Carson Hall of Famers are honored

The three newest members of the Carson High Football Hall of Fame — Bruce Vidmar, Ryan Green and Ryan Bauman — were introduced to the community at the annual kick-off dinner Saturday night at Mills Park.

Green and Bauman played for then head coach and current CHS athletic director Bob Bateman, and both players were each 14-4 in their final two seasons.

“I’d like to think we had something to do with it; starting it all,” said Green, who is on the Carson school board and works as a firefighter in Sparks. “I think coach Bateman had a vision of where the program should go.”

Green started in 1994-95-96 for Bateman. He played running back, outside linebacker and was the long snapper on punts.

“He rarely came off the field those last two seasons,” said Roman. “The success we had the last two years had a lot to do with the type of attitude and leadership he brought to the table. He was one of the toughest players ever to suit up at Carson High.”

“I never thought about what I brought to the table,” Green said. “I thought I was an intelligent player. I knew what every position should do. Blue collar? I think that would be a good way to put it.”

Green said he’s followed the program a little bit since he left. He is impressed by what the Senators have done in recent years.

“Coach Roman has done a good job,” Green said. “I feel like they do a good job of taking a punch and coming back strong. They strike me as being a very good second-half team. That is a testament to Roman and the way he coaches.”

Green will be a lot more involved in the community given his new responsibilities with the school board.

“This is a good way to give back (to the community),” Green said. “It’s a good way to be a positive influence on schools and children. I want to be a leader and make a difference.”

Bauman started as a free safety on the 1997 and 1998 teams. His senior year, the Senators were co-champs with a 7-2 record.

Bauman, who is involved in marketing and promotions for the Hakkasan Group in Las Vegas, was pleased by his selection.

“It’s a huge honor,” he said. “I’m very pleased. What I remember is the friendships that you build. I learned what you need to do to build a football program. Some of my best friends (on the team) were guys I played pee-wee football with.

“Coach Bateman was an absolute tough guy. He wanted guys that were 100 percent committed to the team and what we were doing. Some guys couldn’t cut it.”

Bauman was all-region both years and all-state as a safety his senior year.

“He was a tremendous all-around player in his career.” Roman said. “He was an outstanding athlete.”

Bauman, who attended Saturday’s scrimmage, went on to play four years at Drake University.

“They recruited me as a defensive back, but they saw tape of me playing a lot of positions on offense on film, so they switched me,” Bauman said. “I spent the first couple of years there doing mostly scout team stuff.

“My sophomore year I got to travel and my junior and senior seasons I started at wide receiver.”

Bauman caught six balls for 105 yards and a score his junior year (2002) and then had 33 catches for 417 yards and five TDs the next year.

Vidmar and Roman played together one season at Butte College.

Vidmar, primarily a linebacker for coach Paul Croghan, was on a team that went 1-8 his senior year. He led the team in tackles as a senior, and also played a little tight end.

“I was a little surprised (about being selected),” said Vidmar, who now lives in Montana and was present at Saturday’s scrimmage against Reno. “We had a few good players on the team, but we weren’t very good. It was a bunch of great guys, though.

“I just liked to play (football). I really don’t know what I brought to the table.”

Vidmar got the starting job at linebacker three or four games into his freshman season at Butte, and he helped lead the team to a berth in a bowl game at Contra Costa College.

“I had a good game and was the defensive MVP,” Vidmar said.

“He was our best defensive player,” Roman said.

Butte failed to make a bowl game his sophomore year, but Vidmar landed a scholarship with the California Golden Bears.

Vidmar had a solid career at Cal. He finished with 90 tackles, one sack, five stops behind the line and two interceptions.

“The first year I actually played more than I thought I would,” Vidmar said. “I didn’t start, but played weak side linebacker behind Steve Hendrickson (played for 49ers and Chargers). The second year I started a lot of games.”

Vidmar had 57 tackles his senior year.