Steve Ensminger's eyes narrowed until they were just slits running across his face. You could barely see the computer embedded deep inside, running through every possible calculation, every conceivable option. And for a moment, he was back at Louisiana State University, more than 20 years earlier, looking through the eyes of a brilliant young quarterback.

He knew Central High (Baton Rouge, La.) receiver Wes Navarre would break loose a second before it happened. With all the telepathy he could muster, he alerted quarterback Ryan Lewis, who quickly responded with a 15-yard scoring strike.

Maybe, just maybe, you can go home again.

The long and strange journey of Steve Ensminger has taken him back to where it all started: Central High.

	Steve Ensminger is back home again, coaching football at his alma mater, Central High (La.).

After a stellar career at LSU, Ensminger quickly gained a reputation as an offensive guru, designing intricate attacks for the University of Georgia, Texas A&M and Clemson. Now, the 42-year-old father of three is back home, at his alma mater, pulling the reins of his old high school football team.

That decision was a surprise to many in and around the coaching profession. When the entire Clemson coaching staff was fired after a disappointing 1998 season, Ensminger wasn't exactly hurting for offers. Many programs actively sought his acumen for installing high-octane aerial assaults.

"I got out of coaching college because I wanted to," says Ensminger. "I was spending seven months out of the year almost entirely away from my family. Who's to say I won't ever go back (to coaching college)? But this is what's important to me right now."

Central is grateful. After a slow start in which the Wildcats dropped their first two games, they are now beginning to click. They held off Ponchatoula High, 17-14, on Friday, Sept. 22, to even their mark at 2-2.

"He's the most intelligent football person I've ever been around," says senior running back Warren Sparks. "His stature makes everybody listen to him. And everything is done to perfection. He won't let us leave practice until it's just right."

Apparently, Ensminger hasn't toned it down much. He remains the same hard-edged disciplinarian he was in college.

"High school kids, in my opinion, don't have enough structure in their lives," he says. "We're going to be on time for practice. We're going to work on things until we get them right. I still think discipline wins football games."

Ensminger concedes that he's had to simplify his offense somewhat - "too many kids playing both ways to get too complicated" - but the attack still has more heads than a hydra.

You want single back? You got it. How's about a double tight end set? Four wide outs? No huddle? No problem.

"We're a passing team," says Ensminger. "You shouldn't deviate from what you do best."

It has worked so far. Lewis threw for a combined 575 yards and seven touchdowns in the Sept. 22 win and the game prior to that.

"I believe in attack football," says Ensminger. "I think you have to keep a defense off-balance. It doesn't matter at what level. I'm a former quarterback, so what did you expect me to say?"

There is a hint of bitterness in Ensminger's voice when he speaks of the politics of big-time college football, but he quickly changes the subject back to one far more comfortable.

"It's been good spending so much time with my family," says Ensminger, who probably still diagrams plays using 15-year-old Kristalin, 13-year-old Steven and 9-year-old Brittany as props. "My father meant a lot to me growing up. I wanted to give my children the same. I was away too long."

Central can only hope he's here to stay.