Post by 50yardfan on Mar 10, 2011 16:13:59 GMT -5
Harrisburg Stampede on the Road to Richmond for Exhibition
HARRISBURG, PA (March 10, 2011) - In the world of indoor football things not only happen fast on the field, but the pre-season schedule also moves at a rapid pace. The Stampede conducted their first training camp workout less than a week ago on March 4th.
Tomorrow, March 11th they will be tying up their pads, strapping on their helmets, and facing the Richmond Raiders in a pre-season exhibition game with positions on the 2011 Stampede roster on the line.
Despite the frantic pace of training camp, Stampede General Manager and Head Coach Bernie Nowotarski has a specific objective in mind for this pre-season match-up, "We are really looking at Friday as strictly an evaluation opportunity. We want to get kids on the field and see how they react and play and put us in a position to be ready for our home opener on Sunday, March 20th at 4pm."
The 2011 version of the Stampede will feature three players who were very much a part of the 2009 and 2010 squads: Eugene Goodman, Will Hines, and Archie Smith.
Goodman, now entering his fifth season of play has totaled over 3,500 combined rushing and return yards in his career and racked up 1,414 rushing yards and 65 rushing touchdowns.
Linebacker Hines led a Harrisburg defense in 2010 that finished fourth in scoring defense, second in rushing defense, and second in pass defense efficiency. Hines was again among the league leaders in tackles and ranked fifth in fumble recoveries.
DB Archie Smith is looking forward to a return to the field after missing ten games in 2010 due to a hamstring injury. His third season with the Stampede will be his seventh overall. In six pro seasons Smith has totaled 245.5 tackles and 47 interceptions. In 2009 Smith led the expansion Stampede defense by compiling 52 tackles and nine interceptions.
The exhibition will also provide Nowotarski an opportunity to look at rookies such as Nick Watkins of Clemson who twice led the Tigers in tackles and amassed nearly 400 tackles in his four seasons with the ACC school.
DB Markee Hamlin who totaled over 225 tackles as a perennial All-Conference performer at South Carolina State and Darnell Butler a 5'11", 310 pound defensive lineman from Kean University.
The pre-season game will also give players and staff a chance to adjust to the SIFL rules, which are based on the Arena Football League's rules. The major changes include only one receiver in motion compared to the American Indoor Football Association's (AIFA) two, tight ends being eligible for receptions; the three offensive linemen were limited to blocking duties under AIFA rules, and only the linebacker opposite the tight end is eligible to blitz.
Fans can catch all the action on The Stampede Network at www.ustream.tv/channel/harrisburg-stampede-tv. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 PM.
HARRISBURG, PA (March 10, 2011) - In the world of indoor football things not only happen fast on the field, but the pre-season schedule also moves at a rapid pace. The Stampede conducted their first training camp workout less than a week ago on March 4th.
Tomorrow, March 11th they will be tying up their pads, strapping on their helmets, and facing the Richmond Raiders in a pre-season exhibition game with positions on the 2011 Stampede roster on the line.
Despite the frantic pace of training camp, Stampede General Manager and Head Coach Bernie Nowotarski has a specific objective in mind for this pre-season match-up, "We are really looking at Friday as strictly an evaluation opportunity. We want to get kids on the field and see how they react and play and put us in a position to be ready for our home opener on Sunday, March 20th at 4pm."
The 2011 version of the Stampede will feature three players who were very much a part of the 2009 and 2010 squads: Eugene Goodman, Will Hines, and Archie Smith.
Goodman, now entering his fifth season of play has totaled over 3,500 combined rushing and return yards in his career and racked up 1,414 rushing yards and 65 rushing touchdowns.
Linebacker Hines led a Harrisburg defense in 2010 that finished fourth in scoring defense, second in rushing defense, and second in pass defense efficiency. Hines was again among the league leaders in tackles and ranked fifth in fumble recoveries.
DB Archie Smith is looking forward to a return to the field after missing ten games in 2010 due to a hamstring injury. His third season with the Stampede will be his seventh overall. In six pro seasons Smith has totaled 245.5 tackles and 47 interceptions. In 2009 Smith led the expansion Stampede defense by compiling 52 tackles and nine interceptions.
The exhibition will also provide Nowotarski an opportunity to look at rookies such as Nick Watkins of Clemson who twice led the Tigers in tackles and amassed nearly 400 tackles in his four seasons with the ACC school.
DB Markee Hamlin who totaled over 225 tackles as a perennial All-Conference performer at South Carolina State and Darnell Butler a 5'11", 310 pound defensive lineman from Kean University.
The pre-season game will also give players and staff a chance to adjust to the SIFL rules, which are based on the Arena Football League's rules. The major changes include only one receiver in motion compared to the American Indoor Football Association's (AIFA) two, tight ends being eligible for receptions; the three offensive linemen were limited to blocking duties under AIFA rules, and only the linebacker opposite the tight end is eligible to blitz.
Fans can catch all the action on The Stampede Network at www.ustream.tv/channel/harrisburg-stampede-tv. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 PM.