FOOTBALL: CSM Caps Year with Awards

Players, parents and friends gathered Friday evening to celebrate at the 2010 College of San Mateo football awards ceremony held at the CSM Theater.

Several players were awarded game balls, All-NorCal Conference plaques and in-house awards. And the Bulldogs revisited memories on highlight reels of their 8-3 season.

CSM sophomore wide receiver Rahsaan Vaughn was named the team's MVP Offense and freshman defensive tackle Langi Haupeakui received the MVP Defense award.

Vaughn racked up 1005 receiving yards in 2010, becoming only the fifth player in CSM's 75-year history to reach the 1000-yard milestone -- an impressive feat for a smash-mouth team whose dangerous running attack propelled it to the state championship game a year ago.

"We had a really memorable season," said Vaughn. "People that come here next year are gonna learn about this family and how to bond with their teammates knowing that it'll just make them closer on the field."

Haupeakui, a San Mateo High graduate, excelled beyond expectations in his freshman season as the anchor of a young defensive line.

"I never played on a team like this," said Haupeakui. "There are a lot of teams that say they're close, but in here we really mean it. This was my first year so I was trying to learn the basics, but now I know what it takes to lead by example."

CSM head coach Bret Pollack opened the ceremony by providing statistics of football programs in community colleges in California.

CSM is a team made up of 50 percent African-American and 30 percent Polynesian athletes. Pollack said that only 37 percent of student-athletes in the average JC football program perform up to standard in English courses, while 70 percent of CSM players do so.

Pollack and assistant coach Tim Tulloch run an academic aid program in which they set up goals for their athletes to perform in the classroom as well as on the field. "They go hand-in-hand," said Pollack.

"People (from other programs) have tried to imitate what we do here and later they call me back saying, 'This is not working,'" added Pollack. "I tell them - it's about the quality of the people."

Bulldog alumni also make appearances throughout the season to share their experiences and anecdotes of their time at CSM.

CSM and University of Hawaii alum Ray Hisatake came back this fall to educate the team on what it took to reach his dreams. Hisatake, a Westmoor High product, started playing football for the first time in 2005 and was signed by the Carolina Panthers on April 30 after going undrafted in the NFL Draft.

The CSM coaching staff has also hired an exclusive set of Bulldog football graduates who have earned four-year degrees and moved on to play at higher levels to mentor sophomores who are receiving offers or are about to join a program next year.

"Some schools might not give the same support that we do here," said Pollack. "The mentor's job is to make sure that our graduates know what to do in those circumstances to be successful."

Although the season is already over, several Bulldogs will meet with their coaches on Wednesday to discuss their future for next season and any aspirations for transferring.

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First-Team All-Conference:

Jeremy Galten (OL)

Rahsaan Vaughn (WR)

Langi Haupeakui (DL)

Brandon Francesconi (LB)

James McCullough (LB)

Ron Fields (DB)