The battle of Ventura: Ebell versus Booker
By Malamute, 18 January 2002

In Seattle next fall, when UCLA takes on the Washington Huskies, a question of dominance could be answered. Who is the best: Tyler Ebell (pictured to the left) or Lorenzo Booker? Both athletes hail from Ventura, California and both of them set CIF prep school records. 

Ebell redshirted at UCLA this season, and Booker as a true freshman should get immediate playing time at Washington due to the graduation of shifty running back Willie Hurst. The battle of Ventura, which could take place on November 2nd, all depends on whether Lorenzo Booker signs a letter of intent with the Huskies on February 6th.

If the battle occurs, it will be of significant interest to those Ventura County fans that have debated the Ebell/Booker question for most of this season. Ebell attended Ventura High School, Ventura California, and Booker attends St. Bonaventure, a small Catholic school located on Telegraph Road in the city of Ventura.

The 5-foot-9, 175-pound Ebell set a national single-season rushing record in his senior year, piling up 4,502 yards in 14 games, an average of 321 yards per contest, and his 64 touchdowns were second on the all-time single season list. In his career, Ebell rushed for 7,526 yards, then a state record, only to be broken by Booker this season. A finalist for the Wendy’s High School Heisman Award, Ebell was selected to play in the inaugural National High School Football All-Star Game. He also was selected "National Player of the Year" by SchoolSports.com.

This fall, Booker (5-feet-11, 175 pounds) set state career marks of 8,501 rushing yards, 137 touchdowns and 131 touchdown runs. He was named  “California Gatorade player” of the year.  He also won the “National Gatorade High School Player” of the year award. He is widely regarded as the best high school player in the nation. 

Booker is being heavily recruited by Notre Dame, Washington's closest competitor for Ren's services.

"I think (Washington) leads pretty strongly for Booker,"  Greg Biggins of Pacwestfootball.com, has said. "The only school that can nudge them out, I think, is Notre Dame." 

I can think of a few reasons he might sign with Washington: 

• Booker's a west coast kid--a Californian to the marrow; there are plenty of kids from the southland wearing purple to keep him happy at the U-Dub.

• Arguably Washington has the best facilities of any Pac-10 school. USC is recruiting Booker also. Booker is aware that USC had one-yard rushing against Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl. Washington is committed to the run for a number of reasons.

• Washington has dominated the Pac-10 during the last 12 years, while Notre Dame is in a funk, having fired its previous coach, Bob Davie, The Irish erred badly in selecting a successor, George O'Leary.

• After the O'Leary fiasco, Notre Dame made a pitch for Rick Neuheisel, Washington's mentor, only to have Neuheisel slam the door on them. Eventually, the Irish inked Tyrone Willingham of Stanford to a six-year deal.

• Neuheisel is effusive--let's it all hang out, much like Ren Booker. This could be an identity, role model thing. Although he's an effective coach, the emotionless Willingham is about as exuberant as a bear headed for hibernation--at least when he's seen on TV. 

• Washington has an easy schedule next season, especially at home, when on successive Saturdays it plays San Jose State, Wyoming, Idaho, California and Arizona.  It could be a chance for Booker, Rich Alexis and Chris Singleton to pile up some big numbers on the ground. 

Am I deluding myself? 

In the recruiting wars, Notre Dame has a huge advantage over Washington and other schools in the NCAA. Its television contract with NBC promises national TV exposure on a weekly basis to a blue chip player who signs with the Irish. It's a weekly event because ABC picks up many of Notre Dame's road games. Ironically, in spirit, this deal with NBC runs counter to the "extra benefits" rule that the NCAA enforces so assiduously at the student level. 

Who's the best, Booker or Ebell? Why would Booker want to attend Notre Dame and leave that question unanswered? A question left for argument, at least for next season. If Ren signs with the Irish, there will be a plenty of disappointed fans of his living in Ventura County, including myself. That's not to say we won't wish him luck. 

Ventura means "luck" in Spanish. This fall, when the Bruins battle the Huskies, I would like to say, "Buena ventura, Lorenzo y Tyler, en la batalla de Ventura."