At the Vanguard of Loyola Football

By John Estrada ’86, Loyola Gridiron Vanguard President and Patrick Jacobs ’69,

RANKED SIXTH on the all-time wins list in California prep football history, Loyola has long stood among the giants in the state’s prep football annals. The Cubs were crowned National Champions in 1975 after winning their third CIF Southern Section AAAA title. Loyola won five other CIF Large School championships (AAAA/Division I) in 1962, 1963, 1990, 2003 and 2005, making it to the CIF finals an additional seven times. Eleven former Cubs were tabbed as CIF Players-of-theYear. Countless former players distinguished themselves at the collegiate level and four alumni are currently on the roster of the NFL.

So, in the spring of 2015, three Loyola alums, Ben Baca ’78, Steve Shatynski ’78 and Patrick Jacobs ’69 got together to explore the formation of a support group for Loyola’s storied football program. Their collective passion for the unparalleled culture, rich tradition and historical success of Cub football was the foundation for what would become the Loyola Gridiron Vanguard.

The founders of the Vanguard drew inspiration from the fact that academic rigor has never been an impediment to high achievement on the gridiron at Loyola. It is this unique combination of unyielding academic standards and historically great football success that prompted the Vanguard’s formation and fuels its mission.

Academics, side by side with athletics, count at Loyola. Among the thousands of Cub alumni who have donned the hallowed blue helmets are scientists, physicians, CEOs, attorneys, educators and first responders as well as professional, industry and government leaders who all were motivated by the Jesuit value of the Magis: striving for excellence in all endeavors.

Since its formation in 2015, the Vanguard tackled its mission, raising funds to support the football program in a multitude of ways. Camp week meals, passing tournament fees, offseason nutritional supplements and summer football camps are among the many areas in which the Vanguard has provided support. The Vanguard has also sponsored a number of wellattended events, including a celebration of Loyola’s six CIF football championships, a summer children’s football camp hosted by Anthony Barr ’10 (current Dallas Cowboy linebacker), home game Friday night tailgates and a special evening honoring Steve Grady ’63, the only man in state history to be named both California state Player-of-theYear (1962) and state Coach-ofthe-Year (2003).

Working alongside Coach Drew Casani ’91 and the Advancement team under the leadership of Alexy Coughlin, the Vanguard seeks to grow its membership and create more impact as an increasing number of alumni, parents as well as friends of Loyola and its legendary football program join the ranks every year.

The Vanguard Board has seen alums from various decades commit time and resources to its mission. They include Marlon Thompson ’79, the founder of the African American Alumni Society; Darrell Stewart ’78, a former member of Loyola’s Board of Directors; former All-CIF player and current coach Gifford Irvine ’82; as well as John Winnek ’87 and Rich Vanis ’88, whose sons have excelled recently on the gridiron.

The list of Cub parents who have served on the Vanguard board and contributed immensely to the Vanguard’s success include Matt and Cathy Sodl (son Patrick, class of 2022) and Claudius Wright (son Ceyair, class of 2021 and State DB of the Year). Vanguard Board members include Matt Klink ’85, Ty Carter ’80, Dan Thomason ’96 and the current president, John F. Estrada ’86.

The future is bright for our Loyola Cub gridders, and all levels of the program can count on the enthusiastic support of the Gridiron Vanguard.