Pig Skin Mania

Football season rushing our way
by Omar Arce

As the year advances, the moment many of us have waited for is closer. Yes, the football season is here - perhaps the biggest source of pride (or shame in some cases). Last year's winless season left many of us fans with a bitter taste in our mouth. And perhaps the most appalling part was that we lost the bell in our home field. Honestly, fan morale is low for this year's football team.

But this year , the football team is prepared to amaze, is prepared to entertain, and most importantly the football team is prepared to win. A new coach, new players, and a new attitude promise to deliver us a great football team.

For the players, the team expectations are real. They are not dreaming about winning championships or breaking records. "Our expectations are to make a name for ourselves and have a a positive season," says Carlos Troche, senior defensive end. School pride - that is what it all comes down to, if only to put the name of the Southwest High School football team back in the map.

When you see Omar Manrique, you immediately think he is a skater with long hair, who enjoys listening to The Ramones. Wel,l he is, but he is also a linebacker for the football team. To achieve the team's goal, they need "...hardwork, practice and teamwork..." says Manrique. Indeed that is all a team needs. From the "Little Giants" to the real Giants at the 2008 Super Bowl, these values have always been with them.

All winning teams have something special. senior tightend Enrique Sanchez was asked what was special about the team. " We have a lot of good players. Even though we mess around, we still treat each other as a family." We all know that football is about attitude, but it's better when you and your brothers have the same winning attitude. But the most singular feature of Sanchez is that even standing at 6'3 and weighting more than 200 pounds, he had many significant bruises in his arms. I asked him about the bruises and then he said they came from last day's pracitce. They might be a family but it is clear that they give a lot of tough love to each other.

The Bell is perhaps the most coveted bell in the west side of the Freeway 5 - the holy grail of the rivalry between Southwest High School and Mar Vista High School. Last year it was taken away from us, but this year the race is on to get it back. When Troche was asked about the bell he stated with determination:"It is what we practice for. It is what we wait all year for." That shows that the road for the Bell will not be taken lightly this year.

The football team might not have a young Tomlinson, or a young Rivers. What the team has are players like Troche, Manrique, and Sanchez - players with pride and determination, players that never back down and the fight until the end, and as cheesy as it sounds it is true. They have done their part by practicing every day, the Raiders Digest has done its part by telling their story, now do your part by putting your school colors on and supporting our Raiders