The Lumberjack



Students Serving The Cal Poly Humboldt Campus and Community Since 1929

Tag: College Football

  • OPINION: 90 years and a slap in the face

    OPINION: 90 years and a slap in the face

    The Azusa Pacific field goal that beat the Lumberjacks on Nov. 3 sailed through the uprights. At this moment it dawned on me that this was the final play of HSU football. The empty feeling in my gut is all too familiar.

    Born and raised in San Diego, I could never tell local Jacks fans how to feel or how they should feel. However, after over 30 years of cheering for the San Diego Chargers, I have a pretty good idea.

    Year after year, heartache after heartache, I remained loyal to the Chargers. When they went 1-15 after using the second pick in the draft on University of Washington Cougars quarterback Ryan Leaf (the biggest flop in professional sports history), I stuck with it. When management fired head coach Marty Schottenheimer after going 14-2, I stayed true to my team. Get rid of L.T? Why not? There was no quit in me.

    Then, Chargers owner Dean Spanos made the decision to move the Chargers to Los Angeles in Jan. 2017 because he felt it couldn’t compete with the rest of the league financially at his old stadium in San Diego. Loyalty was never on the menu for ownership and I no longer have a team.

    The same can be said for HSU administration. People are pointing the finger at HSU president Lisa Rossbacher and rightfully so. This is the second football program to be eliminated under Rossbacher’s watch.

    Many locals will be getting their wish. Rossbacher’s announced retirement begins at the end of the Spring 2019 semester. One must wonder if future university presidencies are in her future and which team will be on the chopping block next.

    After playing the blame game, the reality of the loss begins to set in. For me, it was the fact that my home team that I had literally bled for was going to leave my city for our rival city to the North. Watching them be successful in Los Angeles this season has been hard to watch to say the least.

    There’s no more cheering for Lumberjacks football even if you wanted to. The game against Azusa was the last game to ever be played at the Redwood Bowl. That is the reality.

    Never again will locals be able to come down early on a Saturday to tailgate before a big game. There won’t be any more Lumberjacks moving on to the NFL, like Jacks All-American offensive lineman Alex Cappa in this year’s draft. At least not in the near future.

    The people with the most to lose in this situation are the players. Many of whom moved up to Humboldt County away from their comfort zones just to play the game of football. For some, HSU was the only offer received. For others this university was their choice.

    Even though HSU won’t fully admit to having a diversity problem, many students would agree that there is one. Losing Jacks football will have a negative effect on the diversity that HSU tries so much to promote.

    90 years of Jacks football apparently means nothing to HSU administration.

    The program is over and the lights at the Redwood Bowl are off. It’s a slap in the face and the feeling will never go away.

  • Like father like son

    Like father like son

    Football player keeps legacy alive

    Humboldt State sophomore linebacker and Lumberjacks team captain Demetrick Watts II was named Great Northwest Athletic Conference defensive player of the week, Oct. 8, for his performance against Simon Fraser.

    The six-foot 225-pound run stopper and pass protector stifled the Simon Fraser offense, with 8 tackles, 1 for a loss, a sack, and the eventual game-winning fumble recovery in the end zone for a touchdown.

    “It brought me back to high school,” Watts said. “It was a beautiful feeling and getting GNAC defensive player means everything to me.”

    Watts’ touchdown against Simon Fraser wasn’t the first of his career. A young Watts always wanted to be an NFL star.

    “He had passion as a seven-year-old,” Watts’ grandmother, Barbera Numan said. “He needs to keep swinging those doors open and stay motivated like he is and I believe it’s possible.”

    At Hillcrest High School in Riverside, California, Watts stood out as a two-way player. His running back strength and quickness showed through his original offensive position. On defense, he was the best linebacker in the league winning MVP twice. Watts also earned All-River Valley League Honors and the Athlete of the Year Award for the Citrus Belt League in 2015.

    Like the love for football, Watts shares many things with his father, including his name. Watts’ father passed away when he was a freshman at Hillcrest High. His passing was due to a blood clot in his leg. Watts moved in with his grandmother who lived down the street and continued at Hillcrest for the remainder of high school.

    “His dad was also an athlete,” Numan said. “He played football at Sonoma State. But you know, he had a family and he lost the vision. He was a family man now.”

