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Character counts
By Rachel Finney, Sports Writer
Thursday, November 26, 2009 | No comments posted.
Anthony Lopez never missed a day of practice this year.
Before the season even began, Powers’ coach Nick Gonzales nominated him for a national award that showcases heart and character, not size and speed.
The High School Football Rudy Awards are named after Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger, the inspirational Notre Dame football player, and Gonzales couldn’t think of a better player to nominate than Lopez.
“Every day we grade practice on hustle, technique and attitude,” Gonzales said. “When we added up grades from the overall year, Anthony had the highest percentage.”
Gonzales said he wasn’t even sure how much Lopez, a sophomore center and linebacker for the Cruisers, would get to play this year with many players in line ahead of him.
But once two-a-day practices began, Gonzales knew Lopez embodied the attributes of a Rudy Award winner: character, courage, contribution and commitment. In practice, he said Lopez was encouraging to the rest of the team.
“He was there trying to pick them up,” Gonzales said. “His attitude was really positive.”
Lopez said he also plays basketball and runs track, but mostly to keep in shape for football, his favorite sport. He had difficulty pinning down why he enjoys it so much.
“Just being with the team and trying to win games,” Lopez said.
Lopez knows why he likes playing center, and doesn’t shrug off the responsibility.
“It’s a big job,” Lopez said. “It’s not something to be taken lightly because everyone is just depending on you.”
Lopez was humbled by the announcement nearly two months ago that Gonzales planned to nominate him for the award, and had few words to describe the feeling.
“It is a really big surprise,” Lopez said. “I’m actually really grateful that I was nominated.”
Lopez’s mother, Terry Northup, is overwhelmed with pride.
“It’s awesome,” she said. “There’s so much to say, but I can’t put it into words.”
She knows her son deserves the honor, and can’t get over how dedicated he is to the Cruisers.
She spoke of a story when he injured his ankle on the way home from school, but worked through it so he wouldn’t miss a practice or game, saying he didn’t want to let the team down.
“He’s a really awesome kid,” she said. “He tries to please everyone.
“He has the whole town behind him.”
Having support is an integral part of winning this award, because in addition to a selection committee, votes from fans count toward the selection. Currently, he has more than 1,500 votes as he campaigns to be one of the 20 semifinalists chosen out of nearly 200 players across the nation.
“I’m just really thankful that everyone is voting for me,” Lopez said.
The winner of the Rudy Award will receive a $10,000 academic scholarship, and will be presented the award personally by Rudy in March 2010. Two runners-up will receive $5,000 scholarships, and the 20 semifinalists will receive a signed Rudy jersey. Semifinalists will be announced Dec. 10.
For more information on the award and Lopez, visit the Rudy Award Web site at www.highschoolrudyawards.com.
Before the season even began, Powers’ coach Nick Gonzales nominated him for a national award that showcases heart and character, not size and speed.
The High School Football Rudy Awards are named after Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger, the inspirational Notre Dame football player, and Gonzales couldn’t think of a better player to nominate than Lopez.
“Every day we grade practice on hustle, technique and attitude,” Gonzales said. “When we added up grades from the overall year, Anthony had the highest percentage.”
Gonzales said he wasn’t even sure how much Lopez, a sophomore center and linebacker for the Cruisers, would get to play this year with many players in line ahead of him.
But once two-a-day practices began, Gonzales knew Lopez embodied the attributes of a Rudy Award winner: character, courage, contribution and commitment. In practice, he said Lopez was encouraging to the rest of the team.
“He was there trying to pick them up,” Gonzales said. “His attitude was really positive.”
Lopez said he also plays basketball and runs track, but mostly to keep in shape for football, his favorite sport. He had difficulty pinning down why he enjoys it so much.
“Just being with the team and trying to win games,” Lopez said.
Lopez knows why he likes playing center, and doesn’t shrug off the responsibility.
“It’s a big job,” Lopez said. “It’s not something to be taken lightly because everyone is just depending on you.”
Lopez was humbled by the announcement nearly two months ago that Gonzales planned to nominate him for the award, and had few words to describe the feeling.
“It is a really big surprise,” Lopez said. “I’m actually really grateful that I was nominated.”
Lopez’s mother, Terry Northup, is overwhelmed with pride.
“It’s awesome,” she said. “There’s so much to say, but I can’t put it into words.”
She knows her son deserves the honor, and can’t get over how dedicated he is to the Cruisers.
She spoke of a story when he injured his ankle on the way home from school, but worked through it so he wouldn’t miss a practice or game, saying he didn’t want to let the team down.
“He’s a really awesome kid,” she said. “He tries to please everyone.
“He has the whole town behind him.”
Having support is an integral part of winning this award, because in addition to a selection committee, votes from fans count toward the selection. Currently, he has more than 1,500 votes as he campaigns to be one of the 20 semifinalists chosen out of nearly 200 players across the nation.
“I’m just really thankful that everyone is voting for me,” Lopez said.
The winner of the Rudy Award will receive a $10,000 academic scholarship, and will be presented the award personally by Rudy in March 2010. Two runners-up will receive $5,000 scholarships, and the 20 semifinalists will receive a signed Rudy jersey. Semifinalists will be announced Dec. 10.
For more information on the award and Lopez, visit the Rudy Award Web site at www.highschoolrudyawards.com.
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