Oddi trying to make it in The Canadian Football League.
Brian Oddi started the 2004 football season and senior campaign at California University with high hopes.
A 6-0, 225-pounder, Oddi was one of the PSAC's premier linebackers after being No. 2 in tackles with 128 and was a Don Hansen Football Gazette Pre-season All-American.
The 2004 season, however, turned out to be a big disappointment.
In the sixth game against Edinboro, Oddi's campaign came to an abrupt end when he tore his MCL.
The odds of Oddi ever playing football again didn't look promising.
Oddi's football playing days, however, aren't over.
He signed this week to play for the Ottawa Renegades of the Canadian Football League.
"I'm excited about getting the opportunity to play in Ottawa," said Oddi, a Canadian native of Waterdown which is three hours away. "My leg is probably stronger now than when I played."
Oddi credits Pittsburgh Penguins' trainer Mark Mortland.
"He was my personal trainer for a month," noted Oddi.
The California gridder has made enough of a recovery that he's running on the school's 100 meter relay track team, working with assistant coach and former Olympic gold medalist hurdler Roger Kingdom.
Oddi is being recruited as linebacker but could also be moved to free or strong safety where he played in a Canadian League as a schoolboy.
"He has tremendous athletic ability," said Joe Paopao, who doubles as Ottawa's coach and general manager. "He has good coverage ability and he can tack;e."
Oddi had 128 tackles as a junior and 50 in 2004. The Vulcans were 4-1 with Oddi in the lineup before he got hurt.
Oddi will report to the Renegades in May with the CFL season opening June 7.
The Renegades are coming off a 5-13 showing.
Other linebackers on the team are Penn State's Reggie Givens and Auburn's Chris Schilling, who was with the Cincinnati Bengals in 1995-96.
A 6-0, 225-pounder, Oddi was one of the PSAC's premier linebackers after being No. 2 in tackles with 128 and was a Don Hansen Football Gazette Pre-season All-American.
The 2004 season, however, turned out to be a big disappointment.
In the sixth game against Edinboro, Oddi's campaign came to an abrupt end when he tore his MCL.
The odds of Oddi ever playing football again didn't look promising.
Oddi's football playing days, however, aren't over.
He signed this week to play for the Ottawa Renegades of the Canadian Football League.
"I'm excited about getting the opportunity to play in Ottawa," said Oddi, a Canadian native of Waterdown which is three hours away. "My leg is probably stronger now than when I played."
Oddi credits Pittsburgh Penguins' trainer Mark Mortland.
"He was my personal trainer for a month," noted Oddi.
The California gridder has made enough of a recovery that he's running on the school's 100 meter relay track team, working with assistant coach and former Olympic gold medalist hurdler Roger Kingdom.
Oddi is being recruited as linebacker but could also be moved to free or strong safety where he played in a Canadian League as a schoolboy.
"He has tremendous athletic ability," said Joe Paopao, who doubles as Ottawa's coach and general manager. "He has good coverage ability and he can tack;e."
Oddi had 128 tackles as a junior and 50 in 2004. The Vulcans were 4-1 with Oddi in the lineup before he got hurt.
Oddi will report to the Renegades in May with the CFL season opening June 7.
The Renegades are coming off a 5-13 showing.
Other linebackers on the team are Penn State's Reggie Givens and Auburn's Chris Schilling, who was with the Cincinnati Bengals in 1995-96.
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