Portland State quarterback Collin Ramirez: From gym to field
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Athleticism and accuracy helped Collin Ramirez break Aaron Rodgers' Butte College touchdown record, but so did a few hundred pounds of weights and an inspiring trainer back in his home town of Red Bluff.
Ramirez, a 2009 Red Bluff Union High School graduate, is headed for bigger challenges after he broke the former Super Bowl MVP's single season record for touchdown passes thrown at Butte College in November.
The gracious and friendly Ramirez has signed on to play for Division I university Portland State this season, taking his talents to a competitive level not many local athletes have reached.
It's that type of history, Tehama Family Fitness Center general manager Troy Lalaguna is trying to change with his work
His track record working with youth is starting to match his own track and field records when he was a twotime javelin champion for Chico State.
There wasn't anyone else like me around when I was his age, Lalaguna said earlier this week overseeing Ramirez working out in Dave's Cave at the fitness center.
Lalaguna, who graduated seven years earlier than Ramirez from Red Bluff Union High School, estimates he's helped train around a dozen Division-I level athletes during in his time at Tehama Fitness.
However, there's a special bond with Ramirez, who has spent more time with him than anyone else.
Lalaguna recalls watching an athletic fourth grader dominating on the
youth football field and thinking to himself, he's going to be something.
Years later, as a freshman in high school Ramirez began attending Lalaguna's speed training camps and a relationship was formed.
Lalaguna helped train Ramirez through high school and the pair kept up the routine between football seasons at Butte College.
Kind of everything I've achieved and kind of everything I've done can be attributed back to my work I put in here with Troy, Ramirez said.
As a senior Ramirez measured in at 6-foot, 1-inch and 170 pounds. Since then he's grown an inch and bulked on 30 pounds to a muscular frame.
While Ramirez possesses a level of football talent that can't be taught, it's aspects of his personality that has helped him rise above the competition including his likable personality and his willingness to be coached.
He's the best you could ask for, Lalaguna said. Ramirez has continued to work out with Lalaguna around five times a week after breaking Rodgers' record.
It's a record that Lalaguna described as rewarding for himself as a trainer and one obviously Ramirez will never forget.
It was a great feeling for me, Ramirez recalled. I hadn't really even thought about it until that game.
My coach pulled me aside and said you know you're a touchdown away from breaking the record.' I hadn't even thought about it then until that point. I kind of brushed it off and kept playing and the next three or four touchdowns just kind of came themselves and I ended up at 30.
Ramirez posted a 60.7 completion percentage and 2,218 passing yards to go along with his 30 touchdowns last season.
Those statistics helped draw the attention of several programs.
In the end Ramirez chose Portland State, where he's projected to compete for the starting quarterback position this season as a junior.
That was a big part of my decision. I just want to go play, Ramirez said. I just love the game and I just want to play somewhere where I can be successful and hopefully contribute to whatever program I go to.
The program he's joining competes in the Big Sky Conference and even has a game against the Pacific-12 Conference's Washington Huskies set for the 2012 season.
Ramirez will get to come back to California as the Vikings have road trips to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and UC Davis this season.
It should be a nice adventure for a quarterback who still doesn't like talking about missing the playoffs by fractions of a point during his senior year at Red Bluff.
The main thing that I did was not ever give up on myself, Ramirez said of advice he would offer current and future high school athletes.
Before becoming a Super Bowl MVP, Rodgers graduated from Pleasant Valley High School. He became a star at Butte College and transferred to California before being drafted by the Green Bay Packers.
Whether Ramirez will get to that last step remains to be seen, but breaking Rodgers' record opens the door for comparisons.
That could be beneficial for more than just Ramirez, says Lalaguna.
What Aaron's done for the Pleasant Valley kids all those kids think they can be pro football players, Lalaguna said.
Would Ramirez want to be that inspiration for future Spartans?
I'd love to be that role model for Red Bluff kids, he said. It doesn't matter where you come from.
