SFC's Sipe gets the most from his players

10-03-2007

Santa Fe Christian's Sipe gets most from his players

It looked like Santa Fe Christian coach Brian Sipe, who hasn't been afraid to schedule up in recent years, might have finally bitten off more than his team could chew when the Eagles lost at Fallbrook 38-10 in their second game of the season.

Fallbrook, although not a San Diego power, is a Division I school with nearly 3,000 students. SFC is a private Division IV program with about 400 students. The Eagles' next opponent was Helix, a traditional state power at the Division II level.

But guess what? Final score: Santa Fe Christian 7, Helix 7.

Sometimes ties are better than kissing your sister, despite what Duffy Daugherty once said.

"We did more than bounce back," Sipe said. "We played one of our best games ever. I don't think we've had a better 48 minutes of football from our program. It was great to see them come back on the heels of a real disappointing performance, but I don't want to hang that loss on the players. I don't think I did a good job of getting them ready for Fallbrook."

Santa Fe Christian (1-2-1), the San Diego Section champion in Division IV, continued its tough schedule last week with a 16-6 loss to St. Augustine, the efending champion in Division III.

In Sipe's six seasons at SFC, the former NFL MVP quarterback with the Cleveland Browns has led the Eagles to four CIF San Diego Section Division IV titles and been among the state's top-ranked Division IV schools.

Before Helix, the Eagles' most challenging game was at Torrey Pines two years ago when SFC lost 28-14 to one of San Diego's Division I powers.

"That was a big step up against Torrey Pines," Sipe said. "Although we kept the score close, they were clearly the better team. I don't think we belonged on the same field the way we showed we did with Helix. When our boys are operating at full potential, I think we can hang with anybody."

SFC's 28-man roster is led by Jake Kenyan (5-10, 195), a senior guard and middle linebacker; Mario Kurn (6-1, 215), a senior two-way lineman; and Keaton Marks (6-2, 200), a senior running back and defensive back.

Senior wide receiver/defensive back Danny Breihan (6-0, 170) continues to make big plays for the Eagles, including two crucial touchdown catches.

"He's a terrific cornerback," Sipe said. "Nobody is even testing him. All the (opposing) coaches comment on him – before the game and then praise him after the game."

No one is testing Breihan, but Sipe is always testing his team.

09-17-2007

Carroll and Paterno don't see eye to eye

Penn State coach Joe Paterno may have enjoyed the view from the press box when forced off the sidelines with a leg injury from a sideline collission last year, but Oceanside coach John Carroll wants back on the sidelines as soon as possible.

Carroll, in his 19th year guiding the fourth-ranked Pirates (2-1-0), coached was forced to coach from the press box in a 27-20 win at La Costa Canyon two weeks ago and last week's 42-7 win at Escondido. He was hit by a defender and suffered a calf injury.

"I hate it up there," Carroll said. "I was up in the press box years ago as an assistant coach. You can see a lot more, but as a head coach you want to be on the sidelines to have a finger on the pulse of the team."

Carroll's calf injury was complicated by two blood clots. He's taking blood thinners to prevent a possible life-threatening situation and can't coach from the sideline since he must keep his leg elevated. Carroll will coach from the press box again Friday when the Pirates play host to No. 9 Eastlake (2-1-0). He hopes this is his last game in the press box.

Carroll said was hit when he said he thought he was a safe distance from the play, a pass completion near the sideline. But, typical of a coach, he was already thinking ahead to his next play call, so when he took his eye of the ball and looked for the down marker, he didn't see the defender go down quicker than expected.

"If it was one of our players, I could have made him run at practice, but he was from the other team," Carroll joked.

Tom Shanahan can be contacted at 619-699-2334 or toms@sdhoc.com.