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Echema waiting for NCAA ruling 

Cal tailback Joe Echema is waiting to hear from the NCAA on whether he will be eligible for the upcoming football season. 

Although Echema’s grade point average is sufficient for eligibility, he failed to meet the NCAA’s requirement for units passed in a one-year period. Echema fell one unit short in 2000, but Cal has requested that the NCAA give Echema a waiver. 

If Echema is forced to sit out the 2001 season he will take his redshirt year, which is something the Cal coaching staff had considered for him anyway during spring practice, since the Bears were supposed to have three senior tailbacks – starter Joe Igber, Echema and Saleem Muhammed – which would have given them superior depth. But Muhammed decided to tranfer earlier this year, and Echema’s absence would leave head coach Tom Holmoe’s squad without an experienced backup for Igber.  

Incoming freshmen Terrell Williams and Will Scott, both from Hoover High (San Diego), are the only other tailbacks on the roster. Senior Marcus Fields was a tailback in his first two years at Cal, but is expected to fill a utility role, seeing time at fullback, H-back and wide reciever. 

Cal recruit fails to qualify 

Mike Wells, who was supposed to bolster the Bears’ linebacking corps this season, failed to acheive a qualifying score on his college entrance exams and won’t be attending Cal. Wells, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound PrepStar All-American from Sahuaro High (Tucson) has decided to attend another college, accoring to Cal sources. 

BHS star Davis to attend San Jose State 

Former Berkeley High basketball star Ryan Davis will walk on to the team at San Jose State for the 2001-2002 season, according to Berkeley High head coach Mike Gragnani. 

“They really like Ryan down there, and he can fit in well with their team,” Gragnani said. “He’s got a good chance at earning a scholarship down the line.” 

Davis was the Yellowjackets’ leading scorer as a senior last season after transferring to the school from Lincoln High (San Francisco). Davis also played at Berkeley High during his freshman year. 

Berkeley High football schedule announced 

The Berkeley High football team will open its regular season schedule on Sept. 7 with a game at Foothill High in Pleasanton. The Yellowjackets will also face James Logan (Union City) and Dos Palos in non-league play before kicking off the ACCAL season with an away matchup with El Cerrito on Sept. 28. 

Berkeley will also travel to De Anza on Oct. 5 before hosting Alameda a week later. They have a bye on Oct. 19, which head coach Matt Bissell said he is currently trying to fill. The ’Jackets homecoming game is on Oct. 26 against Encinal, and the regular season wraps up with an away game against Richmond on Nov. 2 and a home game against Pinole Valley on Nov. 8. 

Schott helps U-21 team to Nordic Cup title 

GJOVIK, Norway - The U.S. Under-21 Women’s National Team put together a masterful performance in the championship game of the Nordic Cup Tuesday, scoring three goals in the first 16 minutes in a 6-1 destruction of Sweden to win its third consecutive title at the most elite competition in the world for U-21 women. Cal forward Laura Schott tallied two assists in the game and finished her first Nordic Cup tournament with a goal and three assists.  

Forward Anne Morrell, making her first start of the tournament, scored three goals, all off far post headers, while midfielder Aleisha Cramer registered two goals and two assists.  

Morrell, and forwards Danielle Borgman and Schott stepped up big for the Americans in the most lopsided Nordic Cup championship game in history. It was also the greatest margin of victory in the 16 matches of this year’s tournament.  

“In absence of (Abby) Wambach and (Katie Barnes), two of our regular starters, Anne Morrell, Laura Schott and converted defender Danielle Borgman gave us terrific performances in their starts up front,” U.S. coach Jerry Smith said.