B2 | HOLIDAY EDITION • NOVEMBER 22-23, 2023 SCOREBOARD NApA VALLEY REgIsTER

LOCAL SCHEDULE COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Fans, coaches and players

THURSDAY AND FRIDAY
No events scheduled

SATURDAY

discuss Pac-12’s final drive

COLLEGE MEN’S BASKETBALL
Pacific Union at William Jessup-Rocklin, 7 p.m.
HIGH SCHOOL BOYS WRESTLING
St. Helena at Rancho Cotate Cougar Classic, 9 a.m.
Vintage at Redwood Rumble, Larkspur, 9 a.m.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS WRESTLING
Justin-Siena, St. Helena, Vintage at Tokay’s Goddess of War Tourna- The final football season
ment, Lodi, 9 a.m. for the Pac-12 with its cur-
rent membership is coming
HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL to a thrilling conclusion.
Windsor at Justin-Siena, 2 p.m. The conference wraps
Fairfield at American Canyon, 6 p.m. up regular-season play this
Vintage at Acalanes, 5 p.m. week before the title game in
Las Vegas on Dec. 1. Wash-
Calistoga at Round Valley, 3 p.m. ington and Oregon still have
HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL hopes of getting the Pac-12
Fairfield at American Canyon, 4:30 p.m. its first College Football Play-
Napa vs. Piner (noon) and Redwood (3 p.m.) at Piner’s Golden Round
off berth since 2016.
Robin Even though there is plenty
of excitement on the field,
Justin-Siena at San Domenico, 2 p.m. there remain some who are
Calistoga at Round Valley, 1:30 p.m. sad about the breakup of the
conference, along with the
SUNDAY end of traditional rivalries
No events scheduled The Associated Press is
taking a look at the final
MONDAY weeks through the eyes of
HIGH SCHOOL BOYS SOCCER players, coaches, broadcast-
Bethel at American Canyon, 5 p.m. ers and longtime fans.
TUESDAY Emotional weekend
HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS SOCCER Despite growing up on the
Petaluma at Napa, Memorial Stadium, 6 p.m. west side of the state and
eventually entering a pipeline
American Canyon at Sonoma Valley, 6 p.m.
that fed into the Washing-
Justin-Siena at Casa Grande, 6 p.m. ton football program, Brock
St. Helena at Healdsburg, 7 p.m. Huard’s childhood memories
of the Apple Cup were rather
HIGH SCHOOL BOYS SOCCER crimson in nature.
American Canyon at Fairfield, 7 p.m. “Family friends? Lot of
Vintage at San Ramon Valley, 7 p.m. Cougs. Teachers? Lot of
HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL
Cougs,” Huard recalled.
Winters at St. Helena, 7 p.m. Huard eventually went on
to wear the purple and gold
Montgomery at American Canyon, 7 p.m. of Washington, just like his
Justin-Siena at Fort Bragg, 6 p.m. brother Damon and like his
nephew,Sam.All three quar-
HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL
Justin-Siena at Fort Bragg, 4:30 p.m.
terbacked the Huskies in the
Apple Cup with varying de-
St. Helena at Winters, 7 p.m. grees of success.
Sam was the most recent,
WEDNESDAY thrown into a terrible situa-
HIGH SCHOOL BOYS SOCCER tion two years ago of making
Petaluma at Napa, Memorial Stadium, 6 p.m.
his first college start against
Justin-Siena at Casa Grande, 6 p.m. the Cougars. Damon won
two of the three Apple Cups
Vintage at Livermore, 6 p.m.
he played in.
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING And Brock? He went 2-1
Vintage at Armijo, 6 p.m. against Washington State,
HIGH SCHOOL BOYS SOCCER winningtwiceinPullman.But
Healdsburg at St. Helena, 7 p.m. HuardandtheHuskieslostat
home in 1997, and Washing-
American Canyon at Sonoma Valley, 6 p.m. tonStateadvancedtotheRose
HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL Bowl,in perhaps the most fa-
Napa at Elsie Allen, 7:30 p.m. mous Cougars victory in the
history of the rivalry.
“At that time,it was deeply
TV SCHEDULE personal. Oregon has grown
into the more hostile, per-
THURSDAY sonal rivalry, but at that time
NFL it was all personal,” Huard
San Francisco at Seattle, NBC, 5 p.m. said.“Coming out and hear-
ing things from the student
FRIDAY body I wouldn’t hear any-
where else.Like,‘Wow,that’s
NHL
Montreal at San Jose, NBCSCA, 12:30 p.m.
creative.’ What an awesome,
deep-cut shot right there.”
NBA Now 25 years removed
San Antonio at Golden State, In-Season Tournament, ESPN, NBCSBA, from last playing in the game,
7 p.m. Huard has a different forum
as a college football analyst
SATURDAY for Fox Sports and a radio
COLLEGE FOOTBALL host in Seattle. He’s been
Notre Dame at Stanford, Pac-12 Network, 4 p.m. open with his anger and dis-
California at UCLA, 7:30 p.m. appointment over the col-
lapse of the Pac-12.
NHL “Absolutely hate it. I’ve
Vancouver at San Jose, NBCSCA, 7 p.m. made that very clear from day
one of all of this chaos and all
MONDAY of this mess,it stinks,” Huard
NHL said.
Washington at San Jose, NBCSCA, 7:30 p.m. Huard’s emotions will be
raw as he’ll be calling the
TUESDAY Apple Cup on Fox less than
NBA 18 hours after calling the last
Golden State at Sacramento, In-Season Tournament, TNT, 7 p.m. scheduled Oregon-Oregon
JED JACOBSOHN, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Stanford players warm up on the field before Saturday’s Big
Game against visiting California.
State matchup. Washington
and Washington State have
agreed in principle to con-
tinue the Apple Cup through
2028, but this Saturday is
their last as Pac-12 members.
“I’m not going to hide my
emotions,” Huard said. “I
think they will be raw.I think
the stadium will be real and
raw.”
Sentimental journey
Chip Kelly owes a lot to the
Pac-12.
His rise to prominence in
football began while he was
coaching at Oregon from
2009 through 2012, which
included an appearance in
the BCS title game in the
