Spoto

By Bryan Burns
Published August 31, 2007

Multiple Choice

Playing its first full year of varsity, a reasonable expectation for Spoto would be:

A) At least six victories to ensure a winning season

B) A 3A-11 district title and the school's first playoff appearance

C) Remaining competitive in every game

D) Nothing short of perfection during the regular season followed by a state title run

Answer: C. Spoto coach Scott Palmer isn't too worried about wins and losses with a roster overflowing with freshmen and sophomores and a program in its infancy stage. The second-year coach would merely like to see his team learn how to play football at the varsity level. "We don't have lofty expectations like nine wins or a deep playoff run, but we want to come out and compete every game," Palmer said. "If we do that, being that we are so young, we think that it'll help us next year."

True-False

Spoto's biggest assets are size and depth along the offensive and defensive lines.

Answer: False. Spoto won't trot out any 300-pound behemoths on either line, but what the Spartans lack in size, they'll try to make up for in speed, especially on defense. "We have kids that are all going to get involved on every play," Palmer said. "We'll have all 11 flying to the ball. We should be pretty quick - there shouldn't be too many teams quicker than us."

Yes or No

Palmer is so desperate for players, he'll take anyone on his team as long as he can play.

Answer: No. Despite fielding just six seniors and a handful of kids with varsity experience, Palmer will not tolerate players who don't buy into his system. "We've told a couple of them, 'Hey, thanks for coming. We're sorry that you think you're the greatest player ever and you don't have to participate, but you're no longer invited to play with us,'" he said.

Essay

East Bay coach Brian Thornton on Spoto:

"(Palmer) knows what it takes to win, and he won't cut any corners to do so. He's a student of the game. He'll have discipline and structure, and eventually, he'll win games."

Palmer on Spoto:

"One of the things we have to learn to do is keep our patience and keep trying to coach them up. The good news is I'm bald and can't really rip any of my hair out. ...It's a pretty fun-loving group. Sometimes they make you old, sometimes they make you young."

Extra Credit

Spoto may struggle this year, but at least its early-season schedule will be kind. Five of the first seven games are against teams with losing 2006 records, and that doesn't include the county's other second-year program, Lennard (The county newbies face off in Week 3). ...According to Palmer, Octavis Jones, Spoto's starting quarterback in the spring jamboree, is ineligible this season. Palmer was encouraged by offseason workouts, which were attended by nearly 45 players each session. "I know every one of them got stronger," he said. "Now, does that materialize into wins? I have no idea."

Bryan Burns, Times correspondent

[Last modified August 29, 2007, 15:37:14]