DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER
PHARR — Another high school football season is on the horizon, and lately that means another head coach at Valley View.
Eli Esquivel is the Tigers’ fourth head coach in the last five years. He is not secure in that role; Esquivel is currently on an interim basis. With 39 years of experience, Esquivel, formerly the head coach at Asherton (1992-1994) and La Feria (2007-2009), takes over after serving as the defensive coordinator last season under Carlos Saenz, who was reassigned in late May.
So after he was promoted, Esquivel’s first speech to his players directed the attention toward them.
“We told them we’re here for our athletes,” the Carrizo Springs native said. “It has nothing to do with the coaches or administration. I’m fortunate and lucky to be able to run it, but as far as I’m concerned, I told them this is not my team. This is their team. We’re just going to help mold and help them work harder.”
Because of all the comings and goings at head coach, players have learned to depend on themselves.
“The situation has just put more of a bond between the players,” senior receiver Marcos Campos said. “For me, I try to be a captain and try to be someone everyone else can rely on. I think everyone here tries to do that. It’s about becoming more of a brotherhood, and I think everything that’s gone on has done that.”
Esquivel continues to run the defense. Rick Valdez is back to run the offense. The schemes are the same as last year — a spread offense and a multiple 50-base defense.
Esquivel tried hard to keep everything the same as last year. Even when there were coaching openings on the staff, he promoted from within.
“In any profession, consistency is key,” Esquivel said. “That’s big. Most of the coaching staff is returning. Most of the kids are back. That makes the job a lot easier. The kids know us, we know them. I believe in loyalty and commitment, from the coaches and from the kids.”
Esquivel is a defensive-minded coach. Prior to coming to Valley View, he was a defensive coordinator at PSJA High and PSJA Memorial after he briefly “retired” in 2010.
During a recent interview, Esquivel, who said he has “the green light to hire and do what I need to do,” consistently pledged that the administration, coaches and school board were all on the same page in an effort to get the program turned around.
Does that mean things weren’t that way last year?
“Not necessarily,” Esquivel said. “Last year it was a situation that we came in late and we didn’t know what to expect. So once we knew where we were at and what was going on, we felt comfortable. We know where we’re at now, and we have nothing but good things going on for us.”
Time will tell for a Tigers program that has won three games in the last three years.
“I’ve played for three coaches in four years and we know we have to stick together as players,” senior offensive lineman Manny Lozano said. “Having to keep going through something new, change after change, it brings us closer.”
HUNGRY SOLIS
The Tigers have a new addition in athlete Adam Solis, a last-season transfer from Mission Veterans Memorial last year who will play quarterback, receiver and free safety.
Because of issues with his paperwork while transferring, Solis, one of the leading receivers in District 31-5A at the time of the move in early October, could only play junior varsity games for the Tigers in 2015. Now he enters his senior season as the likely No. 1 quarterback.
“It’s my senior year and this is going to be great,” Solis said. “I’m going to finish it off with a boom. My role is bigger. We’ll see how it all turns out.”
Solis has impressed early on.
“He’s ready to go and he’s hungry,” Esquivel said. “From his attitude to his work habits, he’s done a super job for us.”
THEY’RE HERE
As Valley View football desperately struggles to establish some semblance of order off the field, it is showing promise on it.
The Tigers return 10 starters from last season, five on each side of the ball, and attendance has been pleasing. Esquivel said attendance was 100 percent the first week of camp. Ninety kids are in the program.
“In previous years, we’d have 30, 40 guys out here,” Lozano said. “We have maybe twice that now. I like the enthusiasm. Coach Esquivel brings a great attitude, a great chemistry. I see these guys want to be here and want to work hard to get better every day.”
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VALLEY VIEW’S PROGNOSIS:
After going 0-10 last season, the Tigers are motivated to dismiss that memory. The third head coach in three years is in tow, so trying times are ahead, but Valley View has talent and playmakers to avoid a similar result from last year.
Projected 2016 record: 2-8
COACH’S TENURE:
Coach: Eli Esquivel
Year at school: First
Career coaching record: 25-36