OPPORTUNITY KNOCKING: Bob Di Rado making the most of his last game in High School as a player in the Blitz Bowl

Posted 03-29-03

In the dictionary, opportunity is defined as a good chance for advancement or progress. If one had to personify the word, look no further than Bob Di Rado.

The past two seasons, Tehachapi has been blessed with having two outstanding football players have the chance to suit up one more time as a high school standout, in an all-star game of sorts…arena style. Last year, the Warriors had OL/DL standout Jacob Perry line up for the East Team in the 1st Annual Blitz Bowl. This year, in the 2nd inaugural season, the area committee has chosen Tehachapi’s very own, DB Bob Di Rado.

Throughout most of Di Rado’s high school career as a safety for the Warriors, he didn’t have the good fortune of being able to showcase his talents with his mere presence on the football field. No, this DB had to work for every neck that swiveled in his direction.

‘What’s his name again?’
‘Who is that kid?
‘Don’t remember him last year.’

Yes sports fans, that’s Bob Di Rado. He’s heard them all, and answered back with jaw-dropping, trumpet sound collisions fit for Mountain Football.

“I didn’t start one game as a junior in 2001,” said Di Rado. “I knew that if I was going to get noticed in ’02, I was going to have to show and re-remind everyone who I was every day in practice. Once the pads went on, and I had the chance to lay someone out, I didn’t hesitate.”

The ‘ol saying goes for Mountain Football is…’If you don’t hit, you don’t play’. For Di Rado, it was ‘message received’.

For the year, Di Rado started every game either at corner or safety in leading Tehachapi to a 7-4 season and a CIF division III semi-final berth against Yosemite, the eventual champions in that division. In Tehachapi’s run, Di Rado amassed 47 tackles (led all secondary), three interceptions (tied for lead in secondary), seven pass deflections, and three pressures. He was also selected at first team secondary in the South Sequoia League and All-CIF.

If you wanted specifics on Di Rado’s individual accolades however, I wouldn’t suggest going up and asking him.

“I’ve never been about myself. Football is a team game, and I approached it that way. Getting x-number of tackles and x-number of interceptions was all well in good, but to me, it was about getting the team a ‘W’ every Friday night.” Di Rado explained.

A team player in his own right, Di Rado was still putting up numbers worthy of recognition and a Blitz Bowl appearance. Three of his best games came at the most crucial junctures for Tehachapi and their bid for a playoff spot. Against Shafter, Di Rado had seven tackles and two pressures in a losing effort against the Generals, but helped keep wide receiver standout Nick Abarca in check late in the fourth quarter by moving to the corner position. Against league rival Garces, Di Rado manned the middle of the field, virtually all on his own, picking up nine tackles and three assists in what will go down in history as the ‘mud bowl’. In the first round of the playoffs against Dinuba, Di Rado was able to pick up the Warrior Website "Player of the Week" honors with his six tackle, two pass deflection, and one pressure performance.

“I really enjoyed my time as a Warrior. Probably what I’m going to miss most about my times as a player are the lights…the crowd,” said Di Rado. “I was just glad I could help contribute to the great season we had.”

In Di Rado’s time in high school, one of the memories that he will take with him is the relationships that he’s forged with people, notably eight (Dan Eastham, Andrew Pulford, Jeff Anderson, Stuart Young, John Thorpe, and fellow Warriors Eric Anderson and John Sullivan).

“The eight of us have been friends for so long, and I think it says a lot that all of us haven’t gone our own separate ways all these years,” Di Rado said. “I know a lot of us are going every-which direction for college, but whatever happens, I’m sure we’ll all still be close.”

In Blitz Bowl practice, which started last Friday, Di Rado also was able to branch relationships with other football standouts in the area, some of the talent that includes Desert’s Rudy Burgess and Jason Napoleon, Mojave’s Ron Downing, and Garces’s Adam Cook, Matt Oliver, Chris White, and Nick Zachary.

