Mar-iner captain· signs with Cal By DAVID J. NICOLAS After 'his' team's turn-around from a 0-10 2008 season to a respectable 4-6 record in '09, Moreau Catholic High Scho~l defensive specialist Joseph Coleman will continue his dream of play- ing football at the next level.'The senior, who was selected to the First-Team AlI- Bay Shore League and Lineman of the Year last season; wilt play on scholarship at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in the Central Coast, joining former Moreau football head.coachTim Walsh. "I could wake up every day and not complain about playing football," Coleman said about the signing. "It's something I want to do for the rest of my life." Coleman finished his. final .high school football season with 75 tackles , and eight sacks. He rushed fcr 10 yards to score one touchdown on the offensive side of the ball, too, "We had the best football player on the field every Friday night," said current Moreau head coach Andrew Cotter about Coleman. "Not all of the kids came from a football background, but knowing that Joe was out there helped our team play with aggressionand confidence." Coleman didn't mind the pressure. The 6'1", 265-pound lineman has played competitive football since 2002. Before Moreau Catholic, he worked on his grid- iron skills in the Pop Warner Little Scholars league. He played baseball, bas- ketball and football in high school, even- tually making varsiry squads for the latter two. But as the schoolwork of an upper classrnen .combined with the academic oblig~tions of college applications, Coleman realized that giving up a sport was almost necessary. After his first SAT score made him ineligible to play collegiate football, Coleman declined to play basketball until his test results improved. Life revolved around practice tests instead of drills on the field; his teammates were now his captain, encouraging him to hit the books as hard as he hit his Friday night opponents ..The ,work paid off. - Scouts from San. Diego State Universiry, Idaho' State University, University of North Dakota, Universiry of Nevada, Las Vegas and Cal Poly showed strong interest in Coleman. But after a weekendvisit to San Luis Obispo, Coleman fell in love with its welcoming community and posiFive vibes from the 'coaching staff. He knew that he was a fit. .Coleman will. play under Coach Walsh who has a combined 117-82 record in 18 seasons as a collegiate foot- ball coach. He was a head coach Sonoma State (1989-92) and Po State (1990-2006). During his tenure Sonoma, Walsh helped the team 'Northern California Athletic Conn title in 1991 ;u{dtwo NCAA Divisi playoff berths. Before being named Cal Poly's head .coach in January he was the offensive coordinator quarterbacks coach at the United Stares .Military Academy. , Walsh was also Moreau Catholic's head coach from 1982-88. Coleman can't' wait to continue football career at a Division I Coleman will be expected to play 0..- to Cal Poly. He, is uncertain if he study business or criminal justice, will remain ambitious with his Errori sport and a little closer to fulfilling • - ultimate goal-an induction into the ~ Hall of Fame as a player or a coach. rrrr along with three other partici- pants, will be judg.ed by Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star LeBron James, NBA Legend L ~" . Darryl Dawkins and two-time -Dunkin'