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What's in a
name? In the
case of the
Rattlers WR/DB
Orshawante
Bryant it comes
from within.
Spend a little
time with him
and you will
quickly see that
he is grounded
in family and
faith. As person
is
growing up,
family tries to
help them grow,
make their mark, make
a name for
themselves. His
parents are from
Louisiana and
they are Creole
French, in his
mind and his
grandparents as
well, they
believe the name
came from the
area. But they
are not sure. He went from Riverside
CA., to PSU a place where such
players as James Hunden,
Derek Holmes,
Paul Bradford,
Sammy Burroughs played.
One thing we are
sure about is
the player
from Portland
State stands
tall among some
of the best
athletes in the
world. He came
to the Rattlers
the way many
players have, by
being a PK's
Kid, no, not a
Preacher's Kid,
a Pete Kettela
kid. One of the
best talent
evaluators in
the AFL is
Pete Kettela.
While everyone
else is busy
trying to get
connected to the
most current,
most
sophisticated
techniques and
systems for
spotting future
talent. Pete
is going where
the talent is,
talking to those
who know. Those
who are willing
to put their
word on a player
and bringing
Arizona a
continuous
stream of world
class athletes
that the system
overlooks or
ignores. Tim
Walsh of
Portland State
put his word on
OB.
OB is
happy to be
playing
football. Coming
out of college
Arena Football
was not
something he
considered. But
as a person of
faith, he
believes the God
puts in a place
where he wants
you at the time.
He said "When my
time to play in
the NFL comes,
it will come at
the right time.
For right now,
this is where he
wants me to be."
As it turns out
when Tim
Walsh talked
to OB's
agent, he told
him to get in
touch with
Pete Kettela.
As it turns out
Pete was
following
Orshawante
throughout his
college career.
He did not know
Orshawante
was available
since OB
still had some
prospects in the
NFL draft. Once
he found out
OB was still
available he
spoke to Gene
Nudo and
Danny White,
they brought him
in for a tryout
and ended up
keeping him for
the last 4 games
of 2001. They of
course invited
him back the
next season.
The timing was
good for a young
player, with the
AFL going to NBC
and a national
audience. OB
had this to say.
"It's awesome,
and I will get a
chance to play a
little defense
again. I have
not done that
since high
school. I still
have some
technique things
I have to work
on, but I am
enjoying it and
having fun. That
is the name of
the game, doing
what you gotta
do."
On spare time
time activities
he says:
"Video games,
that's what most
of the guys do.
Most of the guys
are avid
players, anytime
they are off the
field you can
find them with
the controllers
in their hands.
Whenever I don't
have anything to
do, that's what
I enjoy."
He especially
enjoys playing
his cousin
Aldus Glaze,
Aldus is
his only family
here and
currently is an
All-Star lineman
for the Central
Phoenix Phantoms
of the
Arizona Football
League. Now
Aldus
says that OB
can't beat him
at any video
games, ever.
That he is the
champ.
Let's ask OB:
"Aldus Glaze,
my cousin, he
used to beat me.
Now that I have
gotten into the
games and
started
practicing, he
can't hang with
me. Not even
close. If he was
standing right
next to me I
would still say
it."
"There rest of
my family is in
California or
Houston,
Aldus is the
closest family
to me right now,
he is a great
guy."
The game in
Buffalo had a
crowd watching
that was about
as large as
practice here
today is at
Veterans
Coliseum, empty,
how does that
affect you as a
player? "It
affects some
people but I
have been to
games where
there was no one
in the stands.
The only people
for you were on
the sidelines,
it is a mental
thing. Most of
us are focused
on what is on
the field rather
than what is in
the stands. Some
people get
caught up into
that and let it
get to them. It
doesn't matter
if Buffalo was
packed and they
were all booing,
or no one is
there. It is all
about what the
guys on the
field are paying
attention to, if
their minds are
on the stands,
obviously they
are not focused
on the what is
on the field."
Personal
goals? To
perfect as much
as I can,
especially on
the defensive
side.
Offensively, I
am getting more
aggressive after
I catch the ball
and I want to
stay healthy. I
want to become
more defensive
minded, then the
interceptions
and tackles will
increase. I
don't want to
get scored on
anytime, I
really get
frustrated when
I do. So if I
just work on the
techniques and
the mental part
of it hopefully
I can perfect
the defensive
side of the ball
as well as I
would for the
offense."
"Nothing like I
want to be MVP
of this or that,
I just want to
play and have
fun like I did
at Portland
State.
Eventually all
those records
that I broke at
the time came
and I didn't
even know about
it until I was
already done. If
I can get that
going here, play
hard and do the
right things,
then good things
will come after
that."
Is this
something you
consider a
second chance?
"Yes, it is."
If you were
not playing
football, what
would you be
doing now?
"I would be
teaching! I
studied
education in
college and
still have a
couple of
internships to
finish up. But
that is what I
would be doing,
working
somewhere with
kids. Just like
I was in the off
season and
before I came up
here. I was
teaching in
after school
programs,
working with
K-8."
So when your
career is over
you will become
a teacher?
"Yes and a
coach. After
being in the
class room all
day I can go out
and get active
with too. I have
gotten a lot of
feed back from
parents that
have seen me
working with
their kids. They
like that I
don't tell them
to go things but
that I work with
them and we do
things together.
I have built
some good
relationships
with the
students."
Anyone you
want say hi to?
"Aldus Glaze,
I'll pick up on
him later on. My
parents back
home, they
always support
me, I'll see
them down in LA,
spread my Love
to them and my
family back home
in Houston as
well."
Final Thoughts:
Watching
Orshawante
practice, play
and observing
how he interacts
with others on
his team, his
coaches,
management and
with his family.
It is clear that
he is focused
and grounded. He
is someone that
brings good
things to the
people around
him. We have
nicknamed him
OBWONCANOB
simply because.
He is a winner,
he plays like a
giant and he has
already won.
If you are looking for someone that
can be role models in pro sports.
Start coming to Rattlers games and
you will find an organization that
specializes in bringing the best
people and athletes together.
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