2010 season.
After a four-year stint in
the NFL with the Philadel-
phia Eagles and San Fran-
cisco 49ers, and one year as
a TV analyst, Kelly returned
to the Pac-12 in 2018 when he
was hired by UCLA.
Kelly’s Bruins will play
the conference’s final reg-
ular-season game Saturday
night when they host Cal-
ifornia. Now that the final
week has approached, Kelly
is getting wistful about the
end of the conference as it
exists now.
“For this to be the last
game this league has, it’s
sad,” Kelly said.“I grew up in
this league as a head coach.
I think there’s some senti-
mental things about just the
league in general. There’s so
much history and tradition
that for the fact that we’re
not going to play Stanford or
Cal anymore in the foresee-
able future. We’re not going
to play Utah, Oregon State,
Washington State or the Ar-
izona schools. I think that’s
the reality that we’re living
in, but it doesn’t mean you
have to like it.”
Erickson: ‘It’s sad’
As the former coach at Or-
egon State,Washington State
and Arizona State, Dennis
Erickson has strong feelings
about the demise of the Pac-
12 as we know it.
“To me it’s sad, and I think
it’s ridiculous, to be very
honest. This whole move
is about money. We’ve got
all these school presidents
talking about being together,
learning, and doing all the
right things as far as aca-
demics,” Erickson said.“And
now they’re all about money.
It just blows my mind.”
After a career spanning 47
years in college football, Er-
ickson is retired and lives in
Idaho.Hestillactivelyfollows
college football, frequently
going to games throughout
the region and keeping an eye
on son Bryce, an assistant at
Montana. Erickson recently
attended Oregon State’s 62-
17 thrashing of Stanford.
As head coach at Washing-
ton State in 1987 and ’88, he
led the Cougars to a 9-3 re-
cord in his second season be-
fore departing to become the
coach at Miami. After a stint
in the NFL with the Seattle
Seahawks, he became coach
at Oregon State in 1999 and
remained there for four sea-
sons. He took the Beavers to
the 2001 Fiesta Bowl, where
they beat Notre Dame. Cur-
rent Oregon State coach Jon-
athan Smith quarterbacked
that team.
He also had a five-year
tenure at Arizona State from
2007 through ’11.
“All that history, it’s all
being pushed aside,” he said.
“It’s just confusing to me.
I don’t know what’s going
on in college football. It’s
just like the NFL anymore.
That’s how I feel about it: It’s
destroying a lot of the values
you learn in college football.”
The band plays on
The Spirit of Troy’s annual
senior road trip to San Fran-
cisco during football season
will end after this year, but
the Southern California band
will continue to go on the
road for all football games,
even though it will require
more logistics to travel.
“A lot of the feelings that I
have had this year are cher-
ishing the moments and
every little tradition that we
do. The trip to San Francisco
meant a lot to the seniors
knowing that our under-
classmen won’t have the
chance to experience that,”
said senior Jacobo Herrera,
who is in his second year as
the band’s drum major.
The band has traveled to
all Trojans games since 1987,
something that will continue
with the move to the Big Ten.
Some of USC’s road confer-
ence games next year include
Michigan, Minnesota and
Maryland.
“It’s pretty crazy being on
the phone with Southwest
and figuring out how to get
16 tubas across the country,”
said Herrera, who doubles as
the band’s general manager.
Colorado superfan
Around these parts, Colo-
radosuperfanPeggyCoppom,
who turned 99 this month, is
royalty.She’s a fixture at Buf-
faloes football and basketball
games and couldn’t be more
elated that after 13 seasons in
thePac-12,theschoolismak-
ing the switch back to the Big
12 next year.
“I think we have more in
common with sunflowers
and corn than we do with
the ocean,” Coppom said of
the Big 12 switch.“I feel more
closeness with the states in
this area.”
Coppom has been attend-
ing football games since her
family moved from eastern
Colorado to Boulder around
1940. She has prime viewing
for football games with her
seats at Folsom Field located
near the 45-yard line.
She’s missed only a cou-
ple home games since she
said she and her late husband
boughtseasonticketsin1966.
For so long, right next to
her and rooting on the Buffa-
loes was her twin sister,Betty
Hoover, who passed away in
2020.“The Twins,” as they’re
known,have long been iconic
figures.
ASU fan laments
end of rivalries
Rudy Burgoz has been an
Arizona State football fan
since he started attending
the school in 1959.
The 82-year-old has
missed only six home games
since then — due to illness or
emergency — and has been a
regular at many road games
through the years, including
against UCLA this season.
Burgoz will continue to be
a fan when the Sun Devils
leave the Pac-12 for the Big 12
next season,but it’s not going
to be the same.
“It’s just unfortunate and I
hated to see it,” Burgoz said.
“I can understand why. It’s
a money situation. The L.A.
schools started it and they
broke up what I think is a
great conference.
“I’m going to miss the trips
to Oregon, but I’m not going
to miss the rain or the cold in
Washington. I enjoyed going
to the Stanford games — it
was quite an atmosphere.
The Cal games, the climb up
Strawberry Hill was a bear.
But I’m really sorry to see
it break up because I think
we’ve got a great conference.”
Associated Press Sports
Writers Anne Peterson in
Portland, Ore., Tim Booth in
Seattle, Joe Reedy in Los An-
geles, Pat Graham in Denver,
John Marshall in Phoenix and
freelancer John Coon in Salt
Lake City contributed.

