Post by fwp on Apr 3, 2010 5:31:23 GMT -5
www.albanyherald.com/sports/headlines/89821257.html
ALBANY — Demetrie McCray just shook his head, then laughed out loud.
That was McCray’s reaction after his initial introduction to the unusual game of arena football years ago, where he has since found a home and a way of life.
“I love it,’’ said McCray, one of the final members added to the roster of the Albany Panthers, who ran a blitz to put together a team in about two months to be ready to open their season at 7:30 p.m. today at the Civic Center against the Columbus Lions.
But McCray, who played for Albany’s former team last year, the South Georgia Wildcats, isn’t the only one who’s been looking forward to tonight. Panthers first-year head coach Lucious Davis is as ready as anyone — and he’s glad McCray is along for the ride.
“I’m excited about having him on this team,’’ said Panthers coach Lucious Davis, who coached McCray last year when Davis was the defensive coordinator for the Wildcats. “He brings so much experience, so much knowledge of the game. He makes us a much better defensive team.’’
McCray has been around, and begins his fourth season of arena football — a game he never thought about playing. But back in 2006, McCray’s friend and former Albany State teammate James Harris called him and told McCray the Wildcats were interested.
“I laughed,’’ McCray said. “I thought he was playing around. He’s such a jokester.’’
But it was no joke. The Wildcats wanted to take a look at McCray, and after seeing him in a workout, they brought him aboard for their final game of the season.
The following season, Ron Hill, who had coached the offensive and defensive lines for the Wildcats, moved on to Cincinnati, and called McCray to come be a member of the Jungle Kats. This time, McCray didn’t laugh. He packed up and headed for the Queen City, where he was an instant success.
He intercepted two passes and ran one back in his first game with the Jungle Kats, and has been playing arena football since. He played for the Austin Wranglers in 2008 and played for the Wildcats last year. In his full three years of arena football, McCray has intercepted a total of 15 passes.
That’s the same number of picks he had at Albany State, where he was an SIAC all-conference player for two seasons. McCray is just one of those guys with an extra sense for knowing where the ball is, where it’s going and how to take it the other way.
“He’s like a quarterback for the defense,’’ Davis said. “Not only will he make us better because he’s in the lineup, but he will put the other players in position to make plays.’’
McCray’s roots run deep into Georgia’s red clay. He was a star at Thomasville High, had a memorable career at ASU and still makes his home in Albany. He had been on the roster of the Alabama Vipers of the newly reconstructed Arena Football League until last week when he was released. One call from Davis had McCray headed home for Albany.
Now he works at the Walgreens on Slappey Boulevard every morning before heading to the Civic Center, where the Panthers hold daily meetings beginning at 4 p.m. prior to evening practice sessions.
“I think everything happens for a reason,’’ McCray said. “I’m happy to be in Albany, and I’m real glad to be back with (Davis). He had a whole lot to do with me wanting to come here. I respect him as a man, and I respect him for his knowledge of the game.’’
McCray said he made a big leap as a player last season because of Davis.
“He really taught me how to watch film and get the most out of it,’’ McCray said.
Now McCray can return the favor and help the Panthers, who have several players on their roster who have never played arena football.
“It’s different,’’ McCray said. “A lot different. It’s very fast-paced and it’s a high-scoring game. You have to be in shape.’’
And it’s different because all the rules benefit the offense, which is why fans like the game — lots of points, lots of action. Of course, that makes life hard on defensive backs.
“When I first started playing and I got beat, I thought it was the end of the world,’’ McCray said. “But my teammates told me, ‘Oh that’s nothing. It’s arena football.’ ’’
These days, McCray has come a long way since getting his taste of the game. He now looks like a natural on the indoor turf.
“I really love this game,’’ he said. “And it’s good to be here.’’
ALBANY — Demetrie McCray just shook his head, then laughed out loud.
That was McCray’s reaction after his initial introduction to the unusual game of arena football years ago, where he has since found a home and a way of life.
“I love it,’’ said McCray, one of the final members added to the roster of the Albany Panthers, who ran a blitz to put together a team in about two months to be ready to open their season at 7:30 p.m. today at the Civic Center against the Columbus Lions.
But McCray, who played for Albany’s former team last year, the South Georgia Wildcats, isn’t the only one who’s been looking forward to tonight. Panthers first-year head coach Lucious Davis is as ready as anyone — and he’s glad McCray is along for the ride.
“I’m excited about having him on this team,’’ said Panthers coach Lucious Davis, who coached McCray last year when Davis was the defensive coordinator for the Wildcats. “He brings so much experience, so much knowledge of the game. He makes us a much better defensive team.’’
McCray has been around, and begins his fourth season of arena football — a game he never thought about playing. But back in 2006, McCray’s friend and former Albany State teammate James Harris called him and told McCray the Wildcats were interested.
“I laughed,’’ McCray said. “I thought he was playing around. He’s such a jokester.’’
But it was no joke. The Wildcats wanted to take a look at McCray, and after seeing him in a workout, they brought him aboard for their final game of the season.
The following season, Ron Hill, who had coached the offensive and defensive lines for the Wildcats, moved on to Cincinnati, and called McCray to come be a member of the Jungle Kats. This time, McCray didn’t laugh. He packed up and headed for the Queen City, where he was an instant success.
He intercepted two passes and ran one back in his first game with the Jungle Kats, and has been playing arena football since. He played for the Austin Wranglers in 2008 and played for the Wildcats last year. In his full three years of arena football, McCray has intercepted a total of 15 passes.
That’s the same number of picks he had at Albany State, where he was an SIAC all-conference player for two seasons. McCray is just one of those guys with an extra sense for knowing where the ball is, where it’s going and how to take it the other way.
“He’s like a quarterback for the defense,’’ Davis said. “Not only will he make us better because he’s in the lineup, but he will put the other players in position to make plays.’’
McCray’s roots run deep into Georgia’s red clay. He was a star at Thomasville High, had a memorable career at ASU and still makes his home in Albany. He had been on the roster of the Alabama Vipers of the newly reconstructed Arena Football League until last week when he was released. One call from Davis had McCray headed home for Albany.
Now he works at the Walgreens on Slappey Boulevard every morning before heading to the Civic Center, where the Panthers hold daily meetings beginning at 4 p.m. prior to evening practice sessions.
“I think everything happens for a reason,’’ McCray said. “I’m happy to be in Albany, and I’m real glad to be back with (Davis). He had a whole lot to do with me wanting to come here. I respect him as a man, and I respect him for his knowledge of the game.’’
McCray said he made a big leap as a player last season because of Davis.
“He really taught me how to watch film and get the most out of it,’’ McCray said.
Now McCray can return the favor and help the Panthers, who have several players on their roster who have never played arena football.
“It’s different,’’ McCray said. “A lot different. It’s very fast-paced and it’s a high-scoring game. You have to be in shape.’’
And it’s different because all the rules benefit the offense, which is why fans like the game — lots of points, lots of action. Of course, that makes life hard on defensive backs.
“When I first started playing and I got beat, I thought it was the end of the world,’’ McCray said. “But my teammates told me, ‘Oh that’s nothing. It’s arena football.’ ’’
These days, McCray has come a long way since getting his taste of the game. He now looks like a natural on the indoor turf.
“I really love this game,’’ he said. “And it’s good to be here.’’