welch, now a 61-year-old head football coach at Canyon, the memories came rushing back when he was asked to take part in an Al Bundy-style retrospective of what high school football was like for the area's current head coaches.

``I was mediocre. Second-string at everything. A skinny, slow, uncoordinated utility man,'' Welch said.

Somehow, Welch worked his way from center to quarterback by the time the Southern Section playoffs began. And he'll be in the Crespi history books forever as the first in school history to throw a touchdown pass in the playoffs.

``I know 1961 seems like ancient history, but yes, I do remember it,'' Welch said. ``It was a cold daytime game at Mammoth High. Our slot receiver, Pat Breaux -- God rest his soul because he's no longer with us -- was open on a post pattern, and I hit him.''

There was snow on the ground that afternoon but the rest of the details are a bit fuzzy. Welch remembers for sure not being bothered by the cold weather.

``I didn't care about pain. I didn't care about temperature. All I wanted to do was play football,'' he said.

Such passionate memories of their high school football days are a common thread among today's coaches.

Perhaps such passion is what has kept our coaches so involved in the sport. At least that's a reasonable theory on why a group of otherwise rational men would dedicate their lives to high school football and the players who play the game -- instead of more sensible pursuits that pay a lot more money and allow time for activities beyond just eating and sleeping.

The issue of why coaches coach is open for debate, and there might be different reasons for every one. One thing for sure is they all loved the game even though some were better than others.

Oh, the memories.

Mike Herrington, an 18-year coach at alma mater Hart, was an average offensive lineman on an average team during his senior year in 1975. But what an ending Herrington enjoyed in his final game.

``We were playing Canyon in our last game -- neither of us made the playoffs that year -- and our coach, Dennis Wendt, called a tackle-eligible pass play and I scored a touchdown,'' Herrington said. ``I fumbled just as I crossed the goal line but the referee ruled I made it the end zone. I remember the play. I think the ground caused the fumble. But, yes, I scored, and we won 38-29.''

Saugus coach Jason Bornn was an undersized but fanatical defensive lineman at Village Christian of Sun Valley as a senior in 1988.

``Our biggest rival was Montclair Prep and we beat them in my last two years -- and those were huge upsets back then,'' Bornn said. ``In those days, everyone was just so intimidated by Montclair Prep because there were always allegations of recruitment and they always had a group of Division I-bound players. They had a great running back named Michael Jones in 1988 and it was amazing that we beat them, 23-21.''

Golden Valley coach Steve Pinkston, who played quarterback at Simi Valley in the 1980s, will never forget a 28-24 upset victory over then-power Quartz Hill during his senior year in 1984.

``No one expected us to touch Quartz Hill that night because they had Aaron Emanuel, who was the top running back in the country,'' Pinkston said. ``I was 3 of 6 for 150 yards -- with three touchdowns.''

Garrick Moss, who coaches at eight-man program Santa Clarita Christian, played defensive back in the early 1990s at Camarillo, which back then was part of the Marmonte League when the Marmonte League was in its prime.

``I remember during my senior year '92, we played Glendale in the first round of the playoffs and everyone from the Daily News and the L.A. Times were picking Glendale because they were 10-0 and had Pathon Rucker, who was an all-everything running back,'' Moss said.

``One of my teammates, Brian Vellmure, took the opening kickoff for a touchdown and we ended up winning 33-0. That was the highlight because the next week we were pounded pretty good by Capistrano Valley, who won the title that year.

``I probably weighed 170 and definitely had to use my quickness and smarts in those days against guys like Leodis Van Buren from Newbury Park, who was a great receiver, or some 220-pound running back coming around the corner.''

One hit Moss remembers is the one he put on former Royal of Simi Valley quarterback Ryan Fien, who later played at UCLA. Or was it the hit Fien put on Moss?

``He was a big kid and it was one of the hardest hits I've taken. But he had the football and he's the one who went down,'' Moss said.

Valencia coach Larry Muir, an all-league linebacker in 1985 at Alemany of Mission Hills, still savors a victory over league rival Loyola of Los Angeles, which didn't lose many games back then -- or in today's era.

``We won 24-21. I will never forget that score,'' Muir said.

Those were different times, different places, different faces. Perhaps high school football hasn't changed as much as we think it has through the years. Or perhaps it has.

Most of today's coaches don't see many similarities.

For sure, modern players are bigger. Nearly everyone agrees about that.

``Today the kids are in better condition and so much stronger, faster and athletic,'' Welch said. ``Me? These days I couldn't even start for Canyon's JV team.''

Bigger, faster, more athletic. Yes. But what about the size of the heart? The passion for the game? The dedication of mind, body and soul? That's a different story.

Mike Kane, who coaches at West Ranch and was a league MVP as a running back at St. Francis of La Canada in 1982, believes young athletes have changed through the years.

``I just think there's a lot more to do nowadays,'' he said. ``Maybe football isn't the live-all and end-all anymore that we thought it was back then.''

Pinkston agreed.

``I think today there's a lot more worries about getting scholarships and things like that,'' Pinkston said. ``It seems like high school football is more of business. In my days, it was about enjoying the game.''

Youngsters today are more diverse and have a lot more recreational choices. For a lot of these coaches, when they were in high school there were no computers or Internet, video games or cell phones.

There also were fewer sports: Soccer hadn't caught on, and surfing was something associated with Hawaii.

``There are other things to do now, more distractions, more opportunities to pursue other things besides just football or other sports,'' Herrington said. ``The guys now are real focused just like we were, but they have to be a little more disciplined to stay focused only on football. Back then, it was just a different mentality.''

Kane said he's borrowed more than just the training methods he learned from his coach at St. Francis, Brian Fogerty.

``As a coach, I've tried to model myself after him,'' Kane said. ``I really loved high school football and really enjoyed playing it. As a coach, I just hope my kids have the same experience I had.''

For some -- or perhaps all -- of the coaches, high school football changed their lives. For Bornn, a troubled youth who grew up with an absent father, football gave him a life.

Bornn embraced his coach at Village Christian, Mike Plaisance, as the father he never had. And the friendships and connections Bornn made at Village Christian have lasted a lifetime.

``I still talk to my ex-teammates all the time, including Jeff Cortez, who coaches at Lancaster,'' Bornn said.

``As for the game itself, maybe that hasn't changed. We still teach fundamentals. But when I played the game, oh, it was like nothing else I've ever done.''

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- 2) Top, Santa Clarita Christian coach Garrick Moss, No. 23, is shown during his days playing football at Camarillo High. Above, Saugus High coach Jason Bornn expresses pride during his football days at Village Christian.

David Crane/Staff Photographer