GUENTHER: HOOPS HAS TO WAIT AWHILE ONLY FOOTBALL ON HIS MIND.Byline: Matthew Kredell Staff Writer Gregg Guenther Gregg Guenther, Jr. (born January 29, 1982 in Calabasas, CA) is a National Football League tight end for the Cincinnati Bengals. College career Guenther played basketball and football at the University of Southern California. Jr. entered the football season as little more than an afterthought. Buried third on the depth chart at tight end, he was beginning to become what he always hoped to avoid - better known as a basketball player despite being on a football scholarship. Even at 6-foot-8, the former Taft High of Woodland Hills standout was visible on the football field only on the kick-blocking team. But injuries to Alex Holmes Alex Holmes (born August 22, 1981 in San Diego, California) was a National Football League tight end. Professional career Holmes played for the Miami Dolphins in 2005 and signed as a free agent with the Saint Louis Rams for 2006. and Dominique Byrd Dominique Byrd (born February 7, 1984 in Minneapolis, Minnesota) is an American football tight end who plays for the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League. Early life He grew up in Minnesota and attended Breck School in Golden Valley, Minnesota. have put Guenther back to the forefront as USC An abbreviation for U.S. Code. enters the Rose Bowl on Thursday with a shot at the national title. Before joining the basketball team next month, the fourth-year junior hopes to get back in the football spotlight. ``I'm going to have a national stage,'' Guenther said. ``Hopefully I'll be able to change some minds and show people that I'm a football player.'' Guenther already might have changed a few with a spectacular one-handed touchdown grab against Arizona three games ago. But, even then, his name was misspelled Gregg Gentler in the Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. story on the game. Since then, Guenther has struggled with a knee injury. He is expected to practice fully for the Rose Bowl for the first time today. Guenther, who has 16 catches for 148 yards and two touchdowns, could be a key component in USC's national-championship plans. Without him, the Trojans would be down to freshman Kurt Katnik and converted quarterback Matt Cassel Matt Cassel [CASS-ul] (born May 17, 1982 in Northridge, California) is an American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the NFL. Youth and high school career - one catch between them - at a position that has accounted for 30 receptions this season. ``He's a big target with great hands,'' USC quarterback Matt Leinart Matthew Stephen Leinart (born May 11, 1983 in Santa Ana, California) is an American football quarterback (QB) for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. He played college football for the University of Southern California Trojans, leading them to an AP national said of Guenther. ``He's stepped up big for us this year. It's good to have a big target like that. He'll go and get any throw.'' When given the opportunity on national stages, Guenther has come through. Two of his three career touchdown receptions were at Notre Dame Notre Dame IPA: [nɔtʁ dam] is French for Our Lady, referring to the Virgin Mary. In the United States of America, Notre Dame this season and at UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX last year. Former Taft football coach Troy Starr remembers Guenther as more of a basketball player. ``I think he probably was more of a basketball player at Taft,'' Starr said. ``He got hurt and missed much of his senior season in football. But he just had the upside potential Upside potential The amount by which analysts or investors expect the price of a security may increase. upside potential The potential price or gain that may be expected in a security or in a security average, generally stated as the dollar that colleges liked. You can't coach what he has.'' No, you can't teach 6-foot-8. Of course, there's a reason there are not many receivers in the country with his size. Most players that height aren't coordinated enough or fast enough, or their size makes them concentrate fully on basketball. ``He has great athletic skills,'' said USC backup quarterback Brandon Hance, who threw to Guenther at Taft. ``You can tell he's really comfortable with his body. What stands out about him is his physique. He has a pretty big stature as opposed to most guys 6-8 who are frail and lanky.'' Guenther's basketball ability helps him in football, giving him soft hands and allowing him to go up and get passes. And his football ability helps him in basketball, making him the best Trojan at banging down low in the post last season. ``It's very challenging to play both sports in college,'' Guenther said. ``Both are year-round sports. So, instead of going to winter conditioning for football, I'm on the basketball court.'' It's painful for him to watch the basketball team struggle to start the season, but football has always come first at USC. ``I'm very anxious to get back and help the basketball team and have fun with those guys,'' Guenther said. ``But we have a big football game coming up that I have to take care of first.'' Matthew Kredell, (818) 713-3607 matthew.kredell(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: GUENTHER |
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