EmotionallyUnstable Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 (edited) Played Division-III ball for my four years in school. Awesome experience, as everyone there was playing because they loved the game, and had no other motivations. My freshman year was spent as the LS and 3rd string TE. I was thrust into a starting role at TE due to an injury early in my sophomore year and held onto the job through my Senior season, when I was a team captain. I played with a couple of stud players (LB, WR, QB) who had pro-days of sorts and some went on to play elsewhere after graduation (professionally in Germany, indoor, semi-pro). I also played against Ali Marpet. We scrimmaged Hobart before the season started. Well, I didn’t actually play against him given that I was an offensive player, but collectively we did. Kind of a cool thing IMO. I had no shot at football after college, but it was a really great time while it lasted. Met my best friends there that I still have to this day, and made connections with players/coaches that still come in handy every once and a while. Another random factoid for those UB Bull fans out there: I was a member of the team that broke Lance Leipold’s 36-0 win streak with DIII national champions Wisconsin Whitewater. Craziest game I’ve ever been a part of. Edited October 3, 2019 by EmotionallyUnstable 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsFan4 Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 I played hockey at a pretty high level. I played a lot of organized sports as a kid but once I started playing organized ice hockey it pretty quickly became my favorite. Then I got pretty serious about hockey when I got a tryout offer from a tier II travel team after my 2nd year in the House league and things kind of just took off from there. Hockey pretty much consumed most of my time after that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoHuddleKelly12 Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 4 hours ago, The Jokeman said: He was playing for the Buccaneers then. I get it--just wish he'd been a Bill that much sooner, is all. Great career! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TitansPerspective Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 Everyone in the nfl, and yours and our past 40 qbs. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agent 91 Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 9 hours ago, Ridgewaycynic2013 said: A few searches through the forums yielded no results, so I’ll start a new topic. Who has played at a professional level, or tried out at that level? Semi pro counts as well. In the spirit of total disclosure, I never played higher than pick up street or playground football, and usually was among the last to be picked. ? Moderators, my apologies if this was better posted in ‘Off the Wall’. Semi pro doesnt count... why? Because I played it lol. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agent 91 Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 3 hours ago, EmotionallyUnstable said: Played Division-III ball for my four years in school. Awesome experience, as everyone there was playing because they loved the game, and had no other motivations. My freshman year was spent as the LS and 3rd string TE. I was thrust into a starting role at TE due to an injury early in my sophomore year and held onto the job through my Senior season, when I was a team captain. I played with a couple of stud players (LB, WR, QB) who had pro-days of sorts and some went on to play elsewhere after graduation (professionally in Germany, indoor, semi-pro). I also played against Ali Marpet. We scrimmaged Hobart before the season started. Well, I didn’t actually play against him given that I was an offensive player, but collectively we did. Kind of a cool thing IMO. I had no shot at football after college, but it was a really great time while it lasted. Met my best friends there that I still have to this day, and made connections with players/coaches that still come in handy every once and a while. Another random factoid for those UB Bull fans out there: I was a member of the team that broke Lance Leipold’s 36-0 win streak with DIII national champions Wisconsin Whitewater. Craziest game I’ve ever been a part of. I really like Leipold! Hope he sticks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffaloSol Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 10 hours ago, RyanC883 said: great topic! and for those who say "played in college," let us know where. Anywhere is impressive! I played in middle school, had # 82 for Don Beebe. Then did cross country and track in HS. Sometimes wish I continued football. "Played in college" is mush more impressive than semi-pro. I've done both d1 football and semi pro, semi pro is a kind of a joke it's a bunch of old guys and a few super athletic dudes playing pick up football with pads. College football like others have said is a grind, it consumes your life, I was dumb and let partying also consume mine instead of school. I wish we had the option to do that league in california where you can play competitive football after high school without going to school 10 years ago. