All Stars in My Eyes
I always enjoy going to those high school football all-star games in the early summer. Just eight minutes from my house is the Empire State Challenge at Hofstra. It was a great game last year, and one of Columbia's current players, offensive lineman Carl Constant played for the New York City team.
This year, I don't see any Columbia recruits on the roster yet but Penn's incoming tight end Luke Nawrocki and offensive lineman Gregory Van Roten are on the Long Island squad. They both went to Chaminade high school with incoming Columbia safety Chris Paruch, who may pop on the all-star roster in the coming days, (that tends to happen).
The game is the night of June 24th, which is a Tuesday night and kind of tough for me to attend this year. But I will try.
Of course the Empire Challenge is a nice event, but the REALLY big high school all-star game is the Texas High School Coaches All-Star Game July 29 at the Alamodome. Incoming Columbia frosh Jerry Bell will be playing in what may be the first time any Ivy-signee will go under center in that game. It's quite an achievement for Bell and Columbia either way.
Incoming freshman defensive lineman J.D. Tyree is playing in the Virginia all-star game on July 4th. I'm not sure about the official title for that game.
If anyone else knows of future Columbians playing in any all star games, let us know in the comments section or email me.
Fashion Statement
As a season ticket holder, I received a free t-shirt in a mailing from the athletics department a week or two ago. It's got the words "Already on Board" on the front and the 2008 season schedule on the back.
I wear it to the gym a lot here at FOX and I think it gets a few second looks.
Then again they could be just be staring at my butt.
In any event, check your mail for the shirt. It went out to evert season ticket holder. And it's a good reason to become a season ticket holder in the future if you're not already. I don't think season tickets for 2008 have gone on sale yet, but check back on the athletics web site regularly and buy them ASAP. The more season ticket packages sold early, the more leverage we have with everyone from advertisers to student social groups.
posted by Jake @ 2:53:00 AM
11 comments
11 Comments:
There will be one other QB on Bell's team. He was in the "Elite" group of academic starswgmkg: "The Elite team represents the highest point total that can be achieved. Criteria required to be nominated is 1) overall GPA of 92 or above, including grades 9-12 and the first six weeks of grade 12; 2) Be a member of the team in good standing at the time of nomination; 3) Be of good moral character."
Incoming freshman WR Christian Daniel from Canyon HS in Anaheim, CA is playing in the Orange County North-South game on
July 11.
The TX all star games (apparently there are two) will be on Fox SW. In the past, tapes have been shown on other Fox sports stations, sometimes at odd hours.
Let's go Lions!
Very good sign for Columbia Football that so many of the incoming freshmen will be participating in High School All-Star Games throughout the nation. In some areas of the country it is very difficult to be selected to play in one of these games. Then, once you are selected, you get some great coaching and a chance to see what you can do against top-flight competition. I haven't seen Jerry Bell, Christian Daniel or J. D. Tyree play, but they are look like possible impact players at Columbia. Bell fits nicely into Columbia's offensive game, Daniel could be an outstanding receiver in the mode of Austin Knowlin and J.D.Tyree has the size and athleticism to be a very good defensive end.
If you have not seen Tyree play how do you he is athletic? If you have not seen Bell play how do you know he fits into a scheme? Just wondering
Shea Selsor will be playing in Ohio's Miami Valley all-star game on June 13th.
If you have not seen them play how can you honestly talk about athleticism, how they fit into a scheme, or being in the mode of a proven reciever?
Fair questions. With respect to Jerry Bell, my understanding is that Jerry Bell said that one of the reasons he chose Columbia is because the Lions' offensive scheme was similiar to the Ray High School offense. Bell did very well in the Ray offense passing for over 4,000 yards and 41 TDs. That's not easy to accomplish anywhere in the U.S., moreover a football hotbed like Eastern Texas. With respect to Christian Daniel, I'm betting that the huge stats he compiled as a wide receiver in Orange County,California are indicative of a very good football player. With respect to J.D. Tyree, he's earned 11 letters in three sports and is rated as one of the top 100 football players in the State of Virginia. Sure, it would be helpful to see these kids play before commenting, but all their relevent football stats are very positive. I also greatly respect the judgment of Coach Wilson and his staff who certainly must have viewed these players on film or spoke at length to their high school coaches and others before offering them places in the incoming class.
College coaches traditionally HATE those high school all-star games. Why risk injury to all those incoming freshmen, after all? What's the sense in that? And at least in NJ, nobody really goes to watch that annual NJ-NY clash.
I played in a high school all-star game before my freshman year at columbia and it was a wonderful experience. I understand why the coaches could be a little nervous about it, but it was my first game against the type of competition that i have become accustomed to playing against in the ivy league, not to mention i got to know one of my incoming classmates pretty well who happened to be on my team.
Post a Comment
<< Home