Spring Break
Blues and whites square off
Chris Giovannetti, Daily Senior Staff Writer
The good news is that Fitz Hill is going to have to cut players.
For the first time in his three years as head coach of the San Jose State University football team, Hill and his coaching staff have the luxury of having too many players on the roster.
"It's a good problem to have," Hill said. "To win, we have to get the best players. We have 91 in the spring right now and 30 coming in, in the fall. Fifteen or 16 guys won't be back in the summer."
Many of those players hoping to make the final cut in fall practice put their talent on display in Saturday's annual Spring Game - the ceremonial ending to spring practice.
Behind a 10-for-19 for 130 yard passing performance from Beau Pierce and 82 receiving yards on five catches from Jamall Broussard, the White team defeated the Blues, 21-13, at Valley Christian High School.
Final score and friendly competition aside, Hill was happy with the completion of spring practice.
"Our main objective was to stay healthy. Every time one of our guys hit another, we were like, 'Ow!' " said Hill, who directed the game from behind the offense, parallel to the referee. "We're excited though ... this game was all about fun."
Running back Lamar Ferguson remains sidelined but Hill said his rehabilitation from a season-ending knee injury last season is ahead of schedule.
"We still might hold him out," said Hill of the 5-foot, 4-inch Ferguson, who led the Spartans in rushing last season with 634 yards. "If he's not ready, we'll redshirt him."
Should Ferguson sit out, Hill is confident running back Tyson Thompson, a transfer from Garden City Community College can immediately step in and challenge for a starting spot.
One of the players Thompson could likely challenge is running back Damarcus Ingram. The senior gained 221 yards on 36 carries in five games last season and had 11 carries for 55 yards on Saturday.
"It didn't even feel like 11. I'm in such good shape since our strength and conditioning coach (Bruce Seidman) set me up on a program. It all felt good," Ingram said. "We had fun out here today. At the same time, we're executing and learning plays. You need to treat this like a game situation, and at the same time, we're learning. It's a good day for learning and playing hard, and we showed it out there today."
On the game's first series, White's cornerback Trestin George intercepted a pass from incumbent Spartan starting quarterback Scott Rislov and returned the errant ball 54 yards for a touchdown and 7-0 White lead.
Rislov would later be intercepted again, this time by linebacker Paul Okumu. The senior completed just eight of 19 passes for 89 yards but neither he nor Hill was worried about the performance.
"It was a rough day. Things didn't go our way from the beginning, and it just built from there. We'll all learn from this and get better; that's what the spring is for," Rislov said.
"Anyone who saw him last year knows what he can do," Hill said of Rislov. "He didn't have the protection he normally gets, and the other team just had a better day."
Two drives later, Rislov's backup and the White team's starter Beau Pierce hooked up with wide receiver Rufus Skillern on a 20-yard touchdown pass. Freshman kicker Andrew Levers, who converted all three of his extra point attempts, put the Whites up 14-0.
Donald Roberson replaced Pierce in the third quarter and continued White's dominance, finding wide receiver Casey Miranda all alone in the end zone for a 29-yard touchdown completion.
On the ensuing play, red shirt transfer Dale Rodgers, substituting for Rislov, completed a 47-yard pass to wide receiver Clarence Cunningham who caught the ball at the 17-yard line and muscled his way to the three.
"I'm just going in and doing what I can do ... make my reads and do what the coaches tell me. I was just happy to get in today," said Rodgers, a walk-on from Chaffey College by way of Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo. "I just want to show what I can do and move up the ranks."
Tight end Steve Nash scored the first point for the Blues on the next play, catching a touchdown pass from Rodgers three outs out on the next play.
Kicker Jeff Carr booted the conversion but was only getting warmed up.
The freshman stepped back to attempt a 36-yard field goal.
Good.
With the crowd up and cheering, Carr split the uprights from 52 yards away.
Ten yards further, Carr's kick had the distance, but tailed off wide right from 62 yards.
Given another crack at 62 yards, Blue's players jogged out and formed a horseshoe around Carr. This time, he could only manage a meager line drive.
Rodgers was 3-for-5 for 68 yards passing while Roberson finished with 54 passing yards on four of six completions.
Cunningham caught three balls for 62 yards while Skillern had two receptions for 47 yards and Miranda had four catches for 44 yards.
The Spartans took Easter Sunday off and have two remaining spring practices, which Hill has scheduled for today and Tuesday.
SJSU opens the 2003 season on Aug. 23 against Grambling University at Spartan Stadium.
