KTJ
12-10-2005, 01:18 AM
Scotts Valley coach returning to cheer on Leopards
By MARVIN HOGAN, Register Sports Editor
If you are at the Gainesville game Saturday, and you look around and see someone who looks a bit familiar, it may be Loui Walters.
Walters and his Scotts Valley (Ca.) Falcons football played Gainesville in the first Sizzle Bowl game Aug. 26 at Leeper Stadium.
Walters said he was going to fly to Texas on Friday and go to the game on Saturday.
Walters has family in Texas and that led, in part, to the game in Texas.
His brother coaches in Mesquite and he hooked Walters up with Gainesville Coach Jeff Cordell and the Gainesville booster club.
For the record, Gainesville's Leopards defeated Scotts Valley's Falcons 33-0.
“It was a really good trip,” Walters said via phone from his office Tuesday. “The players are still talking about it.”
“We couldn't have been treated any better,” he said. “From getting to work out in Texas Stadium to the hospitality of the people of Gainesville.”
Next season the Falcons are going from the “sizzle” to the “ice house.”
We are going to Alaska to play their state champion.
Walters said his players wore extra clothing, under their uniforms, to try to simulate the heat and humidity of Texas.
He said next year, his players may have to work out at and in door practice facility, and turn the air conditioning down to 50 degrees.
Though the Falcons, who finished 6-6 on the season, got blanked by the Leopards, they did turn it around and have a good season.
“After the game,” Walters said, “we knew we would see any opponent this year that was any better than Gainesville.”
The Falcons, coming off a 4-6 season in 2004, made it to the quarterfinals of the sectional division in California.
“That is equal to Texas' regional round,” he said.
“Counting Gainesville,” Walters said, “we played six consecutive teams, in non-district games, that won at least two rounds of the playoffs last year.”
He said the team and coaches followed the Leopards all year and were happy to see them doing so well.
Having played them, and being a long-time coach, Walters is one of the best coaches to give an unbiased view of how to beat them.
“How do you beat them?” Walters asked when the question was posed.
“First off, you have to stop (Michael) Miller,” he said, “then you have to deal with that defense.”
Walters said his team didn't play anyone, anywhere, with better talent than the Leopards' defense.
Being a world traveler will help the Falcons, Walters said.
“We only had eight seniors this year,” he said. “When we came home from Texas, we knew we were going to face any California team with as much speed as Gainesville. It really helped up get prepared for the playoffs.”
Walters said his returning lettermen and starters will have a good base to build upon next year.
They will also have to stow their shorts and tee shirts away and break out the winter gear.
Buying warm cloths is the only was they can deal with going from the Texas heat to the Alaska cold.
By MARVIN HOGAN, Register Sports Editor
If you are at the Gainesville game Saturday, and you look around and see someone who looks a bit familiar, it may be Loui Walters.
Walters and his Scotts Valley (Ca.) Falcons football played Gainesville in the first Sizzle Bowl game Aug. 26 at Leeper Stadium.
Walters said he was going to fly to Texas on Friday and go to the game on Saturday.
Walters has family in Texas and that led, in part, to the game in Texas.
His brother coaches in Mesquite and he hooked Walters up with Gainesville Coach Jeff Cordell and the Gainesville booster club.
For the record, Gainesville's Leopards defeated Scotts Valley's Falcons 33-0.
“It was a really good trip,” Walters said via phone from his office Tuesday. “The players are still talking about it.”
“We couldn't have been treated any better,” he said. “From getting to work out in Texas Stadium to the hospitality of the people of Gainesville.”
Next season the Falcons are going from the “sizzle” to the “ice house.”
We are going to Alaska to play their state champion.
Walters said his players wore extra clothing, under their uniforms, to try to simulate the heat and humidity of Texas.
He said next year, his players may have to work out at and in door practice facility, and turn the air conditioning down to 50 degrees.
Though the Falcons, who finished 6-6 on the season, got blanked by the Leopards, they did turn it around and have a good season.
“After the game,” Walters said, “we knew we would see any opponent this year that was any better than Gainesville.”
The Falcons, coming off a 4-6 season in 2004, made it to the quarterfinals of the sectional division in California.
“That is equal to Texas' regional round,” he said.
“Counting Gainesville,” Walters said, “we played six consecutive teams, in non-district games, that won at least two rounds of the playoffs last year.”
He said the team and coaches followed the Leopards all year and were happy to see them doing so well.
Having played them, and being a long-time coach, Walters is one of the best coaches to give an unbiased view of how to beat them.
“How do you beat them?” Walters asked when the question was posed.
“First off, you have to stop (Michael) Miller,” he said, “then you have to deal with that defense.”
Walters said his team didn't play anyone, anywhere, with better talent than the Leopards' defense.
Being a world traveler will help the Falcons, Walters said.
“We only had eight seniors this year,” he said. “When we came home from Texas, we knew we were going to face any California team with as much speed as Gainesville. It really helped up get prepared for the playoffs.”
Walters said his returning lettermen and starters will have a good base to build upon next year.
They will also have to stow their shorts and tee shirts away and break out the winter gear.
Buying warm cloths is the only was they can deal with going from the Texas heat to the Alaska cold.