Aug. 12, 2012
August 11, 2012 - Photo Gallery
Bronx, N.Y. -
The Fordham University football squad has been in camp a little over a week now and, with one scrimmage under their belt, it's now time to start looking at the personal for the 2012 Rams. The first position we'll breakdown is quarterback.
For the second straight year, the big question entering fall camp is quarterback and for the second consecutive year, the two players fighting for the starting spot are the same, senior Ryan Higgins and sophomore Peter Maetzold. The difference this year is that both have starting experience as Maetzold started the first four games of 2011 and Higgins the final seven.
Both quarterbacks had a strong spring season, with Maetzold completing 16 of 20 passes for 215 yards and two touchdowns and Higgins completing 15 of 23 passes for 145 yards and one touchdown.
The duo also had similar success in the first scrimmage of camp. Higgins completed 13 of 20 passes for 139 yards and four touchdowns while Maetzold made good on 15 of 21 attempts for 176 yards and one score.
Higgins appeared in eight total games last year, completing 151 of 263 passes for 1,788 yards and seven touchdowns, all team high. His top game was at Lafayette when he connected on 32 of 52 passes for 413 yards and two touchdowns, all career bests. He became just the fourth Rams to pass for over 400 yards in a game and tied him with current Fordham head coach Joe Moorhead for the third best passing game in school history with the 413 yards.
Higgins recorded four other games over more than 200 passing yards, including completing 35 of 53 passes for 387 yards at Georgetown. He also threw for 253 yards and one touchdown against Lehigh, 249 yards and two scores at Penn and closed out the season by completing 23 of 41 balls for 238 yards and two touchdowns versus Colgate.
As a sophomore in 2010, Higgins appeared in six games, making four starts, and completed 50 of 105 passes (56.2%) for 665 yards and four touchdowns.
Maetzold appeared in seven total games as a freshman for the Rams, completing 70 of 117 passes for 668 yards and four touchdowns. His top game was in the Liberty Cup win over Columbia when he connected on 22 of 30 passes for 212 yards and two touchdowns (16 and 60 yards). He also threw for 110 yards, completing 14 of 22 passes, with one score (20 yards) at Colgate.
The other quarterback in camp is sophomore
Nick Glogau, who did not see varsity action last year. A graduate of Plano West Senior High School in Plano, Texas, where he lettered in football and water polo, Glogau was named Academic All-State in football.
Junior Griffin Murphy and sophomore Oliver Hildebrandt are both also in camp but recovering from injuries suffered during spring practice. Murphy appeared in six games as a sophomore last fall, playing at quarterback and wide receiver, rushing 27 times for 79 yards (2.9 yards/carry), catching two passes for 24 yards and completing one of three passes for eight yards.
Notes
Happy Birthday: Sunday was Brian Wetzel's 20th birthday. The receivers helped him celebrate by singing "Happy Birthday" to him following practice.
Moorhead Speechless: Normally after practice, head coach Joe Moorhead has a list of things to speak about with the team, usually issues that arise during practice. But on Sunday he told the team that he had none. "I have no notes for you today," a pleased Moorhead told the squad after practice. "That's the way the staff expects you to practice, coming out with a plan and attacking with passion."
Schedule: After having Friday off from practice (the team still had meetings and took new head shots), the Rams were back on the field for their second double session on Saturday. The main emphasis in practice on Saturday was attention to detail and attitude. "To be successful, you need to do the little things and do what we've been saying all camp: Focus, Fight, Finish."
Position Changes: After participating with the offense the first week of practice, graduate student Stephen George and sophomore Marc DeSisto moved over to the defensive side of the ball this weekend. George took snaps with the defensive line and DeSisto took reps with the defensive backfield.
Walking Wounded: This year, injured players are wearing special red jerseys with a white cross in the middle, making it appear as if they are wearing the national flag of Switzerland. During practice, the injured players, who are able, work out under the supervision of head strength and conditioning coach Ted Perlak.
