It's not often a coach goes out on a limb, or even allows himself to say something that might be perceived as out on a limb, as it pertains to his football team's chances at success.
That's why I asked Tulare High football coach Darren Bennett if he was sure he wanted to talk about "Carson" during a conversation we had last week about his defending Central Section Division II champion Redskins.
Bennett didn't hesitate to say it was OK, and why shouldn't he talk about his team's desire to participate in one of the CIF's state bowl games, held at the Home Depot Center in Carson?
After all, his Redskins are 26-1 over the past two seasons -- the best mark in the section during that span -- and are widely believed to have the talent to make another run at the D-II title.
Tulare was one of the teams in the mix to be invited to the D-II bowl last season, and would be this season if it runs the table again. Only section champions are eligible for bowl consideration.
"You set goals every year and obviously, that's one of the goals we have set," Bennett said. "It's the last goal, we want to go to Carson."
Bennett said his team has put itself in position to be part of the Carson conversation because of it's work in the weight room the past two seasons.
The Redskins have traditionally featured some of the best skill position players in the section, dating back to the late 90s when they had a string of college recruits led by Dominique Dorsey.
But it was Tulare's increased physicality up front on both sides of the ball that allowed it to defeat El Diamante in the D-II final last year.
I'm working on a story about how the Redskins' efforts in the weight room have turned the program into a bowl contender as part of our preview for the East Yosemite League. Read it in Thursday's Bee or here at www.fresnobee.com after it's published.
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