    Watts’ father worked with him on drills, conditioning, and different aspects of what it meant to be an athlete, let alone a football player. They were very close, his father helped mold Watts both on and off the field.

    “Demetrick won many awards but he was always so humble,” Numan said. “That made me happy. He was a positive child, and became a respectful adult.”

    Coming into Humboldt State, Watts redshirted his freshman year but was always at practice and his favorite spot, the weight room. The recreation administration major would routinely be in the gym for two-a-days. Coaches talk about the discipline and work ethic behind Watts, and how much time he puts in off the clock.

    “Monday is my ideal day, I get my big lifts in,” Watts said. “Getting my legs under me and grounded makes me feel great.”

    Samuel Barfield, Watts’ cousin, was an incoming freshman this year and plays tight end for the Jacks. Sam is new to football, playing mostly basketball, but he still loves the sport.

    Barfield gets to witness the daily grind of Watts’ work ethic and looks up to him as his older cousin. Football became an avenue to help Barfield get out of the crime area of Riverside that they both call home. He thanks his older cousin for this.

    “I’ve always wanted to play aside my cousin,” Barfield said. “Whatever he does I want to copy. I know I’ll be good if I follow him. Our city is bad right now. People don’t get out and football is all we got.”

    Just like Watts, Barfield plans to continue his football career at another university considering Humboldt State recently decided to cut the program due to financial issues.

    “I love football and I put my everything into this,” Watts said.

    The Humboldt State Lumberjacks will play their very last football game Saturday, Nov. 3 at the Redwood Bowl against rival Azusa Pacific at 1 p.m. The seniors will be honored in remembrance of their journey here as a Jack.

  • Cappa shines in Alabama

    Cappa shines in Alabama

    Jacks star left tackle gearing up for NFL draft in April.

    Humboldt State University football player Alex Cappa tore down the house at the 69th annual Reese’s Senior Bowl on Jan. 27 in Mobile, Alabama.

    This year’s match-up featured top NFL prospects from around the country. The game was located at Ladd-Peebles Stadium aired on the NFL Network.

    “I had a lot of fun being out there,” Cappa said. “It was great representing HSU and smaller schools.”

    “There were a few (NCAA) Division II guys out there and I tried showing them that all guys, at all levels, are able to compete against anybody.”

    Cappa has earned a series of accomplishments while starting at left tackle over the past four years at HSU.

    Not only was Cappa a finalist for the Gene Upshaw Award, he also earned his fourth consecutive Great Northwest Atlantic Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year Award in 2017.

    The biggest factor for the left tackle position in the NFL is the player’s ability to pass, block and stop the defensive end from getting to the quarterback.

    At 6 feet and 7 inches, scouts are questioning if Cappa’s ability to protect the quarterback from elusive pass rushers will translate on the big stage.

    “The critics aren’t paying attention because he throws them out the club, regardless of how fast or strong they are,” HSU senior right guard Robert Williams said. “His football IQ is insanely high. All he has to do is use his right or left hand and he’ll toss you.”

    Cappa started the game at left guard. Eventually, he played the left tackle and right guard positions for the South Team. They went on to win 45-16, thanks to the help of University of Richmond QB Kyle Lauletta, who threw three passing touchdowns.

    Potential draftees will most likely participate at the NFL Scouting Combine event, which is hosted from Feb. 27 to March 5. The NFL Draft will then take place on April 26-28 in Arlington, Texas.

    According to Sports Blog Nation: Stampede Blue, Cappa could be chosen before the end of the second draft day.

    “It’s gonna be exciting no matter what,” Emily Morehead, Cappa’s partner of nearly seven years, said. “His draft is during my finals period. So, all I hope is that he gets that phone call while I’m not in a final.”

    Regardless of the round that Cappa is drafted, he will always be a legend at HSU.

  • International Friendly Game Shows the Lumberjacks Potential for the Upcoming Season

    International Friendly Game Shows the Lumberjacks Potential for the Upcoming Season

    Video by Sarahi Apaez.

    The Lumberjacks go big for its only preseason 2017 home game against international team Cetys University from Mexico. Cetys arrived to Humboldt County Thursday, August 31, and shared the Lumberjack’s practice field in preparation for Saturday’s game at 6 p.m. game at the Redwood Bowl.

