(August 19, 2004) ?C The first official week of the 2004 Fordham football camp is coming to an end and will be capped by a scrimmage to be held on Saturday, August 21st on Murphy Field beginning at 8:00 a.m. The Rams are a weary bunch, having two-a-day practices on Monday and Wednesday this week with another double session scheduled for Friday. They also had single workout on Tuesday and today. In between practices, the days have been full with team and positional meetings and a visit to the Walsh Training Facility for weight training every other day. In other Fordham football news, the Sports Network and ESPN/USA Today I-AA Preseason Top 25 Rankings have been released with the Rams receiving votes in each. Fordham is also ranked 25th in the Football Gazette Preseason I-AA Rankings. For the complete I-AA Preseason Rankings see the list under ??Links of Interest??. Head coach Ed Foley is using summer camp to fill some key holes left in the Fordham line-up due to graduation. At quarterback, sophomores Derric Daniels and Patrick Mitchell are fighting for the starting spot. Neither player saw any varsity experience last year as Daniels missed the season with an injury and Mitchell served as the Junior Varsity signal-caller. The running back position will be in the capable hands of sophomore Jamaal Hunte with James Prydatko also looking for carries and Seann Farrell and Tristan Martin filling the hole at fullback. At wide receiver, senior Steve Porco returns after catching 88 passes over the past two years while seniors Rashawn Haynes, Erik Conroy and Aaron Dennis and sophomore Donovan Boyd also looking for catches in 2004. The offensive line has been working out under the watchful eye of first year assistant coach Mark Melnitsky. The Rams return two starters to the offensive line in seniors Jared Amatuzzo and Sam Weatherford but also have a host of players who have experience on the line including Mike Sabatini, Mike Bottiglieri, Frank Altomaro, Anthony Silvestro and Ricky Bencivenni. The defense has a lot fewer questions as eight starters return from last fall. Leading the way is senior Tad Kornegay, the 2004 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year, along with seniors NaQuinton Gainous, who will lead the linebackers, and Ed Gordon, who will guide the defensive line. The three helped the Fordham defense lead the Patriot League in passing defense last year. Foley also reported that the following student-athletes have left the team for personal reasons: Steve Cairns, Brian Cullen, Tim Eckman, Jarrett Francisco, Javier Gonzalez, Blake Jensen and Jarrod Mundy. The Rams, who were 9-3 last season, have been one of the most successful NCAA I-AA teams over the past three years, compiling a 26-10 record, the 14th best winning percentage among I-AA teams over that span. Fordham will open its 2004 season on Saturday, September 4th when they host the University of Rhode Island on Jack Coffey Field at 1:00 p.m. For ticket information contact the Fordham Ticket Office at 718-817-4300.