The following article about former South Dakota football player A.J. Schable was written by Kevin White of the Omaha World-Herald and placed on the www.omaha.com web site today. He is now a backup defensive end for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League.

Schable makes move to Sunday afternoon football for Arizona

BY KEVIN WHITE WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

Kurt Warner, Edgerrin James, Matt Leinart and A.J. Schable.

Three are household names; one may be a household name only in his own household. But they're all members of a 1-0 Arizona Cardinals football team excited to see what the season holds.

Schable, a 6-foot-3, 281-pound former standout at Battle Creek-Ida Grove High School and the University of South Dakota, entered camp as a long shot to make the NFL squad. But he impressed the coaching staff with his versatility. His dream came true the day after the Cardinals' final preseason game, in a team meeting.

"There were 53 guys in there. Coach (Dennis) Green said, 'Congratulations, everyone here's made the team,'" Schable said. "I was like, 'Oh, sweet!'"

Schable was the first South Dakota player in 18 years named to the Associated Press' prestigious Little All-America team, after leading NCAA Division II and setting a school record with 19 sacks as a senior. He signed with the Cardinals as an undrafted free agent, and he was told he would be tried out at fullback, tight end and defensive end.

The former BCIG star is listed No. 2 at right defensive end on the depth chart. But he continues to get work at fullback because of his blocking ability, and he appeared in a few plays at that position in Sunday's 34-27 win over San Francisco. He usually appears in short-yardage or goal-line situations.

Schable also is a member of Arizona's kickoff, kickoff return, punt return, field goal and field-goal block teams. He admits everything is happening at a dizzying pace.

"I don't think it will really sink in until I'm done with the season," he said. "It's weird because it doesn't seem that different. I'm just playing football, it's just that it's on a bigger stage."

He said his days on the practice field can be "overwhelming." He attends all the defensive and special teams meetings, and he looks at offensive film on his own time.

There has never been more of a buzz surrounding Arizona football in the Phoenix area. The team is breaking in $455 million Cardinals Stadium in suburban Glendale, and every game this season is sold out. That for a franchise that was without a home sellout since 2000.

The opening-day victory also marked the first time in the franchise's 18 years in Arizona that the Cardinals opened the regular season at home.

"The whole town is going crazy," Schable said. "The stadium was packed and everybody was jacked up before the game. It's really exciting to be here."

It's a long way from his days at BCIG, when he rushed for a school-record 1,055 yards as a senior and was named a first-team All-Western Iowa linebacker by The World-Herald. Schable said there is a lesson in his story for any player who feels he is being overlooked.

"I'd say don't worry if you're not at a Division I school," he said. "You can get to where you want to go. Go where it fits you best. But don't take the easy way out."