    The game started with a 94-yard kickoff return by running back, Jaquan Gardner promptly followed by two other touchdowns by Gardner in the first quarter.

    “It was a good start to the game,” Gardner said, “a good way to build momentum for the team.”

    Offensively, the Lumberjacks showed its upcoming competition what it is made of. The team put up a total of 83 points on the board by the end of the game. Eight touchdowns were scored by: JaQuan Gardner, Malcolm Hale, Edwin Campbell, Kaleo Garrigan, and Jabar Byrd before Cetys scored its first touchdown with only seconds left in the 2nd quarter.

    Malcolm Hale, a transfer player from Contra Costa College, had two receiving touchdowns for a total of 157 yards in the first half of the game.

    “I am just happy to be a Jack, to be able to score and be able to win for my team,” Hale said. “Whatever it takes, I am going to do it.”

    As well as offense scoring, the defense put several points on the board. Senior, Edwin Campbell from San Jose, California started with the first big hit of the game. And with 10 minutes left in the 2nd quarter, Campbell intercepted the ball and ran it back for a touchdown.

    “It felt great,” Campbell said, “it felt like a movie, to be honest.”

    Senior, Ryan McKenzie, also from San Jose can relate to his teammate’s enthusiastic play overview. McKenzie went in for a big hit in the 2nd half of the game and also had a 48-yard interception return.

    “When you make big plays like that and can score off the turnovers,” McKenzie said. “It gives a good spark for the team.”

    Now although the Lumberjacks defense made big plays and overall held a high number on the board, first year defensive coordinator Barry Sacks gave us his opinion about where to go from here for the first official season game on the road against Azusa Pacific next Saturday, September 9.

    “I thought we were good, sound, and solid in a lot of situations,” Sacks said. “A little sloppy at times in the second half, but I think it is a great start. We want to make sure we improve as much as we can before next week.”

    The Lumberjacks displayed its potential and had its fans chanting every other minute. The players are ready for another blowout, and the coaches are ready for another smart, well-played game.

    “We are just ready to prepare for Azusa,” Gardner said. “I think we’ll be alright.”

  • NFL Draft Review

    NFL Draft Review

    By Danny Dunn

     

    The NFL draft results are in, which means it is time to start evaluating each pick in the draft before they have played a single down for their team.

    It is impossible to know for sure how each team did in this year’s draft until a few years down the road, but that does not mean there cannot be an initial reaction to each team’s selections, based on team needs and how early or late a player was drafted.

    Here is a look at some winners and losers of the 2017 NFL draft:

    Winners:

    San Francisco 49ers: New 49ers General Manager John Lynch absolutely fleeced the Chicago Bears in the first round of the draft, but more on that later. As for the players the 49ers actually selected in the draft, they were solid, and for the first time in a long time 49ers fans can be excited about their draft class. Defensive end Solomon Thomas out of Stanford will help sure up the defensive line, while linebacker out of Alabama Reuben Foster appears to be the best linebacking partner for Navorro Bowman since Patrick Willis.

    Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Bucs have already made a splash this offseason by signing wide receiver DeSean Jackson to put alongside pro-bowler Mike Evans in the wide receiving corps. Through the draft they added tight end from Alabama O.J. Howard. Howard was the number one ranked tight end in college and rightfully so after a terrific performance in the national title game as one of Alabama’s best receivers. Quarterback Jameis Winston will now have a litter of elite offensive talent around him, so look for the Bucs to crash the playoffs for the first time in a decade.

    Houston Texans: The Texans have the defensive talent of a Super Bowl caliber team right now, and Pro Bowl level talent at the running back and wide receiver positions, but the only thing hindering their playoff success is the quarterback position. They may have solved that problem by drafting quarterback Deshaun Watson from Clemson, who has a chance to play in his third championship game in as many years.

    Losers:

    Chicago Bears: The Bears gave up two third round picks and a fourth to the 49ers to move up one space in the draft from number 3 to number 2, to draft quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. This stunned everyone that watched the draft, because usually teams do not trade up one space; also, the Niners were probably not going to draft Trubisky.