Football dinner highlights positives

By: BECKY FREEMAN - Staff Writer | Monday, March 21, 2005 10:29 PM PST ∞

CORONA ---- During a year in which NBA athletes are better known for their ability to pop a fan than pop a 3-pointer and baseball's stars have less glimmer under the cloud of steroids, I was reminded Sunday night about what's truly good about sports.

And I have a bunch of high school football players, coaches, and parents who were in attendance at the 2005 Scholar-Athlete Banquet, put on by the National Football Foundation's Riverside County Chapter, to thank for that.

First there are the athletes, 20 in all, and seven representatives from the Valley, including Murrieta Valley's Hunter Dean, Cal Lutheran's Joseph Kanehailua, Linfield Christian's Chuck Wilson, Hamilton's Jon Anderson, Murrieta Calvary Chapel's Jerren Smith, Temescal Canyon's Myles Eden, and Chaparral's Andrew Sterndale.

Then there was Bob Burt.

The long list of accolades the former Temescal Canyon coach and current athletic director has earned got a little longer Sunday night at Eagle Glen Country Club, when Burt was given The Distinguished American Award.

The award was established in 1966 by the NFF to be bestowed upon "an outstanding person who has maintained a lifetime of interest in the game and who, over a long period of time, has exhibited enviable leadership qualities and made a significant contribution to the betterment of amateur football in the United States," according to the NFF's website.

Burt, who is the Riverside County chapter's president, was taken aback when his name was announced in a surprise speech that was not on the program.

"I had no idea. My friends really got me this time," Burt said. "We all do this because we want to make a difference in young people's lives."

Lake Elsinore Unified School District board member Jeannine Martineau was also honored with an award for her "Outstanding Contribution to Amateur Football."

"I love the game of football, but what I love most is the life lessons it teaches," Martineau said. "It adds so much to the high school experience for kids."

Wilson was so motivated by the night that he can't wait to try out for the football team as a walkon at San Diego State, where he will start in the fall, and plans to study engineering.

"It is a great honor to be here, and it really motivated me to play at the next level," Wilson said. "I miss football too much."

Sterndale will be in the same boat come late summer. The former Pumas' offensive lineman is also hoping to make the Aztecs as a walkon.

Smith, who holds a 4.1 GPA, received one of two $1,000 scholarships from Soboba Casino that were given out Sunday night, and he plans to use it at either Vanguard or Azusa Pacific.

Anderson has not yet decided if he will attend the University of Redlands or San Jose State, but has spoken with coaches at both schools about continuing his career. Anderson also got some extra motivation from the evening's guest speaker, Tom Malone.

"It was a surreal experience," Anderson said. "(Malone) has seen it all, and he spoke about what I have aspirations for."

Malone, who graduated from Temescal in 2002, is an All-American punter at USC and is no stranger to public speaking. At the Titans' graduation ceremony three years ago, he addressed the audience as class valedictorian.

On Sunday night, Malone spoke to the athletes themselves, giving them advice about time management and making the transition from high school to college. He also talked about being a role model, and how it is an "opportunity, not an obligation," and how as a freshman at Temescal Canyon, he heard former quarterback Jason Fife give the valedictorian's speech.

"I went home that night and told my parents, �I'm going to do that,'" Malone said in his speech Sunday. "Jason didn't know I was there that day, and as an athlete, you never know when someone's going to be watching you."

Eden will graduate with a 4.0 in the top 15 of his class at Temescal Canyon this June, and then go on to play on a full ride at San Jose State.

"It's overwhelming," Eden said. "Both Tom and Jason are great guys, and I look up to them. Hopefully, I can take what Tom said and learn from it."

There is no doubt in my mind that Eden and the rest of the 19 athletes who were honored Sunday night will be able to apply the principles Malone spoke of to their next journey.

I am also hopeful that these athletes will continue to display what is good and pure about sports and the fullness it can add to one's high school and collegiate experience.

I know they reminded me of that, so thanks once again.�

Becky Freeman can be reached at (951) 676-4315 Ext. 2630 or bfreeman@californian.com