As the senior forward and co-captain of Georgetown’s soccer team, it is only natural that Ricky Schramm has been dreaming of starting in the English Premier League or Spain’s La Liga since he began playing soccer at the age of five.
“Playing professional soccer has been a goal of mine ever since I started, but when you get older, you start thinking that maybe its not actually possible,” Schramm remembered.
Last Friday, however, Schramm was selected in the third round and 37th overall in the Major League Soccer (MLS) draft by one of the league’s most respectable and successful teams, Washington’s own D.C. United. Schramm is the third GU player in as many years to make it to the MLS, following former Georgetown teammates Dan Gargan (’05) and Jeff Curtain (’06).
“Dan and Jeff were good friends who I got to know as guys and players, and they helped bring the dream into a realistic spectrum, to understand that the goal was attainable,” Schramm said, sounding equally excited and relieved to finally grasp what had been a fantasy for so long.
When asked if he had been considering any other options, he cut in quickly.
“My mind was made up without even thinking, that’s why I came to Georgetown,” says Schramm, noting he could not have made it without the help of his current coach, Brian Wiese, and past coach, Keith Tabatznik. “I have learned a lot in college; they taught me a lot about the mental side of the game.”
At Georgetown, Schramm has certainly proven himself. Finishing third on Georgetown’s all-time list with 39 career goals, Schramm was named to the NCAA All-Northwest Region Third Team (2006), the All-Big East Second Team (2006), the All-Big East Third Team (2005), the All-Big East First Team (2004) and was named Big East Offensive Player of the Year (2004).
Schramm is entering the MLS at a pivotal moment. With David Beckham heading to the LA Galaxy, the league is gaining new attention and building recognition.
A new rule known as the “David Beckham” rule allows teams to exempt one player from the MLS’s $2-million per team salary cap, and trade with other teams to hold up to two exceptions, in order to draw bigger names from the illustrious European leagues. The MLS also recently signed several television deals, meaning every MLS game will be televised, drawing more fans.
Schramm has helped raise the status of the MLS at Georgetown, inspiring friends to create the facebook.com group, “Who needs David Beckham? We’ve got Rick Schramm.” United is already known for having one of the best home game atmospheres, drawing 18,215 fans on average every game.
“I had been to some games, not a lot, but I know the environment,” said Schramm, who is eager for next year when he will be on the field rather than in the stands, at RFK stadium.
