Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
From left, Philip Blidi and Jacob Nixon get stretches in during Portales' season-opening practice Monday morning at the Ram practice field. Blidi announced his verbal commitment to Texas Tech before the Rams closed out practice Friday.
Portales defensive coordinator Victor Lopez addresses the team at the conclusion of Friday's second practice. The Rams host Robertson in a 5 p.m. Friday scrimmage.
PORTALES - Philip Bildi looms large on the field for the Portales Rams. At last count Friday, 6-foot-3 and 253 pounds big.
His college decision no longer looms, as the defensive end and lineman verbally committed to Texas Tech, then led the Rams through their final practice of the week Friday evening.
Blidi, who ended the Ram practice by leading the chant of "1-2-3-family," had eight Division-I suitors in all - including Texas-El Paso, New Mexico, New Mexico State, Tulsa and Abilene Christian.
Verbal commitments are not binding, and Blidi would only be bound to TTU or any other school once he signs a letter of intent. The first day he can do so is Dec. 18.
Should he join the Red Raiders, or any of those other Division-I programs, Blidi would be the first Ram to play Division-I football in 20 years, when Raul Anaya played linebacker for New Mexico State in 2000.
So obviously, Ram coach Jaime Ramirez said, Blidi's commitment is big for not only the football team but the school and Portales as a whole.
"We truly feel it takes a community to raise our kids," Ramirez said. "Everybody is excited about Phil committing to Texas Tech."
Regarding his current team? Blidi had positive feelings a week away from its scrimmage against Robertson. Players are understanding the physicality they'll need, he said, and they're putting together the pieces as far as execution goes.
"The younger guys are stepping up, taking on leadership roles," Blidi said. "We have this saying that we want to make leaders, and not make as many followers."
Overall, Ramirez said the veteran players have gained an understanding for what exactly leadership means in the program.
"We've wanted them to lead as a group and really focus on being servants," Ramirez said. "Leadership isn't just barking commands. It's getting everybody together as a unit. We're stressing that leadership is more of a servant's role than anything else."
Before the scrimmage, Ramirez said the Rams want to spend the next four days working out the kinks on their base offense and getting alignments set on defense.
After scrimmaging Robertson, the Rams will get ready for a pair of road contests - Aug. 24 at Hope Christian and Aug. 31 at St. Michael's - followed by a month of going nowhere with three home games and a bye week.
"I thought we progressed well," Ramirez said of the first week. "Each practice, we got better and better. We're still learning a lot. We've got some new faces. We've slowed things down a little to make sure we're getting quality from the kids."
