Post by 50yardfan on Dec 23, 2010 22:22:42 GMT -5
Former UofL Cardinal Stallings joins River Monsters
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, KY – Tony Stallings was ready to walk away from football after winning the European League Super Bowl and earning the league’s Most Valuable Player award in 2008 for the Bergamo Lions.
Then his wife announced she was having a boy. Things almost immediately changed for the former Louisville Cardinal. Now, he is ready to continue his playing career in Northern Kentucky as a member of the Northern Kentucky River Monsters.
“It has been a lifelong dream to have a son cheering for me,” said Stallings. “I always had my daughter in the stands, but I wanted a son to watch me play. It’s a blessing to still have my speed.”
Once the decision was made to return to the gridiron, Stallings searched for the right match. Due to his family obligations and his personal training business, he wanted to be close to Louisville.
After receiving “professional treatment” from General Manager Jared Lorenzen and Director of Player Personnel Ray Jackson, Stallings knew the River Monsters were the organization for him.
“I didn’t know a lot about the league,” said Stallings. “But whatever league I went to, it was going to be with someone I knew and with an organization that was at least ran professionally.”
The River Monsters will be the running backs fourth organization following the Louisville Fire (AF2), Calgary Stampeders (CFL) and the Bergamo Lions. With the Lions, he rushed for 1,501 yards with 26 touchdowns en route to the aforementioned MVP laurels.
In his first season with Calgary, Stallings rushed for 132 yards in his playoff debut as the Stampeders fell in the CFL semifinals.
As one of the elder statesmen on the River Monster squad, he plans on being a leader on and off the field.
“I have been down the road a lot of the players are going,” said Stallings. “I have used the same league to do that.”
The Northern Kentucky River Monsters are inaugural members of the Ultimate Indoor Football League. The River Monsters, a professional indoor/arena football team, plays their home football games at the Bank of Kentucky Center on the campus of Northern Kentucky University. They will open the season on February 25 at the Canton Cougars.
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, KY – Tony Stallings was ready to walk away from football after winning the European League Super Bowl and earning the league’s Most Valuable Player award in 2008 for the Bergamo Lions.
Then his wife announced she was having a boy. Things almost immediately changed for the former Louisville Cardinal. Now, he is ready to continue his playing career in Northern Kentucky as a member of the Northern Kentucky River Monsters.
“It has been a lifelong dream to have a son cheering for me,” said Stallings. “I always had my daughter in the stands, but I wanted a son to watch me play. It’s a blessing to still have my speed.”
Once the decision was made to return to the gridiron, Stallings searched for the right match. Due to his family obligations and his personal training business, he wanted to be close to Louisville.
After receiving “professional treatment” from General Manager Jared Lorenzen and Director of Player Personnel Ray Jackson, Stallings knew the River Monsters were the organization for him.
“I didn’t know a lot about the league,” said Stallings. “But whatever league I went to, it was going to be with someone I knew and with an organization that was at least ran professionally.”
The River Monsters will be the running backs fourth organization following the Louisville Fire (AF2), Calgary Stampeders (CFL) and the Bergamo Lions. With the Lions, he rushed for 1,501 yards with 26 touchdowns en route to the aforementioned MVP laurels.
In his first season with Calgary, Stallings rushed for 132 yards in his playoff debut as the Stampeders fell in the CFL semifinals.
As one of the elder statesmen on the River Monster squad, he plans on being a leader on and off the field.
“I have been down the road a lot of the players are going,” said Stallings. “I have used the same league to do that.”
The Northern Kentucky River Monsters are inaugural members of the Ultimate Indoor Football League. The River Monsters, a professional indoor/arena football team, plays their home football games at the Bank of Kentucky Center on the campus of Northern Kentucky University. They will open the season on February 25 at the Canton Cougars.