After a blowout 70-0 win over the DC Divas, I got the opportunity to talk with wide receiver Adrienne Smith after the game.
You played them earlier in the year, scoring 60 points, how do you prepare for this team twice? “We really go back to basics, and it’s practicing the fundamentals. We don’t take any opponent lightly. Just because you beat somebody by a large amount, it doesn’t mean it’s going to be the same team the second time you see them. So, we’re still preparing as if the record is still 0-0, as if we don’t know who they are, and as if we’re preparing to play the Patriots, honestly.” Not a lot of people know about the Women’s Football Alliance (which is a shame), what would you say to the average football fan just finding out about this league? What can they expect out of this league, and out of this team even? “Right, so with the Boston Renegades you are going to see the highest level of women’s tackle football, the highest level of professional football for women. We take it very seriously, we study film. I like to say we are granddaughters of Bill Belichick because some of the coaching staff throughout the years actually played for the Patriots, they’ve won Super Bowls with the Patriots. So we take that same mentality in how we approach the game, it’s at a Professional level. We don’t take any shortcuts, we are practicing, we are watching film, and every time we step on the field we are ready to give it our all.” Now when you’re up by so much, and they haven’t scored a point, do you take it easy or do you keep on pressing? “We do not take it easy, because for us it’s not about the opponent, it’s about our team and how well we are performing. Every time we step on the field we’re looking to be the best Boston Renegades we can be. It has nothing to do with the opponent. If we’re supposed to run a hitch, that hitch needs to be perfect. If we’re supposed to get a sack, then you better get the sack. Period.” How is the relationship with the wide receiver core, and how does that off-field bond carry onto the field? “So, we spend a good amount of time together. We gel well, personality wise. We actually have a buddy structure, where we are paired up. So the veterans are paired up with some of the rookie wide receivers. We constantly communicate, we’re communicating on the field, communicating during practice. We're communicating prior to games in terms of running through some of our playlists, talking through some of the set plays we have, just to ensure we’re all on the same page.” From the start of the season to now, how has your bond with the entire team deepened? How have you grown together? “Well you know the pandemic was very interesting, in that our team did a great job in recognizing the Black Lives Matter movement, and they wanted to create an inclusive and safe space for all of the players on the team. So we were having Zoom meetings maybe once every three weeks all of 2020. Just understanding, discussing, bonding, and that carried over into what you’re seeing in 2021. I know that there are teammates that I feel closer to, after having bonded, after having been able to talk about my experiences as a black woman in this country and being heard and that being validated. So now that sisterhood, that bond, is even stronger than it ever was. When you have that type of a connection with a person, an individual, just on a personal level? Imagine what happens when you get on the field and you’re working together towards a common goal. We’re unstoppable.“ Next game is against the Detroit Dark Angels, who have also put up 60 points in a game. How are you mentally preparing for a team that has the ability to perform on the same level as this team? “We’re not taking anything lightly, and again it’s a road game, it’s a big road game, we’re gonna have to fly out there. That already adds all sorts of tension and other things you have to be aware of, and so we’re gonna hit practice. We have two weeks to get ready for them, so we’re gonna be practicing, we’re gonna be watching film. Like I said we take no opponent lightly. It’s as if we’re out here playing a Super Bowl, every single game. It means that much to us.“ Adrienne Smith recorded 209 receiving yards on 12 receptions scoring 6 touchdowns so far this year. She had 10 receptions for 40 yards and a touchdown against the Divas. Smith is the founder of Gridiron Queendom and the game Blitz Champz. The Boston Renegades (4-0) take on the Detroit Dark Angels (3-2) on June 19th at The Hawk - Community Center in Farmington Mills, Michigan. Tickets are 10$ for adults, 5$ for Military Veterans, Kids ages 5 and under are free. You can find out where to watch the game by going to the Dark Angels' website.
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