BALTIMORE – This is the ninth iteration of the “Rookie of the Week” series, and this week we travel to a team with bright jerseys and a bright smile - Baltimore’s 11-5 record topped the Continental Conference, and much of their success came from the 400+ points they dropped on opponents. Odell Schmitt, a wolverine from Marlin State, was drafted in the second round. His huge stature makes him a force not to be reckoned with, and while quarterback protection may be his focus on the field, Odell’s focus on and off the field is inspired and courageous. We have chosen to award Odell this week for his “unsung hero” efforts, as the team prepares for the playoffs.
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Thanks for your time Odell - congratulations on such a successful first season thus far! You're... much bigger in person. How are you feeling these days?
Come on, I don’t bite! I’m not sure who started this “Mean Dean of Wolverine” thing anyway. I’m a tackle! With a name like that, I should be sacking QBs left and right or something. Anyway, I’m feeling much, much better than I was earlier this season. Got my knee all healed up, back on the field, and ready to kick some tail!
The Baltimore Ponies are proving to be quite the team to defeat offensively. How would you compare the team to Marlin State's offensive game, which was well known for its rushing game?
Baltimore’s a much more pass-oriented offense than what I’m used to, so I’ve had to adjust to a different set of blocking schemes. It’s taken a little time, especially with missing a full month of practices. I seem to be doing pretty well for myself, though, and every week is another chance to get fully up to speed with the rest of the line. At least we don’t have to do extra push-ups or anything if we let Isiah or Rod get tackled behind the line, like Coach T (MSU head coach Steven Thalburg) used to do.
An unsuccessful rookie season can mean a long and difficult career. Are you worried? What do you do to keep yourself busy and focused?
I’m not too worried at the moment. We’ve had a great season so far, and with Aspen as our QB we have a chance to go all the way. Sure, I’ve missed some time, but I think the results on the field still speak for themselves. It’s good that we’re really getting in on the ground floor of this new league. The only true comparison we’re going to have next year is to ourselves this year, and I’m sure I can do even better with a full season under my belt.
One thing that being injured has actually helped me with is, it’s given me a lot more time to study film. I’ve gotten in the habit of spending a couple hours in the film room every week to help prepare for the game. It really helps to keep my mind on the game, even when I’m not in practice.
We know about you on the field, but not off - what keeps you busy in your spare time?
Well, I’m actually a huge basketball fan, so I’m glad that I ended up on a team that shares a city with an FBA team. I try to catch a game every time that we have a home game. I’ve also… kinda been dating my physical therapist… ahem… next question…
I always ask this question - what's your favorite food?
I’m a huge, huge fan of Mexican food. There’s this taco truck in Tampa, run out of an old school bus, that has this amazing butternut squash tostada. It’s actually been a little hard to get used to eating out here. Everywhere you go it’s nothing but crab on everything, and I’m allergic to it.
And, finally - what is your ultimate goal for this season, and beyond - now that we're nearing the end?
Number one, to stay healthy and on the field. Number two, to make it all the way to the FurBowl! I’m not sure about this playoff format, though. Never played a tournament that wasn’t single elimination before. We’ll have to take it a game at a time from here on.
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Schmitt and the Baltimore Ponies face the Fargo Axemen next Sunday.
