Crespi’s Lins Remains Mum on Miseries of Last Season

Credit ninth-year Crespi football Coach Tim Lins with maintaining the verbal equivalent of a poker face as the 1997 season opener draws near.

His taciturn reputation already established, Lins has locked his

lips even further as the Celts prepare to play Chaminade on Sept. 12 at Pierce College.

Discussing last season, in which Crespi finished 3-7 and 0-5 in Del Rey League play, Lins allowed that “you always learn a lot in situations like that.”

Asked what he had learned, Lins said he “would rather not say.”

Other responses included “That’s a tough question” (followed by silence), “I’d rather not answer that” and “I don’t want to give too much away.”

For the record, Lins is unfailingly polite and admits the Celts have scrapped their traditional power attack for a multiple back set. Asked the impetus for such a move, he said it had “a little to do with personnel and a lot to do with change.”

Winging it:Coming off a 1-9 season, Hoover High will not be mistaken for Penn State, or even a current suitor for the Pacific League crown.

“Right now, honestly, we don’t match up with the Muirs and Crescenta Valleys,” first-year coach Jeff Chi said.

So, if you can’t beat ‘em, fool em.

Chi has elected to adopt the Delaware Wing-T, a sometimes dizzying sleight-of-hand offense that can leave opponents scrambling just to identify the ball carrier. It also can minimize considerable size and speed disadvantages.

Hoover is one of three area teams to embrace the unique offense.

Hueneme has switched to the Wing-T, following Channel League rival Rio Mesa, which has run the offense for several years under Coach George Contreras. Rio Mesa averaged almost 400 yards per game in 1996.

Big change: Three things you can count on--death, taxes and a standout tailback on the Kennedy High football team.

That is, until this year. For the first time since Coach Bob Francola took over 12 years ago, the Golden Cougars won’t have a marquee running back.

Juniors Jason Jones and Josue Otero and senior Paul Jones will likely split time as none has stood out in practice.

“It’s definitely different,” said Francola. “They each bring different things but we’ll find a way to use all of them.”

Talk that talk: Alemany receiver Deandre Scott may be short on experience but he’s long on confidence, which he displayed last week by introducing himself to a reporter as “the best freshman football player in the country.”

Indian Coach Jim Bonds winced when told of Scott’s braggadocio.

“Deandre’s already one of the better athletes at Alemany but I think we have to get his team attitude together a little bit,” said Bonds, who plans to give Scott significant playing time. “You need to remember he’s only 14.”