Next month, on Feb. 14 [2017], will mark the seventh year since we undertook a challenge.
I wanted to write the history of San Diego County high school football.
That’s where my career started and where it will end.
Well, I didn’t write the history (that is almost infinite), but I gave it a shot.
I attempted to write a narrative about each season. More than 100.
I just counted.
The number includes all seasons from 1914 forward. I combined the years 1891 to 1913.
Almost all of the narratives are broken into short subjects, vignettes and photographs (pictures mostly from rustic and ragged microfilm at several Southern California sources).
Some years, like 1955, include multiple entries and, starting in 2013, football was covered on a week-to-week basis.
Most seasons usually required an average of about 2,000 words, although there are some with less and many with more.
My superstar writing friend Dave Kindred told me, “It wouldn’t sell and it would be too long,” when I suggested to David that maybe I’d write a book about this parochial subject.
He was right on both counts. But thanks to Henrik Jonson, my cyber guru, we put together a web site: Partletonsports.com.
Partleton was the name on my father’s birth certificate when he was born in Barbados, “Little England” as it was known.
Dad changed his last name to Smith after he entered the United States following service in the Canadian army in World War I.
I asked him often why he hadn’t been more inventive. He could have changed his name to Jones.
I’m going to continue looking for nuggets of information in football, basketball, track and field, and probably baseball.
It’s a labor of love and in retirement you have to have interests. I’ve got season tickets to San Diego State basketball and I catch a prep football or basketball game every week.
That and trying to keep Susie happy and watching our 4 grandsons grow up.
Rick … Thanks so much for your great contributions in chronicling the history of interscholastic sport. The San Diego community owes you so much in this regard. On a personal note, thank you also for the tremendous insights and information sources made available to me as I work on the Samohi Football CIF Archive narratives. Best wishes for continued success in all that you do, and a wonderful year in 2017.
Dr. Tebb Kusserow, Santa Monica, CA
Tebb, can you explain a little more how the 5-3-3 by San Diego gave Horn problems? Was it that Ernie Smith moved from possibly being a defensive end to become a 4th in secondary, sort of a free safety. Also, keep looking for that ’47 title game film. Who knows, maybe it will show up on Ebay. All the best.
Rick … I am always searching for the ’47 title game film and will let you know if it surfaces. At one time it was shown to the entire Samohi student body, Spring of 1948, and was filmed in color.
The 5-3-3 was the base defense used by SDHS in 1947. The Viking’s bread and butter play was the quick slant (96 Q) to Ike Jones. Ernie Smith was positioned to take it away and shadowed Jones all day, effectively putting him in constant double coverage. SDHS was successful in controlling Jones, but it left a 4-3 up front and Samohi was able, almost too late, to prosecute the run and the backside receivers. The first interception by Smith was on a swing pass to Neal. The mistake for Samohi was passing into the short side of the field … Horn could not get enough arch on the ball, and Smith was in the vicinity defending Jones on the decoy slant … he got to it and ran 26 yards for the first touchdown.
Thanks, Tebb. The game within the game. That’s good stuff. I’m going to incorporate some of this in my 1947 narrative.
Rick “Scoops” Smith … “RAH!” The remarks above just goes to show what I’ve been trying to tell you over the years, and that is how highly you are regarded in the eyes of those who you’ve influenced over the decades; keep your passion burning.
If you get a chance, pass my regards on to those who will be at the Jock’s Reunion later this month. If you can, forward me the contact information for the person in charge of this year’s event. I would like to see if a flier on my book can be placed on the table settings. Checkout the tribute (as lengthy as it is), below your facebook response to Smiley’s passing.
Thanks, Bob. I think Joe Dini or Pete Gumina are the contacts. I’ll see what I can find out.
And a lot of us are glad you did!
Thank you, Jim.
Keep up your passion. I will always be appreciative.
Thx. Dean
Thanks, Dean. All the best.
Congrats Rick and thanks for all your research. Loved every word and your photos. Thanks too for all your support!
John
Thank you, John. You opened a whole new research world for me. All the best.
Your undertaking was monumental and you have accomplished an unbelievable challenge. I tip my hat to you, Rick. Coach Harvey would be most proud.
See you at Tom Ham’s Lighthouse January 23rd.
Thanks, Stosh. I think of coach often. All the best.