By Regina Jimenez
HOPEFUL (Chris Dietrich)
By Regina Jimenez
This season RCC’s football team consists of 26 sophomore players who are said to be a “good group.”
Charlie Hoosier, RCC outside linebacker, is assured that the football team is on its way to qualify for the 2005 playoffs.
Although the Tigers were able to defeat Los Angeles Southwest 10-3 in their opening game on Sept.4, RCC struggled in the beginning of their season.
Yet, Hoosier is hopeful.
“We struggled early in the beginning of our season following our victory with a two-game losing streak.” he said. “But then we got right back up by winning three games in a row.”
On Sept. 24, the Tigers came up by defeating Cerritos 48-28, Orange Coast 16-0, and against Palomar 35-7 to give them a three-game winning streak and earn them a record of 4-2.
When asked about his goals for this season, Hoosier has high expectations to get past the playoffs and into a championship.
“I think we have a lot of talent and abilities, but we need to improve on our plays and not stop ourselves,” he said.
Not only does he have high expectations of his team, but he also has high expectations of himself.
“My dad was my biggest influence because he’s the one who pushed me in not giving up,” Hoosier said. “He always motivated me and helped me with my game.”
Starting at the age of 14, Hoosier played for his first football team in high school; at Norte Vista.
“Playing high school football taught me to be a leader and to never give up because my teammates are looking up to me,” he said.
Hoosier loves playing football even when he’s just messing around at home.
He enjoys playing for the Tigers because they are fun to hang out with and they respect him.
“There is not one outsider on this team. We all get along great with one another and we even hang out off the field,” Hoosier said. “Playing college football is more of a business and not so much like high school football,” he said.
Hoosier’s game is different from a lot of other football athletes.
“I see myself as a little different from the rest of my teammates because I have my own style of playing football,” he said. “I am very physical. I might not be able to run as fast as the rest of the team, but when I’m in the game I try to be a big help running the offensive line.” Hoosier’s improvement this season is having more knowledge of the game.
He is looking forward to improving as a player and learning more in the future.
“I chose to play college football as a chance to earn a scholarship to get into a university and because I just love the game of football,” he said.Hoosier wants nothing but success and enjoyment in his future in football and in life.
“I just want to be successful in whatever I decide to be in life. But one thing I know for sure is that I always want to be around sports,” he said.”I’m going to continue to enjoy playing college football and give it all I got so that someday I can transfer out to a university and hopefully play football there,” Hoosier said.
Hoosier knows what it takes to be successful in life.
“I’m looking forward to continuing school and playing football,” he said.
