Football ’93 Preview : Attention Mater Dei opponents

Those playing the Monarchs had better keep close tabs on sophomore Mike Graham, a 5-10, 185-pound running back.

Graham was the South Coast League’s 100- and 200-yard champion last spring. He had a time of 10.9 seconds in the 100.

But Graham is no track guy trying to play football. He tore up the league’s freshman teams last season.

His reputation is so great that Monarch Coach Bruce Rollinson cringes at the mention of Graham’s name.

“It’s a situation where everybody has put pressure on him,” Rollinson said. “He doesn’t even have a down of varsity football behind him yet. We want the fans, the parents and the media to just be patient.”

Of course, even Rollinson can get caught up in Graham’s abilities.

“If he had been 15 years old last season, we possibly would have brought him up to the varsity,” Rollinson said.

Gee, Bruce, that wouldn’t have been very patient.