Boyd Gomez remembers Don Mosebar in high school.
"Standing behind him in line was like standing under a tree," said Gomez, who wore Mosebar's No. 72 jersey Saturday at a Tulare-Kings Raiders Boosters event at Plaza Park in west Visalia. "Lots of shade."
At 6-foot-7 and 270 pounds in his playing days — and sporting similar dimensions Saturday — Mosebar, a 1979 graduate of Mt. Whitney High School in Visalia, signed autographs on all manner of football memorabilia for a seemingly never-ending line of silver-and-black-clad fans attending Saturday's boosters picnic.
"These fans are just as enthusiastic as ever," Mosebar said during a break in the signings. "Win or lose, these are the greatest fans in football."
Mosebar was alluding to the ignominious fact that the Raiders, once the most feared franchise in sports history and one of the winningest teams ever, have endured seven straight losing seasons — a record stretch of NFL futility.
That could turn around this year, however, said Lemoore resident Fidel Solorio, who wore a white Raiders jersey with silver-and-black lettering with "Asomugha" written across the back — signifying allegiance to Raiders defensive back Nnamdi Asomugha, now one of the highest-paid secondary players in the league.
"If the offense can step up like it did when Mosebar played [1983-95] and hold on to the ball longer, then the defense can attack more," said Anaya, clutching a freshly purchased NFL football for Mosebar to sign.
"Appropriate, isn't it, having one of the best centers ever sign a football?" Anaya asked rhetorically.
Many other local Raiders boosters appear to back many long-retired, and even deceased, players more than the current crop of youngsters if Saturday's jerseys are any indication. A lot of [Fred] Biletnikoffs, [George] Atkinsons and [Bo] Jacksons were evident, and very few present-day Raiders.
"Guys like Mosebar and [quarterback Daryle] Lamonica love to come out and meet the fans," said Eliseo Zepeda, president of the local Raiders boosters. "We just can't seem to get hardly any of the new guys to do that."