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalo Barbarian Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 10 hours ago, Beach said: i played 1 year of semi pro. i was a punter so most will say that doesnt count. We have an opening 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalo Barbarian Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 8 hours ago, Mango said: Used to be pro in a different, MUCH LESS lucrative sport for a number of years. Years later, working 9-5 in my 30’s, I wish my parents pushed me towards a sport that paid a whole lot better. The football paycheck equivalent of me in my sport would have set me for life. ? what sport is that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GunnerBill Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 9 hours ago, matter2003 said: I had a chance to play semi pro soccer but i decided it wasnt worth it due to constant nagging soft tissue injuries i dealt with my last 2 years of college...i felt a little like Andrew Luck lol Know that feeling. I played a pretty decent semi-pro level but had a knee cartilage opp at 19, a hernia at 21 and then a number of hamstring niggles so I retired from playing at 24 and coached for about 8 years after that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gugny Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 17 minutes ago, GunnerBill said: Know that feeling. I played a pretty decent semi-pro level but had a knee cartilage opp at 19, a hernia at 21 and then a number of hamstring niggles so I retired from playing at 24 and coached for about 8 years after that. The Hamstring Niggles would be an awesome band name. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridgewaycynic2013 Posted October 3, 2019 Author Share Posted October 3, 2019 4 hours ago, BuffaloSol said: "Played in college" is mush more impressive than semi-pro. I've done both d1 football and semi pro... Yes, by all means if you were a player on an organized collegiate program, your experience is welcome in the thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bookie Man Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 Played from from 4th - 12th grade. I played for the same school Kim Pegula graduated from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cripple Creek Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 15 hours ago, Alphadawg7 said: I played HS and some college until I hurt my knee and then left college early to pursue some business opportunities. Was never going to have a real shot at going pro, I wasn’t fast enough before I hurt my knee let alone after lol. I did later also play in a flag football league with former NFL guys like Chris McCalister and also some lesser ex players and former college guys too. Damn Chris was so fast still. Imagine some middle aged average joes who were never very fast even in their prime trying to cover Chris and his friends lol, it wasn’t pretty hahaha. Let’s just say we changed leagues to the Venice co-Ed two hand touch league instead where we became champs lmao. Do you enjoy Italy? I’m surprised Venice has real estate to support League’s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HardyBoy Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 43 minutes ago, Cripple Creek said: Do you enjoy Italy? I’m surprised Venice has real estate to support League’s. Must run a lot of flood routes 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billsfan_34 Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 Furthest I got was Junior year in HS. Played WR and CB. It was fun but life got in the way and 8-9 years of beatings was enough for me. Mad respect for people who understand how violent the game is and were able to continue on to College and above!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfpack78 Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 I walked on at Ohio State the year after they beat the U for the National Championship (2003) as a 6'2 280 lb guard. I had offers from smaller division schools but was considered too small for larger D1 schools. Blew out my ACL in camp of my sophomore season, rehabbed for a year and toiled on scout team for two years before being put on scholarship and playing in eight games my senior (5th) year. Got to play on field goal team in a win at Michigan but my last game was unfortunately a loss to LSU in the national championship game. Had a blast playing and would have loved to continue after college, but my size was kind or prohibitive (I got up to 293 at one point in college) for the NFL game. The interesting thing I never appreciated while in the thick of it is the doors being a college athlete opens up for you after the fact. The CFO at my current employer has told me a number of times he loves hiring college athletes because of the time management skills, drive and work ethic that they have that most folks don't. For the reason I will always encourage my children (child as of now) to pursue athletics in addition to academics for the various life lessons it teaches. 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiltonWaddams Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 Played high school, poorly, backing up OJ Santiago who was a TE at Notre Dame and played in the NFL with Mike Vick’s Falcons and later the Browns. Seeing the level of player firsthand that it takes to play in the NFL was pretty impressive. Unfortunately I didn’t learn sufficiently through watching or obtain skills through proximity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alphadawg7 Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 (edited) 3 hours ago, Cripple Creek said: Do you enjoy Italy? I’m surprised Venice has real estate to support League’s. Venice, CA lol, but I wish it was Italy ha Edited October 3, 2019 by Alphadawg7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pennstate10 Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 The semipro discussion got me to thinking about how loose with the rules some teams are. My cousin (from Boston) tells a story about the time his team got hammered in an age 14 and under league. They were feeling pretty down. Then they saw guys from the other team get in cars and drive away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giuseppe Tognarelli Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 19 hours ago, Mango said: Used to be pro in a different, MUCH LESS lucrative sport for a number of years. Years later, working 9-5 in my 30’s, I wish my parents pushed me towards a sport that paid a whole lot better. The football paycheck equivalent of me in my sport would have set me for life. ? Why not specify the sport??