Trana enjoys college coaching experience

SANDPOINT - Other than leaving the 70 degree weather of Arizona and returning home to seven degree weather in suddenly-arctic Sandpoint, everything about Bulldog assistant football coach John Trana's trip to Chandler, Ariz. for the Triumphant Bowl was a big success.

Trana coached the running backs on Team California in their 17-16 loss to Team USA as 85 of the top junior college players in the country took part in a week of practice before playing in the JUCO All-American Bowl game on Saturday.

Among the highlights for Trana were being interviewed by NFL Films, which had cameras on hand to cover the game, meeting more college coaches and just getting a first-hand glimpse of some of the nation's best college football players, many of whom will go on to play in the NFL.

"There were a lot of talented players out there. It was impressive watching their speed and size," Trana said, relating how he thought he would exploit an opposing linebacker who weighed more than 250 pounds. "I said 'lets just run toss, he can't get there.' He got there, and he was angry."

Trana said the coaching staff put in an entire playbook, complete with hand signals, in about two hours. They had just three practices and a couple of meetings before the actual game.

The top player Trana got to coach first hand was massive 6-4, 230 pound running back Sheldon Dennis, who has yet to sign but is being recruited by Cal and Kentucky, among others. On the first drive of the game, Trana put him in a power I formation behind two huge Samoans, in a package called "oofa." They marched right down and scored, before largely eschewing the run for the remainder of the game.

"It was an All-Star game, so we weren't just going to pound it," Trana explained. "I think my running backs got about 12 carries all game."