Defensive star Schroeder left diamond love for gridiron

Four-year starter and defensive lineman Rob Schroeder is a high-motor, hard-working leader by example. And the UB football team almost missed out on having the Rochester native's presence on the field.

Schroeder was a two-year captain and three-year letterman on the East Rochester High School football team, but his sights weren't set on the collegiate gridiron. Schroeder was focused on a baseball career, a sport in which he earned four letters as a pitcher and first baseman.

"Baseball is my first love," Schroeder said. "It was all I wanted to do. Coming out of high school, I think I was better at baseball than football."

However, Schroeder's high school football head coach, Dennis Greco, saw it fit to pass knowledge of Schroeder's gridiron accomplishments to others in the football community.

Schroeder's name was released to the football world as a possible candidate to suit up on a collegiate level and he accepted a full ride to a school that is more often known for its academics than its fledging Division-I football team. UB was the lone school to offer Schroeder a full athletic scholarship for football while schools such as Villanova, Fordham and Colgate offered him partials.

"I just wanted the chance to help my parents," Schroeder said. "They were already paying for my brother to go to school and Buffalo was the only school to offer me a full scholarship."

Schroeder has been a constant figure at defensive tackle and has been a disruptive force throughout the game throughout his tenure at Buffalo. Schroeder has blocked eight kicks as a Bull and ranks first in the nation among active players for blocked kicks in a career, a feat he takes great pride in.

"When you block a kick you prevent them from scoring any points," Schroeder said. "You just try and stay low and get penetration. It's not something you can practice. It's a knack I developed when I came to college."

At an early age, Schroeder was instilled with the desire to keep his nose to the grindstone.

"My father taught me as a kid to work hard," Schroeder said. "He told me that I can only go as far as I want to."

Typically, a man who stands 6-foot-3-inches tall and weighs 281 pounds isn't able to exert the level of athleticism that Schroeder does. Schroeder has been breaking the un-athletic big-man stereotype since the time he lettered in three sports in high school and has continued to do so through his current days as a UB Bull.

"For a big man, he's a very good athlete," said defensive coordinator and defensive line coach Tom Jones. "He's very light on his feet and he has good flexibility in his hips."

In addition to his hard work, Schroeder's unique pre-game ritual also helps in his performance. The towering senior downs a large jar of sweet pickle juice before each time he laces up cleats.

"It started back in my senior year of high school," Schroeder said. "I never really did it in college until senior year. It's a weird superstition but it helps with avoiding dehydration and cramping."

All of this has helped Schroeder to be a proud member of a defense that is ranked third in the Mid-American Conference and 60th in the nation.

"We're full of guys who are talented and who like to work hard," Schroeder said. "We have a lot of experience, too."

The experience and hard work unfortunately hasn't added up in the standings, as the Bulls are winless on the season. Schroeder, though, thinks that the team's record isn't indicative of its talent level.

"As a team, it's kind of disappointing," Schroeder said. "Our team is a better team than it shows. We just need a game where both sides play well."

Schroeder is close to finishing his last season with UB and he will be leaving behind the school he has called home for the past five years and the players he has come to know as more than just teammates.

"They are my family," Schroeder said. "After I graduate, after these four games, I'm going to miss these guys. After growing up with these guys for five years, that's what I'm going to miss: my brothers."

Schroeder has only four more opportunities to don his blue and white number 62 jersey, put his hand on the ground and go to war with his brothers. The defensive tackle has just two more chances to walk out the tunnel of UB Stadium as an active player, the first of which is this Saturday against Ohio University.