*** SPENCER IS THE REAL DEAL ***

Article in the Los Gatos Daily News, Thursday, July 21, 2005

Spencer is the real deal
By Gordon Kass

Did the Pac-10 conference change its football rules this fall? Do touchdowns only count if the player crosses the goal line and then dunks a basketball? That would be one explanation as to why conference coaches hesitated when looking at vertically-challenged Saratoga running back Phil Spencer.

"He's one of the best in the section," Falcons' coach Kurt Heinrich said. "He's as fast as greased lightning. He runs a 4.29 40. You're not going to have him screw in lightbulbs. If he's standing in the end zone, it's worth six points."

The 5-foot-8 Spencer was a blur at slotback, often breaking long runs out of Saratoga's quick-hitting veer offense. He was also a force on returns and played defensive back.

Last night, Spencer competed in the 31st annual Charlie Wedemeyer High School All-Star Game at San Jose City College, an honor awarded to only the very best in the Central Coast Section.

"Cal liked him," Heinrich. said. "He was MVP of one of their camps. They said if he was 6-foot, he'd play in the Pac-10: I think if he was 6-foot, he could have his pick of the best schools in the whole country."

Instead of USC or Oklahoma or Cal, Spencer will take his talents to Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, where he will combine football with an Ivy League education.

"I'm going to Brown to play running back and on special teams," Spencer said. "I visited in early February and I liked the environment.

"It's a great academic environment and a good opportunity to play football. I'm thinking of studying Business Economics."

Spencer also competed in track, baseball and soccer during his Saratoga career. However, football is clearly his favorite sport.

"There's something about getting out on the field," he said. "It's you against everyone else on the defense. At cornerback, I like to go head-to-head versus a receiver. The sport of football is so tough mentally and physically. You make strong bonds with your teammates."

"He's an athletic kid," Heinrich said. "He's got great character and he's a hard worker. He's small but he's elusive in space and he's tough as hell. He doesn't back down. He'll smack you if he gets an opportunity"

Surprisingly, Spencer got some unusual chances for combat during his sophomore year. As a 5-foot-6, 140-pound tenth-grader, he took some snaps at middle linebacker. He may have done well at that position but the Falcons' coaching staff found better places to utilize his skills. Give Spencer some room and he'll show you that speed truly does kill.

"He just digs competing in football," Heinrich said. "And he performs well when his back is against the wall. He ran for 260 yards against Fremont in just six carries. He returned a blocked field goal 70 yards for a touchdown against Milpitas. He probably had 270 yards of total offense against Los Gatos. He's an animal. He could be a four-year contributor, three-year starter at Brown."

Spencer is more than just a talented football player.

"He never missed practice and he played hurt," Heinrich said. "He's a stand-up guy and he never got in trouble. He's an outstanding young man."

Spencer's family heritage probably has a lot to do with his success in football and in other areas. His father Gordon played cornerback for Los Altos High, class of 1970. Mother Rosanne played softball at UCLA. And his grandfather and an uncle played collegiate football.

"I sat down with my father," Phil Spencer said. "We watched some football films of him from his senior year that his dad took. He had the same defensive style I have. And I run the ball a lot like my grandfather."

Spencer enjoyed the special honor of closing his prep career with the All-Star Game.

"It's a great honor to get selected," he said. "All the guys are phenomenal athletes, great athletes. And great guys."

Next stop: the Ivy League.

"Phil is a class guy," Heinrich said. "If I had a son, I'd like him to be like Phil Spencer."