Post by 50yardfan on Mar 27, 2011 15:07:26 GMT -5
www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110321/A_SPORTS/103210307/-1/a_sports
The Stockton Wolves are hoping members of their new community will show up to watch them practice today.
One Stockton resident who plans to be there will be on the field, not in the stands.
Dominique Howard, who played football at Lincoln High, will be among the 40 to 45 players who will tryout for the arena football team when training camp begins at Stockton Arena. The training sessions will be from 10 a.m.-noon and 6-8 p.m., and are open to the public. The open two-a-day sessions occur through Thursday.
The franchise, formerly known as the San Jose Wolves, confirmed it was moving to city March 14 and will host its season opener April 8 against the Las Vegas Cobras. Wolves general manager and head coach Bennie King said he wanted to open the practices to fans so they could get an idea of what kind of team they will see in action.
"I want to show the product to the people of Stockton," King said. "I think we have some very exciting guys."
He hopes Howard turns out to be one of the exciting players. The 6-foot-3 receiver played at Minot State University in North Dakota through last season and is looking forward to getting the chance to play in Stockton.
"There's no better place to play professionally than in your home state, much less your hometown," said Howard, 23. "That was something I looked forward to as soon as I heard the Wolves were coming to Stockton."
The players reported on Friday, had physicals Saturday and held team meetings Sunday. King said 30 athletes will make the squad and 23 will be on the active roster for each game.
There is many differences between the indoor and outdoor game, most notably that the indoor field is half the size of a standard, 100-yard football field. King said he's glad he can begin training camp in the arena where players can get used to the atmosphere.
"We want to get the new guys acclimated to playing indoors. We have some of players coming directly from the outdoor game," King said. "There will be a lot of teaching and seeing how people adjust."
The Wolves' league recently changed its name to the Western Indoor Football Association.
The Stockton Wolves are hoping members of their new community will show up to watch them practice today.
One Stockton resident who plans to be there will be on the field, not in the stands.
Dominique Howard, who played football at Lincoln High, will be among the 40 to 45 players who will tryout for the arena football team when training camp begins at Stockton Arena. The training sessions will be from 10 a.m.-noon and 6-8 p.m., and are open to the public. The open two-a-day sessions occur through Thursday.
The franchise, formerly known as the San Jose Wolves, confirmed it was moving to city March 14 and will host its season opener April 8 against the Las Vegas Cobras. Wolves general manager and head coach Bennie King said he wanted to open the practices to fans so they could get an idea of what kind of team they will see in action.
"I want to show the product to the people of Stockton," King said. "I think we have some very exciting guys."
He hopes Howard turns out to be one of the exciting players. The 6-foot-3 receiver played at Minot State University in North Dakota through last season and is looking forward to getting the chance to play in Stockton.
"There's no better place to play professionally than in your home state, much less your hometown," said Howard, 23. "That was something I looked forward to as soon as I heard the Wolves were coming to Stockton."
The players reported on Friday, had physicals Saturday and held team meetings Sunday. King said 30 athletes will make the squad and 23 will be on the active roster for each game.
There is many differences between the indoor and outdoor game, most notably that the indoor field is half the size of a standard, 100-yard football field. King said he's glad he can begin training camp in the arena where players can get used to the atmosphere.
"We want to get the new guys acclimated to playing indoors. We have some of players coming directly from the outdoor game," King said. "There will be a lot of teaching and seeing how people adjust."
The Wolves' league recently changed its name to the Western Indoor Football Association.