The Daily OrangeMoss brings famous bloodlines to Syracuse
By Mike Janela
Posted: 2/25/04, 2:02 AM EST Section: Sports
Wide receiver recruit Tommy "Rice" Moss has excellent football bloodlines. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound wide receiver is the second cousin to Minnesota Vikings receiver Randy Moss, and Syracuse hopes the family connection leads to success on the gridiron for the incoming freshman.
Besides name and physical gifts, though, the similarities between the Moss cousins are almost nonexistent.
In fact, Rice shies away from the relation and found out about it only after Randy entered the NFL in 1998.
"I don't really think about it," Rice Moss said. "I just try to be me. I get (comparisons) a lot, but I just don't pay attention to it."
What Moss has paid attention to is his effort on the football field. Moss, who first carried a football at age 2, grew into a three-position player at Georgetown Prep in Bethesda, Md. Moss starred at wide receiver while also starting at defensive back and kick returner.
Moss' high school coach, Dan Paro, knows the brand of talent he dealt with over the last four years.
"He can play any position on the field," Paro said. "Any time you throw him the ball, he could take it all the way. You throw it up when he's in the secondary, he might come down with it. You kick it off to him, and there's always a chance he'll score."
Moss displayed this well-rounded talent in his senior season, when he caught 34 balls for 712 yards and seven touchdowns. He also returned three opening-game kickoffs for touchdowns and made five interceptions, earning him first team spots on The Washington Post's All-Metro team and the All-State squad.
In addition to the size, talent and production Moss brings, he also carries with him a nickname that fits his football skills to a T. In football circles, the name Rice evokes images of NFL legend Jerry Rice, arguably the greatest receiver of all-time.
Moss' father gave him the nickname the day he was born, but for a reason totally unrelated to football.
"When he was born, he was very light and pale," Tom Moss said. "And I walked in and I was like, 'Where's my son?' And the nurse said 'Right over there.' And I said 'That can't be my son, he's white as rice.' And it stuck with him right there."
Besides name and physical gifts, though, the similarities between the Moss cousins are almost nonexistent.
In fact, Rice shies away from the relation and found out about it only after Randy entered the NFL in 1998.
"I don't really think about it," Rice Moss said. "I just try to be me. I get (comparisons) a lot, but I just don't pay attention to it."
What Moss has paid attention to is his effort on the football field. Moss, who first carried a football at age 2, grew into a three-position player at Georgetown Prep in Bethesda, Md. Moss starred at wide receiver while also starting at defensive back and kick returner.
Moss' high school coach, Dan Paro, knows the brand of talent he dealt with over the last four years.
"He can play any position on the field," Paro said. "Any time you throw him the ball, he could take it all the way. You throw it up when he's in the secondary, he might come down with it. You kick it off to him, and there's always a chance he'll score."
Moss displayed this well-rounded talent in his senior season, when he caught 34 balls for 712 yards and seven touchdowns. He also returned three opening-game kickoffs for touchdowns and made five interceptions, earning him first team spots on The Washington Post's All-Metro team and the All-State squad.
In addition to the size, talent and production Moss brings, he also carries with him a nickname that fits his football skills to a T. In football circles, the name Rice evokes images of NFL legend Jerry Rice, arguably the greatest receiver of all-time.
Moss' father gave him the nickname the day he was born, but for a reason totally unrelated to football.
"When he was born, he was very light and pale," Tom Moss said. "And I walked in and I was like, 'Where's my son?' And the nurse said 'Right over there.' And I said 'That can't be my son, he's white as rice.' And it stuck with him right there."
