Post by 50yardfan on Jan 5, 2011 16:02:33 GMT -5
HARRISBURG, PA (January 5, 2011) - The Harrisburg Stampede provided their fans an exciting 2010 season by earning the team's first playoff win and finishing 12-4. Now the Stampede has given their faithful an early 2011 gift with the re-signing of seven-year veteran and four-time All-Pro Defensive Back Archie Smith.
"Archie is one of those kids you just love to have on your team. He is like having a coach on the field. He understands what we want as coaches and he facilitates that on the practice and game fields. Archie lives and works right here in Harrisburg and is a tremendous community minded player and that is so crucial to what we want to achieve here," noted Stampede General Manager and Head Coach Bernie Nowotarski.
In six pro seasons Smith has totaled 245.5 tackles and 47 interceptions. He quickly made an impact in his professional debut with the Montgomery Maulers of the National Indoor Football League (NIFL) in 2005.
He totaled ten interceptions and 48 tackles in leading Montgomery to a first place finish in the Atlantic Central Division and a first round playoff win.
In 2006 he again topped 40 tackles and grabbed 17 interceptions as Montgomery earned their second straight NIFL playoff berth.
The 2007 season brought change for Montgomery as the team changed leagues by moving to the American Indoor Football Association (AIFA) and also changed to the Bears name, but the results were the same for Smith as he tallied 39.5 tackles and finished seventh in passes defended with four interceptions and by breaking up 22 passes.
After playing his prep ball (Russell County High School), college (Alabama State) and first three years of his professional career in Alabama in 2008 Smith made the move to Baltimore, Maryland to play for the expansion Mariners.
He quickly became a fan favorite, but also excelled on the field as he finished second in the AIFA in tackles with 48 and added five picks to his career interception total.
The 2009 season brought change again for Smith as he moved up I-83 to play for the expansion Stampede. Smith again was amongst the league leaders in many categories by compiling 52 tackles and nine interceptions. He finished the season ranked eighth in interceptions and sixth in interception returns.
Smith faced his biggest challenge professionally in 2010 when he was sidelined for ten games with a hamstring injury, but still managed to pile on 18 tackles and two interceptions in just four games. With the setback in 2010 Smith is looking forward to the 2011 season.
"It feels good to come back with a team with the leadership and veteran camaraderie that we will have this year and with [Greg] Justice, [Mark] Stout and [Eugene] Goodman on offense and me, [William] Hines, [Jermaine] Thaxton and [Richard] Johnson on defense; I can't wait to report to camp," said Smith.
For information on 2011 Harrisburg Stampede please visit www.harrisburgstampede.com.
"Archie is one of those kids you just love to have on your team. He is like having a coach on the field. He understands what we want as coaches and he facilitates that on the practice and game fields. Archie lives and works right here in Harrisburg and is a tremendous community minded player and that is so crucial to what we want to achieve here," noted Stampede General Manager and Head Coach Bernie Nowotarski.
In six pro seasons Smith has totaled 245.5 tackles and 47 interceptions. He quickly made an impact in his professional debut with the Montgomery Maulers of the National Indoor Football League (NIFL) in 2005.
He totaled ten interceptions and 48 tackles in leading Montgomery to a first place finish in the Atlantic Central Division and a first round playoff win.
In 2006 he again topped 40 tackles and grabbed 17 interceptions as Montgomery earned their second straight NIFL playoff berth.
The 2007 season brought change for Montgomery as the team changed leagues by moving to the American Indoor Football Association (AIFA) and also changed to the Bears name, but the results were the same for Smith as he tallied 39.5 tackles and finished seventh in passes defended with four interceptions and by breaking up 22 passes.
After playing his prep ball (Russell County High School), college (Alabama State) and first three years of his professional career in Alabama in 2008 Smith made the move to Baltimore, Maryland to play for the expansion Mariners.
He quickly became a fan favorite, but also excelled on the field as he finished second in the AIFA in tackles with 48 and added five picks to his career interception total.
The 2009 season brought change again for Smith as he moved up I-83 to play for the expansion Stampede. Smith again was amongst the league leaders in many categories by compiling 52 tackles and nine interceptions. He finished the season ranked eighth in interceptions and sixth in interception returns.
Smith faced his biggest challenge professionally in 2010 when he was sidelined for ten games with a hamstring injury, but still managed to pile on 18 tackles and two interceptions in just four games. With the setback in 2010 Smith is looking forward to the 2011 season.
"It feels good to come back with a team with the leadership and veteran camaraderie that we will have this year and with [Greg] Justice, [Mark] Stout and [Eugene] Goodman on offense and me, [William] Hines, [Jermaine] Thaxton and [Richard] Johnson on defense; I can't wait to report to camp," said Smith.
For information on 2011 Harrisburg Stampede please visit www.harrisburgstampede.com.