While the FAT ONES don’t have much to celebrate this season, they can always count on their teammate/optometrist to help them keep their eyes on the prize. Ok cheesy clichés aside, Wide Receiver Todd Shuba represents one of the bright spots for the winless FAT ONES. “We’re close,” he replied in response to his team’s chances at winning their first game. “We’re on the verge of making big things happen.”

Although Shuba works as an optometrist in downtown Pittsburgh, he is no stranger to the gridiron. While he was living in Palm Beach County Florida, Shuba played in local flag football leagues for 9 years. Eventually the 40-year-old receiver moved back to his hometown of Pittsburgh and continued playing. “I’ve been playing in the Pittsburgh Sports League for three years,“ Shuba said.

Shuba knows that his team‘s chances at making the playoffs are questionable at best. However, the eye guy is encouraged by the strides that his team is making—even in losing. “We usually don’t get blown out,“ he said. “We’re finding out whose best in which position. Our route-running, timing, and speed—all three of those things contribute to more offense.”

According to Shuba, the FAT ONES are experiencing some major difficulties in establishing team chemistry in their first season playing together. Several teams like the BULLDOGS for example, have committed to going through a re-building year in order to re-establish themselves as legitimate title contenders. So if the BULLDOGS are rebuilding then Shuba’s FAT ONES are still trying to get built. Shuba feels that his team’s biggest disadvantage is “the experience that we don’t have compared to other teams – to work as a unit.”

Even though the FAT ONES are playing in the basement of the league along with CARNEGIE FC and the STINGERS, if Shuba is an indicator, then the FAT ONES are going to move from the doghouse to the penthouse next season.