San Francisco as a whole is a culturally rich city which is seen by the rest of the country as the edge of progression in America. What it does not receive enough credit for is being a city that produces a plethora of talented football players. When the average person hears San Francisco in a conversation, chances are they think of the city by the bay, cable cars, Fisherman’s Warf, the Golden Gate, and Rice-A-Roni. When I hear the name, it spurs memories of great football, whether it is between professionally assembled teams or a between squads of home grown kids who are divided up amongst the city's high schools, with various schools getting a taste of the best native talent San Francisco has to offer.
It is a tradition of excellence that predates the current orientation of teams in the leagues in the city. Before the days of the WCAL, the AAA (Academic Athletic Association) was the place to be. This league at one point was inclusive of all city schools. During the early 30's and 40's, the AAA was turning out quality player after quality player, something that has carried on to present day, although at a slightly more punctuated pace. From the likes of NFL Hall Of Famers Bob St. Clair, Ollie Matson, OJ Simpson, and various other native San Franciscans who made it to the pros, a person with any knowledge of the AAA’s storied would past would recognize it as league with an impeccable pedigree. Here is the breakdown of pro players from the various schools once in the AAA:
BALBOA: Alvin Burleson, Paul Evansen, Wilson Faumuina, Calvin Jones, John Schiechl
*COMMERCE (1884-1953): Dick Stanfel
LINCOLN (1948-Present): Jamal Fountaine, Marsharne Graves, Zephrini "Zeph" Lee, Dupree Marshall, Carl Sullivan, John Sullivan
LOWELL (1858-Present): Dean Barnett, Gill Byrd, Mike Carter, William "Jerry" Dowd, Alex Eagle, Stan Holloway, Bob Lee, Jack Stroud, Milt Vucinich
MISSION (1896-Present): Dick Bassi, Bobby Batton, Phil Dougherty, Greg Fields, Pete Franceschi, Cody Jones, Mike Klotovich, Andy Marefos, Bob McGee, Dick Mesak, Gonzalo Morales, Joe Scudero, Mike Taylor
*POLYTECHNIC (1884-1972): John Baker, Alyn Beals, Henry King, Gary Lewis, Tom McCormick, Bob St. Clair
WASHINGTON (1936-Present):
**WOODROW WILSON (1963-1994):
***ST. IGNATIUS: Dan Fouts, Igor Olshanski
***SACRED HEART CATHEDRAL: Kevin Gogan, Jason Hill
***RIORDAN: Donald Strickland, Eric Wright
This year’s crop of hometown athletes who earned scholarships to 4 year universities suggests that the city has not slowed down:
OL Michael Franceschi, Rocky Mountain College
This offensive lineman is a product of Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep. An all metro player at Sacred Heart, Franceschi continued on to Menlo college before finding his home at City College of San Francisco. In high school, Franceschi was a part of an Irish team which now boasts 6 players who were awarded 4 year scholarships, 3 of which were Division 1 scholarships: Kevin Greene (USC), Dasarte Yarnway (Cal), Sua Tuala (University of Idaho). Franceschi was the only player on the Fighting Irish from the Class of 2008 to receive a scholarship.
OG Jay Haro, Western Oregon (also from SCHP)
Haro, a speed guard for the CCSF, made quite a name for himself this year by winning and dominating the starting role for the national title runner up team. Another alumni of SHCP, he was a part of their best team in years. His class boasted 5 players including himself who captured the first CCS title the school had ever seen despite losing the Bruce Mahoney game against St. Ignatius (the rivalry between SHCP and SI is the oldest high school sports rivalry west of the Mississippi). Nonetheless, he helped his class bring the trophy home for the first time in a decade and win the schools first CCS Football title. Needless to say, this mauler is going to be interesting to watch as he continues his development at the next level.
OT Ian Maguire, Utah State (Lowell HS of San Francisco)
A product of Lowell High School, this offensive tackle is a well decorated home grown product. As a two way player at Lowell, Maguire frustrated offenses and created grave problems for opposing defensive lineman, serving as a steel curtain of sorts for the Cardinals on both sides of the ball. While he never managed to oust rival Lincoln in the annual Turkey Day game, he did manage to win defensive lineman of the year in the Academic Athletic Association. He then moved down just a few stops on the 29 bus line to the City College of San Francisco, where through his dedication to strength and conditioning and coachability allowed him to quickly earn the starting speed tackle position a few games into his first season. From there, he never looked back; after filling out his 6’5 frame by going from 235 lbs to 275 lbs (and counting), the 2 year starter made a national championship appearance and received 1st team all conference honors before eventually accepting a full ride scholarship to Utah State. The Aggies have been credited with assembled the best recruiting class in their conference and even flew out Maguire early so that he could be ready for their debut at defending national champion Auburn at the beginning of next season.
DB DeShon Marman, New Mexico (Lincoln HS of San Francisco)
Marman started off his career at Archbishop Riordan High School but ran into some troubles after his freshman year which would land him at Abraham Lincoln High School. After becoming an instant impact player at Lincoln playing a multitude of positions (Tailback, Fullback, Receiver, Linebacker/Defensive End hybrid) while winning AAA player of the year senior year, he took the route of many San Francisco players aspiring to play at the next level and enrolled at City College of San Francisco after high school. As a Ram, Marman was a part of a secondary in which every starting member received a Division 1 scholarship. Marman was part of a Lincoln team that dominated the AAA and won the city championship for 3 years in a row with help from his well decorated cousin, former ram David Henderson, who shattered Hall of Famer O.J. Simpson’s city rushing records.
LB Sua Tuala, Idaho (SHCP)
Tuala has been a gem to watch since he started his playing days at Sacred Heart Cathedral. As a part of the most successful Irish team in recent memory which took home a CCS title in 2009, he turned heads and put fear into the eyes of the opposing offenses. At first glance, one may not see a player who made first team all conference on defense and first team All American by the Junior College Athletic Bureau. Off the field, he is a carefree kid who (if coaches would allow it) would play the ukulele all day without a problem. On the field, however, he is a man who plays much bigger than he is. While Tuala barely reaches 6'0 with his hair out and cleats on, he plays like he’s 6'4 250. He created nightmares for opposing quarterbacks by having the uncanny ability to time snap counts as if he were in the opposing huddle, allowing him to perform his signature hurdle of the offensive line as the ball is snapped into the quarterback’s hands. While this sometimes resulted in a penalty, Tuala definitely helped his team by winning the mental game and making the other team’s backs aware of the punishment they would inevitably experience at his hands. Sua will now venture off to the WAC, where he will play former teammates Maguire and Marman in regular season matchups and continue to be a force to be reckoned with in the middle.
*schools no longer exists
**became Philip and Sala Burton High School
***Moved to the WCAL
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