Alumni News - Williams, Rouse Prepare for NFL

Two Golden Ram alumni are preparing for the upcoming NFL season which is fast approaching. Former All-American linebacker Ronell Williams was named defensive quality control coach for the Chicago Bears earlier this year.

Ronell Williams (Photo Bert Garbutt)

Meanwhile, after being invited to minicamp, former shark linebacker Nydair Rouse was signed by the Green Bay Packers in early May. He'll be battling eleven other cornerbacks currently on the roster with only one of them having more than four seasons of experience.

Nydair Rouse (Photo Ron Hockman)

PhillyVoice - How Chester's Ronell Williams went from volunteer coach to NFL assistant in three short years

Philadelphia Tribune - Nydair Rouse prepares for Green Bay Packers training camp

Packers.com - Countdown to Camp: Depth at cornerback must get sorted out

West Chester Athletic Site - Rouse Opens Camp With The Packers; Williams Coaching With The Bears

Philadelphia Inquirer - Former Simon Gratz football star takes memory of slain friend to Green Bay Packers training camp

Team News - 2019 WCU Football Schedule

Game times are now set for the Golden Rams 2019 football schedule. Some observations:

West Chester concludes its four game series with Northeast-10 opponent Bentley. The only non-PSAC opponent will again act as the season opener on September 7. It's the first time that the season will start after Labor Day since 2014.

West Chester will get its first look at the Shepherd Rams as a PSAC opponent when they travel to West Virginia on October 19. The Golden Rams prevailed in the only ever meeting between these two schools in the 2013 regional championship.

After having just four home games in 2018, John A. Farrell Stadium will host six opponents this season with Bentley, Seton Hill, Bloomsburg, East Stroudsburg, Kutztown and California all coming to West Chester.

There will be no night games this season as the latest start time is 2:00pm on homecoming against East Stroudsburg on October 26.

The California Vulcans appear on the schedule for the second consecutive meeting, but it will be their first meeting since 2013. After winning the PSAC East last season, West Chester's last regular season game was changed to play PSAC West winner Slippery Rock in the PSAC championship game.

Day	Date	Opponent	Time	Notes
Saturday	September 7	vs Bentley	12:00 pm
Saturday	September 14	at Gannon	12:00 pm
Saturday	September 21	vs Seton Hill	12:00 pm
Saturday	September 28	at Millersville	12:00 pm
Saturday	October 5	at Shippensburg	1:00 pm
Saturday	October 12	vs Bloomsburg	12:00 pm
Saturday	October 19	at Shepherd	12:00 pm
Saturday	October 26	vs East Stroudsburg	2:00 pm	Homecoming
Saturday	November 2	vs Kutztown	12:00 pm
Saturday	November 9	at Lock Haven	1:00 pm
Saturday	November 16	vs California	1:00 pm	Senior Day

Team News - Seventeen Golden Rams Named PSAC Scholar-Athletes

Seventeen members of the Golden Ram football team have been named PSAC Scholar-Athletes for the 2018-2019 academic year. In order to qualify for the honor, athletes must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 or better. There were 3,117 athletes from all 17 PSAC institutions of which 282 represented West Chester University.

Representing the football team are:

• sophomore tight end Mike Alley*
• freshman offensive lineman Mark Anastasi
• freshman linebacker Nick Chapman
• junior linebacker Quinten Cheyney*
• freshman offensive lineman Jacob Colby
• graduate student offensive lineman Alex Coren
• graduate student offensive lineman Tyler Drob*
• sophomore offensive lineman Patrick Ferry*
• freshman defensive lineman Michael Gobora
• freshman defensive lineman Joe Janick
• freshman tight end Zach Liggit
• freshman defensive lineman Connor Munnelly
• junior offensive lineman Brian Ross*
• freshman offensive lineman Brendan Ruskowski
• junior offensive lineman Frank Tranzilli*
• senior offensive lineman Connor Walsh*
• freshman defensive back Cole Zapf*

* Student-athletes who were also recognized as a PSAC Scholar-Athlete for the 2017-2018 academic year.

PSAC Site - PSAC Sets New Scholar-Athlete Record With 3,117

Team News - West Chester Claims 2018-19 Dixon Trophy

For the second consecutive season and fourth time over the past five seasons, West Chester University has been awarded the Dixon Trophy in recognition of having the top all around athletic program in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. The Golden Ram football team captured the PSAC championship, and West Chester won six other conference championships in women's golf, men's golf, field hockey, men's swimming, women's swimming, and lacrosse. Each conference championship garners 18 points towards the school's final score.

West Chester previously won the conference crown in 2017-18, 2015-16, 2014-15, and 2012-13. The school's overall average score of 13.48 is the second highest since the scoring system was revised in 2012-13 and its margin over second place is the highest over that same time span.

Accepting the Dixon Trophy are Faculty Athletic Representative Dr. W. Craig Stevens, Vice President for Student Sffairs Zeb Davenport, President Dr. Christopher M. Fiorentino, Associate Athletic Director Kellianne Milliner, Assistant Athletic Director Deirdre Bertotti, and Football Coach Bill Zwaan.

