Post by fwp on May 8, 2010 7:02:12 GMT -5
www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100508/GPG0211/5080607/Indoor-football---Tech-geek--is-leader-of-Blizzard-defense
ASHWAUBENON — Football was the last thing on Maurice Simpkins' mind when he sat down to check his Facebook earlier this year.
That's when he received a message that his former coach, Rik Richards, had taken a job with the Green Bay Blizzard.
Simpkins played two seasons for Richards and the Rock River (Ill.) Raptors of the United Indoor Football League before stepping away from football last year to concentrate on his computer consulting business.
When he got the message, however, Simpkins was immediately interested in stepping back on to the field.
"I hit him up and said, 'You're going to Green Bay? That's enough to make me come out of retirement,'" Simpkins said. "He said, 'You're not retired.' I told him I wanted to come, he told me to be here and that was it."
A 6-foot-1, 232-pound linebacker, Simpkins has been the centerpiece of the Blizzard defense, leading the team in tackles (78), sacks (3½) and interceptions (3).
He led the Indoor Football League in tackles for most of the season, and currently ranks third. He has 52 solo tackles — the most in the league — despite playing about half the season with a broken left hand.
The decision to bring back Simpkins wasn't a hard one for Richards, considering Simpkins had mastered his defensive scheme and was a stalwart on Richards' past teams.
Although Richards playfully calls him the team's "tech geek," he's also quick to mention how Simpkins usually is the smartest guy on the field.
"He's not only the best linebacker in the league, but one of our favorite guys on the team," Rich-ards said. "He's hard not to like. His work ethic is great. He played four games with a cast and was still blocking kicks and making tackles one handed."
Despite moving to Green Bay, Simpkins is able to maintain his full-time job of working as a contract computer programmer for colleges and universities following practice during the week.
Simpkins developed and harnessed his passion for technology while majoring in computer science at Coastal Carolina.
The opportunity to continue playing football was an added benefit.
"What really appealed to me was the opportunity to play football again," Simpkins said. "I never really saw myself playing football after high school, much less going to college, and I really never saw myself playing football after college. … When you have someone come and tell you, 'You can still play football,' it's a great feeling and I feel I made the most out of it."
With Simpkins leading the defense, Green Bay is off to a 7-1 start. The Blizzard has a sizeable lead in the IFL Central North, and could continue to distance itself with a win over the Chicago Slaughter (3-4) tonight at the Resch Center.
With Green Bay coming off a bye week and slated for another next week, Richards is expecting his team to expend a lot of energy this weekend.
"We're going to take care of business," Richards said. "This is a big deal for us. Everybody feels the pressure with us being the lead dog pulling away, and (the division) feeling they need to do something. It's a game of wins and losses and, fortunately, the ball has bounced well."
Tonight's preview
Who: Chicago Slaughter (3-4) at Green Bay Blizzard (7-1).
When: 7:05 p.m.
Where: Resch Center, Ashwaubenon.
Blizzard update: Green Bay was on bye last week. … During the Blizzard's most recent game, quarterback Jake Phillips hit wide receiver Scott Burnoski for an 11-yard touchdown to seal a 50-49 win over Omaha as time expired. … Green Bay is averaging 47.9 points per game and 231.4 yards per contest. … The Blizzard is allowing 38.9 points per game and 197 yards per contest. … Phillips is second in the league in passing yards (1,372) while throwing for 27 touchdowns with 10 interceptions. … In five games, running back Randy Bell has rushed for 239 yards and eight touchdowns on 50 carries. … Wide receiver Arlandus Hood leads the team with 21 receptions for 311 yards and seven touchdowns. … Linebacker Maurice Simpkins leads the team with 78 tackles.
Slaughter update: Chicago is coming off a 35-29 loss to La Crosse, which marked the Spartans' first franchise win following a 0-7 start. … The loss ended the Slaughter's three-game winning streak and places them in a tie for eighth place, the final playoff spot in the United Conference, with the Omaha Beef. … Former Chicago Bears defensive lineman Steve McMichael coaches Chicago. … Jarrett Payton, the son of Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton, leads the team in rushing with 199 yards and nine touchdowns on 58 carries. He also has 18 receptions for 148 yards and two scores. … Quarterback Randy Hutchinson has completed 82 of 153 passes for 705 yards with 13 touchdowns and four interceptions. … Tyrone Meyers leads the team with 44 tackles and 4½ sacks.
