Sunday, August 31, 2008

While some of us will look at Week 1...

And say boy the ACC looks like a really bad conference, and while we're at it? So does the Big 10. And some of us will mock Mike Sherman for losing to Arkansas State in his debut. (Me.) I will also take a different tact.

In this so-called Football Championship Subdivision, an upset did occur yesterday. It does not have the jaw-dropping gravitas of last year's Appalachian State going Hot Hot Hot in the Big House. But a Division 1-A team did lose to a Division 1-AA team.

Cal Poly went into Qualcomm last night and came out with a 29-27 win versus San Diego State. And while the kicker and the running game may get all the pub?

Let me hype you to the man with a future on Sundays. Let me hype you to Ramses Barden.

Ramses Barden WR-Cal Poly
6'6" 228
Obvious Nicknames for the sportswriters: Shakespeare, The Pharoh

After nearly declaring for the draft as a junior, Barden decided that he was going to return for his senior year in an attempt to improve last years fifth round grade. And after a week one of 7-161-1, he is off to a great start. With his size? The skills he brings to the table are pretty obvious.

He's big, he's strong, he can jump out of the gym, and he has great hands. And of course, he's a timed step too slow, and needs polish at receiver. That being said? He's going to destroy some 1-AA teams like he did last year. He is the frontman for an offense that can do some major things.

Will he? The next two weeks will tell the tale. They get Montana at SLO, and then travel to McNeese State. That's two Top 15 1-AA teams. He shows up for those games? Then his rise is going to be meteoric.

And if he pulls a 7-161-1 or something similar in the Badgers inexplicable final game of the season? Then, my friend? He's gonna be bigger than Astronauts.

Ramses Barden a.k.a. Pharoh Shakespeare a.k.a. The King a.k.a. Ramses 3000. You heard him here somewhere in the middle.

3 comments:

Robert Bryant said...

Nice post, I have written an scouting report on barden at nfldraftdog.com here:
http://www.nfldraftdog.com/Small%20School%20Football/ramses_barden.htm

Steve Sharer said...

I go to Poly and although the football team has been good for 4 years, Ramses brings a whole other element to the table(besides the fade). Our coach used to run on almost every play, and it got to a point where at 3rd and long we assumed he would run it up the middle. After last year we actually got a good QB and they arent afraid to air it out down the field. This kid is good and should break some records this year.

P.S. They also use him as a FG blocker up the middle.

Andrew said...

I admit I was unaware of his versatility/program changing. But that's awesome.

Unfortunately, I'm only going to see him when Cal Poly visits Madison in November, but I'm excited.

I believe the Pharoh is going to have a good day in the probable cold.