Los Angeles Valley College - Crown Yearbook (Valley Glen, CA)

Page 99 text:

Michael Ray Steele, 25 and Charles Nash, 21, along with the aid of other Monarch gridders, make a clear runway for quarterback Jeff Robinson. ehlnd . the Scrimmage B V e F' Y an 553 man Howie Neftin left and Hari Starks right practice ' Illustrated by Robert Lachman After the second gridder clash of the season, Greg Baltad walked out of the Monarch's locker room with traces of victory streaking his face, Loaded down with his tote bag and the pressure of knowing they could possibly become No. 1, he carried an even heavier load in the weight of a promise. A plaque protruded indiscretely from under his arm and read, Life is tough. You get knocked down, you pick yourself up. You get knocked down, you pick yourself up-you pick yourself up. He explained that the inscribed doctrine dominated his philosophies, when applied to football and his life in general, as much as to the personality of the man, behind the words. The man was the late Bob Binder, a former football coach of Baltad's while he attended Canoga Park High School. Binder, a former Valley College graduate and center on the 1957 Valley College Championship Football team, was the incentive behind his enrollment at Valley College. Among the countless things demanded of a serious football player, the sophomore explained that Binder was instrumental in teaching him a successful method of facing and overcoming defeat. Through Binder's teachings, Baltad is the living proof of a dedicated and competent football player, who borders on the Linebacker Louis Debose contemplates play strategy during daily workouts.

Page 98 text:

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Page 100 text:

,Ani l f- - i 4!4 ' . A Q . 7, , . .,,:.,, ,re-if ll ,E in .-. , 1,-1 ,-2:-grsi Q 1 'i :QT-if H El da: ' 4-3 :KI ,, at - A -mg WH.- : 'Nil g . .. a 4 , i f' 2 iff i-111-7 .fd ,Y :rv-'v ,- Q ., ,X .t,.,-jj-,:,i . Q I RN- fi Fflflf 3 ,.- V' g l 'Un ma Q ' .ly . ., -- '- i...:g.,. M,- Joe Andrews, right, practices with mock opponent in order to prepare himself for game action. Team members worked out five days a week, and each practice entailed vigorous calisthenics. thin edge of being outstanding. Several times an All-Star football team player, he recognizes the important facet of team work. To have teamwork you really have to love the guys you're playing with. When you're protecting the quarterback, the lineman has to be ready to lay himself down-sacrifice himself- sacrifice his body. Baltad explained that teamwork not only includes the visual maneuvers that take place out on the field, but the maneuvers that take place in the minds of the players, as well. Teamwork is when you see a guy losing his composure, and you pull him back into the realm of sanity, he said. Football is a team sport, not an individual sport. lt's 11 guys doing their job, together-not 11 separate people doing what they think they should do. l Baltad explained the average observer's impression of football j was that it was a mindless sport-with the coach calling all the plays and the team merely following instructions. Baltad stressed the dire need for serious ballplayers to be able to follow the coach's instructions. He said the coach was the objective force in raking fime to cool off, ,john Masjjy quenches his game strategy, and if game decisions were left to team members, thirst during Practice- teamwork would be nonexistent or inadequate. When l'm playing for someone else, l'm his football player, he said. When I coach a football team, l'll use the plays I think will work. And that's exactly what he'll probably do. With definite plans of completing his education at a university which is credited with having a good football team, Baltad wants to continue playing ball while fulfilling studies in his P.E. major. Baltad considers himself too small to play professional football, but if he is courted by any major league teams, he said he would tie the knot, With a second career alternative of becoming a physical education teacher, and some day coaching his own football team, lialtacl seems to have his life plays down pat.