ASHWAUBENON — Football was the last thing on Maurice Simpkins' mind when he sat down to check his Facebook earlier this year.
That's when he received a message that his former coach, Rik Richards, had taken a job with the Green Bay Blizzard.
Simpkins played two seasons for Richards and the Rock River (Ill.) Raptors of the United Indoor Football League before stepping away from football last year to concentrate on his computer consulting business.
When he got the message, however, Simpkins was immediately interested in stepping back on to the field.
"I hit him up and said, 'You're going to Green Bay? That's enough to make me come out of retirement,'" Simpkins said. "He said, 'You're not retired.' I told him I wanted to come, he told me to be here and that was it."
A 6-foot-1, 232-pound linebacker, Simpkins has been the centerpiece of the Blizzard defense, leading the team in tackles (78), sacks (3½) and interceptions (3).
He led the Indoor Football League in tackles for most of the season, and currently ranks third. He has 52 solo tackles — the most in the league — despite playing about half the season with a broken left hand.
The decision to bring back Simpkins wasn't a hard one for Richards, considering Simpkins had mastered his defensive scheme and was a stalwart on Richards' past teams.
Although Richards playfully calls him the team's "tech geek," he's also quick to mention how Simpkins usually is the smartest guy on the field.
"He's not only the best linebacker in the league, but one of our favorite guys on the team," Rich-ards said. "He's hard not to like. His work ethic is great. He played four games with a cast and was still blocking kicks and making tackles one handed."
Despite moving to Green Bay, Simpkins is able to maintain his full-time job of working as a contract computer programmer for colleges and universities following practice during the week.
Simpkins developed and harnessed his passion for technology while majoring in computer science at Coastal Carolina.
The opportunity to continue playing football was an added benefit.
"What really appealed to me was the opportunity to play football again," Simpkins said. "I never really saw myself playing football after high school, much less going to college, and I really never saw myself playing football after college. … When you have someone come and tell you, 'You can still play football,' it's a great feeling and I feel I made the most out of it."
With Simpkins leading the defense, Green Bay is off to a 7-1 start. The Blizzard has a sizeable lead in the IFL Central North, and could continue to distance itself with a win over the Chicago Slaughter (3-4) tonight at the Resch Center.
With Green Bay coming off a bye week and slated for another next week, Richards is expecting his team to expend a lot of energy this weekend.
"We're going to take care of business," Richards said. "This is a big deal for us. Everybody feels the pressure with us being the lead dog pulling away, and (the division) feeling they need to do something. It's a game of wins and losses and, fortunately, the ball has bounced well."
Tonight's preview
Who: Chicago Slaughter (3-4) at Green Bay Blizzard (7-1).
When: 7:05 p.m.
Where: Resch Center, Ashwaubenon.
Blizzard update: Green Bay was on bye last week. … During the Blizzard's most recent game, quarterback Jake Phillips hit wide receiver Scott Burnoski for an 11-yard touchdown to seal a 50-49 win over Omaha as time expired. … Green Bay is averaging 47.9 points per game and 231.4 yards per contest. … The Blizzard is allowing 38.9 points per game and 197 yards per contest. … Phillips is second in the league in passing yards (1,372) while throwing for 27 touchdowns with 10 interceptions. … In five games, running back Randy Bell has rushed for 239 yards and eight touchdowns on 50 carries. … Wide receiver Arlandus Hood leads the team with 21 receptions for 311 yards and seven touchdowns. … Linebacker Maurice Simpkins leads the team with 78 tackles.
Slaughter update: Chicago is coming off a 35-29 loss to La Crosse, which marked the Spartans' first franchise win following a 0-7 start. … The loss ended the Slaughter's three-game winning streak and places them in a tie for eighth place, the final playoff spot in the United Conference, with the Omaha Beef. … Former Chicago Bears defensive lineman Steve McMichael coaches Chicago. … Jarrett Payton, the son of Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton, leads the team in rushing with 199 yards and nine touchdowns on 58 carries. He also has 18 receptions for 148 yards and two scores. … Quarterback Randy Hutchinson has completed 82 of 153 passes for 705 yards with 13 touchdowns and four interceptions. … Tyrone Meyers leads the team with 44 tackles and 4½ sacks.