Noah Escobedo understands what the outside perceptions are.
An all-conference pick in football and baseball at Richards, Escobedo is the son of Eisenhower’s baseball coach, Jaime Escobedo.
“A lot of times that narrative gets thrown around, being like ‘daddy ball,'” Escobedo told Southwest Regional during a break in preseason practice. “But that was never the case for me. My dad, he always pushed me. He never just gave me stuff because I was a coach’s kid.
“But just speaking on baseball, playing against him is always fun. To compete against your dad, it’s a pretty nice experience.”
The elder Escobedo remained in coach mode even off the field.
“During the season, he helped me,” Escobedo said. “He didn’t care. Just because I wasn’t on his team, he wouldn’t (not) help me. … We still went to the cage, worked out. … He always puts me in a position where I can be my best.”
Richards football coach Tony Sheehan appreciates the family dynamic between the Bulldogs’ senior quarterback and his dad.
“He’s a very bright kid,” Sheehan said. “Very coachable. With his dad being a coach, that’s what you kind of love — having a coach’s kid because they see it, they live it every day.”
Now it’s football season, and there are definitely no divided loyalties in the Escobedo family.
Escobedo and the Bulldogs have big dreams again after going 11-2 last year and reaching the Class 6A semifinals before losing to eventual champion East St. Louis.
Star running back Myles Mitchell is gone to FCS power North Dakota State. But Escobedo and three starting receivers return, along with four starters on the offensive line.
“Last year, my first year on varsity, I made a lot of mistakes as expected,” said Escobedo, who passed for 1,360 yards and 11 touchdowns. “This year … I know what my coaches expect of me. … I know what needs to be done and I’ve been working a lot in the offseason on just reads, footwork, things like that, so I could be as good as I can for this season.”
The three returning receivers also are seniors: Jaiden Henry, who has a Western Illinois offer; Kamani Sapara and Carmelo Palumbo.
“We had that chemistry last year,” Escobedo said. “We should be able to build off that, so it should be exciting to see what we can do in the air this year.”
The 5-10, 170-pounder is starting the process of talking to college coaches, with football his preference at the next level.
“Reached out to a few schools, hoping I have a good enough season (that) I could get some more (interest),” Escobedo said. “But right now the most important thing is the season.
“Having a good season and getting good results — and college will come later.”