So every year, no matter what sport he's coaching, he picks his team as a favorite to win the championship.

"Why not?" he's said in the past. "It doesn't cost us anything."

And this year it's the same story. The Willow Glen football coach is preparing the Rams for a run at the title in the West Valley Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League, and he thinks his club has a shot at that crown.

He knows it won't be easy, though. Parker rates Branham and Lincoln as the title favorites in the division. And where does he figure his Rams will finish? Where else? First.

Returning all-leaguers Doug Dionne, Justin Johnson and Joe Sparacino join with frosh-soph most valuable player Chris Hobbs to bolster Parker's title hopes this fall.

Johnson (6-foot-175 pounds) is back for his senior season at quarterback after a solid junior year for the Rams. He led Willow Glen to a 5-2 finish in the West Valley Division after the Rams went 0-3 in the preseason.

Dionne (5-foot-9, 170) is a returner at running back, with Sparacino (5-foot-11, 175) starting at center. Johnson and Dionne were each all-league first team picks last year and Sparacino won a place on the second team.

Hobbs (6-foot, 185) served double duty as a quarterback and linebacker for the Willow Glen frosh-soph last year, and he'll likely start at linebacker for the varsity this season.

Varsity returner Steve Lopez (5-foot-8, 175) is back as a starting 'backer for the Rams, along with Amir Faraj-Perry (6-foot, 220). Lopez will start at fullback for Willow Glen, and Faraj-Perry will join Sparacino in the offensive line.

Doug Mummey (5-foot-6, 159), Nate Oxsen (6-foot-3, 300), David Sabala-Klein (5-foot-10, 195) and Steve Nakatsu (5-foot-11, 265) are varsity returners in the offensive line, and junior Andy Huynh (5-foot-6, 235) moves up from the frosh-soph and is expected to start.

Lettermen Ryan Radjabi (5-foot-7, 145), Frank Sarinana (5-foot-7, 150) and Tista Perri (5-foot-10, 160) are all veteran receivers for Willow Glen, and Robert Campos (5-foot-9, 160) is a letterman expected to see playing time at halfback.

Alex Green (5-foot-8, 160) and Ricky Munoz (5-foot-5, 150) are top receivers coming up from the frosh-soph, and John Gibilisco (5-foot-6, 150) is a junior up from the f-s expected to give the Rams depth at running back.

Willow Glen is deep in the defensive secondary with Green, Dionne, Perri, Munoz, Gibilisco and Campos all capable of batting down enemy passes.

Sparacino, Sarinana and Sabala-Klein are top candidates at defensive end, with Mummey, Nakatsu, Huynh and Oxsen expected to serve double duty in the defensive line. Radjabi joins Hobbs, Lopez and Faraj-Perry at linebacker.

Dionne, Johnson, Lopez, Faraj-Perry and Oxsen will serve as co-captains for the Rams this fall.

Willow Glen, after a scrimmage against Overfelt on Sept. 6, 4:30 p.m., will open the 2002 season on Sept. 13, 7:30 p.m., in a non-league game against Mountain View at San Jose PAL Stadium. Mountain View is the defending champion in the El Camino Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League.

Willow Glen football

Sept. 13—Mountain View at PAL, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 21—Fremont, 1:30 p.m.
Sept. 27—Silver Creek at PAL, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 4—Lincoln,* 3:30 p.m.
Oct. 11—at James Lick,* 3:30 p.m.
Oct. 25—at Yerba Buena,* 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 2—San Jose,* 1:30 p.m. **
Nov. 8—at Branham,* 2:45 p.m.
Nov. 15—Mt. Pleasant,* 2:45 p.m.
* Santa Teresa Division game
** Homecoming game