CSD Continues EGHS Football Arson Investigation

CSD Fire Arson Investigators are still looking for the person or persons responsible for the July 18 blaze that destroyed a pair of storage sheds on the campus of Elk Grove High School. Several thousand dollars in football equipment stored in those sheds were also destroyed.

Thundering Herd coach Chris Nixon says the Elk Grove Unified School District’s insurance has paid to replace the lost equipment and he expects delivery on most of the necessary gear very soon.

He’s also received many calls and donations from the community, too. Nixon’s former player, current Chicago Bears’ linebacker Lance Briggs, was one of the first on the telephone to his ex-offensive coordinator willing to pay to replace the destroyed equipment.

“He’s regularly donated money to the program, wanting nothing in return,” Nixon said. “He’s done it all out of the kindness of his heart.” 

EGHS Football coach Chris Nixon

This summer Briggs has paid for new shoulder pads for the Herd. When he heard about Elk Grove’s change to pearl matte blue helmets, Briggs quickly phoned Nixon offering to purchase the team gold helmets, similar to the kind Notre Dame wears, the same color of head gear Briggs wore as a member of the Herd in the late-1990’s.

“I told Lance, we’d wear them in the games he chose,” Nixon chuckled.

The bright gold headgear will be similar to the Fighting Irish’s color of helmet. Nixon said Notre Dame actually has a copyright on the exact tint of gold they use.

 Anybody with information about the fire may call the CSD Arson tipline at (916) 405-7118.

Freitas Returns To River Cats

Former Elk Grove and Cosumnes River College catcher David Freitas returned to the Sacramento River Cats on July 25.  He was in the starting line up Tuesday and went one-for-four at bat. 

Freitas, who is now in his fourth minor league season, was Sacramento’s opening day catcher, but after playing in only five games he was shipped to the Oakland A’s Double-A franchise in Midland.

In 61 games with the Rock Hounds, Freitas batted .214 with nine home runs.

Armstead On Patriots’ Injured List

Another bit of hard luck has sidelined Armond Armstead.

The former Pleasant Grove and USC defensive lineman was recently placed on the New England Patriots’ injury list after Armstead required surgery to treat an infection.

“Armond is in good condition and is expected to make a full recovery,” the Patriots wrote in a news release on Monday. “A timetable has not been set for his return to football."

Armstead sat out his senior season at USC for what was later revealed to be a heart attack brought on by painkillers school trainers were giving him. Armstead filed a lawsuit against the school.

Last fall he had an outstanding season for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. In his rookie CFL season, Armstead compiled 43 defensive tackles, 2 special teams tackles and 6 quarterback sacks. He was also named as a CFL All-Star, and went on to win the Grey Cup with the Argonauts that.

He was signed by the Patriots on Jan. 22 of this year.