What can you call a defining moment for a college soccer career at Chico State? A goal in OT, the save on a late breakaway, stripping the ball from a UC Davis attacker late in a one-goal game?
 
How about this: Disneyland. Jungle Cruise.
 
This story has to be retold. Playoffs 1970. Cal State Fullerton the next day. Team-building visit to Disneyland. Half the team takes the Jungle Cruise with other tourists. The "guide" leaves his 38 revolver on the gunwale while explaining how the rhinos or crocs may attack! They did! Fullback Bijan "Benny " Nowain leaps to the front of the boat, grabs the pistol and empties it rapid-fire at the "attacking" behemoths!
 
True story.
 

Which brings me to the most amazing man I met in a long soccer career – Don Batie. For who else could intercept the cadre of security swarming us at the ride exit and talk them into: 1. Not arresting Ben, and 2. Letting us stay for the rest of the day?
 
It's refreshing to see the stories of Wildcats soccer players whose appreciation for their Chico State experience is clear. Let me add this: Coach Batie, Ted Howard, and my CSC soccer teammates (that's Chico State College – the school name until January 1972) were the defining influences of my early adulthood prior to marrying and having a family.
 
Let me explain.
 
As Ted Howard recounted a few weeks ago, the program evolved when Coach Batie took over in 1967.  That was my freshman year at Chico, and I didn't come close to making the team. But I covered the team for the school paper almost every day, and ended up writing about the likes of Orval Hughes, Ned Vernoga, Tom Hayes, Mickey Maxell, Ted (called "Hummer"), and the Gallagher twins.
 
More importantly, when I did start playing in 1969, the experience shaped my life. That 3-3 tie against University of San Francisco that Ted so vividly recounted was my first game. TC (Tom Carter), our talented starting goalkeeper, was called to serve in the armed forces reserves and Don and Ted were forced to play me in CSC soccer's first night game in the football stadium. Talk about coaches' apprehension. I picked the ball out of the back of the net twice before we found our footing, and 3,000 incredibly loud fans started a trend of big noisy crowds that sparked Chico State teams from then on.
 
Big, noisy: Assistant Coach Bob Russ had the idea that 12-inch lengths of 2x4 lumber clapped together by fans could be a rallying cry. Fans entering games were given two clappers, which made such a racket that the NCAA stepped in and banned them nationwide.
 
Within three years, Chico was ranked 14^th in the nation (all of which was Division I) after wins at Air Force and USF in the same season, and went 15-1-1 in 1971 (the loss was to UCLA in a Division I regional quarterfinal). Late in that season, the NCAA had divided schools into divisions. CSC was the first college team to play in both Division I and Division II tournaments, winning the Division II Western Regional title.  In '71, Chico allowed just one goal in conference play.
 
Watching from the goal in 1970 and 1971 I got to enjoy the magic of players like Otey Cannon, Mark Stahl, Eric Snedeker, Bijan Nowain, Billy Wells, Mike O'Malley, Mickey Duzdevich, Rick Zylker, Greg Montgomery, Ned Vernoga, Sal Corona, Seleshi Sahle, George Barry, Gerry Simoes, Bill Weekes, Jerry Tighe, and coaches Batie and Russ. They built the reputation and character of Wildcat soccer. And there were personalities like the late Kenyan Albert "Boom Boom" Owino, whose low, throaty "heh heh heh" while going full speed meant that an opponent was about to lose the ball in a painful, albeit fair, fashion.
 
In 1970, Ted Howard and I published the first college soccer newsletter in the West, Collegiate Soccer News, just before Ted accepted a position as assistant to the commissioner of what was then the professional North American Soccer League (NASL). It was the start of an illustrious career for Ted, now a CONCACAF deputy general secretary.
 
Before leaving, Ted introduced me to Clay Berling, who was trying to start up a broader-based publication from Berkeley.  I was very fortunate to become a founding partner and executive editor of what was to become Soccer America magazine, and later joined the original NASL San Jose Earthquakes administration when the team joined the league in 1974. I was lucky to take the field in the San Jose net for the first two pre-season games when we had trouble signing a 'keep. I met Chico's Stahl, Cannon, Mike Simon, Matt O'Sullivan, Howard, as well as Coach Batie, on NASL pitches before leaving the NASL in late 1979.
 
Yeah, I met some of soccer's international greats. But the greatest were and are the Chico State soccer teammates and coaches who originally accepted me into the Wildcat fold.
 
My parting shot: one of my most satisfying moments as a 'Cat came several years after I graduated. I was able to personally thank Don Batie for his influence and example – and tolerance - that had such a profound influence on my personal and professional development.

This is the seventh installment in a series that will run through April. See all six on the Chico State athletics men's soccer page at www.chicowildcats.com.

If you are a Chico State Soccer alumni and would like to take part in the events surrounding Alumni Weekend, including the not-to-be missed Anniversary Dinner at the Sierra Nevada Big room, Golf Tournament and BBQ, Brunch, and annual 7-A-SideTournament, please RSVP at www.csuchico.edu/mens-soccer-50. Spots are first-come, first served and going fast!