‘It was one of those games where it was pretty slow for three
quarters and then the fourth quarter was a pretty epic finish’
Editor’s Note: Below are excerpts from a questions and answers column called “Coach’s Corner.” Staff writer Josh Koehn and former Gavilan football coach Bob Garcia, father of Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jeff Garcia, will talk about all things football. A longer version of the discussion will be posted to the sports blog, GarlicSports.com.
Koehn: Hey, how you doing?
Garcia: I’m all right, just walked in. How you doing, Josh?
K: I’m doing good. You got a second to talk about the Super Bowl?
G: Sure, lets talks about it.
K: OK, real good. It was one of those games where it was pretty slow for three quarters and then the fourth quarter was a pretty epic finish.
G: I think both teams had their opportunities to win. I think it camedown to a couple guys making big plays. I think that receiver from Pittsburgh —
K: Santonio Holmes.
G: Holmes, he did a great job. But, then again, the quarterback had to get the ball there (on the last touchdown) and there were three guys there. … I always thought Pittsburgh, because of their defense — hey, that interception before the half. If somebody stops him it’s over. It’s still only a three-point ballgame, but right there that’s a 14-point turnover.
K: Yeah. James Harrison, the league’s defensive MVP, he definitely
played like it on that play.
G: And that play on the roughing, I don’t care who the guys is, that’s
not called for. They should have kicked (Harrison) out. … And thenthat last pay of the game —
K: How did they not review that?
G: You know, less than two minutes, and (Arizona coach Ken) Whisenhunt said, ‘if it was more than two minutes, I would have thrown a (challenge) flag.’
K: It makes no sense to not get that call perfect.
G: That’s right. If you’re going to (review plays), do it consistently. …
K: What do you think about six Super Bowls for the Steelers? Now they’ve pulled ahead of the Niners.
G: I don’t know if they’re reloading or what they’re doing, but if you look at the Steelers … Pittsburgh has always been in the mix. You compare them to Indianapolis, the New England Patriots, it’s the people running the programs that continue to find the right guys, compete at a high level, and the coaches they get are real competent. And the assistants are competent because they can go elsewhere and be successful. … It was a great game and, hey, the halftime was great.
K: Are you a big Bruce Springsteen fan?
G: Oh, yeah. Where was “Born in the USA”? How come we didn’t get that one going?
K: I don’t know.
G: I want to hear some of the old ones, man.
K: Well, I guess they told him he only had 12 minutes. Otherwise, he would have gone four hours.
G: Hey, he had them jumping.
K: Did you talk to Jeff at all about the game?
G: Well, I was supposed to go down and watch it with him but I got a little sick and didn’t want to be around the baby.
K: Now, you’re talking about Pressley, correct? Because I heard
Carmella, (Jeff’s wife), is supposed to be pregnant again with a second child. When is she due?
G: June.
K: June, OK. Do they know if it’s going to be a boy or a girl?
G: A boy! They’ve already named it.
K: What’s his name going to be?
G: It’s gonna be Jason Jeffrey.
K: OK, after Jeff’s brother. That’s gotta be very exciting. Congratulations.
G: Well, thank you.
K: So, I guess Jeff is still winding down from the season?
G: Yeah, he had a number of appearances at the Super Bowl he was quite happy with. And now they’re just coming back and re-establishing their home in Manhattan Beach.
K: You mentioned trying to get healthy. I joined a gym recently, Gilroy Health and Fitness, and I was told you were the one that started that gym.
G: I started that gym as a dream in 1978 (and sold it 20 years later).
… I liked the idea of a gym not only as a workout place but a social place. It’s amazing how many people I know that met another person at the gym and ended up getting married. … Apparently (the gym is) doing OK. I go by there and see a lot of cars there.
K: Well, I’m going. I’ll let you know if I bump into anyone I think about getting married to at the gym.
G: Haha. Hey, listen. When I was there, all the good women used to come in. Once I left, I heard it dropped off.
K: Oh, OK. So it’s you that’s missing.
G: Haha.
K: Well, this is our last talk Bobby. Do you want to say anything to the readers; because this will be the last time we talk until next season?
G: Well, I just want to say that’s it’s been a great, enjoyable year, being able to sit down with you, Josh, and go over the games both pros and college and so on, and the high school. I think we got our feet wet and hopefully it got better. I’m really looking forward to it next year and I hope the readers are also looking forward to it next year.
K: Well, I think a lot of people really enjoyed it. I had a lot of good comments and I really appreciated all your time. I’ll talk to you real soon.
G: All right, take care.
