CAPTAIN CHRIS LEADS CCSU

Cardinal Gibbons graduate Chris Stimmel returns to Baltimore as captain of visiting Central Connecticutt State University

Stimmel, last season, led Central Connecticutt to an 8-3 record with a team-high 84 tackles, including 42 solo, 12 tackles for lost yardage and two interceptions. In 2005, Stimmel had 27 tackles, including 13 solo, two tackles for lost yardage and a sack.

As a senior linebacker, placekicker and punter at Cardinal Gibbons, Stimmel averaged 46 yards per punt, was good on three of four field goals with a long of 37 yards, and, as a linebacker, made 108 tackles.

An All-Metro selection as a senior in football, where he was a member of the Crusaders’ MIAA B Conference title-winning team in 2000, Stimmel was also a three-time All-MIAA selection in baseball, and an All-Baltimore City/Baltimore County pick in baseball.

“Chris was a great student-athlete who could do just about anything. Chris always put the team ahead of his personal achievements,” said Scott Ripley, his former footbaall coach at Cardinal Gibbons, when he was assisted by Hassan Muhammad.  “I’m not surprised he is a captain of a major college football program.”

Other graduates of MIAA schools who could be in uniform for Thursday night’s game:

Cardinal Gibbons’ graduate Cory Robinson a 5-10, 180-pound junior defensive back for Central Connecticutt; and, for reserves for Towson University, 6-6, 240-pound tight end Anthony Fair (Mount St. Joseph), 6-1, 225-pound quarterback Andrew Goldberg (Calvert Hall) and 5-8, 210-pound running back Nick Williams (Calvert Hall).

Towson’s Hassan Muhammad II, the son of the former Gibbons asstant coach, who graduated from Meade High in Anne Arundel County in 2003, is out with torn ligaments in his left knee, his father said.

A redshirt junior, Hassan Muhammad holds the single-season rushing and scoring records at Cardinal Gibbons, a program he attended in 2001 and 2002.

“I was frustrated at first, because I was doing so well in spring ball,” said Hassan Muhammad II, whose father is now an assistant to Brian Abbott at defending MIAA A Conference tri-champion Loyola.

“I have never had a serious, serious injury like this,” said Hassan Muhammad II. “But I’ve been out of surgery for about a month and a half, but my knee is responding well.”