PSAC Site - West Chester Wins Second Consecutive Dixon Trophy

West Chester Athletic Site - West Chester Walks Away With Fifth Dixon Trophy

Event News - Valor Bowl

A pair of future Golden Rams will be participating in the 21st Annual Valor Bowl to be held at 7:15 pm on Thursday, May 30 at West Chester University's John A. Farrell Stadium. Suiting up for the West All-Stars will be offensive lineman Dylan Nichols of Coatesville while defensive end Sean Hopkins of West Chester Rustin will play for the East squad.

The Valor Bowl was founded by Scott Allison and former West Chester Golden Ram and Killinger Hall of Fame member Joe Carroll, and serves as Chester County's senior all-star game with all proceeds going to benefit the Chester County Special Olympics.

Several current West Chester University football players have participated in the Valor Bowl including John George, Cole Zapf, Joe Janick, and 2017 West Offensive MVP Nick Skulski. Other notable Valor Bowl alumni include 2001 North Offensive MVP Bob Findora who later led the Golden Rams to the 2004 Division II National semi-final and 2010 East Offensive MVP Rondell White who led the Golden Rams to the Division II National semi-final in 2013.

Event News - Bucks/Montco Lions All-Star Football Classic

Several Golden Rams will be participating in the 2019 Bucks-Montco Lions Club All-Star Football Classic to be held on May 2 at 7:00 pm at Delaware Valley University in Doylestown.

Running back Shamar Edwards of North Penn and defensive end Camron Hendryx of Souderton will suit up for the Montgomery County team. Meanwhile, wide receiver Andrew Vera and defensive back Matthew Checchia, both of Council Rock South, will play for Bucks County.

Current Golden Rams that have participated in this game include defensive linemen Michael Gobora and Noah Collachi, linebacker Nick Chapman, offensive lineman Nika Wright, linebacker Jackson Taylor, and defensive back Sterlen Barr.

The event is sponsored by the Bucks County Lions Club with the charitable funds raised by the game going to Lions Club charities.

Suburban One Sports - 2019 Bucks-Mont Lions Club All-Star Football Roster

UPDATE - Suburban One Sports - Bucks-Mont Lions Club All-Star Game a Winning Experience for Both Sides

Alumni News - Rouse Invited to Packers Minicamp

Former Golden Ram defensive back Nydair Rouse has reportedly been invited to the rookie minicamp of the Green Bay Packers. Rouse played in 45 of West Chester's 46 games during his four playing years, which included a trip to the NCAA Division II playoffs each of the past two seasons. After the 2016 season, Rouse was named first team All-PSAC East, first team All-ECAC and third team Don Hansen Football Gazette Super Region 1 and was named West Chester's Jim and Stacy Vansant Defensive Player of the Year. The team captain finished his Golden Ram career with 78 total tackles, 2.0 sacks and six interceptions. He had three pick sixes in 2016, with the most memorable one being his late-game 35-yard return to lead West Chester to a 31-24 win at Bentley.

Nydair Rouse (Photo Ron Hockman)

UPDATED SB Nation - 2019 Packers 90-man roster ranking, 90-86: Long-shot receivers and defensive backs vie for jobs

SB Nation - Packers Undrafted Free Agency Tracker: News & signings after the 2019 NFL Draft

West Chester Athletic Site - Former Golden Ram Defensive Back, Nydair Rouse, Signed By Green Bay Packers

247Sports - Rouse gets shot with Packers after being shot in head

Event News - Future Golden Rams to Play in PSFCA East/West Game

Several future Golden Rams are expected to play in the Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association (PSFCA) East/West All-Star Game on Sunday, May 5 at Mansion Park Stadium in Altoona. Selected to play for the East squad, which will be coached by Joe Headen of Susquehanna Township, are:

• Shamar Edwards - RB - North Penn
• Seth Degree - WR - West Catholic
• Quinton Derr - OL - Upper Dublin
• Izaiah McPherson - DB - Emmaus

Tight end Stone Huffman of Cumberland Valley will suit up for the West squad.

Kick-off is set for 2:00 pm.

Current Golden Rams that also were selected to participate in this annual all-star game include defensive back Jarey Elder, offensive lineman Frank Tranzilli, offensive lineman Jack Mummert, quarterback Zach Gilbert, defensive lineman Connor Munnelly, offensive lineman Trevor Watts, and offensive lineman Jon Miller.

PSFCA - 2019 PSFCA East / West Game Information

UPDATE - pennlive - York High’s Dayjure Stewart, Cumberland Valley’s Stone Huffman help West win third straight all-star football game.

Team News - Spring Schedule

The Golden Rams have opened spring practice and completed their first scrimmage this past Saturday. Another scrimmage is scheduled for Saturday, April 20 at 10:00am in John A. Farrell Stadium. The annual Purple & Gold Game is set for Saturday, April 27 at noon.

West Chester held their first scrimmage on Saturday (Photo Gina Chapman)

Event News - 29th Annual Quarterback Classic

The 29th Annual WCU Quarterback Classic will be held on Friday, May 31, 2019 at 8:00 am at the Downingtown Country Club in Downingtown, PA. Presented by National Food Sales, the schedule is as follows:

- 8:00 am Registration
- 9:00 am Shotgun Start
- 1:30 pm Lunch

The price for an individual golfer is $200, a foursome is $800, and sponsorship opportunities are available, with all proceeds from the event going directly into the football scholarship fund. Anyone interested in attending or sponsoring the event is asked to use the online registration center.