Die Kärntner bleiben ihrer Linie treu und holen mit Defensive End David Burris einen Top-Spieler von einer ebensolchen Top-Universität. Burris spielte bei Umass, der University of Massachusetts (NCAA Div I-AA) und ist das erste Mal in Europa.
Bisher verpflichteten die Löwen mit Ryan McGuire (Holy Cross) einen Tight End und mit Rob Lunn einen Defensive Tackle. Burris ist nun der dritte große Brocken an der Line. Der beste Mann soll, so Lions-Boss Manfred Mocher, aber noch kommen. ‚Unser Quarterback wird ein echter Kracher‘, verspricht der Präsident, der über seinen Kader sagt: ‚Wir haben definitiv mehr Österreicher als Hohenems und wir können spielen.‘
David Burris
Hometown: Southbridge, Massachusetts
The Student: The red-shirt senior has nearly completed his degree in Building Wood and Material Technology; summers he works in the building trade.
The Backstory: Ironically, Burris was recruited to play football at Northeastern by current head coach Don Brown. But Burris wanted to play linebacker and Mark Whipple–then at UMass–was the only coach who would give him a shot. Burris came to Amherst, as did Brown, and Burris’s quickness and eagerness won him a third-string spot on the Minuteman squad, ultimately as defensive end. Two teammates went down with injuries his sophomore year, and Burris has been on the starting roster since.
The Payday: Earned a full athletic scholarship and is one of the best pass rushers in Division I-AA.
Parting Shot: Burris dreams of playing in the NFL; ‚I want to be All-American,” he says. ‚And I hope I’ll still be playing football next year.”
