Fall 1982, Issue 1

Strong `81 establishes SCSSC as major power

by Chris Harrington
Koala Staff

Southern California Small Schools Conference Coordinator LeRon Lee labeled the league's first full year an overwhelming success. Each of the eight teams in the conference, reported marked increases in attendance and overall improvement in their football programs.

"1981 was an experimental year for us," claimed Lee who is also Athletic Director at University of Imperial Valley. “With the great success we achieved it appears the SCSSC is here to stay.”

The conference was formed late in 1980 for non-football oriented schools. No college with more than 15 football scholarships available (UCSD has none) or an athletic budget exceeding $500,000 is permitted. Created exclusively for football, the SCSSC is now eight strong and is planning on expanding to ten by 1984.

1981 Conference Champ UC Irvine heads a field of not ready for prime time teams. In addition to Irvine are the University of Imperial Valley, UC San Diego, UC Riverside, Brymans school, Mount St. Mary's, National University and Coleman College.

1982 could produce quite a battle for conference honors. With almost all their offense departed, Irvine will be showing many new faces. They still possess a stingy defense with linebackers Tom Poquette and Julio Ortiz leading the way. One leading candidate to dethrone the Anteater is our UCSD Koalas. They are the only team in the conference with a returning quarterback (Joe Golf) and have the toughest defensive line in Division III college football. Brymans School should be tough with a huge offensive line, and UC Riverside has the best halfback in the conference in Marvin Whipton (1357 yards in 1981.)

There is talk that the SCSSC may create a post-season bowl game involving the conference champion and the runner-up in either the Big Sky Conference or the Pacific Coast Athletic Association. Still to be determined are the name, sight and feasibility of such a game. Conference Coordinator Lee suggested the game be called the "LeeRon Lee Bowl" and be played in EI Centro, The seven remaining schools voted down the proposal.