LJ FB: I didn't foresee Forcier

Chris Forcier, now playing football in
the Czech Republic, threw a ball around
before the Vikings' 29-21 win at Country Day
Sept. 1, 2017.
(Photo by Ed Piper)
 

By Ed Piper

Sometimes you don't want to say the wrong thing. So, during spring and early summer football workouts at La Jolla High, I didn't venture to ask about the visible absence of Chris Forcier, who last year coached quarterbacks Trevor Scully, Carsten Phelan, and Kenny Hayden.

I finally took the risk of putting my foot (size 17) in my mouth. I didn't ask Viking head coach Tyler Roach, however. I asked an assistant coach during practice one day last week.

"Chris Forcier. You guys, where did he go?" the assistant I queried asked his nearby colleagues.

"He's playing in Prague."

Wow. I just visited there last fall. A fun connection.

It turns out Forcier (pronounced FOR-see-AY), a former All-CIF QB at St. Augustine, then UCLA and Furman University, took an opportunity to play for the Pardubice Stallions, in that city a 53-mile drive due east of the capital of the Czech Republic, Prague. The Jason-and-the-Golden-Fleece appearing athlete, with long blond hair, was also a high school All-American back in the day.

The season, the 25th for the seven-team Czech League of American Football (CLAF), began April 1, April Fool's Day.

But Forcier, who stands 6'3" and whose serious countenance belied a quiet friendliness when someone initiated conversation with him, talked last season about his enjoyment of living abroad. He especially enjoyed Milan, Italy, where he played previously. Now 29 years old, he still has the youth and the desire to sprint out of his position under center--not just the desire to coach others in the skills he acquired.

Chris, one of three talented quarterback brothers, all guided by their father in their careers, in fact ran as a sprinter at St. Augustine. He is tall, thin, and wiry. His devotion to his craft undoubtedly helped Scully improve his pass selection and unleash his own ability to scramble in the backfield and make something out of nothing.

On many occasions, and increasingly as the 2017 Viking season progressed with Roach in his first season at the helm, Scully took La Jolla fans on a wild and crazy ride as he dipped, dodged, plunged, and strained for yardage when he didn't put the ball in the air, on the way taking plenty of punishment from pursuing defenders.

Forcier's former understudy was seen at the Viking 7-on-7 tournament Sat., June 30, seemingly healthy, happy, and moving forward on his educational plans in college, clipboard in hand, assisting Roach in keeping games at the high school location (games were also held up the hill on the Muirlands Middle School campus) going.