Quince Orchard Grad Signs With Oakland Raiders
Quince Orchard Football Coach Dave Mencarini joked on his Facebook page that it will be hard for him to wear Oakland Raiders' gear.
The iconic silver and black colors of the NFL team remind him of those of a nearby rival in Northwest High School. But, then the QO coach quickly added that he "could not be happier for him."
"Him" referring to Quince Orchard alumnus Bani Gbadyu, who following a 132-day player lockout, signed with the Oakland Raiders on Tuesday morning — the first day of NFL free agency.
Gbadyu, a 2011 undrafted free agent from Penn State, graduated from the North Potomac school in 2006 as one of the program's most celebrated athletes in QO history and became just the second Cougar to be named to The Washington Post's All-Metrpolitan team (Ray Gray being the other following the team's 1991 state title). He also helped put the QO program back on the map. The team won its second state title two years after Gbadyu graduated.
While Mencarini acknowledges the impact Gbadyu had at QO and what this means to the program itself, he was quick to point out that this is more about Gbadyu.
"This is more about him than it is about me or our program," Mencarini said. "What happened to him Tuesday is unbelievable for him. And no matter what happens from here, it's something that no one will be able to take away from him. It does say a lot about how far our program has come and it’s a pretty impressive evolution of our program, but this is all about Bani right now."
When Gbadyu landed a spot at Penn State upon leaving QO, he became the first player in school history to play at a BCS conference school. Now, Gbadyu becomes the first athlete in school history to sign with an NFL team.
And while the chances of Gbadyu making the Raiders' 53-man roster this fall are not certain, it is a challenge Mencarini is sure his former player will embrace.
"He’ll embrace it. Who knows where the journey is going to take him," said Mencarini, who also added that he saw Gbadyu just last week and that he was looking for jobs in Rockville. "But, just to sign [with an NFL team] says a lot about the potential teams see in him. He’s going to embrace whatever role he can play."
He has overcome challenges before. When he was a child, Gbadyu and his father and older brother fled Liberia in the midst of a civil war and came to the United States looking for a better opportunity. Gbadyu eventually found that in football. He excelled during his time at QO and while it took him a little while to adjust to the collegiate game, he eventually left his mark at Penn State.
Oakland Raiders History - News
Here are my favorite quarterbacks in the history of Oakland Raiders football. "The Hoss" as Jeff Hostetler was often called, played for the Raiders from 1993 to 1996. He was voted to the Pro Bowl in 1994, but the memory that stands out the most is the
Now, Gbadyu becomes the first athlete in school history to sign with an NFL team. And while the chances of Gbadyu making the Raiders' 53-man roster this fall are not certain, it is a challenge Mencarini is sure his former player will embrace.
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Oakland Raiders History
The Raiders started out in 1960 in the AFL which is the American Football league and have won three division titles and a championship. The Oakland Raiders joined the National Football League in 1970 which was part of a NFL-AFL merger. Since the Raiders joined the National Football League the team won three super bowls and twelve division titles as well as appearing in two super bowls. The Oakland Raiders have had thirteen enshrinees in the Football Hall of Fame. The Raiders first three seasons they struggled on and off the field. Al Davis became the head coach and general manager in 1963. The Raiders became winners as soon as Al David was brought over to the team. During the time Al Davis was with the Raiders from 1963 to 2002 they only had seven losing seasons. Al Davis also started the team slogans like Commitment to Excellence, Pride and Poise as well as Just Win Baby in which Al Davis got registered trademarks for. Al Davis has been with the Raiders team continuosly except for a brief stint as the American Football League commssioner in 1966 as well as being a managing partner of the franchise. Al Davis moved the Raiders team after a few years of legal battles in 1982 to California from Oakland. When the Raiders moved to Los Angeles they won thier third Super Bowl and two playoff appearences in the 80′s. Al Davis moved the Raiders team back to Oakland in 1995. The Raiders head coach Jon Gruden led the Raiders to a 12-4 record on the season in 1990 which was thier first division title. The Raiders team had a three year winning streak since that time for the West Division AFC football seasons. The Raiders head coach Jon Gruden in 2000 sent the Oakland Raiders to the AFC championship Game but fell short in Oakland to the Ravens 16-3. The Oakland Raiders won thier second AFC West Division Ttile in 2001 and won 10-6 but the Oakland Raiders fell short to the New England Patriots in the Divisional Round where it became a controversial game in the snow with the now famous Tuck Rule. The Raiders Head coach in 2002 Bill Callahan faced ex Raiders Head Coach Jon Gruden’s Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII but lost by a score of 48-21. The Oakland Raiders since their loss to the Buccaneers have lost five consecutive losing seasons. The Raiders in January 2007 named Lane Kiffen a 31 year old as head coach of the Raiders which is the forth since 2002 after the departure of Jon Gruden.
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