March 18, 2009
Bronx, N.Y. -
While the current group of Fordham University football Rams are enjoying spring break prior to the start of spring practice next week, two former Rams are in training camp preparing for the 2009 Arena Football 2 (AF2) season. Quarterback Kevin Eakin and running back Wallace House are at their respective training camps, Eakin with the Tennessee Valley Vipers and House with the Corpus Christi Sharks, getting ready for opening day on March 28th.
Eakin, a 2004 Fordham graduate, starts his second year with Tennessee Valley after leading the Vipers to the AF2 title last year. A starter for the final 15 regular season games and the four playoff contests, he completed 239 of 380 passes for 2,515 yards and 51 touchdowns. Unfortunately, Eakin was injured on the first drive of the championship game after throwing a five-yard touchdown pass and missed the rest of the game.
Eakin, a two-time First Team All-Patriot League pick who led the Rams to the 2002 Patriot League title, graduated as Fordham's all-time leading passer, completing 486 of 790 career passes, both second best all-time, for 6,112 yards and a school-record 45 touchdowns (his career passing yards record was snapped by John Skelton this past fall). His completion percentage of 61.5% is also a school record, and he threw for over 200 yards 19 times in 25 career starts as well as surpassing the 300-yard mark five times. Eakin's career record as a starter was 19-6.
As a senior in 2003, Eakin completed 247 of 407 passes for 3,072 yards and 23 touchdowns, setting school single season records for most completions and passing yardage. He also led the Patriot League in passing yards/game and was second in total offense.
House starts his third year in the AF2, having spent last year as a member of the Amarillo Dusters and the 2007 season with the Florida Firecats where he scored 12 touchdowns in 11 games.
House, also a 2004 graduate, was a four-year fullback for the Rams. As a fullback, he helped the Rams shatter school records in rushing, serving as the lead blocker for Kirwin Watson, who set the Fordham single season rushing record in 2002 and became Fordham's first 1,000-yard rusher on the NCAA Division I-AA level in 2001.
House also did damage with the ball in his hands, rushing for 203 yards and one touchdown, while adding 107 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns. A Business Administration major, he was named to the Patriot League Academic Honor.
Eakin and the Vipers will open play on Friday, March 28th, as they travel to Green Bay while House and the Sharks open the season that same night by hosting Rio Grande.
