Fred “Otis” Amey

Fred “Otis” Amey kindly made himself available for an interview, and SR thanks him for his time.

When you look at numbers, it is a no brainer. Fred “Otis” Amey easily goes down as the greatest wide-receiver in Hornet football history. The two-time All-American’s name is sprinkled throughout the record books. Amey’s four year career (2001 – 2004) at Sac State put him at number one with 4,049 reception yards with 248 catches. To put that number in perspective, the next leading receiver, Mike Carter, is second with 1,896 yards. Amey also is number one in receiving touchdowns (27), season receptions (76), single game receptions (15), kick-off return yards (1,687), career punt return for touchdown (90 yards).

Since his football career at Sac State, Otis has played in the NFL, the Arena Football League, and most recently, was at training camp with the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League.

SR: I recently read that things did not work out with the Canadian Football League’s British Columbia Lions. Do you hope to sign with another team? If not, what next?

Amey: It looks as if I’ll be signing with the Las Vegas UFL team here shortly. I have a 3-day workout for them coming up on August 18th-20th. If that just so happens to not work, I’ll continue to prepare for my wedding on Dec. 4th and keep training.

SR: You had a couple of stints in the Arena Football League, first with the Austin Wranglers and then ultimately with the Cleveland Gladiators where you led the league in touchdowns (50), and had 1,516 yards in reception yards. The Gladiators fell just one point shy of going to the ArenaBowl. How tough of a transition was it to play in the AFL? Did the suspension of the AFL for the 2009 season because of financial reasons come as a sudden surprise? Are you interested in playing in the AFL again when they resume play in 2010?

Amey: Playing in the AFL right after playing in the NFL was an extremely tough transition! The field is about twice as small but the players are still just as good. The most difficult thing to adjust to is how to use the angles of the field and catch footballs off the net (lol). The suspension of play was never a surprise to me b/c of the league’s instability. The year before I came to Cleveland, the Austin Wranglers folded, so I was used to it. Not sure how interested I’d be in returning to a new AFL, primarily because of monetary reasons.

SR: Looking back on your days as a Hornet, do you have a favorite game or most memorable moment?

Amey: My most memorable moment would be breaking the single game record for catches in a game with 15 at EWU.* I just knew that day that I wouldn’t get any catches b/c of how ridiculously windy and cold it was. Every single catch was hard to make, but before I knew it, I had 14 catches. Coach Moose put me back in to get one more…and the rest is history. *(Oct. 30, 2004; at Eastern Washington, L, 45-10)

SR: Most difficult moment or loss?

Amey: Easily every Causeway loss, but specifically the one at home my Junior year. We went up with a little more than a minute remaining on a TD by Jason Girley and should not have lost. Our defense played some strange thing called “Prowler” & let UC Davis drive right down the field. They ended up scoring and winning. I’ve never been so high, then immediately low, ever before in my life.

SR: One of my favorite highlights of your football career was not in the “green and gold,” but as a 49er. Season opener. Saint Louis Rams on September 11th, 2005. You are a rookie. Your first touch of the football is a 75 yard punt return for a touchdown. Where does that moment rank in your playing career? (By the way, I have unsuccessfully searched Youtube to find video of your kick-off return. Do you know where to get a copy?)

Amey: That moment is easily #1 for me too! You already said it all…my first NFL game, first time touching the ball, etc, etc. What topped it off was that it was on the ESPN Top 10 Countdown. Oh, and my brother still has it on TiVo; just trying to figure out how to burn it off of there? (In the last couple of days, SR found a demo interview of Amey with Joe Starkey, you can see the punt return, but without sound, beginning at the 7:48 minute mark.)

SR: Anyone that has followed your career knows your interest in music and that you perform too. (I have your music video archived on the website) Who are your greatest musical influences? Do you have any future plans to make more music?

Amey: My greatest musical influences are David (in the Bible), Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, and all artists who talk about life’s issues and keep it real!

SR and the Hornet Faithful wish Amey all the best in whatever he pursues.