Mater Dei head coach Bruce Rollinson talks No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup with Bishop Gorman

Video: No. 1 Mater Dei vs. No. 2 Bishop Gorman preview
The two squads feature more than 20 Division I college prospects, including two 5-star quarterbacks.

Bruce Rollinson has won 273 games — against 32 losses — and two national titles during an illustrious high school coaching career at Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.).

He's coached Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart and 2007 Gatorade National Athlete of the Year Matt Barkley. In January, following his 28th season, he was voted National Coach of the Year by the National High School Coaches Association.

There's not much the gregarious, always upbeat, coach hasn't seen or experienced.

But never has he been a part of a game featuring the top two-ranked teams in the country. There's been only six previously.

His Monarchs, ranked No. 1 by MaxPreps, host defending national champion and No. 2 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) Friday at the Santa Ana Bowl.

The game features more than 20 Division I college prospects, a pair of five-star quarterbacks, humongous offensive and defensive fronts, gobs of famous alumni and loads of national interest.

"It's not about the hype," Rollinson said. "It's about the preparation."

Truer coach-speak has never been uttered. 

Three days before the big tilt, Rollinson spoke with us about the physical and mental health of his team, his star quarterback JT Daniels and the juggernaut that is Bishop Gorman. MaxPreps: Coach, your star wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Chris Parks didn't play last week in your win over Bishop Amat (La Puente). What is their status this week and the overall health of your team.

Bruce Rollinson: "We feel good about it. St. Brown will be a game-time decision. He'll be evaluated by our medical team right before the game. Parks has been practicing well. I have a good feeling he'll be available. Other than that we're good to go. If we get Ra, that will be a blessing. If not, someone else will have to step up."

MaxPreps: A lot has been made of the sore right (throwing) shoulder of JT Daniels. He threw only 23 passes last week. He averaged 30 last year. Has the injury been overplayed?

Bruce Rollinson: "It was definitely overplayed. Listen, we didn't fall off the turnip truck yesterday. We put him on a pitch count months ago. We just wanted to be smart and we managed his arm. So he's good to go. He was firing it Monday at practice. He was really slinging it. I have no worries about JT Daniels."

MaxPreps: Besides his passing (16 of 23, 179 yards, 1 TD), he also had a nifty and length touchdown run. Did that run surprise even you?

Bruce Rollinson: (Laughs) "I think he wanted to destroy the myth that he's only a pocket passer. He was so excited about scoring a touchdown. Good for him. But Friday night, be smart, JT. Get out of bounds."

MaxPreps: Bishop Gorman coach Kenny Sanchez thinks you throwing less isn't because Daniels' arm is sore, but you just have a much better running game. Agree?

Bruce Rollinson: "You're always going to utilize your strengths. For the last two years with JT, we've been winging it for sure. We ran it a little more last year, but now with this offensive line, they all know each other. A lot is dictated in the box. The other thing is when you're down two nationally recognized wide receivers, why force the issue?"

MaxPreps: You've certainly forced the issue with this schedule. Before you even start the Trinity League, you have Bergen Catholic out of New Jersey and Northern California power St. Mary's of Stockton. Is this to prepare you to get to that first elusive CIF Bowl championship game?

Bruce Rollinson: "I purposely loaded the front end because I thought this group could handle a preseason schedule of this magnitude. Is it going to come back and haunt me? I doubt it. The other thing is you can't get anyone to play you anyway so you might as well step up and play the big boys."

MaxPreps: The boys don't get bigger and the competition doesn't get any tougher than Bishop Gorman. How do you handle all the hoopla around No. 1 playing No. 2?

Bruce Rollinson: "I told the kids, it's not about the hype, it's about the preparation. We have to prepare. We have to control what's within our control."

MaxPreps: How are you going to control Bishop Gorman?

Bruce Rollinson: "I told the kids, Mater Dei is playing Mater Dei. Until we played Bishop Amat, we've been going (starters vs. starters) at practice. Listen, Bishop Gorman has great linebackers, we have some pretty good linebackers. Bishop Gorman has a big ol' defensive line. Well, Mater Dei has a big ol' defensive line. They have great DBs, I have good receivers. The point is, we've played against this kind of personnel every day at practice."

MaxPreps: Are they as good a team as you've ever faced?

Bruce Rollinson: "I'm not going to minimize it. They are a great football team. You don't win that many games in a row and win that many titles in a row without being a great program. Kenny does a great job. They are obviously very well-coached. But it's still a high school football game."

MaxPreps: What are the keys to win it?

Bruce Rollinson: "One of the final things I'm going to tell my guys is don't beat yourself. You have to minimize turnovers. You have to minimize mental mistakes. Then, you just have to play one play at a time."

MaxPreps: Is this the most talented team you've ever coached?

Bruce Rollinson: "All summer we tried to manage expectations, yet everyone asks me that question. I'm not going to go there. You're looking at a guy who has coached here 29 years. You look at the teams I've coached in the 90s. We have two national championship teams. You can't make that determination until the season is over. But I'll say this: All the indicated parts are in place. Let's go find out."