Sept. 10, 2009
PHOTO GALLERY
Bronx, N.Y. - The Fordham University football coaches are accustomed to going over game films with a room of students. After all, it's something they do just about every day of the season. But on Wednesday night the coaches experienced a different audience while examining the films; a group of women.
Head coach Tom Masella and his coordinators hosted an assembly of women on Wednesday night in the Flom Auditorium of the Walsh Family Library in an effort to explain the nuances of the game to a new group of fans.
"This is something we hope is helpful to the women in attendance and we're looking to those who were here to help spread the word about Fordham football," said Masella. "We're looking for them to help build support for our player and team and get more students to come out to the opener with Columbia on September 19th."
Offensive coordinator Brian Volk started off the film session by going over the different offensive positions and explaining the duties and responsibilities of each player. He showed examples of different formations and went through the terminologies used in calling a play.
Volk also got the audience involved by calling a few up on stage to simulate an option play and demonstrate how the offense reacts to the defense.
Defensive coordinator Patrick Moore then took over and explained the type of defense run by the Rams as well as describing each player's position and job, starting with the defensive line before moving to the linebackers and the defensive backfield.
Moore explained that the Fordham defense is a gap defense, with the front seven players each responsible for a specific gap on each play. He also went through the differences between man and zone coverage as well as showing a blitz call and how the different defensive players must change their coverage on a blitz.
Following the defensive instruction, the floor was opened to questions. Among the inquires directed at Masella was the idea of a playoff system for the NCAA FBS and the biggest difference in football at the different levels (high school, college, pros). Masella said that he supports the bowl system and wouldn't necessarily like to see a playoff and that the biggest difference in players at the different levels is speed and athleticism.
"There are 26 bowl games which lets 52 teams continue their season, "said Masella. "That means that a team like Toledo can go 9-2 and be rewarded with a trip to a bowl game. But if there was a playoff, that team might not get in and their season would be over. Having coached in a bowl games I can say that it is a big deal to the players and I would hate to see them lose a great opportunity."
