Angry Pope
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Small-school players just fine with the Raiders
David White
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Go ahead, tell Paul McQuistan to find Ogden, Utah, on a map. Hit Kevin McMahan with a clam chowder punch line. Ask Kevin Boothe if Ivy League schools play tackle or flag football.
These small-school rookies are used to the odd questions that come with having played at odd schools for football (Cornell, Boothe?). They assumed the NFL would be no different than college, where players from name-brand BCS schools got royal treatment and others were a second-class curiosity.
"I expected for there to be constantly jokes about Maine, about small schools," said McMahan, a wide receiver from Maine drafted very last overall in April. "It wasn't that way at all. What school you came from, what stats you had, all that stuff is in the past.
"Some guys went to USC, some guys went to Maine. Big school, small school, drafted, undrafted, it doesn't matter. Once you get out here, it's a level playing field."
Don't believe McMahan? Then explain Raiders coach Art Shell, a Hall of Fame tackle from Maryland-Eastern Shore (home of the Hawks).
Randy Moss turned out fine at Marshall (Thundering Herd). Tyrone Poole has lasted 12 years out of Fort Valley State (Division II Wildcats). Doug Gabriel of Central Florida (Golden Knights) is starting at receiver while Jerry Porter of West Virginia sits.
"Those guys from small schools can play the game," Shell said. "I always root for the underdog. They just need an opportunity. If you have the ability to play, you're going to get an opportunity in this organization. It's always been that way."
Oakland started 22 players against the Eagles in last Sunday's exhibition opener. Eight played for non-BCS schools, including April draft picks McQuistan of Weber State (Division I-AA Wildcats) and Thomas Howard of UTEP (Miners). The 90-man roster includes 30 small-college brethren.
The Raiders used four of seven draft picks on non-BCS players, something they have done in three of the past four years. There's no telling one from the other at training camp because distinguishing markers get checked at the door: shoulder chips by guys from the little schools, Rose Bowl rings by guys from the biggies.
"In college football, there's a caste system," said Chris Carr, an undrafted kick returner from Boise State (Broncos). "In this league, they don't care what your degree says or many national titles you won. I don't even think of USC or Texas or anything like that. If you can play, you can play.
"That's kind of a shock at first, but after a while you realize you belong here."
This time last year, McQuistan was taking in one last country music concert in his hometown of Lebanon, Ore., before preseason camp. At Weber State, the offensive tackle lined up daily against Brady Fosmark and a bunch of other Wildcats you never heard of.
This time this year, he hears nothing but loud R&B and really loud rap music playing at the Raiders training camp facility in Napa. He looks up at the line of scrimmage and sees seven-time Pro Bowler Warren Sapp of Miami (of Florida, not the lesser known Ohio variation).
"I thought it was kind of funny," said McQuistan, who ditched the country-style mullet before camp. "When he was in Tampa, I was a big fan of his. It's a little different facing these guys, but I don't think much about it."
Howard can't tell the difference. Not good enough to make the All-Conference USA team last year, he now starts for the Raiders alongside linebackers Kirk Morrison of San Diego State (Aztecs) and Sam Williams of Fresno State (Bulldogs).
The three players sitting behind them on the depth chart come from Notre Dame, Illinois and UCLA.
"My father always told me it doesn't matter what you did before," Howard said. "Just because you did good in high school doesn't mean you'll do well in college or at the next level. You've got to go out and prove it."
McMahan is trying. He didn't play football until his senior year in high school. After four years in Orono, Maine, he finds himself fighting off glamour-schoolers Will Buchanon of USC and Burl Toler of Cal for a rookie spot on the final 53-man roster.
"Coming from a small school, you always wonder how you'd compete against those BCS guys, the ones looked at as being the best in the country. Everything's in the past. It feels good to go out there and kind of forget about it."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Small schools, big upside
Players who didn't come from big football factories but are making a big impact during the Raiders' camp:
THOMAS HOWARD
School: UTEP
Drafted: 2nd round,
38th overall
Position: Linebacker
PAUL McQuistan
School: Weber State
Drafted: 3-69
Position: Offensive tackle
Kevin Boothe
School: Cornell
Drafted: 6-176
Position: Guard
Kevin McMahan
School: Maine
Drafted: 7-255
Position: Wide receiver
David White
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Go ahead, tell Paul McQuistan to find Ogden, Utah, on a map. Hit Kevin McMahan with a clam chowder punch line. Ask Kevin Boothe if Ivy League schools play tackle or flag football.
