Posted by bambi2godzilla on 8/11/2007, 1:02 pm Home Cookin': Summer fun: Avoiding raging bulls It was silent fear on the cobblestone. That's what it was. Marcus Arroyo, dressed in the traditional white pants, white T-shirt and red sash, had an accelerated heart rate. The former All-Area quarterback from Colfax High School and now the co-offensive coordinator at San Jose State said he can't really explain the rush of participating in the Festival of San Fermin in Pamplona, Spain -- in other words, the running of the bulls on the cobblestone streets. Arroyo took off in a full sprint during a recent trek to test his sense of adventure. For starters, he emerged intact. Arroyo didn't get gored, unlike two men who were tossed about when one bull separated from the frenzy. And Arroyo has witnesses to his journey. He was flanked in the white-knuckle fun by Colfax grads Vic Greco, Ryan Gibson and J.P. Greco. For that lot, football was tame compared to this. "Never run so fast in my life," Arroyo said Monday. "No grass, no cleats, no helmet, no pads. Just the street and the bulls. I was going as fast as I could. It was a great experience. It was just something I wanted to do, an opportunity to put myself out there, to see a broader spectrum and to see how little I am in the grand scheme of things." Mostly, Arroyo has been a pretty big story. Of all the storied passers in Colfax history -- and one can argue no school rivals the Falcons in this realm over the past 10 seasons -- he could rate as the best of all. Arroyo threw for more than 3,000 yards and 37 touchdowns as a senior in 1997. While quarterbacking San Jose State, he basked in triumphs over TCU and Stanford. And the Spartans are big news again, winning nine times in 2006. Practice started Monday. Arroyo said he has gleaned a lot from his coaches over the years, be it Little League mentor Mike Ray or prep bosses Mondo Alonzo, Tony Martello, Fred Kern and Ron Pucci. One theme of note then: togetherness and bonding. Arroyo stresses that with his players now. Not that he's thinking of rounding up the gang for a run with the bulls anytime soon. "I don't know if I could do that," Arroyo said, then laughed. "We'd lose guys. We'd have to rebuild the program."
63.249.102.18
QBs do learn to avoid oncoming lineman --- or be used as a human pinata. SJSU former quaterback and current assistant coach Marcus Arroyo put his maneuverability to good use --- or else --- in Pamplona recently. Former Spartan J.P. Greco too:
Joe Davidson
Sacramento Bee
August 7, 2007
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