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridgewaycynic2013 Posted October 3, 2019 Author Share Posted October 3, 2019 5 hours ago, Cripple Creek said: Do you enjoy Italy? I’m surprised Venice has real estate to support League’s. If he moves to Tuscany, perhaps he can meet ‘the maestro’. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevewin Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 This is a cool topic - wish more people would include the schools they played at. Little OT but when I was in college a bunch of guys used to play basketball pickup games at the Boy's Club on breaks. One day Don Majkowski came to play (he was in college also at the time). I played against him in HS (he went to Depew I went to Lancaster) and he was a great athlete then, but holy crap he went next level once he got to college. I'll never forget him throwing down dunks that day. It's always a reminder to me what phenomenal athletes all those players are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollars 2 donuts Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 (edited) 21 hours ago, Ridgewaycynic2013 said: A few searches through the forums yielded no results, so I’ll start a new topic. Who has played at a professional level, or tried out at that level? Semi pro counts as well. In the spirit of total disclosure, I never played higher than pick up street or playground football, and usually was among the last to be picked. ? Moderators, my apologies if this was better posted in ‘Off the Wall’. I had a friend of mine who was one bad coach away from really making it as a pro QB...it's still a sore spot for him. Sure, he never played in college, but you wouldn't have either if you wanted to put such adversity far in your rear view mirror. Why would you settle on that sunset in your rear view mirror when you can focus on the sunrise right in front of your windshield?...which wouldn't be happening at the same time and is frankly impossibly, but I think this group is smart enough to get where I'm coming from. We know his account is accurate as we all talk about it frequently. It didn't stop him from being a success in life...but it may have killed some of his dreams. He is haunted by waters... Edited October 3, 2019 by dollars 2 donuts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mango Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 10 hours ago, Buffalo Barbarian said: what sport is that? I rowed (crew) on the US National team for a few years, and lived at the Olympic Training Center. 9 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrEpsYtown Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 I played through college, Division 1AA. I've been a varsity football assistant for 13 years, coaching offensive and defensive lines. Went to high school with two guys who went pro. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blacklabel Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 Always played backyard ball with friends and cousins and whatnot. One summer some buddies of mine had to cut our game short so they could go to actual practice at the school. I decided to join then (10th grade, I think?) and found out relatively quickly that an undersized asthmatic who didn't hit his growth spurt until after HS wasn't gonna make it when the pads came on. So instead I became stats guy/clipboard guy/video guy, and announcer guy because I enjoyed being around it. Claim to fame, I guess, would be my little rinky-dink HS played against the HS of Jehuu Caulcrick. He was on another level and would go on to play at Michigan State and then hung around on practice squads for the Jets, Bucs, and 49ers for a few years before famously getting one regular season carry with the Bills in 2010. If you're not sure who he is, look him up, real interesting life story. My cousins both played QB in HS and then went on to different DIII schools to play, one continued as QB, the other was moved to TE. He played at Hobart which is where Ali Marpet, OG for the Bucs, played, but I don't think they overlapped. They have some interesting stories, though. The one who continued as a QB said he played with kids that definitely could've been DI and eventually pro but they instead wanted to party with friends more than play seriously which is why they ended up at a college in the middle of frickin' nowhere. Both of 'em had ACL/MCL tears. In fact, the younger on just had his surgically repaired this spring. My sport was bowling. If you can call that a sport. Won three division titles with my HS bowling team. What was cool is that my HS was super small so the different sports supported each other. Most of the football team came out to our title matches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seven-N-Nine Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 I could always throw the ball really well (like 65 yards in the air with velocity at age ~14 etc), was pretty fast (never