Two high schools, separated by a freeway, have played a most powerful football rivalry for 50 years. Read the riveting account of this tradition and its effect on the community.
John David (J.D.) Fischer taught and coached at Redwood, one of the two schools, for 31 years before retiring in 2000. He has continued to coach in the varsity program since his retirement. Over the years he taught English and journalism, and coached in the baseball program for 23 years and in the football program for 32 years. The last 11 years he has been on the varsity coaching staff, coaching the offensive line for seven years and the offensive backs for the last four.
Now 62 years old, Fischer was a longtime marathon and ultra-marathon runner during the 1980's and 1990's. He has completed over 70 races of the longer distances. Prior to teaching he served in the army for three years. In his retirement he tries to go alpine skiing at least 25 times a season, having learned the sport as a teenager growing up in the small town of Dunsmuir near Mt. Shasta in Northern California. He also enjoys fly fishing, taking long hiking treks, playing golf, and intellectual pursuits, especially reading and writing. This is his first book.