Ex-Baseball Player to Walk on @ Akron

[Captain Kangaroo]

Baseball standout going back to football By Paul SchofieldTRIBUNE-REVIEWSaturday, May 13, 2006 Ryan Flynn is having a great baseball season for Allegany College of Maryland. He's the team's leading hitter, batting .409, and his coach, Steve Bazarnic, said he's one of the best defensive second basemen he's coached in 35 years. "I call him Red Schoendienst," said Bazarnic, after the former St. Louis Cardinals manager and second baseman. "Ryan has great hands and is quick at turning the double play. He's a special player and has done an outstanding job in the classroom." Flynn, a redshirt freshman from Latrobe, has helped Allegany College (41-7) to a No. 1 seed in the NJCAA Division II Region tournament this weekend at Frederick, Md. But despite scoring 59 runs, collecting 67 hits, 14 doubles and driving in 33 runs, this may be Flynn's final collegiate baseball season. That's because the 2004 Latrobe graduate has decided to pursue his first love, playing college football. Flynn plans to walk on as a quarterback at the University of Akron this fall. He still has three years of eligibility remaining to play football. Flynn, who passed for 4,013 yards and holds numerous passing records at Latrobe, was recruited in high school as a quarterback and baseball player. But things didn't work out in football for Flynn, and then an elbow injury during baseball season put his future on hold. Flynn had Tommy John surgery in June 2004 and was forced to sit out an entire season. He returned to athletic competition at Allegany College (Cumberland, Md.) and has shined on the baseball field. "Football is my first love," Flynn said. "Don't get me wrong, I love baseball, too. But I want to give football a shot and if it doesn't work out I'll go back to baseball." When Flynn was in high school, numerous colleges recruited him to play football, including Pitt and Akron. After going through extensive rehab and not being able to be competitive for more than a year, Flynn decided to play baseball at Allegany. It's a decision he doesn't regret. He said his arm is stronger than ever and he has no more pain when he throws. "I had to learn how to throw again," Flynn said. "It was hard watching my teammates play. Being an athlete and not competing was terrible." But it was something he had to do. "I'm glad I came here," Flynn said. "It's the best team and group of players I've been around. The chemistry here is unbelievable. "And Coach Bazarnic has taught me a lot about the game. He's told me a lot of college baseball coaches are calling and that I could play anywhere. A school will have to blow me away with an offer to get me to change my mind." Bazarnic said Flynn has great baseball instincts, but he knows football is his passion. Flynn, however, hasn't played football for more than two years and he's looking forward to getting to camp. "I didn't miss the pounding," said the 6-foot-2, 200-pound Flynn. "But I miss the game. I need to get back into football shape and see what I can do. "It's going to be hard to walk away from baseball. But I'm willing to take that risk to play football."

[UAZipster0305]

We're stacked at QB!

[Balki Bartokomous]

Maybe once he realizes he has no shot of ever playing QB for Akron, he'll go help Bangtson out.

[GoZips88]

We need him for baseball not for football.

[Ryno aka Menace]

Maybe he will get moved to another position like WR

[bigzipguy]

We certainly do need him in baseball!!!!!!!!!!!

[zen]

We're stacked at QB!

That was my first thought.I keep hearing about QBs coming to Akron. All of them but one must sit. Depth is great, but at some point, you got to worry about morale. Are these guys all going to be happy no playing?

[InTheZone]

I honestly don't think we're that stacked at QB. None of the guys we presently have behind Getsy are sure thing great QBs. Chris Jacquemain played WR for most of his high school career and from what I hear can be a bit of a head case. Carlton Jackson, who we all thought was so athletic, ran a 4.85 fourty this spring. That barely edges out offensive lineman Andy Alleman who ran a 4.9. Sean Hakes looks like he has the stuff, but who knows. All I'm saying is that the more competition at the position, the better, because the more guys we have competing, the better chance we have of finding our next great QB. Whoever loses out can transfer. I'm thrilled we're getting another cannon for next spring's competition.