These small-school rookies are used to the odd questions that come with having played at odd schools for football (Cornell, Boothe?). They assumed the NFL would be no different than college, where players from name-brand BCS schools got royal treatment and others were a second-class curiosity.
"I expected for there to be constantly jokes about Maine, about small schools," said McMahan, a wide receiver from Maine drafted very last overall in April. "It wasn't that way at all. What school you came from, what stats you had, all that stuff is in the past.
"Some guys went to USC, some guys went to Maine. Big school, small school, drafted, undrafted, it doesn't matter. Once you get out here, it's a level playing field."
Don't believe McMahan? Then explain Raiders coach Art Shell, a Hall of Fame tackle from Maryland-Eastern Shore (home of the Hawks).
Randy Moss turned out fine at Marshall (Thundering Herd). Tyrone Poole has lasted 12 years out of Fort Valley State (Division II Wildcats). Doug Gabriel of Central Florida (Golden Knights) is starting at receiver while Jerry Porter of West Virginia sits.
"Those guys from small schools can play the game," Shell said. "I always root for the underdog. They just need an opportunity. If you have the ability to play, you're going to get an opportunity in this organization. It's always been that way."
Oakland started 22 players against the Eagles in last Sunday's exhibition opener. Eight played for non-BCS schools, including April draft picks McQuistan of Weber State (Division I-AA Wildcats) and Thomas Howard of UTEP (Miners). The 90-man roster includes 30 small-college brethren.
The Raiders used four of seven draft picks on non-BCS players, something they have done in three of the past four years. There's no telling one from the other at training camp because distinguishing markers get checked at the door: shoulder chips by guys from the little schools, Rose Bowl rings by guys from the biggies.
"In college football, there's a caste system," said Chris Carr, an undrafted kick returner from Boise State (Broncos). "In this league, they don't care what your degree says or many national titles you won. I don't even think of USC or Texas or anything like that. If you can play, you can play.
"That's kind of a shock at first, but after a while you realize you belong here."
This time last year, McQuistan was taking in one last country music concert in his hometown of Lebanon, Ore., before preseason camp. At Weber State, the offensive tackle lined up daily against Brady Fosmark and a bunch of other Wildcats you never heard of.
This time this year, he hears nothing but loud R&B and really loud rap music playing at the Raiders training camp facility in Napa. He looks up at the line of scrimmage and sees seven-time Pro Bowler Warren Sapp of Miami (of Florida, not the lesser known Ohio variation).
"I thought it was kind of funny," said McQuistan, who ditched the country-style mullet before camp. "When he was in Tampa, I was a big fan of his. It's a little different facing these guys, but I don't think much about it."
Howard can't tell the difference. Not good enough to make the All-Conference USA team last year, he now starts for the Raiders alongside linebackers Kirk Morrison of San Diego State (Aztecs) and Sam Williams of Fresno State (Bulldogs).
The three players sitting behind them on the depth chart come from Notre Dame, Illinois and UCLA.
"My father always told me it doesn't matter what you did before," Howard said. "Just because you did good in high school doesn't mean you'll do well in college or at the next level. You've got to go out and prove it."
McMahan is trying. He didn't play football until his senior year in high school. After four years in Orono, Maine, he finds himself fighting off glamour-schoolers Will Buchanon of USC and Burl Toler of Cal for a rookie spot on the final 53-man roster.
"Coming from a small school, you always wonder how you'd compete against those BCS guys, the ones looked at as being the best in the country. Everything's in the past. It feels good to go out there and kind of forget about it."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Small schools, big upside
Players who didn't come from big football factories but are making a big impact during the Raiders' camp:
THOMAS HOWARD
School: UTEP
Drafted: 2nd round,
38th overall
Position: Linebacker
PAUL McQuistan
School: Weber State
Drafted: 3-69
Position: Offensive tackle
Kevin Boothe
School: Cornell
Drafted: 6-176
Position: Guard
Kevin McMahan
School: Maine
Drafted: 7-255
Position: Wide receiver