January
30, 2003
March 21,
 |
| Hoboken's Ira Bell-Guilford has accepted a scholarship to play football at Ohio State University. |
HOBOKEN - The challenge of choosing where to go college is tough for the majority of high school seniors. Throw in the recruiting process with pressure from head coaches, parents, college boosters, etc., and the choice becomes even more nerve-wracking.
This was the case for Hoboken's standout tailback/defensive back Ira Bell-Guilford. He was able to narrow his choices down to perennial football powerhouses Notre Dame and this year's national champion Ohio State, but the final decision was still elusive.
Bell-Guilford weighed the options and during his press conference yesterday at Hoboken High School, he announced that he was accepting a scholarship to attend Ohio State and become a Buckeye in the fall.
"Ohio State was my first choice from the very beginning," said Bell-Guilford. "Notre Dame came in and coach (Tyrone) Willingham along with their beautiful campus and tradition made it really tough to pass up. I just felt Ohio State was the best fit for me personally. Them winning the national championship this year was just icing on the cake."
Bell-Guilford, who scored 1,100 on his SAT's, is the latest in a long line of Hoboken stars that have gone on to play football at the Division I level. But it is not only the tremendous speed and athleticism of Bell-Guilford that sets him apart from other student/athletes; it is his drive to succeed in all aspects of life and the willingness to give back to the community.
"Obviously, my dream is to play in the NFL," said Bell-Guilford. "But one hit, one bad break could change that in a heartbeat. So I want to prepare myself for the future whether it involves football or not.
"When I get to where I want to be financially, I want to be able to give back to those who have not been blessed with the chances to succeed as I have. I will do what I can to make sure that happens and make a differences in kids' lives."
Bell-Guilford put up some mind boggling numbers in leading Hoboken to an 11-2 season, with the only losses to state-power St. Peter's Prep and a one-point defeat to Ramsey in the North 1, Group 2 section final, in which he made 18 tackles.
Among his performances were two similar ones stat-wise, but extremely different in how he came about those numbers. Against Emerson (U.C.), he rushed seemingly effortlessly for 245 yards and 3 TD's.
The very next week against archrival North Bergen, he was held to 78 yards on his first 23 carries in a scoreless game with less than five minutes remaining. He then broke the game open by bursting around the corner for a 69-yard touchdown run. After helping his team stop North Bergen deep in the Red Wings' end, he broke through a hole and went 88 yards on the next play from scrimmage to lift Hoboken to a 14-0 win.
"We have had many great players come through Hoboken and Ira is right there among the elite," said Hoboken head coach Ed Stinson. "We saw great potential with him, but you still have to work very hard to get to the next level and realizing that potential. He did the work not only on the field, but also off the field and in the classroom."
"Hoboken has had 20 scholarship players in the last nine years and all of them have been academic qualifiers," Stinson added. "Ira is an exceptional kid, who is extremely bright. I think he can succeed in anything he puts his mind to. We have a class program here and he exemplifies the class that we portray in the classroom and on the field."
Bell-Guilford is hoping for a chance to make an impact on both sides or either side of the ball.
"Coach (Jim) Tressel wants to give me a good look as a defensive back, and also give me five or six snaps a game on offense," Bell-Guilford added. "I would love to play both sides of the ball, but more importantly, I just want to be on the field. If I can somehow make my presence felt and help the Buckeyes win another national championship, that's all one can ask for out of their college career."
Whether Ira Bell-Guilford plays every down on both sides of the ball for Ohio State or if it takes him some time to crack the extraordinarily long depth chart, one thing is for certain; Guilford has left his mark on the scholastic football fields of Northern Jersey and on anyone who has had the chance to get to know him.
"I just consider going to Ohio State another chapter in my life where I have to overcome challenges," Bell-Guilford explained. "I'm a small fish in a big pond again. But I like the challenge of having to make a name for myself and helping my team win along the way."
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|
Q&A
with
Ira Bell-Guilford |
 |
|
NJS:
In one sentence, how would you describe your excitement of going
to Ohio State? NJS:How
do you feel about getting snaps on both sides of the ball? NJS:
Who was your idol on the football field growing up? NJS:
If you were trapped on an island and you got to bring one thing to eat,
one drink, one CD, and one movie, what would be your choices? NJS:WHat
about the CD and the movie? NJS:What
is your major going to be at Ohio State? NJS:
Who is your biggest idol off the field? NJS:
What is your dream? NJS:Say
that does not pan out, what do you have on the backburner? NJS:How
much does that Ramsey loss in the state final still hurt you deep down?
NJS:
How much of a factor has Coach Stinson been in your life? NJS:
Final question…if you and I (NJS.com Staff Writer Rich Barton) were
to play in a one-on-one basketball game to 11 straight, which one of
us do you think would win? NJS:
You think it would be that close eh? |
