LA West Adams Names Napolean Banks Head Football Coach

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

Eric Sondheimer of the LA Times is reporting that Los Angeles West Adams has hired Napolean Banks as the man to replace Russell Shaw as its head coach.

In his second season last year, Shaw led the Panthers to a 6-6 record, losing to eventual City Section champ Narbonne in the quarterfinals.  West Adams was 4-7 in Shaw's first year in 2010.

Jesuit HS Names Replacement for Dan Carmazzi

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

The Sacramento Bee's Joe Davidson is reporting that Marlon Blanton is the new head football coach at Jesuit High School.

Blanton, who has been the head coach at St. Patrick's/St. Vincent's High School in Vallejo for the past 14 years, replaces Dan Carmazzi, who resigned earlier this year to taking a coaching position at Christian Brothers.

Carmazzi had been the head coach at Jesuit since 1981.

Northern California Football Invitational Moves South

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

In honor of the Memorial Day Weekend, I wanted to spent a few moments writing about a great high school football event that will benefit America's veterans.

Mark "Coach" Soto, executive director of Battle for Veterans, joined me on High School Football America a couple of weeks ago to talk about his two-weekend, six-game high school football invitational called Battle for Veterans.

The event began two years ago in Sacramento under the name Battle for the Capital.  This year the event is growing by spreading south.

Besides raising money for a great cause, wounded veterans, the invitational has attracted some of the top teams from around the state that will result in some early season showdowns.

The Battle for Veterans Football Invitational will kickoff the weekend of August 24 at Del Oro High School in Loomis and will continue the following weekend at Westlake High School in the southern part of the state.

Here is the list of high school games scheduled:

at Del Oro HS
August 24, 2012 - Oaks Christian at Del Oro
August 25, 2012 - Westlake vs. Granite Bay

at Westlake HS
August 31, 2012 - Oceanside vs. Oakdale
August 31, 2012 - Del Oro vs. Westlake
September 1, 2012 -  Upland vs. Windsor
September 1, 2012 - Oaks Christian vs. Granite Bay

In addition to the varsity games, there will be midget & JV football games, plus plenty of events to honors America's veterans.

Click here to go to the event's website for more information

Click here to listen to my interview with Soto.

Happy Memorial Day everyone!

Jeff

Vallejo High School Honors Former LA Ram Dick Bass

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

Dick Bass, who was the second overall pick in the 1959 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams, has been honored by his high school.

According to the Times-Herald, Vallejo High School has named it field field after its former star athlete.  Dick Bass Field was dedicated earlier this week.

Bass led Vallejo to a 9-0 record in 1954 during his senior season.  The paper reports that the '54 team averaged 54 points a game.

Former Poly High School Football Star Cleared of 2002 Rape Charge

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

The story of former Long Beach Poly football player Brian Banks, whose 2002 rape conviction was dismissed by a judge on Thursday, continues to twist and turn like a soap opera.

The LA Times reported on its blog today that the 26-year old Banks will be seeking money from the State of California for the five years he was in prison.  In the same story, the LA Times Blog reports that the former high school football star will not take legal action against his accuser Wanetta Gibson.

The path to Banks' freedom came after Gibson "friended" him on Facebook and telling him she felt guilty about making-up the rape allegations.  Banks, who wanted to play college football at USC at the time of the allegation, always contended the sex was consensual.

Banks, who's in great shape, is hoping to get a tryout with an NFL team.

Based on the odds Banks overcame to win his freedom, stay tuned to see what happens next in his story...I don't doubt that one NFL will give him a shot.

Who knows, since Banks still has his college eligibility, maybe a college coach will give him a chance to resume his dream.

In the meantime, watch the story on NBC's Today Show on Friday that includes an exclusive interview with Banks.

   

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Urban Football Coaches Association Annual Clinic in Los Angeles

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

For the last two decades, it's been the largest gathering of minority high school football coaches in America, and Friday and Saturday, the Urban Football Coaches Association begins the third decade of its annual coaches clinic.

The event will be held this weekend in Los Angeles.  It will attract nearly 500 coaches from the NFL down to Pop Warner.

It begins with a gala on Friday night featuring Minnesota Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier.  The Coaches Clinic will be held on Saturday.

To learn more, please click here listen to my interview tonight on High School Football America with Martin Ludlow, director of the UFCA.

To register, please click here to go to the UFCA's website.

Longtime College Assistant Coach takes over at Oaks Christian

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

After 30 years in the college game, Jeff Woodruff is taking over one of California's top programs.

Woodruff, who has been the assistant head coach to Mike Price at UTEP since 2007, has been named the new head coach at Oaks Christian.  Woodruff also has head coaching experience at the college level when he lead Eastern Michigan from 2000 to 2003.

Woodruff takes over for Bill Redell, who resigned in March as the school's only head coach.  Redell won seven CIF-Southern Section championships.