Post by 50yardfan on Feb 26, 2012 13:35:47 GMT -5
www.rrobserver.com/sports/article_88d4d8fa-5f5a-11e1-979b-001871e3ce6c.html
The New Mexico Stars make their Rio Rancho debut this afternoon, facing the Colorado Ice in an Indoor Football League contest at Santa Ana Star Center.
Kickoff at Don Chalmers Field is set for 3:05 p.m.
Team owner and general manager Dart Clark said fans will be in for a real treat.
“The No. 1 experience from the fan side is going to be incredible — we’ve had so many people talk about it, what we’re bringing to town. They won’t be disappointed at all,” Clark said. “Pre-game activities will bring excitement to the opening game, as well. This will be the first time they’ve seen the uniforms, the players in the uniforms and the players.”
Tickets will be available before kickoff, he said, priced from $10 to $52 — and “there may be a few $5 walk-up seats. It’ll be first-come, first-served.”
Clark said he anticipates a crowd of at least 3,000, but he won’t be surprised if that attendance figure is in the 4,000 to 5,000 range.
“I’ll be happy no matter what,” he said, “and to have the first game behind me.”
Clark said the IFL game is different than the game played here for two seasons by the New Mexico Wildcats of the American Indoor Football Association.
“This is more of an outdoor game inside — you’ll know this game,” he said. And, like a feature of Wildcats’ games, footballs that end up in the stands may be kept by the fans.
“We lose about 35 balls a night — and it’s a special inaugural season ball (today),” he said.
The Stars are led by IFL veteran coach Chris Williams, formerly of the West Texas Roughnecks. Williams has won a league championship in 2006 and was the head coach when the team set the record for the longest regular-season winning streak in professional football history (27 games). In his eight seasons as head coach, the Roughnecks made the playoffs seven times.
Former Memphis Tiger Arkelon Hall is expected to be under center when the Stars get the ball, happy to get the ball to former University of New Mexico standout DonTrell Moore (See feature on Moore in the Feb. 22 issue of the Observer.)
Hall ended his career at Memphis ranked 10th all-time in passing yards (2,607) and eighth in pass completions (235).
In the 12 games he played in for West Texas and Williams in 2011, Hall threw for 2,051 yards with 38 touchdown passes to only nine interceptions and added five rushing touchdowns.
He originally signed a contract last July to play for the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League. He was cut in September. (Duante Culpepper was the Lions’ starting QB in 2010.)
The Ice, who play their home games in Loveland and are in their sixth season of existence, are led by veteran quarterback David Knighton, returning for his third season with the Ice. He played in all 15 games for the Ice last season, completing 57 percent of his passes for 2,188 yards, 43 touchdowns and just 13 interceptions.
Knighton was fifth in the league for TD passes and had the second-fewest interceptions of any quarterback with at least 40 TD. He also ran for 323 yards and two touchdowns.
Knighton was the IFL’s Most Improved Player in 2011.
Knighton has a capable running back in Andre Harris, the 29th-best prospect in the 2011 draft class. Harris spent his final two seasons at the University of Northern Colorado, where he accumulated 1,336 rushing yards, 17 rushing touchdowns, 275 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown. Before UNC, Harris played at El Camino CC and West Lost Angeles JC.
If he’s not carrying the ball for the Ice, watch for Alex Allen, the 55th best prospect in the nation for the 2011 draft class. During his career at Akron, Allen played in 46 games, accumulating 1,631 yards, 23 rushing touchdowns, 35 receptions, and 263 receiving yards.
If they need field goals, Aric Goodman is their man. He played at the University of Colorado and was rated as the 34th best kicker prospect in the 2011 draft class. Before coming to CU, Goodman spent one season at the University of Wyoming where he was named an Honorable Mention Freshman All-American after leading Wyoming in points scored. Goodman is another home grown talent, spending his high school days playing for Cherry Creek High School.
On defense, the Ice boasts linebacker Craig Stevens, was rated as the 31st-best OLB prospect in the 2011 draft class. In four seasons at Auburn, Stevens played in 50 games; including the 2010 BCS National Championship game, in which Auburn beat Oregon.
Star gazing: The Chicago Slaughter defeated the Bloomington Edge 50-34 in the IFL’s first game of the season last week. Dusty Burk threw for 236 yards and four TDs, completing 21 of 34 passes.
... The Slaughter recently offered former NFL star Randy Moss a contract for the 2012 season. Moss, 35, played for the Minnesota Vikings, Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans.
... Among the Stars’ casualties was offensive lineman Erasmus James, a first-round pick by the Vikings in 2005.
