No HelmetNeededStephen Schrum hopes he is layingthe groundwork foran off-field NFL career.

Stacy Karten and helped write our 4-3 [four line-Specialto the JewishTimes men, three linebackers] playbook.

Highschool senior athletes I watched tapes and identified ourusually hope their perform- opponents' [offensive] weaknessesances will launch them into and strengths;' Stephen explained.

collegiate sports, knowing that very During the games, Stephen wouldfew athletes advance to the profes- -be positioned near the coaches. "Forsional ranks. But 17-year-old Stephen the first six weeks, I watched. ThenSchrum of Reisterstown is pursuing a the next game I got to call somesports career that he hopes will lead defensive plays in the fourth quarter;' .to becoming a National Football Stephen said.The team had a corn-League scout or general manager. fortable lead and Coach Schell let

Stephen, a senior at Boys' Latin Stephen call the shots.School in Baltimore, played a variety "Stephen did an absolutely greatof sports growing up - baseball, soc- job;' said Coach Schell, who wascer and lacrosse. But he is enamored impressed by Stephen's persistenceWith football and the preparation and when he first approached him aboutadministrative side of the ball. So this a job. "He started in August and carnefall, Stephen worked as a quasi assis- every day for the two-a-days. Hetant coach with the Boys' Latin varsity helped at practice, carried bags andfootball team and coach Ritchie learned how to game plan." CoachSchell during the takers~ best-ever Schell noted that Stephen is good at10-1 season. "I scouted our opponents ' breaking down film and "he did as

/much work as any player:'This extreme interest in football

scouting and management wassparked in Stephen at age nine. "I gotinto the John Madden video game.A friend of mine [jason Bloom] andI won a pool we were in called LastMan Standing," recalled Stephen,who said they were interviewed on• aWEAL Radio sports talk show asthe winners.

He subsequently read somebiographies about legendary NFLcoaches, such as Bill Belichick andTony Dungy.and it seemed the pathfor these people included playingfootball at a higher level. Feelingsomewhat dismayed, Stephen read abook about Ernie Accorsi, then theNew York Giants general manager,that encouraged him. "Ernie neverplayed football. He worked hisway up. He inspired me. I realizedsomeone like me could make it;' saidStephen. Following football with aneye on player personnel, Stephen has

Details, Details: Steven Schrum,left,served as an assistant to Boys' Latin Schoolhead coach Ritchie Schell, and the teamhad a banner year.

a passion for the game. "I try to think,'What would a general managerdo?" explained Stephen. By the way,he says he is a St. Louis Rams fan be-cause he was eight years old when hesaw them win Super Bowl XXXNin a fantastic finish on TV againstTennessee, 23~16. "The Ravens aremy second-favorite team;' he noted.

This spring, for his senior project,Stephen will be working in theBaltimore Ravens player personneldepartment, where he will learnabout the inner workings of anNFL team.

His fall plans include majoringin sports management or business,either at the University of Maryland,

_ College Park or Florida StateUniversity.

Prep FootballSuccessTwo Baltimore County PublicSchool varsity football teams -Pikesville 'High School and FranklinHigh School- advanced to the stateregional finals in their divisions onNov. 20. Despite both teams losing,they had successful seasons.Pikesville's Panthers (Class lA)matched a school-best 8-3 recordbefore losing to Catoctin HighSchool in Thurmont, 49-7. Franklin'sIndians (Class 3A) lost to HerefordHigh School, 31-15, and finishedwith a 9-3 record ..

Globetrotters

!!~'!~lP~emGlobe-trotters marketing director Mark Finepromises tons of family fun when theworld-renowned barnstorming bas-ketball team appears in Baltimore onSaturday, Dec. 26, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.rn.at 1st Mariner Arena. Now in their84th season, the Globetrotters (whowere organized by Abe Saperstein)will entertain fans with the skills. and antics of Big Easy Lofton, FlightTime Lang, Special K Daley, Scooter r

Christensen, Handles Franklin andAnt Atkinson. For ticket information,visit harlemglobetrotters.com . L

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