For Scott Chapman, free safety for the Central Coast Seminoles, Sept. 11 was a homecoming of sorts.
The 33-year-old was back on the same Santa Ynez High School field where he once played prep ball; it was for the first time since he hit the turf for the defunct semipro Santa Barbara Condors in 2001.
“I’ve got butterflies like I haven’t had in a long time,” Chapman said before the game. “Any time you can play under the lights, I think it decreases your age by five years.”
Though the reality of paying bills got in the way of Chapman’s professional dreams, he’s never lost his passion for the sport. To him, the Seminoles, a new semipro football team based out of Santa Barbara, fills the gap left by the Condors, giving players another avenue to pro football—or just a way to play for fun after high school and college.
“There’s only so many places you can go,” Chapman said. “Any experience is good experience. You can’t knock it. It’s still football. If you’re good, they’ll find you wherever you’re at.”
Like most on the Seminoles’ roster, Chapman found the team by word of mouth. Head coach Mark Lopez, who played four years for the Condors before the team “fizzled out” in 2004, recruited players by passing out flyers at local mixed martial arts events and holding an open combine. To his surprise, he was able to fill the squad’s 53-man roster with players hailing from Carpinteria to Santa Maria and all points between.
Ranging in age from 18 to 47, most of them played at high schools throughout the county. While none made it to the National Football League, a few have played in the Arena Football League and for Division-I colleges, from such far-ranging climes as Montana State, Eastern Washington, and West Virginia State.
“The majority of our team is mainly guys who have played high school ball and didn’t get to go somewhere,” Lopez said. “We’re just giving them another opportunity to showcase their talent.”
Playing a 10-game schedule in the United Football Alliance League, the Seminoles face teams from Pasadena, Orange County, San Diego, Lancaster, and elsewhere in the state.
Lopez’s brother-in-law and team owner Luis Ibarra came up with the Seminole nickname because it “rolled off the tongue.”
“A Seminole is a warrior who never stops fighting, and I think that’s a good analysis of our team,” Lopez said. “No matter what, if we get beat, we’ve still got guys who are out there competing.”
But it’s baby steps for the team’s inaugural season. For now, Lopez is set on building a winning tradition, expanding the team’s fan base, and recruiting more top local talent.
The Seminoles started out the season riding high with a 2-0 record, but were upended mightily by the Carson Ragin’ Bulls, a team stocked with former Division-I college players. The night of Chapman’s debut, the team lost to defending league champs San Bernardino Raiders 40-12, dropping their record to 2-2 on the season.
Though they operate as a nonprofit, and neither coaches nor players are paid, the Seminoles’ games are serious business.
“There’s a lot of time and effort put in this, and nobody wants to lose,” Lopez said. “Regardless, if we’re all out there for fun, it’s no fun if you lose 10 games.”
The franchise joins existing semipro football teams in the area; the San Luis Obispo Panthers and the Atascadero-based Central Coast Grizzlies play in another league. Lopez said he’d like the Seminoles to showcase more players from throughout Santa Barbara County, especially the north.
Seminoles’ cornerback Philip Wright, a Lompoc High School graduate who went on to play at Montana State, said he’s happy to be continuing his playing days close to home.
“The speed of the game is a little less than what we’re used to because we’ve played at higher levels,” Wright said. “But you’ll line up with some teams that will have about 10 guys that are Division-I caliber. Then you’ll have guys who don’t necessarily have the speed or talent, but they’ll have a Division-I mouth.”
As to whether he would jump at the chance to try out for a pro team, Wright said that’s up to his young daughter to decide.
“If the opportunity comes along, it’s something I’ll just discuss with my family,” he said. “I’ll just take it one step at a time.”
Linebacker J.R. Pomare is the Seminoles’ run stopper and a transplant from Boston. He played a year for the Chicago Slaughter in the Indoor Football League and is looking to get back by playing semipro for the first time.
“It’s a different competition level,” Pomare said. “The guys aren’t as fast, and they’re not as big. You’ve got guys who are pro caliber, but then also you’ve got guys who are just trying to get on the field again for fun. It is what it is.”
Besides Pomare, the Seminoles are led by standout receivers Steve Silva and Torlando Boldin; and offensive tackle Kenny Ruiz and running back Rodney Wolf, both from Santa Barbara City College.
Silva, who scored a long touchdown catch against San Bernardino, played at Dos Pueblos High and later starred at College of the Canyons and Wentworth University in Washington. In his first semipro experience, Silva said he’s just trying to get back into top physical shape.
“A lot of guys on the team still love the game. They can still play at a high level,” he said. “I was kind of skeptical at first, but the first practice I came out, I was kind of blown away by all the talent that was actually out here.”
Like others on the roster, Silva hopes to use the experience as a stepping stone.
“I’m always trying to reach that goal of playing in the NFL, even if it’s just for a play,” he said. “Just to say that I put on an NFL uniform is one of my all-time dreams.”
One of Staff Writer Jeremy Thomas’ all-time dreams is where he shows up to class in his underwear. He can be contacted at jthomas@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Sep 16-23, 2010.