NAPA VALLEY SPORTS CAPSULE

Optimist Youth Basketball still taking sign-ups

REGISTER STAFF annual Day of Dance and Cheer sional master classes offered the A portion of the money made Spiritleaders and Dance Depart-
Napa’s Optimist Youth Basket- event on Sunday, Dec. 10 in Mess- day before, Dec. 9, from NBA and from the admissions will be do- ment, NV Dance Company, The
ball league, open to boys and girls,
ner Gym. The event has become professional commercial dancers nated to a worthy cause. In the Dance House Napa Valley, Vin-
is still accepting sign-ups for its
one of the largest in the state, with Caroleen Chang and Licy Guerrero. past the Spiritleaders have con- tage Performing Arts Dance, Jus-
9th/10th Grade and 11th/12th about 500 attending each year “We wanted to give additional tributed to NorCal fire victims, tin-Siena Dance Department and
Grade divisions. in front of a packed audience of training opportunities for all of the Alaina Housley Voice Founda- Cheer team, Academy of Danse,
Players may sign up with their supporters. It is free for all the dancers in our community, tion, the Alzheimer’s Association, Image Dance Studio, Napa Valley
friends and play together. Every participants and their coaches so we are bringing in two profes- The National Down Syndrome College, Napa Saints, St. John’s
player is guaranteed playing time.
and teachers, and a free lunch is sional NBA and commercial danc- Society, and the GoFundMe page Lutheran School, Harvest Middle
Play begins the first weekend in provided for coaches. ers,” said Spiritleaders head coach of NHS alumnus Gracey Marek, School and St. Apollinaris School.
December. Hollie Johnson, director of the Rylee Pippert, co-director of the who is battling cancer. The master classes will offer
The registration fee is $80. NHS Spiritleaders and Dance Day of Dance and Cheer. “It is an In total, the Spiritleaders have separate sessions for age 6-9, 10-
Scholarships are available upon Department, started the event awesome opportunity.” donated $3,000 to a variety of im- 12, and 13 and older. Visit gofan.
request. to bring unity to the dance and The Spiritleaders have alumni portant causes. co/app/school/CA22999_1 to re-
Register online at napaoyb.orgcheer community. All schools on NFL dance teams, including Teams that have participated serve a spot.
and studios in the Napa Valley
or call Parker Hall at 707-287-1451. those of the San Francisco 49ers, in the event have included Amer- Coaches and teachers can email
and surrounding areas are invited Seattle Seahawks and New En- ican Canyon Cheer, Bay Area Pippert at rylee_pippert@nvuad.
Pro classes, Day of Dance to showcase their favorite routines gland Patriots, and NBA dance Twilights of American Canyon, org to sign up their teams for the
& Cheer Dec. 9-10 and talent in a non-competitive, team of the Golden State Warriors. Legacy Dance Collective Studio Sunday event, and spectators can
supportive environment. Dancers and cheerleaders do not of St. Helena, Ikonic Dance Stu- visit gofan.co/event/1167263?-
The Napa High School Spir- Also this year, for the first time, have to participate in the Sunday dio of Vallejo and, from Napa, schoolId=CA22999_1 to pur-
itleaders will host their eighth there will be fee-based profes- event to take the Saturday classes. Vintage Cheer & Dance, NHS chase tickets.
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