COC FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK: TOP COC CORNERBACK OUT PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA PICK JOHNSON INELIGIBLE.Byline: Ross Siler Staff Writer SANTA CLARITA - Preseason All-America cornerback Martea Johnson has been ruled academically ineligible and will not play this year for College of the Canyons, coach Chuck Lyon LYON See: Liquid yield option note said Monday. Additionally, Lyon pegged Johnson's future chances of rejoining the Cougars at ``50-50.'' Johnson did not return to campus this week for the start of the school year and will take classes at home in Seattle, Lyon said. ``I kind of figured that was coming,'' said Lyon, who had been concerned about Johnson's eligibility since the end of last season. ``I anticipated that. We actually are going to be really strong (at cornerback).'' Johnson had been offered a scholarship by Washington State and was being heavily recruited by Washington. His greatest moment with the Cougars came in last year's Southern California Bowl, when he returned an interception for a touchdown. Johnson's starting spot will be filled by sophomore Kevin Jones, an ironic twist considering it was Johnson who convinced Jones - one of his best friends from home - to transfer to Canyons from College of the Siskiyous this spring. --Marshall plan Marshall Plan or European Recovery Program, project instituted at the Paris Economic Conference (July, 1947) to foster economic recovery in certain European countries after World War II. The Marshall Plan took form when U.S. Secretary of State George C. Marshall urged (June 5, 1947) that European countries decide on their economic needs so that material and financial aid from the United States could be integrated on a broad scale.: The other starting cornerback will be freshman Roshawn Marshall, a former all-state player and third-team Parade All-American from Tarpon tarpon (tär`pŏn), common name for members of the family Elopidae, large herringlike game fish of the warm seas of the Western Hemisphere, ranging occasionally from Long Island to Brazil and to the west coast of Africa and entering freshwater streams freely. Springs, Fla. Lyon needed only one workout to brand Marshall a star in the making. Marshall, who had been offered scholarships at Florida State and Miami but was unable to qualify academically coming out of high school, showed up unannounced at Canyons over the summer after hearing about the school from the father of a former teammate. ``Nobody knows he's here,'' Lyon said. ``That'll change.'' Marshall had been set to attend Georgia Military College, another perennial national junior college power, before making a last-minute decision to attend Canyons. He never had been outside Florida before venturing sight unseen to Santa Clarita. As a freshman in high school, Marshall intercepted 10 passes and returned six for touchdowns. He missed four games as a senior in 2001 with a sprained left knee ligament, and Tarpon Springs went 2-2 without him. The team went 6-0 with him, however, and coach Don Davis told the St. Petersburg Times that Marshall was good for 14 points every game - the touchdown that he scored as a wide receiver or kick returner and the touchdown that he saved as a cornerback. But Marshall stopped going to class and couldn't accept a scholarship to play football for a major power. He sat out a year and started keeping company with the wrong crowd. Headed nowhere, Marshall decided to give football a second chance. ``I always said if I got the opportunity, I'd jump on it,'' he said. ``This is my opportunity.'' --Burnley Burnley, city (1991 pop. 76,365) and district, Lancashire, NW England. Historically a coal mining and cotton-weaving town, Burnley's economy is increasingly dominated by light engineering, including kitchen equipment and electrical heating appliances. update: Former Valencia High running back Charles Burnley has enrolled at Canyons for the school year but will not play for the Cougars this season, Lyon said. Burnley was unable to academically qualify at Oregon State. Lyon said Burnley would sit out the fall to focus on schoolwork. Burnley will not practice with Canyons but will begin offseason workouts with the team in January, Lyon said. --Opening act: No team had a better weekend to open the college football season than Canyons. All told, three former Cougars players combined to score four touchdowns in the Kansas State-California and San Jose State-Grambling games Saturday. Running back J.J. Arrington caught two touchdowns for Cal, and tight end Leon Pinky hauled in a touchdown for San Jose State. Safety Gerald Jones capped the Spartans' 29-0 victory with a 46-yard interception return. The COC program has sent 26 players to Division I-A schools in the past two years. --Inches to go: Lyon said he likely will play both Ventura transfer Jason Beck and Will Savage at quarterback in the Sept. 6 season opener at Pasadena. Lyon split time between quarterbacks Kyle Bauer and Jason Winn at the start of last season as well. ... Canyons debuted at No. 2 in the state in the first California Community College Football Coaches Association poll of the season. But the Cougars also were ranked No. 3 in the Southern California regional poll, further showing the confusion in the state's football poll system. ... The Cougars will start three freshmen at linebacker this season now that all-Western State Conference selection Brad Lloyd is at Eastern Michigan. Jerrod Perry, who hails from the same Nashville, N.C., high school as Arrington, is expected to be one of the starters. Ross Siler, (818) 713-3610 ross.siler(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Former College of the Canyons running back J.J. Arrington, right, caught two touchdowns last Saturday for California. Will Lester/Staff Photographer |
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