Rams Hope to Avenge Last Season: New squad poised to return to championship form

BY MILES HARWELL
Staff Writer

Emmitt Spreull soars above Reggie Young at a recent practice. PHOTOS BY DAN ELDRIDGE / GUARDSMAN

After finishing with a respectable 11-1 record for the 2004 season, the City College Rams football team looks to win their second national championship in three years.

“We have a group of excellent athletes,” head coach George Rush said. “We put a lot of energy into tradition and expectations of the program and players have embraced that.”

On offense, the Rams will miss the play of captain quarterback Joseph Ayoob, who will play for Cal this upcoming season. Sophomore Andrew Strom, who Rush described as an intelligent player with great speed, will replace him. “There will be no drop-off at the position,” assured Rush.

At running back, the Rams will look to break in two freshmen: Demetrius Crawford and Tyreece Jacks. Angelo Jeffrey, who saw playing time in 2004 after the injury to Dallas Bernstine, experienced injuries
of his own during fall train-
ing, which prevented him from becoming the Rams’ premiere back. In contrast to the Jeffrey’s powerful style of play, Rush describes both Crawford and Jacks as backs with breakaway speed. Their success, however, will depend on a young offensive line comprised of nearly all freshmen.

“The offense should be able to rush or pass once the line has established presence,” Rush said.

Wide receiver Maurice Purify will carry much of the offensive load for the Rams. Purify was a favorite target for Ayoob in 2004, with speed and length of his 6-foot-4-inch frame making him a mismatch for smaller cornerbacks. Purify leads a group of lightning-quick receivers that will allow the Rams’ offense to stretch the field.

“Team speed is everything,” said Rush, who anticipates his offensive unit to be much quicker than the team that came a hair away from winning a second consecutive national championship.

Coach Rush shares his immense football knowledge.

On defense, the Rams will miss the play of All-American linebacker Desmond Bishop, who, with Ayoob, will attend Cal. In place, the Rams will look to sophomore Larry Grant to assume the role of defensive leader after playing alongside Bishop in 2004. Packing on several extra pounds of muscle, Grant will be the Rams’ premiere linebacker, with Todd Beck and Devin Bishop vying for the second starting spot.

In the Secondary, the Rams will seek leadership from returning sophomores Matt Harper at free safety, and Curlee Bishop at strong safety. The competitive unit is among the best in California, with depth that is assured by the Rams’ avid recruiting program.

“They take pride in themselves,” said Rush, who describes the unit as a group that is after perfection, and that gets upset with errors. “They like playing hard and they like to hit people.”

“We’re going to dominate. That’s all I have to say,” said Grant, who, along with 20 other sophomores on the Rams’ roster, is being scouted by several division one schools.

All in all, Rush said he expects the team to garner similar success of Rams teams in the past, as long as the players pace themselves and play one game at a time.

“I’ll be surprised if they become anything less than a great football team,” Rush said.

e-mail: mharwell@theguardsman.com