RIGHT MOVES CORDRAY GRACEFUL IN SWITCH TO WR.Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Staff Writer It was the type of situation that potentially could tear down a football team. A proud, well-liked senior losing an intense quarterback battle to a fresh- faced sophomore. The senior moving to wide receiver - reluctantly - as the new kid basked in the glory of being the star quarterback. It had all the necessary ingredients to divide a team and send players scurrying scur·ry intr.v. scur·ried, scur·ry·ing, scur·ries 1. To go with light running steps; scamper. 2. To flurry or swirl about. n. pl. scur·ries 1. The act of scurrying. to one side of the locker Things commonly known as lockers include:
Thankfully thank·ful adj. 1. Aware and appreciative of a benefit; grateful. 2. Expressive of gratitude: a thankful smile. for 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 of Sherman Oaks, it never came to that. Nate Cordray, the would-be quarterback, didn't let it. When the job went to Garrett Green, Cordray immediately put the team first and moved forward. ``I'm not saying I wasn't disappointed at not winning the job, I worked really hard during the offseason and I thought I would have done a good job,'' Cordray said. ``But the bottom line for me was to help the team any way I could. And if that was at wide receiver, then that's where I would play.'' A thankful thank·ful adj. 1. Aware and appreciative of a benefit; grateful. 2. Expressive of gratitude: a thankful smile. Notre Dame coach Kevin Rooney Kevin Rooney born on May 4, 1956 in Catskill, NY and is a boxing trainer and former boxer. Amateur Boxing Career Rooney won the 1975 147lb Sub-Novice New York Golden Gloves Championship. Rooney defeated Kevin Higgins of West Point in the finals. breathed a sigh of relief, though he wasn't surprised. Cordray's maturity and likability are key reasons Rooney included him as one of eight team council members who regularly meet with the coaching staff to discuss hot topics between staff and players. The way Cordray handled Rooney's quarterback decision only solidified so·lid·i·fy v. so·lid·i·fied, so·lid·i·fy·ing, so·lid·i·fies v.tr. 1. To make solid, compact, or hard. 2. To make strong or united. v.intr. Rooney's faith in his senior leader. ``You hope the players respect the coach's decision, and that the family also has trust in the coach, because they're involved, too,'' Rooney said. ``If you have good kids who are unselfish, it works. If you don't, it can be a problem. ``In Nate's case, it wasn't a problem.'' Cordray, the junior varsity junior varsity n. Abbr. JV A high-school or college team that competes in interschool sports on the level below varsity. Noun 1. quarterback two years ago and a possession receiver on the varsity team In the United States and Canada and UK, varsity sports teams are the principal athletic teams representing a college, university, or high school or other secondary school. Such teams compete against the principal athletic teams at other colleges/universities, or in the case of last year, needed about a week to get over the disappointment of not being the Knights' quarterback. Then he turned his focus to wide receiver. After a somewhat slow start, Cordray has been a key factor recently. He had six catches for 107 yards and a touchdown in the Knights' 35-27 Div. III playoff play·off also play-off n. Sports 1. A final game or series of games played to break a tie. 2. A series of games played to determine a championship. Noun 1. victory over Lancaster two weeks ago, and he figures to play an important role if Notre Dame (10-2) is to defend its Div. III title. The Knights will face Mira Costa on Friday in the semifinals after slipping by Lynwood 48-45 Friday in overtime in the quarterfinals. Notre Dame beat Mira Costa last year to win the championship. Cordray, who once thought he'd be leading the Knights to back-to-back titles as a quarterback, is content now with providing a lift at wide receiver. He's a smooth route runner with sure hands, good speed and, after playing the Z position last year, he is now playing the X, the showcase wide-receiver spot in the Knights' offense. ``I like my role because it keeps me on the field all the time and I'm put in a position to make plays,'' Cordray said. ``When Coach Rooney told me I wasn't going to play quarterback he also told me I had a chance to be the best receiver on the team. I accepted my role, and fortunately we've all had a great season.'' Vincent Bonsignore, (818) 713-3612 vincent.bonsignore(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1) Nate Cordray moved from quarterback to receiver for Notre Dame in his senior season and it turned out to be a winning move. The Knights (10-2) are set to defend their Div. III title. David Sprague/Staff Photographer (2) CORDRAY |
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