First, the good news. Valencia High graduate Steven Manfro is making quite an impression on first-year coach Jim Mora Jr. and his staff. The red-shirt freshman was working with the first-team offense in practice. He is running the ball, catching passes out of the backfield and is an integral part of the third-down package.
“Steven was kind of the surprise of the spring,” Mora said. “I think we’ve all gotten kind of used to him a little bit. But he’s doing well. He’s playing consistent. He’s a versatile guy. He catches the ball well out of the backfield. We can use him as a running back. He can run the ball. He’s a good pass protector.”
Where Manfro will make his biggest contribution is on special teams, Mora said. He envisions Manfro being either a punt returner or a kickoff returner. He likes Manfro’s field vision and bursts of speed.
“I think you’ll see him a lot in our return game,” Mora said. “I would be surprised if he’s not either our punt or kickoff returner or both, or at least in the rotation. We’ve got some pretty good guys who can do that for us. We’d like to see the ball in his hands.”
Now the bad news: Hart High graduate Patrick Larimore retired from the team and college football for medical reasons. He sustained a concussion in the spring and during camp earlier this month at Cal State San Bernardino. On July 30, he decided to end his football career after telling his coaches and teammates he would not return to practice or camp.
Larimore is a senior and was one of the team captains on defense for UCLA last year. He was the defensive MVP and started at linebacker in all 13 games for the Bruins. He led the team in tackles with 81. He had one sack, one interception, five pass deflections and one forced fumble.
In high school, he set a school record at Hart with 138 tackles in his junior season. He also had two sacks.
He finishes his college football career with 206 tackles, three sacks and two interceptions.
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In the annual media poll, UCLA was picked to finish in third place in the Pac 12 South Division. USC was picked to win the South Division. Oregon was selected as the top team in the Pac 12 North Division.
From the start, Mora has been trying to create a clean slate with his football team. He decided to hold camp at Cal State San Bernardino to deliberately isolate his players.
“My thoughts were simply that I wanted us to be in an environment where we were isolated as a football team,” Mora said during the Pac 12 media day. “I think it’s important as we start this journey that we get to know each other very well.”
When Mora was asked about how he plans on improving the team’s 6-7 record and a loss in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl last year, he didn’t address the shortcomings of the 2011 squad. Instead he focused on trying to create a culture of toughness, discipline and accountability with his current players.
“You know what? I don’t know what they had or didn’t have last season, that’s not my concern,” Mora said. “My concern is what we have now and going forward.”
Perhaps the most telling comment Mora made about the upcoming season was about USC. He was asked about how he is going to deal with USC. Mora responded by saying he is focused on UCLA football.
“I think it’s a big mistake as a coach – and I understand the fans’ and the media’s perspective, because it is a unique and lively rivalry – but I think as a coach and as a football team, what’s important is you keep your focus on the game you’re getting ready to play,” Mora said. “I think it’s important you keep your focus on the practice you’re getting ready to participate in, and that’s our approach.”
UCLA opens against Rice in Houston on Aug. 30.
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Santa Clarita’s Allyson Felix redefined the term gold rush at the Summer Olympics in London. The United States women’s track and field team won nine gold medals at the Olympics. Felix won three of them.
She finally removed the albatross around her neck by winning the gold medal in the 200 meters. She won silver medals in the 200 at the 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics.
She added to her gold medal haul as part of the world-record breaking 4×100 relay team. Her third gold medal came in the 4×400 relay.
College of the Canyons track coach Lashinda Demus did her part to contribute to the U.S. women’s medal collection by winning the silver medal in the 400 meter hurdles.
Kim Rhode made Olympic history by medaling in five Summer Games in a row. She won a gold medal in women’s skeet shooting. It was her third Olympic gold medal and her fifth medal total. She won her first gold medal in double trap in the 1996 Atlanta Games. She won her second gold medal in double trap at the 2004 Summer Games in Athens.
Rhode, who trains in Newhall and lives in El Monte, also has a silver medal from the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing and a bronze medal from the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney.
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The high school football season starts for three teams in the Foothill League. Canyon kicks off the prep pigskin party against Morningside on Aug. 23.
Saugus plays Calabasas at College of the Canyons the following night. West Ranch travels to play Moorpark on the same night.
Tim Haddock is the sports director for KHTS AM 1220 and writes the Santa Clarita Gazette and the ESPN Los Angeles web site. He can be reached by e-mail at tim@hometownstation.com. Follow him on Twitter @thaddock.
Photo: The UCLA defensive backs practice during camp at Cal State San Berardino. (Credit: Tim Haddock)
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