A story on ESPN.com today reported that former Mission Bay High School standout running back Dillon Baxter was ruled ineligible by the USC Trojans after inappropriate contact with an agent.
The story says Baxter solicited a golf cart ride from an NFLPA-certified agent on Thursday, and that this violates NCAA policy regarding extra benefits for college athletes.
The news comes at an interesting time for Valley Center fans, with the Jaguars set to play Mission Bay on Friday night (in a rematch of last year's 48-17 trouncing the Buccaneers laid on the Jags behind seven touchdowns by Baxter).
Not that we're at all happy to see the young man have struggles of this kind, but perhaps it sheds a bit of light on why he seemed so difficult and unpopular during his record-setting high school career.
Showing posts with label mission. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mission. Show all posts
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Friday, October 8, 2010
ESPN report: Dillon Baxter admits he's not working hard enough at USC
For those of you who watched the CIF Division IV football championship at the end of last season, you'll remember (painfully, if you're a Valley Center fan) that Mission Bay's Dillon Baxter ran roughshod through the muddied Jaguar defense for upwards of 400 yards.
At the time, I remember thinking that this kid was a prodigious talent, but I couldn't help but notice that his attitude seemed...a bit off.
For example, before the game started, both teams were out on the field warming up, each team on its own half. Baxter managed to situate himself right at the 50 yard line, closer to the Valley Center sideline than his own, and lo and behold, ended up in a bit of a jawing match with some of the Jaguars.
During the game, despite the fact that he was running around the field like a grown-up on the playground field with a bunch of kids, Baxter's teammates all but ignored their star on the sideline. Perhaps he purposely stood by himself, perhaps his teammates just didn't want to talk to him, perhaps it was a little of both. But it was in sharp contrast to Valley Center's recently-graduated phenom, James Johnson, who was always pumping up his teammates with encouragement, cheering on the team during the brief moments when he wasn't in the game, and talking with coaches about the game plan. Baxter seemed like he was already finished with Mission Bay (a theory supported by the USC beanie he was wearing after the game, which I noticed only after he was the absolute last player to go through the line to shake hands with the Jaguars).
He was pretty highly touted coming out of high school, and USC landed him. But this week, after a few disappointing efforts, this report came out on ESPN.com about Baxter's lack of effort.
He may be superbly talented, but as Johnson has shown at the University of Washington (earning a starting WR spot as a true freshman, but having been slowed by an ankle injury in his sophomore year) that hard work is what separates the great from the pretty good.
At the time, I remember thinking that this kid was a prodigious talent, but I couldn't help but notice that his attitude seemed...a bit off.
For example, before the game started, both teams were out on the field warming up, each team on its own half. Baxter managed to situate himself right at the 50 yard line, closer to the Valley Center sideline than his own, and lo and behold, ended up in a bit of a jawing match with some of the Jaguars.
During the game, despite the fact that he was running around the field like a grown-up on the playground field with a bunch of kids, Baxter's teammates all but ignored their star on the sideline. Perhaps he purposely stood by himself, perhaps his teammates just didn't want to talk to him, perhaps it was a little of both. But it was in sharp contrast to Valley Center's recently-graduated phenom, James Johnson, who was always pumping up his teammates with encouragement, cheering on the team during the brief moments when he wasn't in the game, and talking with coaches about the game plan. Baxter seemed like he was already finished with Mission Bay (a theory supported by the USC beanie he was wearing after the game, which I noticed only after he was the absolute last player to go through the line to shake hands with the Jaguars).
He was pretty highly touted coming out of high school, and USC landed him. But this week, after a few disappointing efforts, this report came out on ESPN.com about Baxter's lack of effort.
He may be superbly talented, but as Johnson has shown at the University of Washington (earning a starting WR spot as a true freshman, but having been slowed by an ankle injury in his sophomore year) that hard work is what separates the great from the pretty good.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Inaugural Inter Tribal Sports Tournament to Tee Off on July 12
Golfers are invited to tee off at the inaugural Inter Tribal Sports (ITS) Golf Tournament that is open to the public at Journey at Pechanga on Monday, July 12.
Participants will play on the world-class course while raising money for ITS, a dynamic non-profit organization that unifies tribal youth and communities through structured athletic programs. The four-person scramble tournament begins with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. and will feature great food, tee prizes, a raffle and golf contests. The cost is $165 per person. Hole sponsorships are also available.
ITS provides a safe environment for young athletes to build self esteem, respect one another and learn sportsmanship while developing athletic skills guided by community volunteers, recreation professionals and educators. Recently, ITS was recognized by NIKE when the organization was awarded with a grant from the Nike N7 fund, a grant created to unleash the potential of Native American youths through the power of sport. There are currently fourteen different tribal communities in Southern California participating in Inter Tribal Sports programs. Sponsors of the Inter Tribal Sports organization include the Barona Band of Mission Indians, Pauma Band of Luiseno Indians, Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians, the Southern California Tribal Chairmen's Association, Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians, Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation and Mesa Grande Band of Mission Indians along with Strictly Native Apparel. For more information or to register for the event, visit www.intertribalsports.org or call the ITS office at 951-695-0909.
Participants will play on the world-class course while raising money for ITS, a dynamic non-profit organization that unifies tribal youth and communities through structured athletic programs. The four-person scramble tournament begins with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. and will feature great food, tee prizes, a raffle and golf contests. The cost is $165 per person. Hole sponsorships are also available.
ITS provides a safe environment for young athletes to build self esteem, respect one another and learn sportsmanship while developing athletic skills guided by community volunteers, recreation professionals and educators. Recently, ITS was recognized by NIKE when the organization was awarded with a grant from the Nike N7 fund, a grant created to unleash the potential of Native American youths through the power of sport. There are currently fourteen different tribal communities in Southern California participating in Inter Tribal Sports programs. Sponsors of the Inter Tribal Sports organization include the Barona Band of Mission Indians, Pauma Band of Luiseno Indians, Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians, the Southern California Tribal Chairmen's Association, Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians, Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation and Mesa Grande Band of Mission Indians along with Strictly Native Apparel. For more information or to register for the event, visit www.intertribalsports.org or call the ITS office at 951-695-0909.
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