Newcomer Taylor honored for academics
Paul Taylor Honored at 48th-Annual Scholar-Athlete Banquet
By Keith Mills
Maryland www.Pressboxonline.com
Following the lead of Maryland baseball coach Erik Bakich, Randy Edsall is becoming no stranger to Baltimore. Wednesday night's football Scholar-Athlete banquet was the latest journey up I-95 for Maryland's new football coach, who is hoping his frequent visits to the city will help him recruit some of the area's premier players, win some games and rekindle the interest among thousands of Baltimore-area Terps alumni.
"Their reception has been very good," said Edsall, who addressed the 88 scholar-athletes and their family and friends at the 48th-annual dinner put on the Baltimore Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. "Hopefully they see the passion and enthusiasm I have. I think it shows them what I want the young men in the program to do and that is to compete at the highest level."
When Bakich came to Maryland from Vanderbilt two years ago to replace Terry Rupp, one of the first things he did was attend the Oriolelanders showcase baseball tryouts in July 2009. He also hired former Arundel coach Bernie Walter as his director of operations and parlayed that into successfully landing a handful of the best players in the Baltimore area: Kyle Convissar and Alex Ramsay of Severna Park, who are both freshmen now at Maryland; as well as Bobby Ruse of C. Milton Wright; K.J. Hockaday of John Carroll; and A.J. Lardo of Loyola, who are finishing up their senior years.
Both Bakich and Edsall were in Baltimore last month for the Babe Ruth Birthday Bash, the annual celebration of the Babe's birthday at the Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards.
Edsall grew up just south of York, Pa., in Glen Rock, about 50 miles from Baltimore, and is well aware of the city's enormous athletic history, though he saw it firsthand at Sports Legends.
"To be able to go around and see all the history, the Orioles, Colts, Ravens and then the University of Maryland, is really neat," Edsall said. "It's nice to connect with the fans here. Hopefully, if they've never been a Maryland fan, they will be now."
The latest scholar-athlete banquet once again flaunted some of the area's premier student-athletes.
Paul Taylor (Polytechnic), E.J. Conway (McDonogh), Dan McManus (Eastern Tech), Gabe Cox (Meade) and John Headley (Middletown) were named regional winners and split $20,000 in scholarship money.
Taylor was named the Central region winner after ending a stellar career last fall for veteran coach Roger Wrenn. He is a 6-foot-7, 245-pound tackle who is headed to Bryant University in Rhode Island. And he will not be alone in heading up to Smithfield as coach Marty Fine received 10 commitments from Maryland high school seniors: Taylor, Ryan Caruso (Howard), Jose Depedua (Walkersville), Bryan Egolum (Forestville), Alex Friedlander (Bullis Prep), Antoine Hudson (Landon Prep), Brandon Soderstrom (Century), Edwin Thomason (Chesapeake/Balt. County), Gunnar Waldt (St. Paul's) and Ricardo McCray (Middetown).
Posted March 7, 2011