A lesson in reality

Tony Altobelli

As both teams entered the field for Saturday’s big game between

Orange Coast College and Saddleback, the OCC band chimed in with a

classic-rock favorite, “The Grand Illusion,” from the group STYX.

As the night progressed the word illusion was a theme to many

happenings to the Pirates’ home opener, which they won, 42-25.

I guess the first “illusion” is the 17-point deficit. With OCC taking

control of the Gauchos right from the get-go, it had the feeling of a

70-point win.

After watching Saddleback’s “defense” in the game, another “illusion”

might be the Gauchos’ national ranking from the J.C. Grid-Wire.

Going into Saturday’s game, Saddleback was ranked ninth in the

country.

NINTH? They gave up 437 yards of total offense against Mt. San Antonio

last week and 490 this week against the Bucs.

Saddleback won that game against the Mounties, because Mt. SAC had the

“illusion” that the football was a live hand grenade, turning the ball

over five times and gift-wrapping a 26-23 win for the Gauchos.

OCC didn’t shoot itself in the foot and gotcha’d the Gauchos.

We’ll call that No. 9 ranking for our rivals to the south early-season

jitters for the J.C. Grid-Wire. Better luck, next week, Hank.

Watching quarterback Jared Flint in action, I had the “illusion” that

I was watching Joe Montana pick apart my Chicago Bears for another

sickening loss.

A 3-yard pass, 2-yard dump-off, 4-yard screen pass, so on and so

forth, all game long. Nothing fancy, just effective.

If you wanted to see fancy Saturday night, you needed to be there for

the Bucs’ first series when Raymond Ohrel had the “illusion” of another

famous No. 4, Brett Farve.

Ohrel, on his third play as the Pirates’ lone back, avoiding an

oncoming Gaucho defender, chucked the ball 40-plus yards right into the

hands of David Castleton to put the momentum on the Pirates side for

good.

“That was Sean’s idea,” Pirate Coach Mike Taylor said, referring to

offensive coordinator Sean Ponder. “We worked on it in practice for a

little while and it gave Saddleback something else to think about.”

I have the feeling that the offensive line, on the field most of the

ball game, slept will on Saturday night. They probably had “multiple

illusions” throughout the game.

“We had guys’ legs cramping on the sidelines from playing so much,”

assistant coach Mike Mayne said. “They were hanging.”

I got to witness the nationally-acclaimed OCC cheerleading squad for

the first time at halftime and I was impressed.

But with the royal blue color on the uniforms, I had the “illusion” I

was watching Cal State Fullerton’s rooters.

Great moves, gang, but remember, navy blue and orange, and life will

be perfect.

Same with the scoreboard.

For my buddies over at Golden West, I haven’t forgotten you.

After Saturday’s loss to Long Beach City, 42-21, which is far more

impressive than last year’s 75-7 thriller, the rustle-less Rustlers (0-2)

are having “illusions” of moral victories.

The Vikings, however are probably still running sprints and climbing

stairs for that performance.