Post by fwp on Jan 23, 2010 10:44:49 GMT -5
www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/sports/professional/professional_football/article/AIFA23_20100122-223007/319595/
It's been almost four years since indoor football disappeared from the local sports landscape, but it's returning tonight in an altered format.
The Richmond Raiders, one of two indoor teams that will call Richmond home this season, meet the American Indoor Football Association all-stars at the Coliseum. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. in a game that will feature a number of former area standouts.
In addition to giving Richmond coach Mike Siani his first look at the team under game conditions, there are other reasons the preseason exhibition is being staged nearly two months before the Raiders' regular season begins March 13.
"Every year, we take [the all-star game] to an expansion city," said Jack Bowman, national director of the AIFA and general manager of the local franchise. "That gives local fans who might not be aware of us, really, a sneak preview of what's coming down the road.
"The other reason is to reward the players from the previous year for their hard work. . . . It's kind of a big get-together. It's meant to be a fun, festive event."
Richmond is the 13th member of the AIFA, which was formed in 2006 after the demise of the Atlantic/American Indoor Football League.
The all-star game also gives the Raiders a head start on the other local team, the Richmond Revolution of the Indoor Football League, which opens its season March 6 and will play its home games at the Arthur Ashe Center.
Most of the indoor rules will be followed, with the following exceptions: defenses can't stunt, blitz or play zone. That probably will lead to an even higher-scoring game in a sport which regularly produces 50and 60-point affairs.
"We had our first all-star game in 2007 during championship weekend," said Michael Mink, co-owner and vice president of the AIFA. "Last year, we had it in Harrisburg [Pa.], and it was the first year we did it as a preseason game. We think it helps introduce the game to the new market."
Each squad will have had three practice sessions before the game, which features a 50-yard field, a running clock (except in the final minute of each half), smaller goal post uprights and eight players on each side.
The all-star team will be coached by Bernie Nowotarski, who directed Reading (Pa.) to the title last season, and has players from seven teams. Among the group is former University of Richmond All-America linebacker Adam Goloboski.
"This is one of those things, until you see it, you don't really believe it," said Goloboski, who played for Baltimore last season. "I was really skeptical before I saw it. My brother took me to a game, and I fell in love with it."
Siani got the first look at his team Wednesday and feels like that's enough time to get organized for a game.
"For the type of game we're looking at, which really is an exhibition against a team of all-stars, I think it is," Siani said. "There are certain modifications to the rules. . . . That's going to help our quarterbacks, most of whom are pretty new to the league."
Two of the QBs will be Lamar Blizzard (Virginia State/John Marshall) and Mike Jenkins (Randolph-Macon). On the defensive side will be linebacker Jarrett Brown, the All-Metro player of the year in 2003 when he helped Hopewell High School win the Group AAA Division 5 title.
"This is definitely a different type of football," said Blizzard, who has played for the semi-pro Virginia Hornets. "It has taken some getting adjusted to, but football is football. Passes are passes."
It's been almost four years since indoor football disappeared from the local sports landscape, but it's returning tonight in an altered format.
The Richmond Raiders, one of two indoor teams that will call Richmond home this season, meet the American Indoor Football Association all-stars at the Coliseum. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. in a game that will feature a number of former area standouts.
In addition to giving Richmond coach Mike Siani his first look at the team under game conditions, there are other reasons the preseason exhibition is being staged nearly two months before the Raiders' regular season begins March 13.
"Every year, we take [the all-star game] to an expansion city," said Jack Bowman, national director of the AIFA and general manager of the local franchise. "That gives local fans who might not be aware of us, really, a sneak preview of what's coming down the road.
"The other reason is to reward the players from the previous year for their hard work. . . . It's kind of a big get-together. It's meant to be a fun, festive event."
Richmond is the 13th member of the AIFA, which was formed in 2006 after the demise of the Atlantic/American Indoor Football League.
The all-star game also gives the Raiders a head start on the other local team, the Richmond Revolution of the Indoor Football League, which opens its season March 6 and will play its home games at the Arthur Ashe Center.
Most of the indoor rules will be followed, with the following exceptions: defenses can't stunt, blitz or play zone. That probably will lead to an even higher-scoring game in a sport which regularly produces 50and 60-point affairs.
"We had our first all-star game in 2007 during championship weekend," said Michael Mink, co-owner and vice president of the AIFA. "Last year, we had it in Harrisburg [Pa.], and it was the first year we did it as a preseason game. We think it helps introduce the game to the new market."
Each squad will have had three practice sessions before the game, which features a 50-yard field, a running clock (except in the final minute of each half), smaller goal post uprights and eight players on each side.
The all-star team will be coached by Bernie Nowotarski, who directed Reading (Pa.) to the title last season, and has players from seven teams. Among the group is former University of Richmond All-America linebacker Adam Goloboski.
"This is one of those things, until you see it, you don't really believe it," said Goloboski, who played for Baltimore last season. "I was really skeptical before I saw it. My brother took me to a game, and I fell in love with it."
Siani got the first look at his team Wednesday and feels like that's enough time to get organized for a game.
"For the type of game we're looking at, which really is an exhibition against a team of all-stars, I think it is," Siani said. "There are certain modifications to the rules. . . . That's going to help our quarterbacks, most of whom are pretty new to the league."
Two of the QBs will be Lamar Blizzard (Virginia State/John Marshall) and Mike Jenkins (Randolph-Macon). On the defensive side will be linebacker Jarrett Brown, the All-Metro player of the year in 2003 when he helped Hopewell High School win the Group AAA Division 5 title.
"This is definitely a different type of football," said Blizzard, who has played for the semi-pro Virginia Hornets. "It has taken some getting adjusted to, but football is football. Passes are passes."