timed), but never played organized football. I was a very good grade school track athlete but grew too fast one summer (like 6", ended up at 6ft even in 9th grade, which was't bad for the late 1980's) and my achilles tendons were never the same, I could not really sprint after that growth spurt without serious tendon pain. Tried out for HS football, was the 2nd fastest on the team(all white dudes so there is that), but quit when the Dr told me about tendon issue and not to play HS football, it would save my knees. I did all the stupid crap kids do plus more dangerous stuff being a weekend bull work warrior, never broke a bone, however physical physique and muscular prowess is just not in my genetics. I tried bodybuilding for about 3 years eating nothing but chicken and broccoli, best shape I have ever been in is 190 lbs, 9% BF @ 6ft tall. Football players are born, you HAVE to have the genetics, most of us simply do not. Not only do you have to be a physical freak, you have to be made of iron and never get hurt. I'm glad I listed to the Dr and did not play HS football, I have some family members/coworkers who did and they have knee and hip replacements before age 60. The vast majority of humans simply cannot play this game. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I'm Spartacus Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 Made it up the Hoover Junior High School in football. Swam until my Freshman year at SUNY Fredonia (whoo hoo!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBilz2500 Posted October 4, 2019 Share Posted October 4, 2019 On 10/2/2019 at 6:41 PM, jkeerie said: What school? University of Illinois On 10/2/2019 at 6:58 PM, qwksilver said: Please post more often. We could use them. I do occasionally. I played for university of Illinois in late 90s/early 2000s. Was on Atlanta’s practice squad for a few seasons. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkeerie Posted October 4, 2019 Share Posted October 4, 2019 1 minute ago, DBilz2500 said: University of Illinois I went to Penn State and obviously follow the Big Ten. I've probably seen you play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBilz2500 Posted October 4, 2019 Share Posted October 4, 2019 Just now, jkeerie said: I went to Penn State and obviously follow the Big Ten. I've probably seen you play. Yea tough place to play at for sure. Could never ever hear the play calls was impossible. I played in late 90s/2000. Played on falcons for a few years 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocket94 Posted October 4, 2019 Share Posted October 4, 2019 9 hours ago, Mango said: I rowed (crew) on the US National team for a few years, and lived at the Olympic Training Center. Good for you. That is no easy feat. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Augie Posted October 4, 2019 Share Posted October 4, 2019 8 hours ago, Mango said: I rowed (crew) on the US National team for a few years, and lived at the Olympic Training Center. Crew is a B word! It’s not for pansies. Congrats on that hard work. I did it in HS for a bit. Worked my butt off and never saw the water. Turns out they had 3 times as many kids as seats, and I was one day away. Last kid out....oops! Lived in Sarasota, FL where they have a big international venue now. Very cool draw to the area. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkeerie Posted October 4, 2019 Share Posted October 4, 2019 7 minutes ago, DBilz2500 said: Yea tough place to play at for sure. Could never ever hear the play calls was impossible. I played in late 90s/2000. Played on falcons for a few years Pleased to meet you Mr. K (If you are who I think you are you won the Big Ten, yes?) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocket94 Posted October 4, 2019 Share Posted October 4, 2019 I was acquainted with two former NFL players...one played in 3 Super Bowls, the other was a pro bowl linebacker. I knew them both from 2 different high schools in NYS. Later on I completed several marathons. I still run if I can get motivated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBilz2500 Posted October 4, 2019 Share Posted October 4, 2019 8 minutes ago, jkeerie said: Pleased to meet you Mr. K (If you are who I think you are you won the Big Ten, yes?) My name is Kurt. Yes we did win the Big Ten what a fun ride that was Just now, DBilz2500 said: My name is Kurt. Yes we did win the Big Ten what a fun ride that was And the reason I’m on here and big Bills fan is because my aunt and cousins live in the Newfane/Lockport area and as kids we went up there every summer and occasional thanksgiving to visit. Been a HUGE fan since I was a youn kid. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkeerie Posted October 4, 2019 Share Posted October 4, 2019 Pleased to meet you Kurt! Congrats on your Big Ten championship! Not an easy feat. What brought you to the Bill's forum? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBilz2500 Posted October 4, 2019 Share Posted October 4, 2019 3 minutes ago, jkeerie said: Pleased to meet you Kurt! Congrats on your Big Ten championship! Not an easy feat. What brought you to the Bill's forum? Been a huge fan since I’m a young kid. Have lots of family up in that area and visited many many times as a kid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkeerie Posted October 4, 2019 Share Posted October 4, 2019 Well...it's nice to meet a Big Ten alum, particularly one so accomplished and well versed in football and the NFL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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