Spring Football Preview: CVCS Is Ready to Begin Again

The Capistrano Valley Christian football program is starting from scratch. The Eagles, who ended the 2010 season with their first Express League title, wrapped up spring training sessions as a team in the middle of a major transition.

The defending league champion's starting lineup is riddled with question marks. Its quarterback and leading rushers have graduated. Its top returning wide receiver opted to transfer, as did the only returning passer on the Eagles' roster. Coach Chris Fore also departing, effectively ending his five-year tenure with his resignation last month.

Fore's replacement also finds himself in a period of change and hopes he and the program have joined forces at just the right time. Dan Dodd, who served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Tulane University in New Orleans until May, takes over as CVCS head football coach and athletic director, a dual role that Fore filled for the past four years.

Dodd officially accepted the job on May 10, resigning from his position as the Green Wave's play-caller in the process. Why would a man with 31 years of coaching experience -- 17 at the Division 1 collegiate level -- decide to make eight-man football the next step in his career path?

"That's the million dollar question," Dodd said while sitting in his new office at the San Juan Capistrano campus. "I think I've been asked that about a thousand times in the past few weeks.”

After nearly two decades of cross-country recruiting trips, Saturday afternoon showdowns and postseason bowl games, Dodd decided he was ready to take a break from the college ranks and return to his roots. The former San Clemente High quarterback spent the first portion of his college playing days at Saddleback College before transferring to Drake University, where he established three passing records.

Timing was everything for Dodd.

He received a phone call from the tenants of his San Clemente home. After 6 1/2 years of renting the house, they told Dodd it was time for them to move out. One week later, he committed to the job at CVCS.

"The door opened at the right time," Dodd said. "That's what life is all about. The opportunity to return home, as well as the strong Christian aspect, was very appealing to me.”

His new task won't be easy. Dodd takes over a squad searching for its identity following the departure of so many dependable athletes.

Suddenly, the man who once helped coach perennial NFL Pro Bowl players LaDainian Tomlinson and Brian Urlacher; and spent last fall dialing plays at the Louisiana Superdome, is charged with the task of turning high school freshmen into consistent contributors.

Dodd hasn’t spent much time examining his Express League opponents. Instead, he has put an emphasis on tapping into the Eagles’ ability.

“Right now, my whole focus is on us,” Dodd said. “The first thing I have to concentrate on is our kids, our development and our program. We’ve got to get stronger this summer and learn our offensive and defensive structure. Fortunately, this is a very eager group. At the end of the day, I think we’ll put a quality product on the field.”

CVCS can lean on a veteran tandem of linemen on both sides of the ball. Juniors Luke Stevens and Alex Colombo return from last fall’s championship squad to make up two-thirds of the Eagles’ three-man fronts. Like the majority of players in eight-man football, they’ll participate in plenty of snaps.

“This style of football requires a lot of stamina because it’s necessary for most of us to play offense, defense and special teams,” said Stevens, who led CVCS with six sacks last season.

Though they may not be seniors, the linemen expect to take ownership of leadership roles in summer workouts.

“It’s important that we build up our young guys,” Colombo said. “We’ll try to bond over the next few months through team activities. Our job is to make the freshmen feel welcome because we need them to help us right away.”

Freshman Riley Babick is considered the front-runner for the quarterback position. However, he has yet to take a snap of any kind with the Eagles.

Dodd admitted he’s still searching for skill players and looks forward to getting a close-up look at the incoming crop of eighth-grade graduates.

“Basically, every spot is open for competition,” Dodd said. “We don’t have a freshman team or JV team to pluck talent from like bigger schools, so this season is going to be a major growing process for this program.”

Sophomore Michael Updegraff  could become one of the area’s ultimate underdog stories. The 5-foot-2 receiver weighs in just shy of 100 pounds, but it’s hard not to appreciate his scrappy play.

“If you want to see how a guy should play the game of football, check this kid out,” Dodd said. “Looks can be deceiving and Michael brings a ton of intensity to the field.”

Dodd hopes the tenacity of his smallest player spreads across an unproven squad in his first season at the helm. He hasn’t failed to make a quick impression just weeks into his Southern California homecoming.

“He’s been open with us since the first day of spring practice,” Stevens said. “Coach Dodd is the same on the field as he is off it and we all respect that. It’s humbling that he’d come here from the college level, and we’re excited to play for him.”

Capistrano Valley Christian's 2011 Varsity Football Schedule:

Saturday, Sept. 3 vs. San Jacinto Valley Academy

Friday, Sept. 9 vs. Escondido Classical Academy

Friday, Sept. 16 at Pacific Lutheran

Friday, Sept. 23 vs. Hesperia Christian

Friday or Saturday, Oct. 7 or 8 at Southlands Christian (date TBD) *

Friday, Oct. 14 vs. Avalon *

Friday, Oct. 21 at Liberty Christian *

Friday, Oct. 28 at Eastside Christian *

Friday, Nov. 4 vs. St. Michael's Prep *

* Indicates Express League game

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