by Riley Bauling
Daily Lobo
Just because they're professionals doesn't mean they get to shirk the role of newbies.
Ex-UNM men's soccer player Brandon Moss found that out when he joined the Columbus Crew after being taken 27th in the Major League Soccer draft Jan. 20.
Whether it be carrying the balls, filling the water coolers or dragging equipment to practice, Moss has heard it all in his first week with the Crew.
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"It's being a freshman all over again," Moss said. "The first day we were here, the first thing the coach says to us (rookies) is get the bags. We're carrying the balls all the time, we're carrying the equipment. That's how it is."
It took a week, but now Moss said he's accustomed to the level of play, and of course the grunt work.
"The first week was a bit of an adjustment period, overcoming the fact that you're playing with professionals," Moss said. "Once the comfort zone started to set in, you felt more comfortable with everything. Once I started feeling comfortable, it was one of the best things I've ever gotten to do."
There's still about two weeks of training before rosters need to be made final March 1. At any given time, there's around 35 players all vying for those 28 final spots, 10 of which are only developmental positions. Translation: more work with much less pay.
"They've already let six guys go, and they're always bringing players in," Moss said. "They can cut people whenever and bring people in whenever."
It's no wonder Moss and the rest of the players are constantly looking over their shoulders.
"The head coach (Sigi Schmid) just took off to Germany to scout some players," Moss said. "That's a bit unnerving to know that you have no job security."
Next up on Moss's training itinerary is a six-day trip to Cyprus in the Mediterranean Sea to play some of the top club teams in Europe, including Ukrainian champs FC Dynamo Kiev. The out-of-country trips are a perk Moss had his fingers crossed for during the draft.
"It's funny, because through the whole draft, I was thinking, 'Let me get picked by a team that's going to go to Europe or South America,'" Moss said. "I got picked up and this was in the plans. It's just awesome to be able to travel the world and do what you want to do."
Columbus just finished a two-week long training camp in Florida, where Moss met up with ex-Lobo goalkeeper Andrew Weber who's fighting to grab the backup goalkeeper position on D.C. United. Weber left UNM at the end of his senior year in 2004 when he was picked up as a free agent by United.
Moss also got to talk to two other Lobos who got taken in draft: Lance Watson and Jeff Rowland, who were in Florida. Josh Brown was the other UNM player taken in the draft when he went 45th to the Colorado Rapids.
Rowland scored the game-winning goal in Real Salt Lake's 2-1 preseason win over the Kansas City Wizards on Wednesday. Watson was playing right back for the Wizards in Kansas City's loss.
"It was cool to have four UNM guys all out in Florida, and it's fun to have old teammates and friends across the country," Moss said. "None of us have just blown anyone away, but we're all right there in the mix."
If right in the mix means a roster spot come March 1, will all those rookie tasks be worth it?
"Oh yeah, definitely," Moss said. "The new guys are always going to be doing the grunt work, and you've got to respect the senior and veteran players. But after five years in the league, hopefully we'll be telling the rookies to carry our bags."
