“I had missed playing it ever since high school,” he said. “Football is one of my favorite sports.”
Oliver’s first chance to rekindle his love for the game comes Saturday, when UMHB - ranked as high as No. 2 in NCAA Division III polls - opens its season against No. 12 Christopher Newport (Va.) at 6 p.m. at Tiger Field.
It has been six years since the 6-7, 210-pound Oliver played competitive football - he was an all-district quarterback for Class 2A Wallis Brazos - and much has happened in the interim.
He was an All-American Southwest Conference post player for the Crusaders’ basketball team, he pitched in one game for UMHB’s baseball team in the spring of 2006, and he spent most of last fall playing professional basketball in Iceland.
So now he’s come full circle. He’s back on the gridiron - this time as a wide receiver - where the Crusaders hope he can provide the big-play aerial threat missing from last year’s team.
“Having Patrick come in has given us a big shot in the arm,” UMHB coach Pete Fredenburg said. “He’s so athletic on the field. And because of his experience of playing professionally, he brings another level of maturity to the team.”
Oliver knew he had one semester of athletic eligibility remaining when he drove to Andersen Fieldhouse during the summer for a few friendly games of touch football.
What he didn’t know was that those summer sessions would drive him back onto the field.
“When I came up here this summer, my intentions weren’t to join the team,” he said. “But then I fell in love with playing again.
“I was just trying to stay in shape, and it turned into something good. Now I just want to contribute. A lot of people don’t have the chance to play college football. I’m going to make the most of it.”
And once his mind is set, it’s Oliver’s ability to achieve that has made him a successful athlete.
“First of all, he has great overall athleticism,” UMHB basketball coach Ken DeWeese said. “But also, his spontaneity is incredible. We never knew for sure what he was going to do, because I don’t think he knew what all he was capable of doing.
“If he had to jump six feet to catch a pass, he did. If he had to take two quick steps to his right to grab the ball, he did. He has a great ability to use his athleticism.”
Still, knocking off the football rust and learning a new position haven’t exactly been a cakewalk. Oliver admits he was sore for two straight weeks at the beginning of camp and that he still has to get used to the timing and technique of playing receiver.
“It started off pretty tough,” he said. “You see those guys go out there these past few years and win those (ASC championship rings), but you don’t really see what they actually go through to earn those. Now, I know.”
And as for that inevitable first big hit?
“I’m prepared. I’ll be all right,” Oliver said. “It’s going to happen, but I’m going to try to dish out more than I receive.”
With adequate speed, a 6-7 frame and the soft hands required of an elite basketball player, Oliver has the tools to make an impact on the football field.
And at the end of the day, that’s really his only goal.
“I just want to know that I helped a team win a ring,” he said. “My goal this Saturday and every Saturday is just to get the win. That’s the main thing.”
edrennan@temple-telegram.com