It's the work you put in.
http://www.redbluffdailynews.com/news/ci_20094852" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Athleticism and accuracy helped Collin Ramirez break Aaron Rodgers' Butte College touchdown record, but so did a few hundred pounds of weights and an inspiring trainer back in his home town of Red Bluff.
Ramirez, a 2009 Red Bluff Union High School graduate, is headed for bigger challenges after he broke the former Super Bowl MVP's single season record for touchdown passes thrown at Butte College in November.
The gracious and friendly Ramirez has signed on to play for Division I university Portland State this season, taking his talents to a competitive level not many local athletes have reached.
It's that type of history, Tehama Family Fitness Center general manager Troy Lalaguna is trying to change with his work
His track record working with youth is starting to match his own track and field records when he was a twotime javelin champion for Chico State.
There wasn't anyone else like me around when I was his age, Lalaguna said earlier this week overseeing Ramirez working out in Dave's Cave at the fitness center.
Lalaguna, who graduated seven years earlier than Ramirez from Red Bluff Union High School, estimates he's helped train around a dozen Division-I level athletes during in his time at Tehama Fitness.
However, there's a special bond with Ramirez, who has spent more time with him than anyone else.
Lalaguna recalls watching an athletic fourth grader dominating on the
youth football field and thinking to himself, he's going to be something.
Years later, as a freshman in high school Ramirez began attending Lalaguna's speed training camps and a relationship was formed.
Lalaguna helped train Ramirez through high school and the pair kept up the routine between football seasons at Butte College.
Kind of everything I've achieved and kind of everything I've done can be attributed back to my work I put in here with Troy, Ramirez said.
As a senior Ramirez measured in at 6-foot, 1-inch and 170 pounds. Since then he's grown an inch and bulked on 30 pounds to a muscular frame.
While Ramirez possesses a level of football talent that can't be taught, it's aspects of his personality that has helped him rise above the competition including his likable personality and his willingness to be coached.
He's the best you could ask for, Lalaguna said. Ramirez has continued to work out with Lalaguna around five times a week after breaking Rodgers' record.
It's a record that Lalaguna described as rewarding for himself as a trainer and one obviously Ramirez will never forget.
It was a great feeling for me, Ramirez recalled. I hadn't really even thought about it until that game.
My coach pulled me aside and said you know you're a touchdown away from breaking the record.' I hadn't even thought about it then until that point. I kind of brushed it off and kept playing and the next three or four touchdowns just kind of came themselves and I ended up at 30.
Ramirez posted a 60.7 completion percentage and 2,218 passing yards to go along with his 30 touchdowns last season.
Those statistics helped draw the attention of several programs.
In the end Ramirez chose Portland State, where he's projected to compete for the starting quarterback position this season as a junior.
That was a big part of my decision. I just want to go play, Ramirez said. I just love the game and I just want to play somewhere where I can be successful and hopefully contribute to whatever program I go to.
The program he's joining competes in the Big Sky Conference and even has a game against the Pacific-12 Conference's Washington Huskies set for the 2012 season.
Ramirez will get to come back to California as the Vikings have road trips to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and UC Davis this season.
It should be a nice adventure for a quarterback who still doesn't like talking about missing the playoffs by fractions of a point during his senior year at Red Bluff.
The main thing that I did was not ever give up on myself, Ramirez said of advice he would offer current and future high school athletes.
Before becoming a Super Bowl MVP, Rodgers graduated from Pleasant Valley High School. He became a star at Butte College and transferred to California before being drafted by the Green Bay Packers.
Whether Ramirez will get to that last step remains to be seen, but breaking Rodgers' record opens the door for comparisons.
That could be beneficial for more than just Ramirez, says Lalaguna.
What Aaron's done for the Pleasant Valley kids all those kids think they can be pro football players, Lalaguna said.
Would Ramirez want to be that inspiration for future Spartans?
I'd love to be that role model for Red Bluff kids, he said. It doesn't matter where you come from.
It's the work you put in.