... Season ticket plans start at just $56. To purchase season tickets or for more information, call 891-7318. Clark said about 750 season tickets had been sold as of Tuesday.
The New Mexico Stars make their Rio Rancho debut this afternoon, facing the Colorado Ice in an Indoor Football League contest at Santa Ana Star Center.
Kickoff at Don Chalmers Field is set for 3:05 p.m.
Team owner and general manager Dart Clark said fans will be in for a real treat.
“The No. 1 experience from the fan side is going to be incredible — we’ve had so many people talk about it, what we’re bringing to town. They won’t be disappointed at all,” Clark said. “Pre-game activities will bring excitement to the opening game, as well. This will be the first time they’ve seen the uniforms, the players in the uniforms and the players.”
Tickets will be available before kickoff, he said, priced from $10 to $52 — and “there may be a few $5 walk-up seats. It’ll be first-come, first-served.”
Clark said he anticipates a crowd of at least 3,000, but he won’t be surprised if that attendance figure is in the 4,000 to 5,000 range.
“I’ll be happy no matter what,” he said, “and to have the first game behind me.”
Clark said the IFL game is different than the game played here for two seasons by the New Mexico Wildcats of the American Indoor Football Association.
“This is more of an outdoor game inside — you’ll know this game,” he said. And, like a feature of Wildcats’ games, footballs that end up in the stands may be kept by the fans.
“We lose about 35 balls a night — and it’s a special inaugural season ball (today),” he said.
The Stars are led by IFL veteran coach Chris Williams, formerly of the West Texas Roughnecks. Williams has won a league championship in 2006 and was the head coach when the team set the record for the longest regular-season winning streak in professional football history (27 games). In his eight seasons as head coach, the Roughnecks made the playoffs seven times.
Former Memphis Tiger Arkelon Hall is expected to be under center when the Stars get the ball, happy to get the ball to former University of New Mexico standout DonTrell Moore (See feature on Moore in the Feb. 22 issue of the Observer.)
Hall ended his career at Memphis ranked 10th all-time in passing yards (2,607) and eighth in pass completions (235).
In the 12 games he played in for West Texas and Williams in 2011, Hall threw for 2,051 yards with 38 touchdown passes to only nine interceptions and added five rushing touchdowns.
He originally signed a contract last July to play for the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League. He was cut in September. (Duante Culpepper was the Lions’ starting QB in 2010.)
The Ice, who play their home games in Loveland and are in their sixth season of existence, are led by veteran quarterback David Knighton, returning for his third season with the Ice. He played in all 15 games for the Ice last season, completing 57 percent of his passes for 2,188 yards, 43 touchdowns and just 13 interceptions.
Knighton was fifth in the league for TD passes and had the second-fewest interceptions of any quarterback with at least 40 TD. He also ran for 323 yards and two touchdowns.
Knighton was the IFL’s Most Improved Player in 2011.
Knighton has a capable running back in Andre Harris, the 29th-best prospect in the 2011 draft class. Harris spent his final two seasons at the University of Northern Colorado, where he accumulated 1,336 rushing yards, 17 rushing touchdowns, 275 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown. Before UNC, Harris played at El Camino CC and West Lost Angeles JC.
If he’s not carrying the ball for the Ice, watch for Alex Allen, the 55th best prospect in the nation for the 2011 draft class. During his career at Akron, Allen played in 46 games, accumulating 1,631 yards, 23 rushing touchdowns, 35 receptions, and 263 receiving yards.
If they need field goals, Aric Goodman is their man. He played at the University of Colorado and was rated as the 34th best kicker prospect in the 2011 draft class. Before coming to CU, Goodman spent one season at the University of Wyoming where he was named an Honorable Mention Freshman All-American after leading Wyoming in points scored. Goodman is another home grown talent, spending his high school days playing for Cherry Creek High School.
On defense, the Ice boasts linebacker Craig Stevens, was rated as the 31st-best OLB prospect in the 2011 draft class. In four seasons at Auburn, Stevens played in 50 games; including the 2010 BCS National Championship game, in which Auburn beat Oregon.
Star gazing: The Chicago Slaughter defeated the Bloomington Edge 50-34 in the IFL’s first game of the season last week. Dusty Burk threw for 236 yards and four TDs, completing 21 of 34 passes.
... The Slaughter recently offered former NFL star Randy Moss a contract for the 2012 season. Moss, 35, played for the Minnesota Vikings, Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans.
... Among the Stars’ casualties was offensive lineman Erasmus James, a first-round pick by the Vikings in 2005.
... Season ticket plans start at just $56. To purchase season tickets or for more information, call 891-7318. Clark said about 750 season tickets had been sold as of Tuesday.