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A Homecoming with Ramon Rickards
11/29/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 13, 2001
Most college and universities across the country this fall are celebrating what is traditionally called homecoming-a week of activities for those returning to the hallowed grounds where they once attended classes, dated and enjoyed football each Saturday. One Florida school calls the week's events "Gator Growl," another "Pow Wow." Florida Atlantic's homecoming, appropriately titled "Owl Prowl," has been sponsored by student government for several years and was celebrated in concert with basketball season. This year, Owl Prowl 2001 takes on a whole new look-and season-as football becomes the centerpiece of homecoming activities.
And with a roster that boasts 42 players from South Florida's tri-county area and 70 of the team's 76 players from the state of Florida, the FAU Fighting Owls truly are at home.
Among the homegrown talent is red-shirt freshman Ramon Rickards, a 6-2, 233-pound defensive lineman who came to FAU by way of Miami Killian High School. He is originally from Jamaica, a place where another kind of football is king.
"I was just walking in the halls at Killian one day when the football coach stopped me and asked me to try out for the team," says Rickards. "I tried out, and it turned out pretty well so I kept going. I didn't even know there was football at school. I was planning on playing soccer."
Rickards had played soccer since early youth, traveling extensively with the Miami Strike Force, a team that held the state's no. 1 ranking for under 12 and under 13. He was the team's sweeper, better known as the quarterback, of the soccer team's defense.
The transition from soccer to football was made easier by Rickards' natural athletic abilities, however, he laughs at the differences between playing defense for European football as opposed to American football.
"At first, it was hard," he says. "Soccer is not a full contact sport, any contact has to be around the ball. Football is contact on and off the ball. Hitting the man off the ball in soccer is not permitted. That was the biggest thing I had to change, but I don't miss the running we had to do in soccer."
Rickards has made the transition to football complete, and enjoys a defensive position that allows him to punish rather than be punished. He credits his successful move to football to the coaches who recruited him for a college scholarship.
"I talked to Kentucky, Florida A&M, Eastern Kentucky, North Carolina and FAU," says Rickards. "Coach (Arnie) Romero began recruiting me and Coach (Christ) Vagotis finished it up. They have so much experience behind them. It was encouraging. I would follow them into the pits of hell because they know what they are doing.
"I also really wanted to stay close to home and I had a chance to start right away," Rickards adds. "I have found a home here at FAU. All the guys are great. They make you feel welcome and want to stay. I grew up watching the Dolphins and legends like Dan Marino, and now we call Pro Player Stadium our home field. Coach Schnellenberger is trying to build a great program and I really trust him."
Rickards is touted by the coaching staff as one of the team's best defensive players. Through three games he has tallied eight solo tackles and eight assisted tackles. He has 2.5 tackles for a total loss of 11 yards and 0.5 sacks for a loss of six yards.
"Sacks are probably what Coach Mills would say I pride myself on," says Rickards. "Every time I'm supposed to do something like make sure the quarterback doesn't run the ball, I get caught trying to get in there for a sack instead. I'll become more disciplined with a little more game experience."
Game experience and practice are what enabled Rickards to make the transition from soccer to football. Those same things are enabling him to make the transition from high school to college.
"Ramon has the desire and the athletic ability. He works hard and does all he can to get better, and he is getting better each day," says Mel Mills, FAU's defensive ends coach. "His desire and tenacity allow him to overcome any type of size mismatch. It is all a matter of do you want to beat your man and I think he does. He is also one of our team leaders."
"I don't think I'm outsized," says Rickards. "I might be a little weaker, but this off-season I will correct all that. As far as being a team leader, it is a team concept, not a sought-after title. If it falls that way, it falls that way. I just want to go out and play the best I can. Everyone needs to help each other. If one guy is not doing his job it is not going to work."
Rickards also credits his early success to the coaching efforts of Coach Mills.
"Everything we've learned so far has been brand new to me, our stance, our alignment, everything Coach Mills has taught me is new," says Rickards. "In high school they taught a totally different technique. At first it was hard to grasp, but now I'm starting to get it a little more, thanks to Coach Mills."
Rickards will continue to learn and will continue to make the transition to collegiate football. Owl Prowl will continue to grow and will grow with the success of football. The success of both comes down to the fact that South Florida is home to some of the best high school football talent. The FAU program will continue to build upon that talent, keeping the students at home in an area where careers can be developed and nurtured-an area not too far for former players to return to games for the homecoming festivities.
"I think this team is going to do well, because we are really, really good together," says Rickards. "There is no attitude. Everybody appreciates each other and gets along well. We have a great group of guys who will win together, struggle together and, yes, will in a few years return to party together to cheer for the Owls."
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