Spring Updates

[Phantom Hornet]

Lt. Dan: Great pics...thanks for posting them.

My comments on yesterday's spring game:

1. There were 2-3 times as many people out there as I've ever seen before and we weren't even in the stadium.
2. The defense looks very improved and we had 5 defensive starters who didn't even play yesterday because they were nicked up.
3. MBT and our group of receivers are going to be trouble for Big Sky defenses. Ron Richardson looks fantastic, Reed didn't participate and we are deep, deep, deep at WR.
4. Croxdale and McGowan are good backs, but with Hilliard and our two freshman guys, who are true gems, we will be in good shape.

With respect to the two guys who were removed from the team roster, I found out that Born decided to leave and go to a junior college because someone advised him he wouldn't have a great chance to get to the NFL if he stayed at Sac State. Pretty ballsy decision for a kid who's never played a single down of college football and wasn't even a first string guy after redshirting a year. He's been given very bad advice and I speculate it was some junior college coach who wanted him. I guess he's not heard about the four superbowl rings worn by Lonnie Paxton and John Gesek, nor that four out of five Hammerheads that started in 1999 were invited to NFL camps.

James Bobak, the Long Snapper/TE from Oakmont is a walk-on player who is working two jobs and he just couldn't meet the demands of school, two jobs and football. He was our starting long snapper and I understand he's been invited to come back in the fall to join the team, so I hope everything works out for him.

One thing that I noticed is that these guys look ripped and in great shape (check out Lt. Dan's pics closely and you'll see.) Also, I met a couple of the incoming freshmen parents (Todd Davis and Kyle Brooks) and they mentioned their sons are enrolling in June and attending summer school, so they can be in the summer conditioning program. That is great news that we can get everyone here for summer conditioning. By the way, Todd and Kyle's parents are very cool people and are so excited about Sac State.

I believe it will be a very exciting year for Sac State football. I'm not saying we'll beat Stanford, but they Big Sky Conference title is within sight and I'm looking forward to a three-peat against the Aggies.

GO HORNETS!!!!!!

If that's the case with Born, than I say good riddance now. I don't care if he's the second coming of Jonathan Odgen, if he's going to be a malcontent that puts himself before the team, then see ya! At this level it's all about guys buying into the system. Me thinks Mr. Born saw how far down the depth chart he was buried and didn't want to put in the time or effort to improve, so he took the easy way out.

 

[SDHornet]

Lt. Dan great pics!

HHD thanks for the spring game summary. I haven't read or checked Hornetspsorts yet so I am looking forward to the review.

I know I was one high on Born given his size and the potential that he had. I definitely expected him to compete for a starting spot on the OL. If what was posted about his decision is in fact what happened, that is just too bad. From what I recall Sac State beat out Fresno State to land him so if he always had going pro as his main goal, why didn't he just sign there (or another FBS school) out of HS? I agree with Phantom, if he wasn't willing to be a part of the team, then his absence will be the best for the team.

 

[Hammerhead Dad]

Lt. Dan great pics!

HHD thanks for the spring game summary. I haven't read or checked Hornetspsorts yet so I am looking forward to the review.

I know I was one high on Born given his size and the potential that he had. I definitely expected him to compete for a starting spot on the OL. If what was posted about his decision is in fact what happened, that is just too bad. From what I recall Sac State beat out Fresno State to land him so if he always had going pro as his main goal, why didn't he just sign there (or another FBS school) out of HS? I agree with Phantom, if he wasn't willing to be a part of the team, then his absence will be the best for the team.

Yep, I agree. We don't need any prima donna's who think they are above the team and are putting themselves first. I'm just sad he got such poor advice. He doesn't understand that the reason more kids get into the NFL from say, USC, rather than Sac State is because they are better players out of high school and tend to stay that way. Obviously, he didn't get a D1A scholarship for a reason.

I do know this and that is that if you are good enough for the NFL, they will find you no matter where you are playing. Since 1996, 13 Hornets have made it to NFL camps and six, yes six, of them were offensive linemen. Jon Osterhout - Redskins, Tim Conley - Seahawks, Lonie Paxton - Patriots, Terrence Wagner - Saints, Chris Franks - Titans and Marko Cavka - Jets.

I wish David Born the best, but he will likely question this move the rest of his life.

 

[Green Cookie Monster]

Just because he is big doesn't mean he is smart or mobile. Perhaps he saw that being a RS he was still 2-3 back on the depth chart. He could transfer to no-name JC and play immediately and then get an offer from Notre Dame (haha) and ride the pine the rest of his career.
Or, his grades were going to make him ineligible and he got out before they were announced.

SJSU is looking into eliminating all freshman and only offering to sophomores and above, I guess they have been hit hard by attrition. It wastes money to RS somebody and then have them leave, so I am not totally opposed to this way of thinking.

 

[Fajadadu]

I don’t get to see practice so all my opinions are formed on the weekends. The spring game looked just O.K. People looked a little beat up and tired. Receivers! A couple of athletic receptions were overshadowed by overall lack of performance. Isn’t it a line from North Dallas Forty, “They pay me to catch the ball”. The team is better than they played on Saturday. Not reasons for great concern, just stuff to work on over the summer. While the talent pool has certainly improved over the passed three years the real difference seems to be the mentality to prepare and win games. One thing you can for sure say is Sperbeck teams improve over the season. Maybe the team looks ripped but a little nicked up because they’ve been working hard. Go get um Hornets.

 

[jj2319]

I don't understand the logic in quitting a scholarship at a major university (that opens against Stanford and other big time schools) so that guy's judgment alone raises some major red flags.

On an unrelated note, MBT cut the mullet and Hillyad looks absolutely rocked!! Thanks for the pics.