After witnessing the football team?s disappointing season at Sacramento State, it seems the best thing to do at this point is to take a journey with one of the stars from last year?s team, a team that actually produced some wins.

Perhaps you?ve seen former Sac State quarterback Ricky Ray, who graduated last year, around campus lately, training at the Sac State football facility.

After what Ray has been through over four to five months, he probably doesn?t mind the calmness of Sac State.

Ray spent his summer in Stockton, practicing with the San Francisco 49ers, and was cut after three pre-season games. But on Sept. 11, Ray?s horror at what he was witnessing on television was interrupted by an opportunity to join the 49ers for real: in the regular season. He spent three games in uniform as a back-up quarterback before being cut once again.

This disappointed Ray, but he did earn about $37,000 for the three regular season games alone, nearly what his salary would have been before he quit his managerial job at Frito Lay earlier this summer. Not bad for what amounted to spending a fall Monday night and two Sunday afternoons watching his favorite team from the sidelines.

It wasn?t all watching for Ray though, even though the clock wasn?t running,Ray knew that each throw he made counted. He pointed out that Terrell Owens and the other 49er receivers are used to Steve Young and Jeff Garcia spirals, so with each throw, to Owens especially, Ray knew he better hit him in stride.

His passes must have been acceptable, because before each game that Ray was with the team, Owens–arguably the best receiver in all of football–insisted that Ray be the quarterback to warm him up, telling Ray what a nice ball he threw.

Ray is dedicating at least the next year to his football career, whether he ends up in the CFL, NFL or the Arena League. If it doesn?t work out, he will actually have to resort to using the business degree he received last year.

Ray feels that his only chance in the NFL is with the 49ers, and Offensive Coordinator Greg Knapp from Sac State. Last week, however, the Carolina Panthers gave him an opportunity to compete for a roster spot in a competition with two established NFL quarterbacks. Jim Harbaugh, a long-time NFL mainstay, ended up beating him out.

For the time being, Ray is back at Sac State, watching his ex-teammates and coaches deal with what was an embarrassing season, low-lighted by a 43-0 loss to UC Davis. But Ray still has a role in improving the program, even now.

Ray?s brief experience with the 49ers, who have a long history of quality quarterbacks, has thrust his name into the football world. And with each new opportunity, the Sac State name goes right along with it. This can only be positive for the Hornets? football program.