Los Banos Rotary Club History
Tiger Coach Sees Good Season

Carlyle Loftin, veteran football coach and vice principal of the Los Banos High School, told members of the Rotary Club Tuesday noon he has high expectations for his 1953 Tiger gridders—especially during the later part of the season.

"In the past few years," he said, "we have had teams in which there were a few outstanding players on whom we depended for most of our success. By contrast this year the team is shaping up more as a coordinated well-balanced unit, with no particular stars but a lot of good dependable boys who, if they have the desire, will give a wonderful account of themselves."
The coach amended his prediction only to warn that the boys are mostly inexperienced and will probably encounter a few rough spots during the early part of the season until they gain experience and know how. They will use a wider variety and more elaborate playing technique than in former years, which is another reason it may take a bit longer to start rolling.

Talking college football and the new restriction substitution ruling, Loftin said he personally favored the old system because it gives more men an opportunity to play and develops the special capabilities of each man. He said the new college rules do not effect local high school playing, and unlimited substitution will still be permitted this year.

Commenting on the action of numerous colleges in discontinuing football, Loftin said he could see no excuse for such action if the college officials considered the game worth playing. In most cases, he said, the decision to quit football is because the payroll has been too high—not of the coaching staff and equipment, but in inducements to get the top players. Too many colleges, he said, have tried to play major schedules in which they cannot compete. The answer, provided they think football worthy of the effort, is to come down a step or two and play in their own class.

Also at the Rotary luncheon Tuesday, a new member, Pat Mastro, was subjected to a recitation on Rotary Club principles, ethics and ideals, plus a lot of incidental blarney, delivered by one Robert L. Puccinelli, a past president of the Los Banos club.

September 25, 1953

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