MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO -- With fire in their eyes and determination in their souls, devil dogs from across the depot gathered together for the second year of Titans’ football.
Team members are confident in their ability to achieve their goal for this season, which is to make it to the Camp Pendleton Football League championship game and win, said Cpl. Jonathon Molloy, team captain and quarterback.
He said they also want to win the Best of the West championship game, a game against the champions of Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms Football League.
Winning is an obvious desire for all teams, and the Titans along with the other teams have a meaningful reason behind it. If they are able to win both championships, they are invited to play against teams like the police department during events used as fund-raisers for organizations that help injured Marines.
"Competing against outside teams also helps to get the name of the Marine Corps out and recognized as taking part in the local communities,"said Molloy.
After finishing third in the playoffs last year, the Titans learned their strengths and weaknesses and have used them as a tool to help better prepare for this season.
Corporal Eric Folmar, wingback and strong safety for the Titans, said last year’s major weakness was the offensive line because of a lack of practice. He also said the number of people with little or no prior experience playing football slowed the team’s progress.
Veterans from last season are still playing and have been able to teach those with less experience, so the team is confident they are better prepared to face challengers. The Titans have practiced twice a day for the past several months to prevent them from making the same mistakes as last year.
Practices started earlier in the year and team members are pushed harder than they were last season in order to make them ready for their upcoming games, said Cpl. Sven George, Titans’ cornerback.
"I think we have a better team this year because everyone is helping each other,"said Folmar. "The Marines have learned football is a team sport and you have to practice like a team to play like a team. You can’t just show up and win the game; you have to have patience for the less experienced and work together for the common goal of victory."
Defense was the strength of last year’s Titans because they worked well together and knew their plays. They also loved to win and put their all into each game so they could accomplish that goal.
Molloy said his personal strength overall was his teammates. He said they put him in the position to lead and excel as a football player and as a person because it gave him the chance to help team members on and off the field.
According to Folmar, Titans’ football is a good camaraderie-builder because team members get to spend a lot of time with people they would not normally get the chance to be around. He said Marines from different offices and sections of the depot, who possibly have never met, can come together and become good friends over a mutual interest.
Titans’ football is more than just a team to George, who said they were more like a big family. He said through practices and games they were able to get to know each other and form bonds with teammates, as well as members of other teams and crowd.
The first game was played Tuesday in Camp Pendleton, Calif., against the 9th Communication Division’s “Black Knights.” After a hard-fought game the Titans were victorious with a final score of 12-3.
The Titans look forward to this football season with confidence and hope to see their depot family in the stands cheering for them. The next game is scheduled for Tuesday in Camp Pendleton.