By Ed Piper, Jr.
In Tyler Roach's first Spring workouts as head coach at La Jolla High, there is some "Old Spice" and some "new growth" among the players participating in the annual rite on the Edwards Stadium field-- returners with recognizable faces, and newbies up from last year's junior varsity and freshman team.
First off, rising senior Lucas Smith is going to be his center. "That's what it looks like for now," said an engaging Roach, keeping up the tempo of the segmented workouts, keeping the music going on day number six, week number two of Spring practice, Wed., May 31. Thursday is the last day, before Family Day scrimmages and barbecue Sat., June 3.
On a digital display large enough to see easily from the center of the field, the four minutes or six minutes or whatever length of time a particular segment lasts tick down. The music offerings, which keep the energy up, Wednesday included something Mexican in Spanish, some soul, some urban--no ballads. All beat. Every team seems to practice to music these days, be it the Golden State Warriors or whoever.
Not many linemen were present Wednesday. But running back hopefuls going through drills included returnees D'yhar Sturgis, Gabe Solis, and others.
Defensive backs among returning players included Daniel Souza, Sola Hope, Abdul Sinjab, and others.
The running backs had to tip-tip-tip-toe quickly in tiny steps on their toes in a tight formation around small cones placed a foot apart in a line, exaggerated form mandatory, then pass one defender (a coach) on one side, circle around a second hostile defender trying to bat the ball away, then pass by the first defender on the opposite side against hostile action.
There wasn't as much sweat as on a sunny day, but the intensity was there and the breathing recovery between drills was apparent.
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