When the University of the Pacific cut its football program prior to the 1996 season, many players were left swarming for a place to continue their careers. But none were hit harder than players right in Stockton, UOP?s home. Sac State head coach John Volek and his coaching staff saw this and directed these lost souls to Sac State.

Hornet senior wide receivers Scott Towne and Lamont Webb, defensive back Tommy Williams, and linebacker Richard VanOver all had just graduated from high school right as UOP announced that they would not field a football squad that season.

“At the time I wanted to go to UOP,” Williams said. “It would have been nice to play in my hometown.”

But the cut of UOP?s program has been somewhat of a blessing for the Hornets and the players affected by the cut.

“We have had some great players from that area over the past years and it is an area we hit very hard while recruiting,” Volek said. “I was disappointed though when UOP dropped football. I don?t think any school should drop football and their program has done nice things for the school and brought some national recognition.”

Williams, Towne and VanOver all attended Saint Mary?s High School, and led them to a 37-3 record, making them a Northern California powerhouse.

“I am very happy with the decision that I made to come here,” Williams said. “We came here to build up this program and turn things around like we did at Saint Mary?s and the program is improving. In the next five years it should be like how UOP used to be.”

Williams, a team captain, has been a defensive cornerstone as a free safety for the Hornets. He has recorded 152 tackles, three and a half sacks, one interception and five fumble recoveries during his tenure at Sac State. Williams has also done his part in the classroom as he was selected to the Big Sky All-Academic team last year.

As Williams and VanOver were upset with the program being dropped, neither were as affected as much as Towne.

“I had dropped all contact with other schools to attend UOP,” Towne said. “I went on my recruiting trip there and decided that I wanted to play there. But a week later the program was cut.”

Towne, whose father was an ex-player and coach for the Tigers, had been planning on attending the school since his sophomore year in high school.

“I went to a camp at UOP my sophomore year and the head coach told me that he would have a scholarship for me after high school,” Towne said. “So given the fact that my father had played and coached there and that it was right at home, I was excited about going there.”

After coming to Sac State with hopes of playing quarterback, Towne found his calling as a receiver during his sophomore year. As a quarterback in 1997 and 1998 he was 24 of 67 for 334 yards and two touchdowns. But as a receiver Towne has made his mark with 69 career receptions for 1,265 yards and 7 touchdowns. This season he has caught 23 passes for 335 yards and one touchdown. He was also named all-Big Sky honorable mention last season.

Although from Stockton, Webb was not interested in playing for UOP so he did not take much of a hit when the program was cut. Following his career at Merrill West High School as an All-Valley Oak League running back, Webb took his talents to San Diego State University as a walk-on and sat out as a redshirt before transferring to Sac State.

“I never really considered UOP, I wanted to go to San Diego State,” Webb said. “Things just didn?t work out down there and I was fortunate enough to have the chance to play here and it has worked out for the best.”

Entering Saturday?s game against Montana State, Webb was the Hornets? leading receiver with 22 receptions for 412 yards and four touchdowns. Webb is also a return specialist for the Hornets, as he has already amassed 458 total yards.

“We want to keep the tradition going with players out of that area,” Volek said. “Lamont is one of the premier players in the Big Sky, Towne is having a great season and Tommy Williams brings great leadership to our team.”

Another Stockton native playing for the Hornets is redshirt freshman tight end Bobby Brown. A 1999 graduate of Merrill West, Brown was just a sophomore in high school when UOP ended their program, but he also was affected by the cut.

“UOP was always in my mind growing up because it was right at home,” Brown said. “I remember going to the game when they played Nebraska and thinking how great it would be to play in front of all of those fans.”

But by the time he was ready for college, UOP football was a distant memory.

“I am so happy here,” Brown said. “I wanted to get away and I am really happy with the choice that I made to come here.”

As the Hornets prepare for the last four games of the season, they look to make the most out of their position, which is 4-3 overall and 2-3 in the Big Sky.

“We have had some ups and downs this season,” Towne said. “We still have five games to go and we are going to make the best of those games and improve each week.”