Our Man IN THE NFL


Story by PETEr DuGrÉ Photos by frAn cOLLIn


o what’s the difference between the Dawg Pound—the infamously raucous fans of the NFL’s Cleveland Browns—and the Carpinteria High School Warrior football faithful? Just about everything.


But the crowds at Cleveland Browns Stadium and Carpinteria Valley Memorial Stadium have two things in common: a love of football and a love of linebacker Chris Gocong—the 27-year-old CHS grad who went from crushing high school opponents for the Warriors to strapping on the orange helmet of the Browns and clashing with the likes of New England Patriots quarter- back Tom Brady, who Gocong threw to the field in his first NFL sack.


Of his newest fans in Cleveland, Gocong says he enjoys their zeal, and as a professional player, he performs for the hometown crowd. He did the same for Philadelphia fans when he played four seasons as a Philadelphia Eagle (2006-2010). Cleveland has been a tortured but faithful football town, and Gocong says he and teammates plan to make the city proud. “It’s a huge football town. They need a team that’s gonna win it all,” he says.


A six-year professional career has landed Gocong in the east, but off-seasons still bring him home to Carpinteria. “Like


RIGHT, Carpinteria High School 2002 graduate Chris Gocong took his athleticism all the way to the National Football League. He plays plays linebacker for the Cleveland Browns and recently signed a multi-year, multi-million dollar contract.


10 CARPINTERIAMAGAZINE


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