Those were the words spoken by Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber on Jan. 14 at the MLS Superdraft in Philadelphia.

Andrew, a former Cal High and UC Berkeley soccer star, became a professional player last month, a rare feat for Grizzly athletes.

“The whole draft process was just amazing,” said Andrew, a 2007 Cal graduate. “Flying out to Florida for the (MLS) combine, meeting with press and teams, and finally being with my family in Philly for the draft was just icing on the cake," he said.

Andrew, a junior at Berkeley, was offered a Generation Adidas contract before the draft, guaranteeing him between $65,000 and $125,000 annually for the  next three seasons. This is considerably higher than the league minimum of about $34,000.

Generation Adidas players are also guaranteed scholarships to continue their college education should their professional career not pan out.

Before the draft, Andrew was ranked among the top four forwards on ESPN Soccernet’s best draft prospects. Most draft experts were projecting him to be selected among the top 12 picks. But after a sub-par  performance at the draft combine, a camp for professional teams to scout players they will be drafting, Andrew dropped from the first round to the beginning of the second.

“I definitely didn’t have the combine that I wanted,” said Andrew. “But being a part of Generation Adidas, what pick I was going to be chosen at was basically for bragging rights.”

Andrew and his parents attended the draft in Philadelphia, while his brother, Kevin, and sister, Katherine, anxiously watched in San Ramon.

“We were waiting and waiting, but no one chose Andrew,” said Kevin, a Cal senior.

In Philadelphia, Andrew was worried where he would end up after the first round concluded. “While pick after pick went by, I was getting a little anxious,” Andrew said, “but once Dallas chose me, it was like so much weight being lifted off my back.”

Andrew joins an FC Dallas soccer club which is coming off an 8-10-12 season, just one spot ahead of the local San Jose Earthquakes, which had the worst record in the MLS.

 “Being drafted by Dallas is going to give me a great situation to start out my career,” said Andrew. “My coach at Berkeley (Kevin Grimes) was coached by the Dallas coach (Schellas Hyndman) when he was in college. “I’m so stoked to start camp and make my presence felt on and off the field.”

As a member of FC Dallas, Andrew joins another Cal product, Kyle Davies, who played two seasons for the Grizzlies before going to England to play professionally.

“Kyle and I have known each other forever,” Andrew said. “It’s going to be nice playing with an old friend again.”

At Berkeley, Andrew was a 2009 First-Team All-Pac 10 honoree and was a 2008 National Soccer Coaches Association of America Third-Team All-American. Andrew scored 30 goals and 15 assists during three seasons with the Bears. Andrew was named the  EBAL MVP his senior year at Cal.

“Wherever I end up in my MLS career, I’m going to be successful and give 150 percent, all day, everyday,” Andrew said.