Lively inks with Rams
5/17/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Lively, Rams agree to free-agent deal
Former Wildcat to get his chance in the NFL
All Britt Lively ever wanted was a chance to play in the NFL. Late last week, the St. Louis Rams gave him that chance, signing him to a free-agent contract.The signing comes in time to allow Lively, an all-America performer at offensive tackle for the Wildcats in 2003, to participate in the Rams' mini-camp, scheduled for May 21-23 in St. Louis, Mo. Terms of Lively's contract were undisclosed.
Lively was one of the top offensive linemen in Division II football in 2003, and his play helped the Wildcats to their second straight 6-4 record.? Lively was named a first team Associated Press Little all-America after the 2003 season, and he was also named first team all-America by the American Football Coaches' Association and Dopke.com College Sports Report.
In addition to his three all-America honors, Lively was named first team all-Lone Star Conference South Division and first team Daktronics NCAA Division II all-West Region.? He is just the 22nd player in ACU history to earn first team all-America honors, the last being punter Brad Raphelt in 2001.? The last ACU offensive lineman to be named first team all-America was Sweetwater native John Layfield in 1989.
But his name wasn't called during the seven-round NFL Draft (April 24-25), leaving he and his agent, Scott Casterline of Dallas, to find a team willing to sign him as a free agent. As many as 10 teams were interested in signing Lively, who eventually settled on the Rams.
One of the Rams' assistant coaches is Wilbert Montgomery, who was an all-America running back at ACU in the 1970s, and led the Wildcats to the 1973 NAIA Division I national championship. Montgomery is in his eighth season as a Rams' assistant coach, and he will coach running backs in 2004.
