Aug. 3, 2012
Photo Gallery
Bronx, N.Y. -
Even though the calendar says August, it's time for the Fordham University football squad to start its fall camp which it did today on Coffey Field. First-year head coach Joe Moorhead directed the Rams through a two-hour workout as the squad prepares for the 2012 season.
The players reported on Thursday and, after taking care of some administrative tasks, hit the field today for the first of five NCAA required acclimation days. The players are allowed to wear only helmets for the first three days of acclimation before donning shoulder pads for the fourth day and full pads for day five.
After the first five days, the team can then have its first double session of practice. The Rams will have their first two-a-days on Wednesday. However, a team cannot have consecutive days of two-a-days.
Moorhead was excited to get his young team, with 20 freshmen and 31 sophomores on the roster, on the field as he has some holes to fill on both sides of the ball.
The biggest question Moorhead, a former Fordham quarterback, will face is selecting a starting signal caller. He has two experienced players to choose from in senior Ryan Higgins and sophomore Peter Maetzold. Last year. Higgins, who started the final seven games, completed 151 of 263 passes for 1,788 yards and seven touchdowns, while Maetzold, who started the first four games last fall, completed 70 of 117 passes for 668 yards and four touchdowns on the season.
On offense, the Rams will also be looking to replace starters Connor Hartigan (OL), Aaron Mays (WR), Jonathan Sheridan (C) and Darryl Whiting (RB). Defensively, gaps left by the graduation of Andre Delaire (LB), Thomas Lloyd (DL) and Andy Okonkwo (DL) will have to be plugged.
Along with Higgins and Maetzold, the Rams return five other starters on offense and eight on defense. Offensively, three of the five linemen are back led by senior Robert Kubacki and juniors Thomas Fisher and Steven Tapia, while wide out Blake Wayne and tight end Dan Light are also back.
The defensive returning starters are led by senior linebacker Michael Martin, who led the 2011 squad with 94 tackles, along with senior defensive back Brendan Melanophy. Also returning defensively are senior linemen Patrick McGee and Matthew Sconiers, senior linebacker Nick Womack, junior linebacker Jake Rodriques, junior defensive back Ian Williams and sophomore defensive back Jake Dixon.
The Rams open the 2012 season on Thursday, August 30th, when they host the Lock Haven Bald Eagles on Jack Coffey Field at 7:00 p.m. Fordham season and individual game tickets are now on sale. For information or to order click here or call the Ticket Office at 855-RAM-TIXS (855-716-8497) or (718) 817-4759.
Notes
Rams Add Two NCAA FCS Transfers: The Rams welcomed two NCAA FBS transfer to the fold on Friday as sophomores Will Bryant and Khamrone Kolb took to the field for their first practice as a Ram.
Bryant, a defensive lineman who is a transfer from Duke University, is a graduate of Woodward Academy in College Park, Georgia, where he helped the team to a three-year record of 23-11 with state playoff appearances in 2008 and 2009. As a senior, Bryant registered 60 tackles, four tackles for loss, six QB pressures, two pass breakups and one quarterback sack.
Kolb, an offensive lineman, arrives at Fordham from Penn State where appeared on one game last year after redshirting the 2010 season. A graduate of Lake Braddock Secondary School in Burke, Virginia, he was a First-Team All-Met offensive tackle and a Rivals.com three-star recruit.
Rams Add to Roster: Besides the two NCAA FCS transfers, Fordham added six other freshmen to the roster. The new Rams include Maciek Bielen (LB), Kevin Dinnegan (DB), Greg Goff (DB), Rustom Khouri (LB), Nick Krejci (DL), and Tony Patrignelli (WR).
Former Ram Jason Caldwell at practice: Former Fordham wide receiver
Jason Caldwell attended practice today. Caldwell, a 2009 consensus All-American, wrapped up his career leading all Fordham receivers in 2010 with 71 catches for 910 yards and three touchdowns. He led the Patriot League in receptions/game, was second in receiving yards/game and third in all-purpose yards/game. Caldwell was tied for 12th in the NCAA FCS in receptions/game, 23rd in the receiving yards/game and 49th for all-purpose yards/game.
Over his career, Caldwell recorded 186 receptions for 2,643 yards and 18 touchdowns. He ranks second on the Fordham all-time receptions and receiving yards lists and fourth on the career touchdown list.
Rams in the Professional Ranks: Three former Fordham Rams are currently in NFL training camps with one other former gridder currently playing in the Canadian Football League.
Quarterback John Skelton is entering his third year with the Arizona Cardinals and this year he is joined by his brother, tight end Stephen Skelton. The other former Ran in an NFL training camp is defensive back Isa Abdul-Quddus, who is beginning his second season with the New Orleans Saints.
Former Fordham defensive back Tad Kornegay recently signed as a free agent with the Calgary Stampeders. He is in his eighth season in the CFL and has played in four Grey Cup games, winning championships in 2007 with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and last year with the British Columbia Lions.
Porricelli begins 30th year with Rams: The start of fall camp marked the beginning of the 30th year at Fordham for Head athletic trainer Vinny Porricelli. Porricelli started his Fordham tenure in 1982 with then head football coach O'Neil Tutein. Porricelli, a Fordham Athletic Hall of Famer, has been the football trainer for all but four of the 30 years (he served as the head men's basketball trainer from 1999-2003).
