Few De Anza students are aware of a severe handicap Don coaches are working under this year — the lack of any sizable amount of sophomore athletes, around which every coach normally builds his team.

The abundance of freshman athletes this year is due to a ruling instituted last year at Foothill College. This ruling stipulated that any athlete who had lettered in a sport would have to continue his education at Foothill if he planned to go out for a sport, no matter how close he might live to De Anza College. Thus, the few sophomores on Don teams have come from State colleges or other junior colleges outside the District.

DE ANZA COACHES aren’t upset by the ruling, however, for it has, as Athletic Division Chairman Chuck Crampton pointed out, “a historical precedent.” When Foothill College in 1959 first started out in the Golden Gate Conference, it had all frosh contingents. Also, the ruling eliminates any problems over coaches from both campuses vying for the same athlete.

The number of sophomore athletes who would have come to De Anza from Foothill is “significant, but not huge,” comments Crampton.

The ruling may turn out to be a blessing in disguise, for seldom to freshman athletes get to have as much experience as they have been getting, and will be getting, throughout the year. The result next year should be a very impressive and experienced array of athletes.

For anyone doubting the capacities of this year’s freshman crop, let him take a look at De Anza’s stunning upset over Foothill two weeks ago, 13-0.

The Dons proved that a squad of almost entirely freshmen can play big time football. There are other aspects to football other than personnel, such as student support. According to head coach Bob Pifferini, “Student enthusiasm for the game was great. The cheering spectators were an inspiration to the team as well as a morale booster.”

Archived from Volume 1, Issue 2.