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SS: Hello fans and Welcome to my new show, where we will share our take on interesting stories and players around the league from time to time, from teams that should be winning , and aren’t, to surprise dark horses who are making a run of things in the early season, and the same goes for players too, today, we will take a look at the Orlando Pirates, and their QB1 – Jake Hamrick.
Hamrick was brought in to Mentor their young talented Quarterback – “CornPop” Graveson, and be a uniting influence for the team, known as a great lockerroom guy and a onfield coach , Hamrick -drafted 1.15 in 2060 by Horsetooth, was set to help Graveson – also drafted 1.15, but in 2067.
Horesetooth let Hamrick walk , and he wound up in Orlando, and well, he showed the staff, players and fans, that he still has a little left in the tank, in fact so much, that Graveson was traded to the Portland Express in week 3, for a 1st round pick in this years draft , and 2 second round picks each year to follow.
How Horsetooth, let Hamrick walk, is a mystery, his TD to INT was 64-39 but the W-L was 24-25, It didn’t always look like the talent was there,- he was labled a 1st round bust early on, and the team around him let him down, except in the magical 1st year he started for Horsetooth they went 11-4 with him starting, only to go 6-10, and then 8-8.
This season,. He’s the QB1 of the Orlando Pirates, who are 3-1, coming off this huge win over division leading Texas 40-12.. please welcome, Jake Hamrick
JH: Thank You Sage , honor to be here.
SS: Great to have you, so- from Horsetooth, the team that drafted you, to Orlando, and now starting on a team who looks like it’s having fun, scoring at will, playing team oriented ball, with a unique mix of rookies and vets , how does it feel, bring us through the process..
JH: Well , Horesetooth Colorado was my home for 10 years, it was like playing at home as well, growing up in New Mexico, and going to College in Oregon State, and hey - I didn’t get to start except midway through my Senior year, I played 7 College games as a starter and won them all , including a Rose Bowl victory. I am grateful for the Ogres and their fans for drafting me and embracing me and my family, They brought in Eric Greer to compete with me last season, he won the job, I supported him like a good teammate, and when they said they were releasing me, I was a little shocked, and then , when they found out Orlando was interested in bringing me in, they tried to offer me a deal to stay, but I had already agreed with the Pirates, and here I am.
SS: They brought you in, and told you they wanted you to be The #2?
JH: Well, I signed a 2 year deal with the promise of a competition, but Graveson was going to be the future, the kid can spin it, he’s got talent- it was funny, same draft position 7 years later, I was actually looking forward to just having fun and what happens, happens, And as Coach Kelly stated using me more with the 1s, Coach Mandel called me in and said I was QB1, and I was happy, but I knew it was going to be tough on CornPop , I took the kid out to dinner, and it went as well as it could, and I tried teaching him the fundementals, as he went a similar path as I did, only starting his Senior Season as well.
Man, that was rough, to see him wanting to play but having to learn 2 new systems- and now a 3rd- but he may be familiar with the OC there- and systems which are completely opposite, in 4 years , you’re starting, then you’re not, now the new guy comes in to help be a good influence, and wham, you’re riding pine, I know the feeling, it sucks.
SS: So , leaving the smaller market West and the mountains of Colorado, for Florida, in the huge market of Orlando, had to be culture shock,
JH: Hell yes it was, still is, tons of tourists, Mickey Mouse and Universal, the heat and the rain.. I’m still getting used to it,
SS: Ok, So we got you coming to Orlando, winning QB1, teaching a young talented QB as well, and then, he’s traded ..
JH: Yep- to Portland, and I tell you what, it was right after the game vs Colorado City , we won by a bunch, and I thought they were gonna put him in for the 4th Quarter, We were up 34-18, then it went to 44- 18, and they had him on the bench and our Punter- Seamster was warming up, tossing the ball , I thought it was a joke, but no, the front office called down and apparently the deal had been done, they called him in after the win and he came out dejected, and thanked me for all I taught him, I thought he’d get a shot for the Express , but I don’t know whats’ going on there , maybe they playbook, maybe .. well, let me no speculate - they- Portland I mean, gave up a LOT for him, so the talent was noticed, He’s a good kid, knows the game, very nice guy, has a drive to win, I looked in on him, and all he’s doing besides learning that playbook is holding kicks. Hey Portland! Let the kid play! ( Smiling ) I wish him the best.
SS: Which brings us to you. The Pirates brought you in, they traded the guy who you were supposed to teach, you’re QB1, 7 TDs, 0 INTS, spinning the ball, keeping your teammates loose and focused at the same time, what’s your secret?
JH: I tell them all just have fun, winning is fun, losing SUCKS, I’m playing my best ball now like the rest of the guys, but I could stink it up tomorrow or something could happen, you got 1 chance in this game, and that was luck , it’s luck if you get a second or third chance, We have great talent here, great players, great coaches, I just get the ball to who it’s gotta go to- that’s my job. Everyone has a job to do, and we hold each other accountable.
SS: If We project your numbers, after 4 games, that would be 4000+ yards, 28 TD’s and 0 INTS , that’s insane to think about, and would be on pace to one of the best seasons a QB has had in the IFL .
JH: Well, I take it one play, one down, one series, one Quarter, Half, or Game at a time, depending on the circumstances, try not to give the ball away and score some points every time out there, it’s simple, and the D is trying to stop you. So Far, So Good,- it’s Sweet to get a win over Texas, they’re a half game ahead of us still , I’m grateful for the chance to go do what I love, and get paid well for it, my teammates rock, The WR/TE Room is full of talent, as is the O Line room. The Backs are amazing with the situational awareness, We are coached up right, and then there’s The Defense,- man oh man, those guys bring it in practice and on gameday , We have a crazy special teams room too, - oh man, Sage, I gotta go, after a win, I take these guys out to Twin Peaks, and you know, like any good teammate, we win, I Pick up the tab for the Offense ..
SS: And who pays the tab for the D?
JH: The D? well- You gotta talk to Freeman, he’s got all the loot on that side, I gotta catch up with Carlisle , he’s my ride – and that kid is crazy! Gonna be a great one here! Gotta run! Thanks!
SS: Thanks for coming on!, Jake Hamrick- QB1 Orlando Pirates, the Cinderella Story continues. I'm Sage Steele, and I'll be doing more shows if the response is positive, DM me for story ideas, or if you'd like to be on, or see someone on, The Stage Steele show!
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