5 Questions and a Recap

As I reported earlier, the Southern California Breakers ended their season last weekend. The team ended up at .500 with a record of 4-4.

I was unable to attend the last game since it was in Tucson. Enrique Hernandez, the glue that keeps the whole Breakers operation together, sent me this recap of the final game:

Vanessa Santillan was out with an ankle injury and Priscilla Gardner (rookie) filled in at RB. Gardner rushed for 260 yards on 24 attempts, with 3 touchdowns. One TD was a 55-yard rush down the sideline.

• FB Suzanne Linn had the other TD and she rushed for 88 yards on 15 attempts
• QB Lori Schnaider completed 2 passes on 17 attempts (one for 20 yards to Elaine Iba and the other was 25 yards to Dorothy DeLeon)
• On the defense - LB Suzanne Linn had 15 tackles
• LB Tutu Armstrong had 6 tackles with one sack and forced fumble. LB Amanda Garcia recovered the fumble.

He added that this was an exceptional season for all players, which is especially true since they had a small roster size.


Prior to the season ending, I had a quick five questions with Coach Bartley again.

1. Your team has really evolved over the season and is really coming together as a cohesive unit. What do you attribute this to? What are the key ingredients to making a synergistic team?

Our team has put in extra time trying to learn and understand the game to the fullest. We really try to simplify the game then show them from our prospective as coaches what to expect on the field. The key to our success is heart and determination.

2. What have been the biggest surprises for you so far this season? Also, what are you most proud of so far this season?

The biggest surprise this season has been their ability to show people that they can play this game the way it is supposed to be played.

3. Looking back, is there anything you would go back and change in the first games of the season? Is there anything you would do differently?

If I could go back and make a change from the first game, well it would have to be nothing! Even though we lost that close game, we started to grow as a team.

4. What has inspired you the most this season? What do you hope inspires your players about you?

What inspired me most this season is their attitude towards family. They have really stuck together as a family and when someone was down both on and off the field, they wasted no time in helping their sister in their time of need. I hope that the girls will continue to feed off my passion for the game and ending as champions.

5. What are you going to focus on for these last games of the year? How will you approach these last games?

The last games of the season our focus is on execution and consistency.


For those of you who missed them – here are the Breakers stories throughout the season:

Pre-Season Report

Amanda Garcia

April 20 Wrap

May 11 Wrap

June 1 Wrap

June 8 Wrap

Vanessa Santillan

Becky Leetch

Coach Bartley, version 1

Related women’s football post with some Breakers

Someone put up some of the sideline entertainment from one of the games on YouTube as well. It's pretty funny so check it out. You can also find a Breakers MySpace page and photos of their first game of the season online.

It's always football season at Women's Football Talk as well. You can look in the archives of their podcasts to find another interview with Coach Bartley and talk of all teams from all leagues in the sport.