Spartans' family ties a winner

As the final second ticked off the clock in last week's 4A Southern Zone football championship, the Cimarron-Memorial Spartans moved into position for their traditional post-victory ritual.

Gathering together at the foot of their home stands, Cimarron's players acknowledged their faithful supporters as the band blared the school fight song.

For more than a few Spartans, the weekly exercise provides a chance to scan the crowd for family members, with whom they can share the celebration.

But for quarterback Jacob Smeltzer and nose guard Chase Spencer, no such search is necessary. They know exactly where their fathers are: right on the field with them, coaching the team.

For Cimarron head coach Greg Spencer and assistant coach Ron Smeltzer, the 1999 season has had a special touch, and not simply because the team is headed back to its third straight 4A state title game tonight at 7 against Reno's McQueen High.

"I get to share all this time with my son at practice," Greg Spencer said. "I'm real proud of him, and it's an honor for me to see him every day, watch him at the games and watch him get better.

"There's a lot of things I get to share with him that most dads don't get to."

While Spencer is coaching his son, a junior in his first varsity season, for the first time this year, his top assistant has some experience in this area. After coaching his oldest son, Toby, at Cimarron in 1996 and '97, Ron Smeltzer is now in his second year with Jacob, a senior.

"It's special because you're there together and you know all this stuff is going to end shortly and you won't be sharing these moments again," Ron Smeltzer said.

Both coaches admit to treating their sons a bit differently from the rest of their teammates, although neither Chase Spencer nor Jacob Smeltzer has been getting off easy this season. Instead, their fathers agree that they tend to treat their sons harder -- a product of heightened expectations.

"You have a tendency to be harder because you want to make sure they're perfect," Ron Smeltzer said. "And you have a tendency to get a little more frustrated with them."

Added Chase Spencer, "It's hard because he expects more out of you, but I enjoy it a lot. Not everybody gets to be coached by their own dad, and it's fun getting to watch him coach."

In large part, the increased expectations result from their sons' lifelong exposure to football -- something few other prep players can boast.

"I remember when I was at Chaparral and Chase was a year old, and I had him at practice in a stroller," Greg Spencer said. "My kids have been with me all the time. It's an experience, and we share it with our kids."

Likewise, Smeltzer's two sons have grown up around the game, with their father a former head coach at California powerhouse Servite High in Anaheim and for the Canadian Football League's Ottawa Rough Riders. Smeltzer relocated to Las Vegas as an assistant with the CFL's Posse, which lasted only one year.

"They've been around this environment all their life, and they understand this environment," Ron Smeltzer said.

These days, Chase Spencer and Jacob Smeltzer still aren't far from their fathers' watchful eye, and that means the Cimarron coaches can keep close tabs on their sons' commitment to the sport.

"You know what they're doing at home, whether they're studying tape or not," Ron Smeltzer said. "I make sure I get (Jacob) out of bed on Sundays to come in and break down tape with me."

But the Spartans' starting quarterback said he doesn't mind waking up early on Sundays if it means getting to spend extra time learning about football from his father.

"It's the best thing for me," Jacob Smeltzer said. "My dad's the best coach I've ever met and the best coach I've ever known."

Of course, coaching your own son can have its tougher moments as well. Earlier this year, Greg Spencer had to tell his son that he'd been replaced as the team's starting fullback by teammate Alex Gonzalez.

"When we make a decision on something like that, we make it as a coaching staff, so he knows it wasn't just me," the Spartans head coach said. "And it's easier because he won't say anything back and no one will call and complain."

Considering the Spartans will play in their third straight state title game tonight, it's doubtful many Cimarron fans have been calling with complaints over the past few weeks. Last Friday's 40-14 win over Las Vegas long will be remembered as one of the school's greatest victories, particularly for Jacob Smeltzer.

"That was one of the best moments of my life," the Spartans quarterback said. "My dad was there, and I turned around and gave him a big hug."

And now, Cimarron's two father-son duos are hoping they can have one more shared experience, state championship style.

"After every game, we had a handshake and a hug," Chase Spencer said. "It's special to win a zone championship with your father. A state championship would be even better."

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