THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | MAY 7 - MAY 23, 2014 | 11
sports
Football training
Rams trying to get back to winning ways By Patrick Cochran
@sfbreakingnews pcochran@theguardsman.com
The Guardsman
After finishing the 2013 football season 8-3, the City College Rams are working harder than ever to complete the 2014 season undefeated and add another state championship to head coach George Rush’s resume. The Rams began weightlifting as team in mid-January, and by early March, the team had hit the field.
New Quarterback
There are a plethora of questions about this squad, beginning with who will replace star quarterback Turner Baty. Baty had a great 2013 season, throwing for 3,120 yards and 30 touchdowns. He will continue his college career at UC Davis, and the Rams need somebody to step up and fill the important position. The top two competitors for the quarterback position are sophomore Anthony Rodriguez, a tall, lean, sophomore quarterback from Stockton, and redshirt freshman Jeremiah Peralta, a local player from San Bruno. Rodriguez has the lead right now due to his experience, and head coach George Rush was impressed by Rodriguez’s skills and intangibles. “Anthony has great pocket presence,” Rush said. “He is a very intelligent player and is able to handle the pressure in the pocket.” Whoever coach Rush ends up deciding to start at quarterback, he wants to make that decision
by the beginning of fall training camp so the team has time to adjust to the new starter. Despite the competition between the two for the allimportant job, Rodriguez and Peralta are close. “We are like dance partners,” Peralta said. Rodriguez agrees. “We are friends on and off the field,” he said. During the Rams’ May 2 practice, both quarterbacks were working while the team practiced plays. Rodriguez had one pass in particular that was very impressive. With the defense rushing toward him, Rodriguez dropped back in the pocket and without his feet set, winged a pass 40 yards downfield to wide receiver Matt Hughson that landed right in his hands while he was in mid-stride. The Rams will need plays like that if they want to be undefeated. “A bowl game isn’t enough for City College,” Rodriguez said. Rams offensive coordinator Dan Hayes, who also serves as City College’s athletic department chair, said the team is bringing in many good players. “There are a bunch of players we are excited about,” Hayes said. “We bring in some of the best players in the city and the Bay Area.” Hayes doesn’t believe City College’s accreditation problems are affecting the caliber of player the program is attracting. “When players come here, they come because they believe in our football program, and our great history,” Hayes said.
The City College football team forms at the line of scrimmage during practice, Saturday, April 19, 2014. Photo by Elisa Parrino/The Guardsman
“Even though the (accreditation) process is negative we make sure when we meet concerned student athletes and their families, (we) let them know we are confident that we will beat this and get this accreditation.”
Defense
The best returning player on the defensive side of the ball is safety Shalom Luani. As a freshman last season, Luani made numerous big plays on the field, both in coverage and in the backfield. He’s type of player who can
City College instructor takes 2nd in judo competition By Ivan Huang
@sfbreakingnews ihuang@theguardsman.com
The Guardsman
From teaching students about extraterrestrial matters in a classroom to throwing his judo competitors on the mat so they can see the stars, City College’s Astronomy Department Chair Lancelot Kao covers it all. Kao medaled in the 2014 Senior National Championships, held in Reno, Nev. on May 3-4 and took home a second place medal in the 73 kg weight class. Competing in the Masters division which is in the 45-50 age group, Kao was trained and coached by City College Judo Instructor, Sensei Mitchell Palacio for this event. Kao wasn’t confident that he would take home any medals coming into the tournament. “I’m just being realistic,” Kao
City College’s Astronomy Department Chair Lancealot Kao, bottom, reacts as he’s put into an armbar during judo practice at the Ocean campus Wellness Center, Tuesday, April 29, 2014. Photo By Elisa Parrino The Guardsman
said in an interview with The Guardsman prior to the event. “I’ve practiced for two to three years and I’m competing in the Masters category. The people in the Master’s category have been competing in judo for many years. I’m not expecting to win any medals, but I’m doing it just for the experience.”
Kao put in a great effort to take home second place, but he believes the martial art contains many different values, which is more important than the results of the event. “As a sport itself, (judo) has a very good philosophical tradition in training, which not only includes physical activities but
record a defensive touchdown, interception and sack all in the same game, Luani will most likely end up playing Division I football. “We are working so hard this spring. Winning the state championship is our main goal, and to do that we have been working hard to make improvements,” Luani said. “On both offense and defense, we are adding some new stuff, others just different looks. This season we just have do it right this time.” The Rams know a bowl game will not serve as a fitting finale for the upcoming season.
also the outlook of philosophy,” Kao said. “The basic thing about judo is learning how to fall, and it’s very practical.” Born in Hong Kong, Kao immigrated to the United States in the 1980s. Kao attended City College and then transferred to UC Berkeley for an undergraduate degree in physics and astronomy. He completed his doctorate in astronomy and astrophysics at the University of Chicago. He joined the City College astronomy department in 1997. Kao discovered his interest in judo three years ago when a few of his students introduced him to City College’s judo program, which is lead by Palacio. “I didn’t think I wanted to do judo,” Kao said. “Some of my students really dragged me.” Kao praised the vibe and atmosphere of City’s judo program and emphasized how beginnerfriendly the program is. “A few things I think are unique about this program is the people around the students,” Kao said. “It is different from other traditional martial arts places, where it’s like a macho type of thing. Here you really just learn the sport, not just the physical skills but you learn about the sport itself.”
A state championship and quite possibly the National Junior College Championship are the team’s only goals. If they want to do that, they will most likely need to go undefeated during the 2014 season, and to be undefeated they need to work as hard as possible today. “You play to win, don’t play to come in second place,” Rush said. “Doesn’t mean you don’t have a great experience, but you play to win.”
Sports brief
Delon Wright turns down NBA draft As the deadline for entering the NBA Draft expired on April 27, former Rams basketball star Delon Wright decided to pass on entering this year’s NBA draft which is held on June 26. Wright’s decision to stay at the University of Utah for the 2014-2015 season was made with his future career in the NBA in mind. “I wanted to finish working on my game because I want to be ready to make an impact my first year (in the NBA),” Wright said. Appeasing many of his critics by staying in school, Wright’s decision to stay will give him another shot at leading his team to the NCAA tournament and perhaps raise his draft stock for the 2015 draft. (Ivan Huang)