Omarr Smith Knows the Way back to San Jose
January 19, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
San Jose SaberCats News Release
SAN JOSE, Calif. (Jan. 19, 2004) â You can go home again. SaberCats' receiver/defensive back Omarr Smith is living proof.
After spending three seasons in San Jose, catching 29 passes and intercepting six, while earning Game Ironman honors in the SaberCats' Arena Bowl XVI victory in 2002, Smith moved east in 2003, winning another ring with the Tampa Bay Storm. A year away from the West Coast has given a surreal feeling to Smith's return to San Jose.
"It feels kind of weird. It feels like I never left," said the four-year veteran. "A lot of the same guys are here, the same coaching staff. You leave, then come back and all those memories just instantly come back. I feel good about it."
While Smith may have felt like he never left, the SaberCats definitely noticed his absence during the 2003 season. Despite leading the AFL in turnovers forced and fewest first downs allowed, injuries and Smith's departure hurt San Jose's depth in the defensive backfield. Meanwhile, Smith was putting up career numbers for the Storm, intercepting a team-leading eight passes and posting 88.5 tackles.
Smith credits his year in Florida with enhancing his development as a football player. "In Tampa, a lot of things were on my shoulders being a defensive specialist, covering the middle, covering their best receiver," Smith explained. "Going to an organization I knew nothing about, going to a new city - it was different. It was tough at times, but I had a really good time in Tampa...but now I'm back in San Jose and I want to get another championship â that's the main thing."
Smith's championship season with the Storm was capped off with a second-place finish in the AFL's Defensive Player of the Year voting. His return to San Jose pairs him with the man he finished second to, in two-time Defensive Player of the Year, Clevan Thomas. Smith relishes the opportunity to reunite with his former partner.
"I think that's awesome," Smith said enthusiastically. "When I was here before, we built a good rapport together. To be in the same backfield will be a really good thing because he's a lot more experienced and I'm more experienced. I've seen things and done things coverage-wise when I was with Tampa and they're doing some different things here that we can put together."
The SaberCats defense is often overlooked, due to a high-powered offense coming off the highest-scoring season in AFL history. Smith says that's fine with him â as long as he's still playing in June.
"With our powerful offense and the nature of this game, the offense rules, so they're always going to get the credit," Smith admitted. "Our defense doesn't get the credit. If we do, that's great. If not, that's not a problem. As long as we play consistently and are in that last game to bring a championship back (to San Jose), that's all that matters."
The SaberCats kickoff their 10th AFL season at Detroit on Thursday, February 5th. The home opener is set for Saturday, February 28th against the Grand Rapids Rampage at HP Pavilion. Single game tickets for all home games can be purchased at all Northern California TicketMaster outlets, on-line at www.ticketmaster.com, or in person at the HP Pavilion box office. For season or group ticket information call the SaberCats at (408) 573-5577 or visit the team's official website at www.sanjosesabercats.com.
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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from January 19, 2004
- Storm Training Camp News and Notes - Tampa Bay Storm
- Omarr Smith Knows the Way back to San Jose - San Jose SaberCats
- Cobras Training Camp Officially Begins - Carolina Cobras
- Greet the Gladiators - Las Vegas Gladiators
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