GCC Football announces five players transferring to four-year school

While wins and losses usually determine a successful season on the football field, having players transfer to four-year schools is the barometer of off-the-field success.

The 2021 Glendale College Football Team finished 6-4 in interim Head Coach Tanner Farwell's first year at the helm and recently announced that five sophomores on that team will be transferring.

• Richie Garcia-Kansas Wesleyan University
• Bruce Gonzalez-Cal State Los Angeles
• Andy Kozanian-USC
• Trent Lousararian-Cal State Northridge
• Brandon McElroy-Arizona State University

"These young men had to deal with adversity on and off the field. Every day showed their courage and character in how they overcame all obstacles in front of them on and off the field," said Interim Head Coach Tanner Farwell. "These men will continue their educations and keep striving to become great leaders in our society-Once a Vaq, always a Vaq''
While Garcia and McElroy earned all-league honors, it was the inspirational play of Kozanian, the team's kicker, who suffered a serious injury early in the 2021 season that necessitated him being taken off the field by ambulance and briefly hospitalized, but did not end his season.

"I took a big hit on a punt return and really lost feeling in my body. It was scary but I got great care from the GCC trainers until the ambulance came and then slowly started to get feeling back in my arms and legs and was discharged the next day, said Kozanian who was diagnosed with a concussion. "It really kind of shook me up to get my jersey and game stuff cut off me so they could evaluate me but I was determined to come back and at least kick for the last few games and it helped motivate me to finish the year strong and be able to transfer.''

The confetti and Fight On congratulations he received by text message from USC announcing his acceptance certainly made everything he had gone through worth while. His attempt to kick his way onto the USC Football Team in an open tryout on August 22 will be another step.

But for him and his fellow GCC teammates, the opportunity to transfer to a four-year school after surviving the pandemic and the loss of a football season in 2020 is significant. The confetti is flying for them as well as best wishes from GCC athletics and football on a job well done.