Post by fwp on Mar 19, 2010 15:18:29 GMT -5
www.pantagraph.com/sports/football/professional/arena/extreme/article_d87338c6-330a-11df-be29-001cc4c002e0.html
BLOOMINGTON — One victory went a long way in making the Bloomington Extreme feel more like a unified team.
“That was a big win for us not to go down 0-2,” said receiver Johnny Gray, who caught the game-winning touchdown pass in last week’s 24-20 Indoor Football League win over Green Bay. “The first week we had nerves for a lot of people and came out flat. Last week we got it together, played better and got the victory.”
Gray’s clutch catch on third down capped a last-minute drive after the Blizzard had taken a 20-17 lead. Bloomington’s defense survived a comemback bid in the final seconds.
“The whole team was out there competing. From my standpoint, I’m like everybody else: I know I’m a winner,” said Gray. “At that point I wanted the ball in my hands to make the big play to win the game.”
Coach Kenton Carr felt the team did a better job communicating on defense against the Blizzard and displayed its resolve.
“They didn’t quit,” he said. “Any time you can overcome adversity and not quit … the guys showed how much they wanted to win.”
New faces: Lineman Marvin Campbell and quarterback Rocky Hinds joined the Extreme this week.
Campbell, a 2008 UIF All-Star with Bloomington, spent last season with Peoria in af2. Carr hopes Campbell will help contain Chicago running back Jarrett Payton.
“We feel he’s in much better shape this year and we’re excited to see what he can do Sunday,” said Carr.
Hinds, who comes to Bloomington in a trade with the Colorado Ice in exchange for future considerations, was a redshirt freshman backup at USC behind Mark Sanchez and Josh David Booty before transferring to UNLV for the 2006 season. Three ACL injuries cut short his career with the Runnin’ Rebels.
To make room for Campbell and Hinds, Bloomington placed lineman Charles Edwards on injured reserve and released third-string QB Will Ducey.
Out of towners: The Extreme will spend the next three weekends away from U.S. Cellular Coliseum, with a trip to Green Bay on deck after this weekend’s venture to Chicago. A bye week precedes the next home game, an April 10 date with the Slaughter.
All seven Extreme road games will be shown live via the B2 Network at Hooter’s, 409 N. Hershey Road, Bloomington.
Around the league: Central North Division rival La Crosse signed running back Ulysses Odom, who led the IFL in scoring last year while playing for the El Paso Generals. … Abilene defensive lineman Rico Brooks sustained two broken legs in a shooting last week. Brooks was shot just below the knees by a masked man with a shotgun shortly after midnight last Thursday. Police continue to investigate the incident. … The IFL reached an agreement with B2 and the America One Network to televise nationally five IFL games, including the United Bowl. However, the network is not available on Bloomington-Normal’s cable system.
BLOOMINGTON — One victory went a long way in making the Bloomington Extreme feel more like a unified team.
“That was a big win for us not to go down 0-2,” said receiver Johnny Gray, who caught the game-winning touchdown pass in last week’s 24-20 Indoor Football League win over Green Bay. “The first week we had nerves for a lot of people and came out flat. Last week we got it together, played better and got the victory.”
Gray’s clutch catch on third down capped a last-minute drive after the Blizzard had taken a 20-17 lead. Bloomington’s defense survived a comemback bid in the final seconds.
“The whole team was out there competing. From my standpoint, I’m like everybody else: I know I’m a winner,” said Gray. “At that point I wanted the ball in my hands to make the big play to win the game.”
Coach Kenton Carr felt the team did a better job communicating on defense against the Blizzard and displayed its resolve.
“They didn’t quit,” he said. “Any time you can overcome adversity and not quit … the guys showed how much they wanted to win.”
New faces: Lineman Marvin Campbell and quarterback Rocky Hinds joined the Extreme this week.
Campbell, a 2008 UIF All-Star with Bloomington, spent last season with Peoria in af2. Carr hopes Campbell will help contain Chicago running back Jarrett Payton.
“We feel he’s in much better shape this year and we’re excited to see what he can do Sunday,” said Carr.
Hinds, who comes to Bloomington in a trade with the Colorado Ice in exchange for future considerations, was a redshirt freshman backup at USC behind Mark Sanchez and Josh David Booty before transferring to UNLV for the 2006 season. Three ACL injuries cut short his career with the Runnin’ Rebels.
To make room for Campbell and Hinds, Bloomington placed lineman Charles Edwards on injured reserve and released third-string QB Will Ducey.
Out of towners: The Extreme will spend the next three weekends away from U.S. Cellular Coliseum, with a trip to Green Bay on deck after this weekend’s venture to Chicago. A bye week precedes the next home game, an April 10 date with the Slaughter.
All seven Extreme road games will be shown live via the B2 Network at Hooter’s, 409 N. Hershey Road, Bloomington.
Around the league: Central North Division rival La Crosse signed running back Ulysses Odom, who led the IFL in scoring last year while playing for the El Paso Generals. … Abilene defensive lineman Rico Brooks sustained two broken legs in a shooting last week. Brooks was shot just below the knees by a masked man with a shotgun shortly after midnight last Thursday. Police continue to investigate the incident. … The IFL reached an agreement with B2 and the America One Network to televise nationally five IFL games, including the United Bowl. However, the network is not available on Bloomington-Normal’s cable system.