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Post by fwp on Mar 27, 2009 9:19:27 GMT -5
www.gazette.net/stories/03262009/uppespo162411_32477.shtmlMessay Hailemariam has thrown his passion toward several aspects of football, from his playing days as a walk-on at the University of Maryland, to coaching at the high school level in Prince George's County, to training NFL prospects.
This year, Hailemariam, along with his wife Lana, has added team owner to his list of football job titles. Hailemariam's Maryland Maniacs will begin play in the Indoor Football League on Sunday with their season opener at Show Place Arena against the River City Rage.
The Maniacs will feature a variety of homegrown talent such as running back A.J. Jones, who graduated from Gwynn Park High School in 2001 and went on to play for the University of Maryland.
"It feels good to be back home," said Jones, who played indoor football in upstate New York and Baltimore the past couple years. "I enjoy playing with people I'm familiar with, guys I played with or against in high school and college."
The Maniacs held a meet-the-team event on Saturday at Gold's Gym in Greenbelt. Local resident Bob Page and his son Jamie, 17, had already bought tickets to the opener, but came out anyway to chat with the players. Normally fans of the NFL's Baltimore Ravens, the Pages were excited to learn about a different kind of football.
"My son is a football nut," said Bob Page. "It will be fun to start learning about all the different rules for indoor."......article continues in link.
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