Jesuit Alumni Meet as Competitors on College Gridiron

Blue Jay quarterback Anthony Scelfo ’04
 runs for daylight.
 

(The following article is courtesy of The Times-Picayune and nola.com.)

BRAGGING RIGHTS ON LINE
Former Jesuit teammates to battle when Army's Trey Miranne faces TU's Anthony Scelfo

Thursday, October 04, 2007

By Ted Lewis

Anthony Scelfo always had faith in Trey Miranne.

And vice-versa.

Once teammates at Jesuit, neither was highly recruited, getting only one Division I-A offer coming out of high school.

On Saturday when Tulane plays at Army, Scelfo will be the Green Wave's starting quarterback and Miranne will be the Cadets' starting center.

"Trey's a tough, mean, physical kid who also works hard and is very smart," said Scelfo, who was a year behind Miranne. "He's just one of those guys you can count on. I knew he was gong to play somewhere. Trey's just that kind of person."

Miranne hasn't gotten to see any video of Scelfo's first career start in Tulane's 34-9 setback to then-No. 2 ranked LSU this past Saturday at the Superdome because as an offensive player he watches only Tulane's defense, but he said he didn't have to imagine how and why Scelfo, a sophomore, has become a starter.

"Anthony's the kind of guy who's going to play if you just give him the chance," Miranne said. "He's the most competitive guy I've ever been around. I'm not surprised at all he's their starter now."

Miranne, a senior, got his chance last season when an eligibility question kept starter Pete Bier out of the lineup for Army's opener against Arkansas State. At the time, he had to snap the ball with his left hand because he had broken two bones in his right.

Once healed, Miranne returned to starting status for the final half of the season.

That limited experience gave Miranne a leg up on the rest of an inexperienced group of Army lineman, something that has played a major role in the Cadets' struggle to establish a running game this season.

Army has changed its starting five for every game, finally getting a semblance of something going on the ground last week when the Cadets had 154 yards in a 37-21 victory against winless Temple. It was the first time this season Army (2-3) had been above the century mark on the ground.

While the same starters are listed on the depth chart as were last week, Army Coach Stan Brock said he will be looking to put his best five players on the field, even if that means not deciding until game day.

Regardless, Miranne will be in that five.

"Trey's the quarterback of our offensive line," Brock said. "He does everything we ask him to in identifying the defenses and changing our protections. So he handles the mental standpoint very, very well. And from the physical standpoint, he continues to get better in every practice and every game."

The responsibility of being the center isn't the only one Miranne has taken on.

As a senior, he believes the need to be a leader on a team undergoing a coaching transition from Bobby Ross to Brock, even though Brock, a former Saints' offensive tackle, was on Ross' staff for three years.

"He's putting in his own system, and he wants to get things going," Miranne said. "It's up to the seniors to help things along."

Also, as a "firstie," the name for West Point seniors, Miranne has the responsibility of overseeing seven underclassmen. Only his football duties prevent Miranne from taking on more of a leadership role within the corps.

Brock said his only regret about Miranne is that this will be his final season, even though Miranne didn't see action as a freshman.

Army does not redshirt.

"It's a real disadvantage for us because we don't get that extra year to develop players who might need it," Brock said. "But our kids graduate in four years, and that's just the way it is. You hurry them along and get them to play the best you can."

After graduation, Miranne said he would like to remain at West Point for a year as a graduate assistant on the football team, but this also is the week that Miranne had to declare his preference for his Army assignment -- in Miranne's case, the field artillery.

But first, there is football to think about.

Victories have been in short supply the past decade for the Cadets, who last had a winning season in 1996. That's why beating even a downtrodden Temple team last week was taken as much as a sign of hope as Tulane's hanging with LSU for a half before eventually losing.

And that's what makes the Tulane game as pivotal for the Cadets and for the Green Wave.

"This is a real big week for us," Miranne said. "We made progress last week against Temple, but if we're going to accomplish our goals for this season, we've got to keep it going against Tulane. But we're looking at Tulane to be coming in here playing hard, too."

Miranne has a personal reason for wanting to win against the Green Wave. Last season, he returned to the starting lineup for the Cadets' visit to Tulane, a game the Green Wave won 42-28.

"That one hurt a little more than the others," Miranne said. "It's hard to be playing at home and lose like that."

So far, though, Miranne hasn't been asked if he has any insight into what to expect from Scelfo. Nor has he volunteered any.

"I think our defense can do all right without me," Miranne said. "Anthony's tough, though. He'll do anything to win a game."