As Private First Class of the United States Marine Corps veteran Larry Schmitz stood near the end zone during the third quarter at the Browns' Week 9 game against the Chargers, he watched a video on the scoreboard with a special announcement.
Schmitz stood next to his daughter Katie, as he was officially announced as the Browns Fan of the Year and nominated for the NFL's 2024 Fan of the Year. He was also awarded two tickets to the 2025 Super Bowl LIX. Schmitz's face lit up in excitement as Katie smiled proudly looking at her father.
"It's awesome to be picked for this honor," Schmitz said.
As part of the Browns 'Salute to Service' game on Nov. 3 – in which the Browns joined the NFL in celebrating service members, veterans and their families through different activations and recognitions – the Browns also honored Schmitz for his service to the country. Schmitz served in the United States Marine Corps for 2.5 years.
"He loves letting people know that he is a Marine, because once you're a Marine, you're always a Marine," Katie Schmitz said. "It's his favorite quote. His hat is always a Marine. He has license plates of the Marines. He wears it proudly and always supports."
Growing up, Schmitz saw his father serve at the Post Office in the Army and realized at a point in his life he needed a level of discipline, choosing to enlist in the Marine Corps. He came home one day with the papers for his father to sign, and after they discussed his decision, Schmitz enlisted. He went through bootcamp and training before beginning his time with the Marines.
"I have so much more respect for people," Schmitz said. "It just worked out for me. It changed my attitude towards other people and gave me more respect for a lot of different things. So, I was grateful for that."
Schmitz has been a part of Browns' celebrations surrounding veterans and service members before, as he participated in holding the American flag on the field the previous two years for the "Salute to Service" game.
Schmitz cherishes those memories of standing alongside other veterans on the field and holding the flag as the National Anthem was sung. In 2022, his daughter Alison Schmitz stood beside him on the field, and in 2023, his other daughter, Katie Schmitz, accompanied him.
"The experience of holding the flag on the field with him was exciting and thrilling," Katie Schmitz said. "He was so excited being on the field, being able to see his seats from the field and it was just a different experience with him because it's not something he's gotten to do in his time having tickets for 40 years. To me, it was almost like a kid on Christmas with an exciting experience, especially with a big 100-yard flag."
It's just one of the many memories Schmitz and Katie share together centered around the Browns.
She nominated her father for the Browns Fan of the Year because of his commitment to being a season ticket holder for almost 40 years. She's watched his fandom and dedication to the Browns since her childhood and all through her adult life. While attending a Browns game, she found the nomination through the Browns Dawg Tags program on their seats and submitted an application for Schmitz.
"He doesn't leave a game until the final 0:00 is on that scoreboard," Katie Schmitz said. "We're just avid Browns fans all together. It's our life. We live the Cleveland Browns."
Ever since Schmitz's older brother attended the 1964 NFL Championship Game, when the Browns beat the Baltimore Colts, Schmitz has been a Browns fan. He was enthralled with his brother's experience of watching the Browns win a championship and wanted to attend one himself.
Schmitz has been a season ticket holder since 1985. He first began buying tickets in the bleachers at the previous Browns stadium, Cleveland Stadium, with his brother and friends. He grew up playing football in a grassy lot outside the former Ohio Bell building in Cleveland with friends from his neighborhood and was a referee for a local touch football league.
"We just loved football," Schmitz said. "We both played touch football for probably up to about 15 years ago, and we just had a lot of fun playing football."
His fandom has taken him through different eras of the Browns, with one of his favorites being the Kardiac Kids era in 1980. Yet, he also enjoyed the era of Browns' football with QB Bernie Kosar at the helm from 1985-1993.
"Bernie Kosar was fantastic when he played," Schmitz said. "Just so many people. They all brought so much to the game."
One of his five children, Katie Schmitz, attends Browns game with him regularly. Katie has been attending games since she was a child and developed her love of the Browns through the time spent with her father. His oldest daughter, Darlene Bartok, has seats behind them in the same section of the stadium.
On Sundays, Browns home games turn into a family affair.
"It's nice to see the kids and see the people that are in my group that have season tickets with me," Schmitz said. "It's a lot of fun, and we've met people down at the stadium in our area that have had tickets for years."
Schmitz has a specific game day tradition. He and his daughter ride Cleveland RTA line down to the stadium and Schmitz gets a hot dog with stadium mustard and a diet pop at each home game.
He then sits among his family and friends and cheers on the Browns each Sunday. After the nomination on Nov. 3, he continued his tradition and returned to his section to watch the Browns face off against the Chargers.
"Going to games with him has definitely made us closer," Katie said. "It's something that's been nice to share with him and we cherish together."
