When 1962 graduate Mike Ervin took over as Calistoga High’s football coach in mid-June, he wanted his players to realize to that winning equals work.

So far, his players appear to be buying into that sentiment as the Wildcats begin fall practices on Monday.

“We’ve been averaging over 20 kids (in the weight room) per day,” Ervin said earlier this week. “The kids told me that if a year ago two kids were here, they were very fortunate. They want to be successful. They have a bad taste in their mouth from what happened last year. They don’t want to be remembered for that. They want to be remembered for what they do (from here on).”

The Wildcats have fallen on hard times for the past five years but Ervin believes one way to bring the program back to life is to indoctrinate a work ethic that most every other successful program has.

“With some of the kids, you can just look at them and the physical difference in how they’ve done it,” Ervin said.

One example of the improved work ethic of the players came a couple of weeks ago when excruciating heat ravaged the Napa Valley as well as just about everywhere else in the United States.

The players did not run as part of their conditioning when the temperature reached 111 degrees, but Ervin quipped that “when it cooled down to a brisk 105 we ran and the kids never said a word. They just busted their tail.”

“They figure that if an older person like me can drive over from Santa Rosa every day, they can come in and put in at least an hour every day.”

The program has also gotten much-needed help with equipment upgrades since Ervin came aboard. Ervin added that the school district raised money for new gear with the exception of shoulder pads.

Ervin added that the helmets and blocking sled pads have been “reconditioned.”

Ervin has also put a staff of assistants together since getting hired.

Jesse Atkinson will coach the offensive and defensive lines.

Atkinson played for Ervin when he coached at Analy before going to the University of the Pacific on a full-ride scholarship.

Joe Gutierrez will coach the receivers and safeties. Justin Russotti will be the linebackers coach.

Russotti was an All-league and All-Empire linebacker at Montgomery (Santa Rosa) before playing his college ball at the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota.

Jake Blakeley and Aaron DeBacker round out the staff. DeBacker played at Analy High and went on to play at the semi-pro ranks.

Blakeley is a 2001 Calistoga grad who quarterbacked the Wildcats to a a CIF North Coast Section Class B title in 1999. Blakeley’s role will be that of a graduate assistant who will handle scouting duties.

“The best part is that they are not only good coaches but they’re great people,” Ervin said. “You can scream and yell all you want, but if you can’t be a teacher and treat the kids like human beings then you

shouldn’t be out here.”