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Salpointe OL fulfills another football goal
By Ryan Finley
Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 11.02.2006
Seconds after being named to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, Kris O'Dowd stepped before a small crowd and ? in the ultimate photo-op ? put on a commemorative jersey.
Problem was, the jersey was about a size too small for the Salpointe Catholic offensive lineman's 6-foot-5-inch, 315-pound frame.
"I guess they don't make triple-XLs as big as they used to," O'Dowd said after a brief presentation at the school.
O'Dowd, one of the nation's top recruits as a senior, is big.
He was officially named to the All-American Bowl on Wednesday. It is a game that showcases 80 of the nation's top high school football players on national television. The game will be played Jan. 6 at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
O'Dowd was chosen from a pool of 4,000 applicants. He was interviewed by game representatives during the summer, and informed of his acceptance a few weeks ago.
Lancers coach Dennis Bene said the decision was a no-brainer.
"He is, without question, the most dominating football player I've ever been around," Bene said. "Very few players live up to the hype and expectation that is placed upon them. Kristofer has exceeded every goal, personally, that we've set for him, and (the ones) he has set for himself."
O'Dowd is the second Salpointe Catholic player ? and third Tucsonan ? to be named to the game in the last three years.
Salpointe's John Kadous played in 2004. A year later, Ironwood Ridge's Daniel Borg made the team.
O'Dowd said he first wanted to play in the game when Kadous ? a close friend and teammate ? was chosen. He wrote his goal, and a number of others, on a dry-erase board at his parents' home.
One by one, he has knocked his objectives down like undersized defenders.
"He's accomplished it," O'Dowd's father, Charlie, said. "That, and a state championship, and we'll be done."
Actually, O'Dowd has one more goal ? to play Division I college football. He announced Monday that six schools ? Ohio State, USC, UCLA, Miami, Tennessee and, yes, Arizona ? still remain in the hunt for his services.
O'Dowd said he will wait until late January to make his decision. He wants to make sure his next big choice is the perfect fit.
Unlike the jersey.
"They're all phenomenal schools," he said.
Salpointe OL fulfills another football goal
By Ryan Finley
Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 11.02.2006
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OAS_AD('300x250_1') Seconds after being named to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, Kris O'Dowd stepped before a small crowd and ? in the ultimate photo-op ? put on a commemorative jersey.
Problem was, the jersey was about a size too small for the Salpointe Catholic offensive lineman's 6-foot-5-inch, 315-pound frame.
"I guess they don't make triple-XLs as big as they used to," O'Dowd said after a brief presentation at the school.
O'Dowd, one of the nation's top recruits as a senior, is big.
He was officially named to the All-American Bowl on Wednesday. It is a game that showcases 80 of the nation's top high school football players on national television. The game will be played Jan. 6 at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
O'Dowd was chosen from a pool of 4,000 applicants. He was interviewed by game representatives during the summer, and informed of his acceptance a few weeks ago.
Lancers coach Dennis Bene said the decision was a no-brainer.
"He is, without question, the most dominating football player I've ever been around," Bene said. "Very few players live up to the hype and expectation that is placed upon them. Kristofer has exceeded every goal, personally, that we've set for him, and (the ones) he has set for himself."
O'Dowd is the second Salpointe Catholic player ? and third Tucsonan ? to be named to the game in the last three years.
Salpointe's John Kadous played in 2004. A year later, Ironwood Ridge's Daniel Borg made the team.
O'Dowd said he first wanted to play in the game when Kadous ? a close friend and teammate ? was chosen. He wrote his goal, and a number of others, on a dry-erase board at his parents' home.
One by one, he has knocked his objectives down like undersized defenders.
"He's accomplished it," O'Dowd's father, Charlie, said. "That, and a state championship, and we'll be done."
Actually, O'Dowd has one more goal ? to play Division I college football. He announced Monday that six schools ? Ohio State, USC, UCLA, Miami, Tennessee and, yes, Arizona ? still remain in the hunt for his services.
O'Dowd said he will wait until late January to make his decision. He wants to make sure his next big choice is the perfect fit.
Unlike the jersey.
"They're all phenomenal schools," he said.
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