CALABASAS — It wasn’t the kind of celebration Burbank football assistant coach Dan Silverberg was expecting.
A few high-fives, hugs maybe and words of encouragement to his former Calabasas players.
But not the parade of appreciation, water bottle sprays and group mobbing he received shortly after Calabasas prevailed over Burbank 47-7 on Friday night.
Silverberg had been the linebackers coach at Calabasas for two years under Cary Harris before moving to Burbank this season.
“I’ve had a great experience the last two years here,” Silverberg said. “I love the coaching staff and obviously the players. I didn’t know I’d get that kind of greeting at the end but it was amazing.”
Silverberg’s coaching made a lasting impact on senior linebacker Obi Ofomata who made several key tackles for Calabasas in Friday’s game.
“Coach Silverberg was one of my favorite coaches and I missed him when he left,” Ofomata said. “He’s one of my favorite coaches when he was here. He was really nice and I love him.”
Gone but never forgotten and now cherished was Silverberg. His new team lost but the boys he coached in the black and gold jerseys left him with a memory. One where the mentorship and memories mattered more than the result on the scoreboard.
“When I took the job at Burbank, I told coach Cary (Harris) — one of my favorite people in the world — that nine weeks out of the year my heart is still with you guys,” Silverberg said. “But when we play you, I’m going to be all for Burbank, and he said I understand that.”
“Tonight was a little tough and we gave up big plays,” Silverberg added. “Calabasas always makes big plays and that was the nice part of being here. They played big plays and we left a lot of points on the board. We got inside the 20 three times and didn’t score. That’s on us and congratulations to them.”
Harris saw the players’ postgame celebration with Silverberg.
“We got to have a moment, talk a little bit and that was good to see,’ Harris said.
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