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A Conversation With Jonathan Ordway

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By ADAM ADKINS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 5, 2008

Jonathan Ordway has been well-traveled in his football career.

A 1997 Armwood High graduate who later went on to Boston College, where he was a four-year letterwinner with the Eagles, Ordway has made stops in three professional football leagues - the National Football League, the Canadian Football League and the Arena Football League.

He's spent the past six seasons in the AFL, the first four with the Tampa Bay Storm and the last two with the Chicago Rush. In 2008, Ordway totaled 57 tackles and an interception in helping Chicago reach the playoffs. He is currently set to become a free agent Aug. 16.

The 29-year-old Ordway, who resides in Tampa during the offseason, was back at his high school alma mater July 29 for the opening of Armwood's new 11,430-square-foot athletic complex, and he was among the first people to get a tour of the Hawks' new facility.

Seeing this, you've got to be a little jealous they didn't plan any of this sooner, don't you?

I'm not really jealous because I feel more fortunate just to be a part of it. I feel like honestly I was a part of the first real winning team and the one that turned this program around here, so I feel like, a little part of this, a little responsible for this thing being built. It definitely would have been nice, though.

You got a little tour of this place. What's the one thing that stands out the most about it?

Everything. I just think they did a really good job. It's kind of hard imagining a lot of it because they don't have all the equipment yet, but I think the weight room is going to be fantastic and the fact that they have the varsity locker room, the same size lockers, though maybe just a little different, like in the NFL. The fact that it's just spacious; they're not going to be on top of one another. They are going to be comfortable. This is almost professional quality. It's at least collegiate quality. And guys that go to smaller colleges, they may leave here and go some place that's not as nice.

I'm sure you've seen some places that have not been as nice in the travels in your career, right?

Definitely. There's some places where we go on the road, some of those basketball arenas, that might not be this nice.

You've been in the AFL for a few years now. You won a championship with the Tampa Bay Storm in 2003, and you just wrapped up another season with Chicago. What is it about the Arena game that suits you as a player?

I wouldn't necessarily say the game is suited for me. I played in the CFL and I had my NFL opportunity, briefly, but it's the AFL a throwing league so it's geared toward defensive backs. I enjoy the league, but honestly there's not a whole lot of jobs out there, to be frank, where you can play professional football. You've got the NFL, then you've got the CFL, and there's what, eight teams there, and then you've got the Arena League. So if you want to keep playing, you've pretty much got to find a home in one of those leagues, and I've been fortunate enough to do well and find a home in the Arena League.

Is Chicago where you'd like to stay, or could you see yourself coming back home and playing for the Storm again?

Tampa will always be my home, and I had a great opportunity here. Coach Tim Marcum gave me my first opportunity, and I will always be thankful for that. You know, I'll always keep my options open. Chicago has been a great organization, and we're going to see if we can get something done. I'd be glad to go back to Chicago, but I'd always keep my options open to come back here because this is home.

Finally, Armwood coach Sean Callahan said earlier that you are "one guy I'm most proud of." How does it make you feel hearing that?

Honestly, I'm flattered and feel fortunate to have the opportunity to play for Coach Callahan. If that's the way he feels, then I feel like my parents definitely did something right. I'm just flattered. It makes me feel special, and makes me feel as though he still appreciates the small contribution I may have made to this program. It just feels good.

Adam Adkins

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