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Wake-Up Call: Crum looking to take next step

Tribune file photo (2003)

Former Notre Dame linebacker Maurice Crum was a standout prep player at Tampa Bay Tech.

By JOEY JOHNSTON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 19, 2009

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The Wake-Up Call greets you each weekday with news, views and a few Tampa Bay area sports offerings to anticipate for the day and night. We encourage suggestions and contributions.

Good morning!

There's a fine line between becoming a standout college football player and making an NFL roster. Linebacker Maurice Crum Jr., a four-year starter and two-time captain at Notre Dame, is stuck somewhere in the middle.

Crum, the former Tampa Bay Tech player whose father was a first-team All-American at Miami, was not drafted. But he had the next-best thing – a free-agent tryout with the Buccaneers, the hometown team he followed as a youth.

He participated in the team's three-day rookie minicamp but was not offered a contract. So his future – at least in football – remains very much in doubt.

"Tomorrow isn't promised to you in this game,'' Crum said. "You show what you can do. The rest is up to them [NFL teams].''

But off the field?

Crum can face the future with confidence.

Last spring, he graduated with degrees in sociology and anthropology. While preparing for his senior season, Crum wanted to experience something different, while giving back.

"Pay it forward,'' Crum said. "Somebody gave me a scholarship, and it made a huge difference in my life. So I wanted to do what I could.''

And in turn, he got a life-changing experience.

Crum, who used to send his teammates' used cleats home to the players at Tampa Bay Tech, became freshman friends with another Notre Dame player, Abdel Banda, a native of Ghana who grew up in New Jersey.

Injuries ended the career of Banda, who became employed by an New York investment firm and founded Students Bridging the Information Gap, a charity committed to creating computer labs and libraries in Ghana, a West African nation. Crum said he wanted to help. So there he was last June, on his first trip out of the United States, in a land with poverty like never imagined.

"It was eye-opening,'' Crum said. "In America, we take so much for granted. I mean, there were no computers or Internet, and I was getting bugged out of my mind. I couldn't check my e-mail for a week.

"But that sounds ridiculous when you think of all the things those people don't have. We're spoiled. The charity is trying to bring things into their lives, things that will make their lives better. Just giving them access to information and computers is a huge step.''

After a fundraiser in New York, Banda's group brought 14 computers, two printers, an LCD projector and seats for 24 students. Furniture was built in Ghana for two rooms, and books were stocked for a 16-seat library.

"It's a hard daily grind for a lot of those people,'' Crum said. "You see people outside hustling, trying to sell something, getting a dollar so they can eat. I've never seen anything like that before. And there are much worse areas than what I saw.

"At the same time, you introduce them to computers and education. You see the looks on their faces. It's really making a difference in the lives of people who need things.''

Crum, at 6 feet and 235 pounds, was considered a borderline NFL draft prospect. He alternated between outside and inside linebacker. His speed wasn't the best, and there were some questions about his size. But Crum continually made plays all over the field. For that reason, Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis said Crum deserves a long look.

On draft day, the top NFL prospects were in New York, waiting in the green room, celebrating with their families, soaking in the attention.

Crum was in New York on that day, too.

He had a fundraiser for Banda's charity.

If more football happens, fine. If not, Crum still will chart a course for success. By helping others, he has helped himself.

Plant seeking rare double

The Plant Panthers are trying to become the third school in Florida history to win state football and baseball championships in the same school year.

Plant won the Class 4A football title in December, beating Tallahassee Lincoln 34-14 in the final. Plant plays in the 5A state baseball semifinals on Monday in Port St. Lucie.

If the Panthers win two more baseball games (Stuart South Fork in Monday's semifinals, then the Armwood-Tallahassee Chiles winner in Tuesday's championship game), it's done.

Florida's other two football-baseball state champions:

• Jacksonville University Christian – won the 1989 Class 1A football title, beating Vero Beach St. Edwards 46-15; won the 1990 Class 1A baseball title, beating Miami Dade Christian 4-3.

• Jacksonville Bolles – won the 1990 Class 2A football title, beating Fort Myers Bishop Verot, 17-14; won the 1991 Class 2A baseball title, beating Clearwater Central Catholic 13-2.

Hudspeth honored by Texas League

Former University of South Florida player Casey Hudspeth (Sarasota), now playing for the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks, was named Texas League Pitcher of the Week.

Hudspeth, a fifth-round draft choice by the Houston Astros in 2006, threw his first complete game of the season May 11. Against San Antonio, he allowed nine hits and two earned runs while not walking a batter and striking out two. Overall, Hudspeth is 3-2 with a 4.15 ERA in six starts.

Koenigsfeld selected Patriot League MVP

Army sophomore outfielder/pitcher Ben Koenigsfeld (Ridgewood) was named Most Valuable Player of the Patriot League tournament after the Black Knights swept a doubleheader against Lafayette in the best-of-three finals. Army (33-18) earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, which begins with regionals on May 29.

Koenigsfeld earned his MVP honor. In the first game, he hit a solo home run in Army's 6-2 victory. In the second game, an 8-1 win by Army, he allowed only one run in eight innings while tying a career-high with nine strikeouts.

Overall, Koenigsfelt is 8-4 with a 4.98 ERA on the mound. He is batting .348 with seven homers and 36 RBIs.

Mandry signs with Louisville

Kaysara Mandry (Bloomingdale) has signed a tennis scholarship with the University of Louisville. Mandry has been ranked as high as No. 33 in Florida. According to Tennisrecruiting.net, a recruiting service for high school tennis players, Mandry is in the top 50 senior class players.

"She has a very high ceiling … and I know she wants to work as hard as possible to reach her potential," Louisville women's tennis coach Mark Beckham said. "She is definitely not a finished product, which has me really looking forward to seeing how big of an impact she is going to have on the program."

Nice outing for Davis

Suddenly, the Rays' pitching prospects are putting some nice outings together for Triple-A Durham. RHP Wade Davis (Lake Wales) allowed just two hits in 6 2/3 innings on Monday night in the Bulls' 1-0 victory against Rochester. Davis is 4-1 with a 3.10 ERA. Sunday, LHP David Price pitched five innings of no-hit ball against Rochester.

Richey earns berth in nationals

Florida Southern College fifth-year senior Brian Richey (Lakeland) qualified as an individual (72-71-71 for fourth place at the Super Regional) in this week's NCAA Division II men's golf national tournament at Blaine, Wash.

Birthday wishes

Happy belated birthday to former Bucs LB Rufus Porter, a former Pro Bowler with the Seahawks who spent his final NFL season (1997) as a starter in Tampa Bay. Monday, Porter turned 44.

The Answer Man

Here's the answer to Monday's trivia question:

Former Dunedin High catcher Scott Hemond, who became an All-American at the USF, was a first-round pick (12th overall) of the Oakland Athletics in 1986.

Tuesday trivia

Here's our daily sports trivia question, featuring a Tampa Bay/Florida spin. Try your luck by commenting below.

Thirteen former Notre Dame players have appeared for the Bucs during regular-season games. Can you name the three alums who scored touchdowns for Tampa Bay?

Check for the answer in Wednesday's Wake-Up Call.

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