Lucca Giurlani is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Mountain View for AZPreps365.

The Mountain View football program brought back their former Hall of Fame quarterback, Joe Germaine, as head coach before the 2021 season. The community rejoiced at having a hometown hero back to lead the Toros, along with his son, Jack Germiane, a sophomore quarterback. 

While this transition has led to success, helping the Toros to an 8-4 record, something that fans overlook in any big move such as this is its effect on the Germaine family itself, especially Jack.

While Joe Germaine came into a situation in which he has plenty of history, Jack entered a brand new school and area after growing up with his father, who was head coach at Queen Creek High. 

“I grew up here, I knew about Mountain View,” said Joe Germaine. “But I was head coach in Queen Creek for 11 years and when Jack was really little so all he knew was Queen Creek, he didn’t know about Mountain View. ... He was a Queen Creek guy.”

While his coach and father implied that this move was a difficult one for the family, having rooted themselves into the Queen Creek community, Jack himself has never shown signs of that this year. He has adjusted quickly to the change of scenery and made a strong connection to the team, something he and Joe Germaine attribute to the great environment and staff that the Mountain View football program has provided.

“Very quickly, I think he realized the tradition that's here, the other guys here made him feel very welcome, so I think it's been a great move for him,” said Joe Germaine. 

While the move seems to have been a good change for Jack, it hasn’t been great for his physical health. Jack recently tore his ACL during Mountain View's homecoming game against Williams Field, a devastating blow for him and the team. 

The process for ACL recovery is a long one filled with hard work both mentally and physically, but at least Jack has experience with this process.

“I've torn my ACL twice before,” he said. “Once (in) each leg already. ... The rehab process is very tough. I 've done it before already, I just have to live in the moment and try to get after it day by day.”

While the blow is devastating for Jack, it leaves an even bigger mark on the rest of the Toros season. Any team that loses its quarterback halfway through the season leaves its coaches in a difficult spot trying to replace him, but more importantly it leaves a great effect on his teammates. 

When asked what the team will miss most about Jack, tight end Jackson Bowers replied, “The leader part of him." He added: "He played a huge role, that definitely will hurt us.”

His teammates' praise of Jack’s leadership illustrates his importance, as well as showing how he truly has settled into his new school and thrived to become a leader in this new setting.

“I'm proud of him and the adjustments that he's made, kind of getting out of his comfort zone a bit, but I think he loves being a Toro, loves being a part of what we do,” Joe Germaine said. “He's really sad that he couldn't finish the year with his teammates.”