Cardinals Ties to Maryland and Virginia Sept 8, 2023
Sept 8, 2023 6:44:00 GMT -7
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Post by End Zone on Sept 8, 2023 6:44:00 GMT -7
FAMILY TIES TO GEORGETOWN PREP
Located 21 miles northwest of FedEx Field is Georgetown Preparatory School, a place that holds great significance to Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill and his family. Michael's father, late owner Bill Bidwill, was a 1949 graduate of Georgetown Prep, located in Bethesda, MD. A two-sport athlete, Bidwill was the starting fullback and kicker during school's undefeated 1948 season. He also played for the baseball team. In 2017, Bill Bidwill was selected for induction to the Georgetown Prep Athletic Hall of Fame. Then, in November of 2022, the school opened its newly-constructed stadium: William V. Bidwill '49 Stadium. Michael continued in the steps of his father, graduating from Georgetown Prep in 1983 before going on to earn a law degree from Catholic University of America, in Washington, D.C.
RICHMOND STARS REUNITE
When the Cardinals claimed S K'Von Wallace last week, he was reunited with his old teammate at Highland Springs High School, WR Greg Dortch. The two spent their entire four-year (2012-15) prep careers together at the school, which is located in a suburb of Richmond, VA. “That’s like my brother," Dortch said in the past of Wallace. "That’s literally like my brother. High school, we were right by each other, he was No. 5, I was No. 4. Went to camps together. He played corner on this side, I played corner on the other side. He played receiver, I played receiver. We just did everything together." When they were both seniors at Highland Springs in 2015, they led the team to a 14-1 record and Virginia 5A State Championship, the school's first since 1961. Both starred in the title game that year: Dortch - 66-yard TD run on offense and INT on defense Wallace - 99 yards and two TDs receiving and INT on defense Dortch was named Virginia 5-A Player of the Year in 2015, while Wallace earned first-team All-State honors on both offense and defense that season. Bill Bidwill playing fullback at Georgetown Prep.
OTHER TIES
Cardinals Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Evan Marcus spent one season (1994) at Maryland serving as an assistant strength and conditioning coach. He also had two stints at the University of Virginia (2003-06 & 2011-13).
Cardinals Asst. Strength and Conditioning coach Everett Gathron spent nine seasons (2010-18) at the University of Virginia in the same role.
Cardinals CBs coach Ryan Smith is a Virginia native (King George) and played CB collegiately at William & Mary (2010-13). Prior to his time in the NFL, he coached two seasons (2020-21) at Virginia Tech.
Cardinals CB Kei’Trel Clark is a Virginia native (Richmond) and attended Manchester (Midlothian) High School where he earned All-State honors as a punt return specialist and DB. Clark finished his prep career with eight INTs and as a senior helped Manchester to a VHSL 6A state title while adding 575 punt return yards (28.6 avg) and 126 kickoff return yards.
Cardinals ILB Ezekiel Turner is a native of Pasadena, MD.
Located 21 miles northwest of FedEx Field is Georgetown Preparatory School, a place that holds great significance to Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill and his family. Michael's father, late owner Bill Bidwill, was a 1949 graduate of Georgetown Prep, located in Bethesda, MD. A two-sport athlete, Bidwill was the starting fullback and kicker during school's undefeated 1948 season. He also played for the baseball team. In 2017, Bill Bidwill was selected for induction to the Georgetown Prep Athletic Hall of Fame. Then, in November of 2022, the school opened its newly-constructed stadium: William V. Bidwill '49 Stadium. Michael continued in the steps of his father, graduating from Georgetown Prep in 1983 before going on to earn a law degree from Catholic University of America, in Washington, D.C.
RICHMOND STARS REUNITE
When the Cardinals claimed S K'Von Wallace last week, he was reunited with his old teammate at Highland Springs High School, WR Greg Dortch. The two spent their entire four-year (2012-15) prep careers together at the school, which is located in a suburb of Richmond, VA. “That’s like my brother," Dortch said in the past of Wallace. "That’s literally like my brother. High school, we were right by each other, he was No. 5, I was No. 4. Went to camps together. He played corner on this side, I played corner on the other side. He played receiver, I played receiver. We just did everything together." When they were both seniors at Highland Springs in 2015, they led the team to a 14-1 record and Virginia 5A State Championship, the school's first since 1961. Both starred in the title game that year: Dortch - 66-yard TD run on offense and INT on defense Wallace - 99 yards and two TDs receiving and INT on defense Dortch was named Virginia 5-A Player of the Year in 2015, while Wallace earned first-team All-State honors on both offense and defense that season. Bill Bidwill playing fullback at Georgetown Prep.
OTHER TIES
Cardinals Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Evan Marcus spent one season (1994) at Maryland serving as an assistant strength and conditioning coach. He also had two stints at the University of Virginia (2003-06 & 2011-13).
Cardinals Asst. Strength and Conditioning coach Everett Gathron spent nine seasons (2010-18) at the University of Virginia in the same role.
Cardinals CBs coach Ryan Smith is a Virginia native (King George) and played CB collegiately at William & Mary (2010-13). Prior to his time in the NFL, he coached two seasons (2020-21) at Virginia Tech.
Cardinals CB Kei’Trel Clark is a Virginia native (Richmond) and attended Manchester (Midlothian) High School where he earned All-State honors as a punt return specialist and DB. Clark finished his prep career with eight INTs and as a senior helped Manchester to a VHSL 6A state title while adding 575 punt return yards (28.6 avg) and 126 kickoff return yards.
Cardinals ILB Ezekiel Turner is a native of Pasadena, MD.