“You know, you spend a whole football season despising a team (Garces) and it’s players, but I’ll tell you, Nick (Zachery) and I really clicked. He’s a real cool guy and it’s going to be a lot of fun suiting it up with him and the other guys. Coach (Jason) Oliver really knows a lot, so I’m looking forward to it.” said Di Rado.

Now that high school football is over for Di Rado, he did get serious consideration from Cal Poly San Louis Obispo, but decided on pursuing his education at Cal State Monterey Bay, which does not have a football squad. He also considered playing football at Sacramento State.

“I’ve always wanted to live in Monterey. It has great golf, Pebble Beach is close, plus it’s just a place where I think I would be happy.” Di Rado explained. “I’ll look at maybe going to Sac-State possibly in 2004, but for now I think Monterey is a place I’d really like to go, it just seems like a great opportunity.”

And opportunity, when it does come available, is something that soon-to-be alumni Bob Di Rado assuredly will always take advantage of.

WEEKLY WARRIOR NOTES

--- Bob Di Rado played well in the Blitz Bowl at the Centennial Garden in Bakersfield, helping his East squad pull out a fourth quarter 38-30 win in front of 4,500 high school football fans. East got off to a slow start in the first half, falling behind 17-0 before establishing momentum on offense. The last two quarters had a majority of the spotlight on Desert’s Rudy Burgess, who scored twice in the fourth. Burgess’s last touchdown came off a missed field goal attempt by the West All Stars with 1.2 seconds left on the clock, helping him to secure player of the game honors. Di Rado helped thwart a West drive in the second quarter by assisting on a fumble recovery at the 10-yard line.

--- For those of you that may think that Garces may have an off year in football next year, you might want to think again. A very reliable source in Porterville told me last week that Granite Hills sensation running back Zack Brown and quarterback Bear Pascoe were seriously considering enrolling at Garces High School for next fall. Both players, who have given verbal commitments to Washington University, would make John Fanucchi’s Rams serious title contenders if these two young men decided to transfer. Both players were instrumental to the Grizzles 9-1 overall record and first place tie in the East Yosemite League.

The only thing that would keep Brown and Pascoe at Granite Hills, I’m told, is the assurance that three-year coach Jeff Brown’s services at Granite next year would be retained. With budget cuts affecting every school district, Jeff Brown’s tenure might be numbered if the Porterville School district cannot find a way to retain him.

--- Some of you are probably wondering what the schedule is going to look like next year, and hopefully that should be posted on the website very soon. As far as the highlights, there really are none as far as new teams the Warriors are playing. Tehachapi is set on probably having another nine game schedule with the same opponents in 2002, but Associate Athletic Director Grant Snyder is working on possibly getting a match-up with Yosemite the second week, which is where Tehachapi has an open slot.

Yes sports fans, Yosemite. Man what a game that would be!

Tehachapi has contacted the Yosemite High School District, but has not heard back. It is possible that if a game does materialize, it will be at a half-way point like Tulare Western or Tulare Union High School. The Warriors are set to open the season on September 5th, 2003, a home game against Burroughs (Ridgecrest). Yosemite is set to travel to Firebaugh.

--- The Kern/Fresno County all-star game, as far as I know, is still set for July. The rosters have not been determined yet, but when they do, I’ll be sure and pass along in the next Weekly Warrior of all Tehachapi players that are set to play in that match-up. Stay tuned!

--- The next Weekly Warrior (sometime in June) should also showcase highlights of the Golden State Wing-T camp, set to be hosted in 2003 by Tehachapi. Fallbrook and Templeton High School shared the duties of hosting the camp the past six years, and this will be the first season that camp comes to Mountain Football country. Most of the camp will take place at the Tehachapi Youth Football facility off Highway 58. Steve Verbeck, defensive coordinator at Princeton University, is set to head up the class and instruction for the eight teams that are to attend. Details of times and locations will be disclosed as the event draws closer. From Kern County, East High and Tehachapi will be in attendance, along with schools from Clovis, Fresno, and possibly Los Angeles.

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