Cedric Ho
(San Gabriel)- San Gabriel alum Cedric Ho, who finished his college career at the University of LaVerne this fall, has signed a one-contract to play American football professionally for the Nice Dauphines in southern France.
Ho will leave for France in February to begin workouts and play a 14 game regular season that will extend into August with playoffs.
“I’ll be playing wide receiver and returning kick-offs,” said Ho while being interviewed in the football office at San Gabriel High School. “They asked me if I could play some third string defense and I told them I haven’t played defense since high school.”
That would be 2005 during Ho’s junior year at Gabrielino. Ho transferred to San Gabriel in 2006 but was not cleared to play by CIF. He played football for two years at Dakota State before transferring back home to LaVerne.
“Our quarterback (Thomas Arguello) made himself available to the european leagues through an internet site. They saw his highlight film and asked who the guy was he was throwing to,” said Ho.
Ho (37 catches for 458 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2011) will make approximately 1,200 Euros a month, but the team will cover all of his expenses: travel, room, board, and provide a car.
“My Mother lives in Paris,” said Ho to indicate he won’t be too far from family. He also carries dual (France/USA) citizenship. “The weather is also pretty close what its like here in California after spending two years in South Dakota that was important to me.”
Since the end of World War II American football has been growing on the European continent with teams in France, Spain, Germany, even Finland. Germany has long been the dominant power and the championship game is called the EuroBowl.
In 2007 John Grisham published a novel called “Playing for Pizza” about a former NFL quarterback who goes to Italy to reclaim his career.
“American football is a big deal over there,” said Ho. “They get up at two in the morning to watch our Super Bowl.”
Ho is one class shy of completing work on his B.A. and expects to be taking the class online while oversees.
“I’m really excited, I wasn’t sure what I was going to be doing next season. Coaching maybe, maybe helping out here (San Gabriel). This is just a great opportunity.”
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