No one really believes there is life off the strip. Tourists, family members, even the President sometimes think that what we do out here is party hard and gamble recklessly. So if I was to mention football in Las Vegas, the first thought would probably be towards the Rebels embarrassing defeat against Wisconsin their first week. Allow me to introduce you to something that has been the staple of many a small towns. HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL!
Las Vegas has had their share of athletes come and go. Records have gone unbroken by some of the talent we've seen. So ask yourself, why aren't there more professional athletes from Las Vegas? Do we have a problem here, Houston?
When you consider what it takes to really make it as a professional ball player you must think of where it starts. In a wolf pack, the wolves are often lead by an alpha male who has proven himself worthy to be a leader. Imagine being in competition with hundreds of alpha males. Wolves, that will eat you alive and sleep with your fur. It just aint as easy as it seems.
Then you have the standouts who do more than enough to continue to produce great teams and winning seasons. Palo Verde High School is ranked # 2 in Las Vegas. They plan ahead and start most of their players at peewee age so that they're ready for the year round regiment they are put through. By the time they make it to their upper class years, they are ready and primed for athletic success.
Bishop Gorman has had the greatest success these past few years with the standout players from their teams making it to division 1 schools. The coaching staff really does do a great job keeping all that talent focused. Although many have questioned the fact that they should be under the same standards as maybe a Findley Prep. How can I not agree with that?
I wanted to believe that there was a way for Vegas to break the spell. So I researched and questioned everyone with a history of this town. I was lead to Henderson where, nestled in the mountains, the wolves roam. Basic High School Wolves. I went out there looking for the scoop. I wont lie, I was a little leery about what I would hear. I walked away impressed.
I first spoke to Robbie Faiman, who is the offensive coach for junior varsity as well as the quarterback coach. If the name sounds familiar, it should. Robbie was the 2009 Henderson MVP. He made the All Sunrise Team and was the offensive player of the year for the Southeast Conference in 2009. If you've done the math then you know that he's not more than 20 years old. Still, he spent a semester at Northern State University as a red shirt quarterback.
If you were to break down how many players-turned-coaches or trainers or managers are actually running things out there you'd probably come up with a handful of them who never played. Shortly put, I'd want this guy coaching me if I were a player. I had a chance to interview him and ask him how he felt about going into the season as an underdog. His response was somewhat of a shock. He replied, "They will know you by your fruits." It's a strong Biblical reference from the book of Matthew that shows the mental conditioning of a wolf. Wolves often run alone so I was curious to know why so many of the coaches leave and come back to the pack. I was told that he had a great experience as a player for Basic and wanted to share that with the kids who are playing now. Robbie believes that most college scouts who come out here to recruit are looking at the school and not the players. To combat that myth, the coaching staff instills in their players a strenght that goes beyond the football field. When you have a 23 year old NFL players commit suicide, it makes you wonder how prepared these kids are for the limelight.
I met with head coach of Basic High School, Jeff Cahill. If that name sounds familiar, it should, his dad has been around since the 70's and was head coach of Basic High School. He now offers his wisdom to his son as his assistant. Young Wolf, Jeff, is a graduate of Basic, class of 1992. He played defensive end and tight end for the Wolves. He's practically been around football as long as the Manning brothers. So, what made him return when he was done with college at Cal Lutheran University? "Basic still has community... they still have pride..." Those are some of the words I would expect to hear in a locker room in a small town down south.
How proud can you be when season after season you're looked over in the rankings, coach? "We rally around being the underdog." That's the response. Because in Cahill's pack, they don't believe in just building football players, they believe in building men. The fact that they have talent is an extra bonus. Players like wide receiver, Blaze Galardy, quarterback, Vince Carducci, wide receiver, Matt Dembinski, and outside linebacker and defensive end, Kevin Bayes all deserve mention. As coach Cahill puts it, "We know that we have a good squad with heart.." His satisfaction going into every game comes from knowing that he and his coaching staff are putting their best talent on the field.
In today's world where hard times break down even the strongest of character, I find great joy in knowing that there are still people who think positively. I tip my hat and applaud the Basic High School coaching staff for teaching these young men that the next level is not the NFL or the NBA or MLB... The next level is LIFE. And if you are not prepared for it, it will devour you whole. Just like a Wolf.
The interview with Coach Cahill, Robbie Faiman and the rest of the staff will be coming up soon. Stay tuned for the scoop.
Keep up with Basic's football season @ LasVegasSunSports
