KALAMAZOO -- Former Western Michigan men's basketball center Joe Reitz just began his third NFL training camp at offensive tackle with the Baltimore Ravens. Reitz checked in last night from McDaniel College in Westminster, Md., to talk about training camp, his recent marriage and his thoughts on the 2010-11 WMU men's basketball team.

Q: What's it like entering your third NFL training camp?

A: It's easier from a mental perspective because I know the play book and understand how training camp works. Physically, it's just as tough. It's long days on the practice field and in meetings, but it's still awesome to be in training camp with the Ravens battling for my future in the NFL.

Q: Physically speaking, where are you at?

A: I'm right at 320 (pounds) going into camp, which is the weight they gave me. Obviously, I lose a little bit during the hot days, so I try to drink as much Gatorade as I can to keep the weight on. I definitely feel good moving around at 320, which is a far cry from the 255 I played at in basketball.

Q: Where do you feel you are in your development as a football player?

A: I've come a long way from where I was at the beginning. I still have a lot to work on to have a long career in the NFL, which is my goal. In my third year, it's time for me to prove to the Ravens that I'm ready to play and be out on the field and that's the attitude I've taken into training camp.

I figure if I play my best every day and prove to the team that I can play, there will be a spot for me. If there's not a spot on the Ravens, my goal is to work hard enough and impress another NFL organization to give me an opportunity. If I'm a good enough player, I think there will be a spot for me and I hope that's with the Ravens because I love the organization and coaches.

Q: Where are you in the pecking order of tackles on the Ravens right now?

A: There is always competition and it is up to me to prove that I'm one of the best 53 guys on the roster. I think when you start worrying about what other people are doing and count numbers, that is only detrimental to you. It is up to me to leave everything on the field and see where the chips fall at the end of training camp.

Q: What are your thoughts on Baltimore after living there the past two years?

A: I love the city. There is a lot to do, especially around the harbor. I recently got married and my wife loves it now because she loves seafood and you're not going to get any better seafood around the country than Baltimore. Obviously, I miss home in Indiana and I miss Kalamazoo because of all the great people I met in college, but Baltimore has been great the past couple of years.

Q: You mentioned marriage, how have the first couple of weeks of married life been?

A: I'm still in my honeymoon phase because my wife hasn't gotten mad at me too much yet, but that will change. Just kidding, Jill.

I married Jill Odom, a former cross country and track star at Western Michigan. It was great to have a bunch of Western Michigan players, coaches and friends at the wedding. Her track coach, Kelly Lycan, called dibs on the first female child we have and Coach Hawk said the same thing. As soon as we have a son, he's going to offer a scholarship and have him verbal once he can talk. We look forward to many years supporting Western Michigan and getting back to Kalamazoo as much as we can.

Q: For Jill's fans from her Bronco career, what is she up to in Baltimore?

A: She's loving being a wife. She is setting up our apartment out here and buying all kinds of stuff. She's excited to cook a bunch of meals, which is good for me because I love to eat.

She was a nursing major at WMU and has to still take her big boards test. She's nervous, but she'll pass it with flying colors. It works out well now, because I'm at camp and she can go to the library and study to get ready for the test in two or three weeks.

Q: Finally, what are your thoughts on the 2010-11 basketball team? Alex Wolf is the only player left on the roster that you ever played with.

A: They are going to have a great season. The loss of Dave (Kool) is going to big, but the other guys are going to continue to grow and get better. Flen (Whitfield) really came on at the end of last season. I talk to Alex a lot and we've had numerous conversations about leadership. He is one of the hardest working guys that I have ever met. He deserves everything he's got since coming in as a walk-on and working his butt off to earn playing time. With those guys leading the team and all the other young guys coming up, I think it is going to be an exciting year for Western Michigan.

I always try to watch the team play when I can or dial up Robin Hook on the Internet. I still talk to Coach Hawk almost every week. Even though I've been gone for a few years, it is still good to have those relationships with the coaches and former players. There are good people up there in Kalamazoo and it's really neat to still talk to as many people as I do at Western Michigan.