Bringing it back together

Roy Mendoza, Co-Editor-in-Chief/Copy Editor

February 26, 2010

On Jan. 22, math teacher Jack Williams was officially announced as the Varsity Head Football Coach with one goal in mind: making the football team the best they could possibly be both academically and physically.

“ We are looking forward to participating in different community events,” head coach Jack Williams said. “ Some of them include the Brown Bag lunch to Skid Road, visiting Rancho Los Amigos Children’s Center, the Downey Council PTA Helps Room, and different business help.”

With so many students trying to get into colleges and universities by playing football, it can get very difficult for student athletes now in days. This is why it’s Williams’ goal to show student athletes that they should excel in school and not just try and be a football star.

“By getting good grades it shows that you are a responsible student,” varsity football player Perry Gomez said. “By doing so it can help you go to college even if you don’t end up playing football.”

Along with a new head coach, the team also received a new set of standards. One element being emphasized more on the team is to try and achieve a minimum of a 2.5 GPA without their football grade. While for some balancing school and a sport can come with ease, it may not be as easy for their teammates.

“When a student plans to join a team, they accept the fact that they will have to balance both school and their sport,” sophomore Krystal McEachern said.

Yet if a student falls below the academic requirement, he or she fears having to sit out a game and ultimately be kicked off the team. For some this may seem fair, but for others, it’s plain out wrong.

“If a student did fall below the requirement,” sophomore Salvador Torres said. “He should be given a chance to get his grades back up or at least work something out with his coach.”

Nonetheless, the new head coach is trying his best to maintain a positive rapport between teachers and both coaches and students.

“I think our coach has done an excellent job so far,” Gomez said. “He’s really trying his best to change the different problems among the Downey High football team.”

Overall, big changes are being looked forward to towards the oncoming year. Changes meant for the better and never for the worse.

About the Contributor

Roy Mendoza, Co-Editor-in-Chief/Copy Editor

Roy Mendoza is quite the multitasker. Not only is he a senior with a full schedule at Downey High, he is also mentoring his freshman sister, and has taken on the double duty of Co-Editor-in-Chief and Copy Editor of The Downey Legend. The busy student found his interest in writing during his middle school years and always sought to improve his skills as a reader and writer. He continued with this skill along to high school where, as a sophomore, he was offered a chance to be a part of history in the making by joining Downey High’s first ever Online Newspaper staff. Taken aback by the offer, he accepted, and two years later, he is glad he did because Mendoza holds a position now that has only ever been held once. “I feel so honored to have a double position,” the ambitious writer said. “I know sometimes the stress might get to me, but I have my Co-Copy Editor behind me at all times, and I need to be behind my E.I.C. one-hundred percent. I have her back completely, and I know she has mine because we’re the team captains, along with the Photo Editor. We have to set an example.” Mendoza is glad to have met and surpassed his goal to stay on the staff of The Downey Legend for the rest of his high school years, and plans to attend the University of California: Berkley after two years at Cal State Long Beach. He hopes the skills he has learned throughout his time in newspaper stay with him, as he wishes to be a reporter for The New York Times. Mendoza is proud of his position on staff, but he also makes time for friends and family as well. On the weekends, one can usually catch this teenager at popular local hang out spots with friends. One thing is for sure: there is much in store for this motivated yet humble individual.